What is LNG?

lng-moleculeLiquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is a clear, colourless, non-toxic cryogenic liquid that is produced when natural gas is cooled to minus 161ºC at atmospheric pressure.

The primary component of LNG is methane (CH4), but LNG also commonly contains small amounts of ethane, propane, butane and nitrogen.

Being a cryogenic liquid, LNG has more than 600 times the energy density of natural gas vapour and three times the energy density of compressed natural gas (CNG). This makes it the most cost efficient method of transporting natural gas to customer locations where natural gas pipelines are not present.

LNG is usually vaporised or ‘reconverted’ back to natural gas vapour at the final point of consumption, where it is used as a fuel source.

What LNG isn’t

LNG is sometimes confused with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

LNG is not LPG

LPG is based on mixtures of propane and butane. It is made during refining of crude oil or extracted from natural gas taken from gas wells. Mixtures of propane and butane can be liquefied under pressure of about 800 kPa to form LPG. It is used as a fuel for vehicles, in recreational activities (barbeques, caravans, camping and marine), in houses (heating and cooking) and by industry (fuel).

For more about LPG, visit Kleenheat

LNG is not CNG

LNG and CNG are both based on methane which is the primary component of natural gas. However CNG is stored in high-pressure tanks at 20 to 25 MPa (200 to 350 bar, or 3,000 to 5,000 psi).

Find out more at our next LNG show

Interested in finding out more about LNG?

EVOL LNG’s resident scientist and “LNGGenius” will be armed with a beach ball, a balloon, a lighter and some real LNG to demonstrate why LNG is one of the safest, most reliable and clean fuels for power generation, industrial, transport and marine applications.

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