What is natural gas
Natural gas, in itself, might be considered an uninteresting gas – odorless and colorless, shapeless in its pure form. Quite uninteresting, except that natural gas is combustible, and when burned it gives off a great deal of energy.
Natural gas is clean burning and emits lower levels of potentially harmful byproducts into the air and considerably contributes to environmental protection. We require such clean energy constantly, to heat our homes, cook our food, heat water and generate our electricity. It is this need for energy not harmful to the environment that has elevated natural gas to such a level of importance in our society and in our lives.
Natural gas is a combustible mixture of hydrocarbon gases. While natural gas is formed primarily of methane, it can also include ethane, propane, butane, pentane and other hydrocarbons. The composition of natural gas can vary widely, depending on sources and ways the natural gas can be transported to us, but below is a chart outlining the typical makeup of natural gas before it is refined:
Typical composition of natural gas transported to Croatia:
| Methane | CH4 | 70-90% |
| Ethane | C2H6 | 0-20% |
| Propane | C3H8 | |
| Butane | C4H10 | |
| Carbon Dioxide | CO2 | 0-8% |
| Oxygen | O2 | 0-0.2% |
| Nitrogen | N2 | 0-5% |
| Hydrogen sulphide | H2S | 0-5% |
| Rare gases | A,He,Ne,Xe | - trace |
In its purest form, such as the natural gas that is delivered to your home, it is almost pure methane. Methane is a molecule made up of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms and is referred to as CH4.
Etane, propane, butane and other hydrocarbons commonly associated with natural gas have similar but slightly different chemical formulas.
Why choose natural gas as efficient energy source?
Natural gas is a clean energy source, it does not contaminate the environment, it is easy to use and very practical when compared to other fossil fuels. Consumers like its availability and system of payment (for the used natural gas you will pay after consumption) and not in advance, as it is a case with fuel oil, coal or wood. There is no need for additional space and natural gas can be utilized without a necessity to store – it does not require a storage and maintenance. There is no unburned ash residue and natural gas is clean and does not have dirt, so that it does not make the rooms dirty and has no unpleasant odour when used, as heating oil has. Once the users start to use it, they never give up.
Natural gas is a vital component of the world’s supply of energy. It is one of the cleanest, safest and most useful of all energy sources.