Howdy John,
commercial natural gas has to meet certain standards (API) for
transmission via pipeline. I think there may be something like 2 per
cent ethane and negligible amounts of higher alkanes (the higher alkanes
are separated by simply cooling the gas) also moisture and CO2 content
are strictly limited to trace amounts, I don't know the figures off
hand. As to ethane increasing (or decreasing) the energy density, on a
weight basis ethane has less energy than methane, but measured by
volume, and assuming ideal gas behavior, ethane has a higher energy
density.
As for biogas, I guess it depends on the process, quality control etc.
but the stuff, as noted, is methane and other gases, all of which
greatly lower the energy density of the fuel. The CO2 is fairly easily
removed by passing the crude gas thru an alkaline medium. In the lab we
removed CO2 with a product called ascarite.
John Hayes wrote:
Doesn't NG have some small percentage of ethane, propane and butane
mixed in as well? This would presumably increase the energy desnity over
straight methane.
Also, while I think of it, isn't biogas closer to a 50:50 mix of methane
and CO2, with, as you say, some trace impurities? Reason I ask I that i
thought you had to remove the CO2 before you can use biogas in a natural
gas appliance.
jh
Thompson, Mark L. (PNB R&D) wrote:
Natural Gas = methane + Odorant;
Bio methane just methane + some CO2 and impurities from the
decomposition process. So any NG appliance will run on Bio Decomposed
methane.
Its just that is very difficult to liquefy NG (-200C like temps).
M
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of John Morris
Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2005 2:11 PM
To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org
Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Propane - A"Bio" fuel?
As I understand it, methane (which can be produced from rotting waste)
can be burned in most propane appliances with the appropriate slight
modifications.
Is propane a "Bio" fuel, can it be created from "bio" sources?
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"Science is what we have learned about how to keep
from fooling ourselves" — Richard Feynman
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