Natural gas

Natural gas (commonly refered to as gas in many countries, but note that this is also American and Canadian slang for gasoline) is a gaseous fossil fuel consisting primarily of methane. It is found in oil fields and natural gas fields, as well as—in smaller quantities—in coal beds.

Uses

Power generation

Natural gas is important as a major source for electricity generation through the use of gas turbines and steam turbines. Particularly high efficiencies can be achieved through combining gas turbines with a steam turbine in combined cycle mode. Environmentally, natural gas burns cleaner than other fossil fuels, such as oil and coal, and produces fewer greenhouse gases. For an equivalent amount of heat, burning natural gas produces about 30% less carbon dioxide than burning petroleum and about 45% less than burning coal. http://www.naturalgas.org/environment/naturalgas.asp#greenhouse Combined cycle power generation using natural gas is thus the cleanest source of power available using fossil fuels, and this technology is widely used wherever gas can be obtained at a reasonable cost. Fuel cell technology may eventually provide cleaner options for converting natural gas into electricity, but as yet it is not price-competitive. Also, Natural gas is said to peak around the year 2030, 20 years after the peak of oil. It is also projected that the worlds supply of natural gas should finish in the mid 2080's(2085).

Related Topics:
Electricity generation - Gas turbine - Steam - Turbines - Combined cycle - Environment - Fossil fuel - Greenhouse gas - Carbon dioxide - Petroleum - Coal - Fuel cell

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Natural gas vehicles

Compressed natural gas (and LPG) is used as a clean alternative to other automobile fuels. As of 2003, the countries with the largest number of natural gas vehicles were Argentina, Brazil, Pakistan, Italy, and India.

Related Topics:
Compressed natural gas - LPG - Automobile - As of 2003 - Natural gas vehicle - Argentina - Brazil - Pakistan - Italy - India

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The energy efficiency is lower compared with modern diesel engines but research is on its way to improve the process (Westport-Cycle).

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Residental domestic use

Natural gas is supplied to homes where it is used for such purposes as cooking and heating/cooling. CNG is used in rural homes without connections to piped-in public utility services, or with portable grills.

Related Topics:
Cooking - Heating - Cooling - Rural - Pipe - Public utility - Grill

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Fertilizer

Natural gas is a major feedstock for the production of ammonia, via the Haber process, for use in fertilizer production.

Related Topics:
Ammonia - Haber process - Fertilizer

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Other

Natural gas is also used in the manufacture of fabrics, glass, steel, plastics, paint, and other products.

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