What is the difference between CNG and LNG?
CNG and LNG are quite popular acronyms in the diesel industry. You might have heard of them and know that all mentioned acronyms are gasses, rising trends as environmentally friendly vehicles. But what is the difference between CNG and LNG?
CNG meaning compressed natural gas
CNG is short for compressed natural gas. CNG is the gaseous product of petroleum, it’s odorless, tasteless and non-toxic. CNG is an environmentally clean and safe alternative fuel, which is made of up to 93% methane, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, propane and a bit of ethane. CNG has many benefits for the environment, but also for the vehicle as it leaves much less residue compared to other fuel types, also CNG causes less damage to engine pipes and tubes, adding years to the engine lifespan.
LNG meaning liquefied natural gas
Compared to CNG, LNG is a natural gas converted to a liquid form through liquefaction. During the process of making LNG, natural gas is cooled at low temperatures until it turns into liquid. During the process, the volume of gas is reduced by 600 times. LNG is non-toxic and non-corrosive, also having eco-friendly qualities. LNG uses 1/600 the volume as natural gas and is considered to be more cost-effective for storage and transportation compared to CNG.
CNG or LNG?
NG and LNG both have their benefits. As LNG is in liquid form, it takes up less storage space than CNG. LNG also has an increased energy density, making it more suitable for longer-range vehicles like trucks. For these reasons LNG is a common choice for long-haul trucking companies.
On the downside, LNG has to be stored at minus 160 degrees Celsius in cryogenic storage to maintain its liquefied state, requiring special handling and equipment during the refueling. Another benefit for CNG is the lightness of it, so in case of a leak it will dissipate in air, minimizing the chance of a fire hazard, whereas LNG flows on the ground and catches fire easily. In addition to that, CNG has an unlimited hold time, so even when not using the CNG cylinder, there is no fuel loss – making it a safer choice compared to LNG.
Natural gas, CNG or LNG, is abundant, easy to transport and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Compressed and liquid natural gas both have their good qualities, however they have their differences which should be considered before deciding on one.