Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: Nic Browne on 04/02/2009 02:30:02

Title: Why store propane but not natural gas?
Post by: Nic Browne on 04/02/2009 02:30:02

Nic Browne  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hi Gang,
 
My name is Nic Browne and I live in Victoria, Australia.

I download your podcasts on iTunes (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/) every week and I absolutely love your show (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/).
 
Could you please answer a question for me.
 
What is the difference between LPG gas used in heaters, and natural gases that do the same thing?
 
It's been bothering me for a while so an answer would be nice.

Cheers,
Nic

What do you think?

Title: Why store propane but not natural gas?
Post by: lightarrow on 04/02/2009 13:04:55

Quote from: Nic Browne  on 04/02/2009 02:30:02

Nic Browne  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hi Gang,
 
My name is Nic Browne and I live in Victoria, Australia.

I download your podcasts on iTunes (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/) every week and I absolutely love your show (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/).
 
Could you please answer a question for me.
 
What is the difference between LPG gas used in heaters, and natural gases that do the same thing?
 
It's been bothering me for a while so an answer would be nice.

Cheers,
Nic

What do you think?

The main difference is that LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas), as its name suggests, can be liquified (by compression) at room temperature and so you don't need extremely big containers to store a useful amount of it.

Title: Why store propane but not natural gas?
Post by: Bored chemist on 04/02/2009 19:29:45

People do store natural gas.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LNG_storage_tank
But with propane you need a relatively low pressuure to make it a liquid (at normal temperatures). With natural gas you have to keep it very cold or it boils.

Title: Why store propane but not natural gas?
Post by: thedoc on 19/05/2009 18:38:28

Listen to the answer to this question on our podcast. (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2009.05.17/)

Title: None
Post by: Jeff on 02/09/2016 22:57:25

so then, how does the energy company get natural gas to our homes in a metered, consistent pressure without running out?
Could the person dig down and create a storage pocket to trap the gas and send it through a pipe into their home? Maybe set a tank and then tap into the methane pocket, and try to seal the water well from it's infiltration? Couldn't you find a way to safely contain the natural source under ground?