Propane And Natural Gas: What Are The Key Differences? Propane and natural gas are common fuels for outdoor grills, gas fireplaces, space heaters, clothes dryers, and home appliances – but what is the difference between propane and natural gas?
Propane
What is propane?
Propane is a combustible hydrocarbon gas that’s stored as a liquid under pressure. It’s often used as fuel for cooking, heating, and powering vehicles.
Propane is a three-carbon alkane, normally a gas, but compressible to a transportable liquid. A by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, it is commonly used as a fuel for engines, oxy-gas torches, barbecues, portable stoves, and residential central heating.
Its popularity for use in home heating appliances has led many manufacturers to design products specifically for this purpose. Propane undergoes combustion reactions in the presence of oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water.
Pros
Clean, Efficient Energy Source
Propane is an odorless, colorless, clean-burning gas that can provide heat and electricity more efficiently than any other fossil fuel. It’s also an environmentally sound fuel source: Propane is a non-toxic, non-poisonous gas that doesn’t contaminate ground or surface water.
Versatility
Propane can be used in countless applications, from heating your home and pool to powering your grill and generator. It’s available in portable cylinders for convenient outdoor use or stored in tanks on your property for large-capacity applications like whole-home heating and power.
Safety
Propane is non-toxic and does not pose a threat to water supplies as it does not contaminate groundwater, rivers or streams if released into the environment. In addition, propane appliances emit low levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx), which contribute to smog. When used with proper safety precautions, propane is one of the safest fuels available today.
Energy Independence
Propane can be produced domestically. With an average heating season of more than 200 days from late fall to early spring, propane is one of the most cost-effective solutions for home heating and no-worries comfort. Propane is also vital to many manufacturing processes and industrial activities, as well as electric generation.
Cons
There are still some drawbacks that you should be aware of before choosing propane for your home.
Pollutants
While propane does produce fewer emissions than other fossil fuels, there are still some pollutants that are released into the air. These pollutants include carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Propane is also a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
Expensive
Propane can be expensive depending on where you live. The price can fluctuate dramatically depending on supply and demand in your area, especially with the political climate as it is right now. If you live in an area prone to cold weather, then you may also struggle to keep up with the demand for propane during the winter months when it’s most needed.
Explosive
Propane can be dangerous if not handled properly. Tanks need to be stored in well-ventilated areas that are away from open flames or anything else that could cause a spark or fire. This includes things like pilot lights from water heaters and furnaces.
Corrosive
A lot of things can damage propane tanks, including extreme temperatures, dents, and corrosion. This means you will have to keep a close eye on them at all times. Corrosion can also weaken the structure of the tank and make it more likely to leak, posing a potential threat to your home and family.
Price
The price of propane varies from one company to another. The cost of propane ranges from $2.50 to $3.50 per gallon, depending on the county and state where you live, as well as the provider.
The cost of propane varies significantly depending on the demand and the location. The price is usually higher during winter when people use it to heat their homes and lower during summer when demand is low.
The cost of propane also depends on how far you are from the source. It costs less in the midwest states because they have more oil and gas wells than other regions. If you live in a rural area, you will pay more for propane than people who live close to refineries or natural gas wells.
Natural gas
What is natural gas?
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture, consisting mainly of methane. It is found in deep underground rock formations or associated with other hydrocarbon fuels, such as oil. Natural gas originates from the same geological processes that produce oil, but it usually migrates to the surface and seeps out through cracks in the earth’s crust, long before it becomes trapped in porous rock formations that can hold oil.
Natural gas is made up of about 90% methane. The remaining 10% consists of other hydrocarbons (mostly ethane and propane) and a wide range of nonhydrocarbons (e.g., nitrogen, carbon dioxide, water vapor).
Natural gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless in its pure state. In order to make the gas noticeable and give it a distinctive odor, an odorant called mercaptan is added to the processing plant. Mercaptan has an unpleasant sulfur-like smell similar to rotten eggs or garlic.
Pros
Cleaner than most other fossil fuels.
Natural gas emits less carbon dioxide than other fossil fuels when burned, which makes it a cleaner-burning fossil fuel than coal or oil. In addition, it does not contain sulfur, which makes it better for the environment than oil. Unfortunately, because methane is a greenhouse gas, leaks from natural gas systems (which can happen during extraction, processing, and transportation) can have an adverse impact on the climate
Affordable.
The price of natural gas has fluctuated over the past few decades. However, in general, natural gas is one of the most affordable energy sources available today. This makes it appealing to consumers who are on a tight budget.
Easy to transport and store.
It takes up a lot less space than oil, coal, or even wood. The gas can be stored in cylinders, tanks, and other containers and can be transported through pipelines. Natural gas can also be stored underwater in liquid form.
Easily available.
There is a wide variety of natural gases available all over the world. Countries like Russia, Iran, and Qatar have abundant reserves of natural gas. The United States is also one of the largest producers of natural gas in the world.
