Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is gaseous fuel and is a mixture of hydrocarbons with Methane. It is a fossil fuel substitute for other fossil fuels such as Petrol, diesel, and Auto LPG etc. For usage in vehicles as fuel, Natural Gas is compressed & dispensed at high pressure of more than 200 Kg/cm2.
It is also referred to as the green fuel because of its lead and sulphur free character. Since there is lead or benzene are absent in CNG, lead or benzene pollution are eliminated, CNG reduces harmful emissions thus reducing the effect of global warming.
Advantages of CNG
- Cost-Effectiveness: The operational cost of vehicles running on CNG, as compared to those running on other fuels like Petrol or Diesel, is quite low as CNG is much cheaper as compared to Petrol or Diesel prices. It delivers high performance at a low cost as it gives better mileage
- Lower Maintenance cost: As CNG does not contaminate the crankcase lubricating oil, the life of lubricant oil increases thus leading to lower cost. Being non-corrosive, it enhances the longevity of spark plugs.
- Safe Fuel: The properties of CNG make it a safe fuel. It is lighter than air, so in case of a leak, it just rises up and dissipates into the atmosphere. Besides, a high auto-ignition temperature of 540 degrees centigrade as against petrol’s 360 degrees centigrade, makes it a safe fuel. Also, in case of a leak, if CNG’s concentration in the air is less than 5% and more than 15%, the gas will not burn even in the presence of a spark.
- Environment Friendly: CNG is an environment-friendly fuel. It burns cleaner in comparison to Petrol and Diesel. Natural gas is mainly composed of methane and its exhaust emissions consist of water vapours and a small fraction of carbon monoxide. The absence of carbon and other particulates result in a negligible amount of harmful elements in exhaust fumes Thus, CNG contributes to lowering air pollution.