The applications of methane are very common in human daily life as well as in industrial sectors like the chemical industry. So, what exactly is methane gas used for? Let’s find out with MIGCO in today’s article.
1. Basic information about methane
Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon with the chemical formula CH4, classified in the alkane homologous series. Under standard conditions, methane is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. It is very flammable, liquefies at -162 °C and solidifies at -183 °C.
Pure methane is usually odorless as mentioned above, but when methane is used in industry, it is often mixed with a small amount of sulfur-containing compounds with a strong odor, such as ethyl mercaptan. This is done to make it easier for people to detect methane gas and take timely action in case of leakage.
Methane is the main component of natural gas, petroleum gases, and gases generated from marsh mud. It is also a gas produced during petroleum refining and coal tar distillation. Methane has diverse applications, but it is mainly used as fuel.
2. What is methane gas used for?
Applications of methane as fuel
Due to its high heat generation capacity, methane is an important fuel chosen and used by humans to produce electricity, provide heating, and power automobiles. Compared to coal, methane releases less CO2 per unit of heat released when burned.
In many places, methane is still piped directly to homes for heating and cooking. It is commonly known as natural gas.
Because the methane content in coal mine gas can reach 98%, it can be used as fuel for automobile engines.
However, coal mine methane and other gaseous fuels have low energy density. Under normal conditions, the combustion heat of 1 liter of coal mine methane gas is about 33-36 kJ. The heat obtained after combustion of 1 liter of gasoline is 31,400 kJ, which is more than 1000 times higher than coal mine methane gas.
Therefore, researchers can confirm that coal mine methane can be used as fuel for automobile engines, either in compressed or liquefied form.
Analyses of the toxicity of vehicles running on gas have shown that replacing gasoline with coal mine methane significantly reduces the emission of toxic gases (in g/km): carbon oxides by 5-10 times, hydrocarbons by 3 times, and nitrogen oxides by 1.5-2.5 times.
Applications of methane in power plants
Real-world experience has shown that using methane gas as a fuel in combination with coal in power plants is very effective. This will reduce the risk of air pollution.
It is an effective method in the production of heat and electricity. As well as a new technology using combined heat and power (CHP) units based on gas piston engines to produce both electricity and heat.
Based on local engines and heat recovery systems, the water energy will cool and the exhaust gas will be used to provide heat to consumers.
If mining enterprises use this method to ensure electricity and heat energy, coal mining costs will be reduced by up to 30% (depending on electricity costs).
What is methane used for in gas engines, and how effective is it?
The use of coal mine methane in electricity and heat production will contribute to the development of a new type of engine called the Stirling engine in the world market.
Previously, coal mine methane was used in internal combustion engines. However, these engines require high purity or well-cleaned methane gas. To ensure a certain ratio of gas components, they require regular maintenance and the installation of additional filters that comply with environmental standards.
The Stirling engine is a type of engine that is heated from an external source, so compared to internal combustion engines, the combustion process of the Stirling engine is carried out outside the working cylinders. Therefore, Stirling engines are much more suitable than the old technology using coal gas.
By applying combined power modules with Stirling engines, humans can directly use coal mine methane or mine gas transmitted from boreholes.
In China, Stirling engines powered by methane have been used, and it has been shown that nitrogen oxide emissions have been significantly reduced.
Stirling engines in generators are very effective in converting the chemical energy of fuel into useful electrical energy, even fuels with very low heat content.
Modern Stirling engines can achieve an electrical efficiency of over 40%, and a combined cycle for power generation with exhaust heat recovery can achieve a total efficiency of over 90%.
Applications of methane in industry
Methane gas is currently used in many different industrial chemical reactions and is safely transported and transported in the form of liquefied gas. In the chemical industry, methane is the main raw material for the production of hydrogen, methanol, acetic acid, and acetic anhydride.
– CH4 is the raw material for the production of H2.
CH4 + H2O (t°, xt) → CO2 + H2
– It is the main raw material for the production of carbon black and many other chemicals such as methanol, acetic anhydride, and acetic acid…
3. Is using methane gas harmful to human health?
Methane gas is completely toxic and poses a danger of thermal burns and asphyxiation if the oxygen concentration is lower than 18%, which is harmful to human health. Because CH4 is flammable and can react with air to produce flammable and explosive products.
Methane gas also reacts well with oxidants, halogens, and some halogen compounds.
So, you now understand the applications of methane, or what methane gas is used for. If you have any questions related to this gas or need to purchase methane gas, please contact the hotline for the fastest support from MIGCO.
>> See more: Chemical properties of methane and how to produce CH4