Cons
Despite its popularity, though, there are some drawbacks to natural gas, including:
The potential for leaks.
Natural gas exploration can be dangerous in underdeveloped countries. In the United States, however, safety measures are well-established and enforced, so any leaks that do occur are typically the result of human error or equipment failure. This can cause major problems if they’re not addressed quickly and efficiently.
The need for a storage tank on site.
If you don’t have an existing tank buried on your property or if you are moving to a different location, you will need to pay for the installation of a new one by a qualified contractor who can ensure that it is safely buried below ground level.
The potential for explosion.
Natural gas is lighter than air and can travel along the ground to reach its destination. If it is not contained properly, it could leak into your home, resulting in an explosion that can cause damage to your home and kill or injure anyone who might be nearby at the time.
Operating a natural gas furnace, stove, or water heater requires proper ventilation as well as regular maintenance and inspections by a professional who knows what to look for and how to correct any problems before they occur.
Price
The price of natural gas is typically measured in million British thermal units (mmbtu). One mmbtu is equal to one million BTU, or approximately the heat energy released by burning 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas.
Henry Hub spot prices have ranged from under $2 per mmbtu to more than $12 per mmbtu in recent years. These prices reflect the cost of a single delivery point in Louisiana. Other trading points around the country may see slightly different price movements because of regional supply and demand fundamentals.
Key Differences Between Propane And Natural Gas
When choosing appliances for your home, you’ll have to make a decision between natural gas or propane.
Here are the key differences between both kinds of fuel:
Cost
Propane is more expensive than natural gas. This is even more true in regions where natural gas is readily available.
Gas lines
Natural gas can be piped into your home, which means you won’t have to buy and store tanks of it. You may not have this option if you’re living in a rural area.
Supply
If your home’s supply of propane is interrupted, you will not be able to heat or cook with it until the tanks are refilled. This isn’t a problem with natural gas.
Pollution
Natural gas is considered clean fuel because it burns cleaner than propane (and gasoline and oil) — it produces about 30% less carbon dioxide and about 80% less carbon monoxide.
The average natural gas customer in the U.S. produces only 0.3% more carbon dioxide than the average gasoline customer. The Natural Resources Defense Council has identified propane as a significant contributor to air pollution, because it is produced using fossil fuels, and can contribute to smog, particulate matter, and ground-level ozone pollution.
Gas appliances
Natural gas appliances tend to be quieter than propane or electric models, with temperatures that are about 2°F cooler on average than those of comparable electric appliances.
Sustainability
Natural gas is a fossil fuel present in underground rock formations from which it is extracted using conventional or directional drilling. Some natural gas is also produced as a byproduct of oil production.
Propane is a naturally occurring gas that is separated from domestic natural gas or crude oil during the refining process. Propane tanks can be refilled while in use, eliminating any downtime if you run out of fuel. Propane can also be transported by truck and stored indefinitely without degrading.
Which One Is More Secure?
Propane and natural gas are both equally safe. When handled properly, neither one is dangerous. They are both odorless gases that, if leaked, can trigger an explosion.
Because propane is stored in pressurized tanks, it can become a safety hazard. Meanwhile, natural gas is delivered through pipes from a utility company. It’s lighter than air so if it leaks, it dissipates into the atmosphere and usually doesn’t pose a safety risk.
How To Store Propane And Natural Gas To Avoid Hazards
Propane and natural gas are useful sources of energy for many reasons. They’re affordable, easy to use, and can be stored for long periods of time without spoiling.
However, these gases are dangerous and must be handled properly in order to prevent fires and explosions. If you store propane or natural gas at your home or business, it’s important to know how to do it safely.
Use the proper containers.
Propane should only be stored in tanks that have been approved by regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) or Transport Canada (TC). Tanks should also have an overfill protection device (OPD) valve to prevent propane from being filled beyond 80 percent capacity.
Natural gas must be stored in containers designed for that purpose, whether it’s in a residential home or commercial building. The amount of gas stored should not exceed 10 percent of the container’s capacity when filled to 80 percent capacity.
Store tanks properly.
Propane tanks should always be stored upright in an area that is well ventilated and protected from extreme weather conditions and any external sources of ignition such as electric motors, furnaces, stoves, or dry cleaners.
When storing natural gas inside a building, it’s important to keep the container upright and in an area away from the house that is well ventilated, free from extremes of temperature, and free from any sources of ignition.
Never store tanks outside.
Neither propane nor natural gas should be stored in outdoor areas such as backyards, garages, or sheds. Never stack tanks together and never store them near other flammable materials such as woodpiles or plants.
Conclusion
When it comes to selecting the right gas for your grill, there are a few things you should consider first. If you are looking for an environmentally friendly gas, propane is the right choice for you. It will cost a fraction of what it costs to run a natural gas grill. However, if you have an abundance of natural gas and want to reduce energy costs, then natural gas is the best option for you. Additionally, do not forget to budget your long term costs based on how often you plan on using your grill.
