Difference between LPG and LNG

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News: The disruption of vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz due to the West Asia conflict has affected India’s energy supplies, especially Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

Difference Between LPG and LNG

Difference Between LPG and LNG
Westin Power
Properties Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
Composition
  • It mainly contains Propane (C₃H₈) and Butane (C₄H₁₀), with small amounts of propylene, butylene, and isobutylene.
  • It mainly consists of Methane (CH₄), which is the primary component of Natural Gas.
Source
  • It is produced as a byproduct of crude oil refining and natural gas processing.
  • It becomes liquid under moderate pressure or relatively low temperature.
  • It is produced by cooling natural gas to very low temperatures.
  • It becomes liquid only after cryogenic cooling below −160°C.
Volume
  • Liquid volume is about 1/260th of its gaseous volume.
  • Liquid volume is about 1/600th of its gaseous volume.
Storage Method
  • It is stored in pressurised cylinders and transported mainly by road in cylinders.
  • It is stored in specialised cryogenic tanks and transported by special cryogenic ships to regasification terminals.
Infrastructure Requirement
  • It is highly portable and can be made available in any region, even remote and rural areas without pipeline networks.
  • It requires re-gasification terminals where it is converted back into natural gas and pipeline networks before distribution.
End-User Supply Method
  • It is delivered to households/industries in portable cylinders.
  • It is converted back into natural gas and supplied through pipelines as Piped Natural Gas (PNG) or used as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for vehicles.
Application
  • It is used mainly for cooking, heating, industrial purposes, and automobile fuel.
  • It is used mainly for long-distance transport of natural gas and emerging use in heavy vehicles, ships, and trains.
Safety Characteristics
  • It is heavier than air, so it may settle near the ground during leaks, increasing fire risk.
  • It must be stored in cryogenic tanks and requires trained handling to prevent vapourisation or boil-off.
  • It is lighter than air, disperses quickly during leakage, making it comparatively safer.
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