Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas that has been cooled down to a liquid state for ease and safety of non-pressurized storage or transport. The process of cooling natural gas to -260°F (-162°C) reduces its volume to about 1/600th of its original size, making it more economical to transport by ship compared to compressed natural gas (CNG).
Key points about LNG:
- Composition: LNG is predominantly methane (CH4) with some mixture of ethane (C2H6).
- Energy density: The volumetric energy density of LNG is approximately 2.4 times that of CNG, making it a more efficient fuel for transportation.
- Uses: LNG can be used as a fuel for internal combustion engines, and it is being evaluated and tested for over-the-road trucking, off-road, marine, and train applications.
- Transportation: LNG is transported in specially designed ships equipped with advanced safety features, such as leak detection technology, emergency shutdown systems, and advanced radar and positioning systems.
- Regasification: At the destination, LNG is regasified at import and regasification terminals, where it is warmed to its gaseous state and then dispersed for various uses, including electricity generation, heating, cooking, and processing for petrochemical products.
- Environmental impact: While LNG can be a cleaner-burning fuel compared to other fossil fuels, its production and transport contribute to climate change, and its use is limited to a small number of heavy-duty trucks, buses, and ships due to the challenges of storing and handling the extremely cold liquid.
