There are a few advantages of CNG over traditional fuel. It is used in cars as an alternative fuel. In this article, I will discuss the advantages of CNG gas.
Advantages of CNG
Compressed natural gas as a fuel is clean, and economical, and has been in use worldwide to power vehicles. Over 1,200,000 vehicles are running on CNG in the world. Existing petrol vehicles can use CNG by installing a bi-fuel conversion kit and the converted vehicle will have the flexibility of operating either on CNG or petrol. CNG is lead-free and its use substantially reduces harmful engine emissions and helps keep the environment clean. Besides, the operational cost of a vehicle running on CNG is approximately one-third that of petrol. Due to its relative advantages and superiority over conventional fuels, CNG is the most promising alternative fuel for city transport. CNG is a mixture of hydrocarbons consisting of approximate fuel for city transport.
CNG is a mixture of hydrocarbons consisting of approximately 80-90% methane in gaseous form. Due to its low energy density, it is compressed to a pressure of 2000-2500 N/cm^2 hence the name Compressed Natural Gas. Natural gas is colorless, odorless, non-toxic but inflammable, and lighter than air. CNG is not a liquid fuel and is not the same as LPG(Liquefied Petroleum Gas), Which consists of propane and butane in liquid form. Let’s talk about the advantages-
What are the advantages of CNG?
CNG is normally transported from the source up to the user destination by pipelines. Besides widespread industrial user as a clean fuel for applications ranging from electric power generation, feedstock for fertilizer plants to furnaces, etc., it is becoming a fuel of choice in the domestic and commercial sectors. So the advantages are-
(a) Economics(Advantages of CNG)
On an energy-equivalent basis, natural gas costs an average of 68% less than petrol and about 38% cheaper than diesel. Natural gas is a clean-burning fuel that reduces vehicle maintenance such as extended intervals of oil change and standard spark plugs last longer. Natural gas, unlike liquid fuels, cannot be siphoned off from a vehicle. Fuel theft is an ongoing concern of commercial operators using Petrol and Diesel.
(b) Emission(Advantages of CNG)
Natural gas is the cleanest burning alternative fuel. Exhaust emissions from CNG vehicles are much lower than from petrol/diesel-powered vehicles. For instance, CNG emissions of carbon monoxide are approximately 70% lower, non-methane organic gas emissions are 89% lower, and oxides of nitrogen emissions are 87% lower. In addition to these reductions in pollutants, CNG vehicles also emit significantly lower amounts of greenhouse gases and toxins than petrol vehicles.
Dedicated CNG vehicles also can reduce carbon dioxide exhaust emissions by almost 20%. Exposure to the levels of suspended fine particulate matter found in many cities has shown the risk of respiratory illness. Diesel exhaust is under review as a hazardous air pollutant. Natural gas engines produce negligible amounts of this matter.
(c) Greenhouse gases(Advantages of CNG)
Per unit of energy, natural gas contains less carbon than any other fossil fuel and thus produces lower CO2 emissions per vehicle km traveled. While CNG vehicles do emit methane, another principal greenhouse gas, any slight increase in methane emissions would be more than offset by a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions compared to other fuels.
CNG vehicles also emit very low levels of carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds. Although these two pollutants are not themselves green gases, they play an important role in helping to break down methane and some other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and thus increase the global rate of methane decomposition.
(d) Safety(Advantages of CNG)
Vehicles that run on clean-burning natural gas are as safe as vehicles operating traditional fuels as petrol. Compressed natural gas, unlike gasoline, dissipates into the atmosphere in the event of an accident. Petrol polls/accumulates on the ground which creates a fire hazard.
Conclusion
Natural gas is not toxic or corrosive and will not contaminate groundwater. Natural gas combustion produces no significant aldehydes or other air toxins. These are all the advantages I have covered.
Faq’s
1. What is bi-fuel?
Bi-fuel is the alternative fuel option to run the engine on the road. Examples are CNG, LPG, Propane, etc.
2. How to convert petrol vehicles into CNG?
There is a bi-fuel conversion kit, needed to be installed for the conversion.