These days you get various options in gas stoves also on the basis of burners, ignition type, brand, body material, etc. Among many, two are LPG and PNG gas stoves.
Since everybody wants a gas stove that lasts long, so before selecting and buying one product you should know your needs and requirements and also the type of gas stove that you want to have.
So in this post let us know about LPG and PNG gas stoves and also the difference between LPG and PNG gas stoves so that you can make an informed purchase.
What is an LPG gas stove?
Lpg gas stoves are basically those types of gas stoves that use LPG as a fuel for combustion.
Since these gas stoves use LPG as fuel, let us know more about LPG so that we can understand LPG gas stoves well.
LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas)
The full form of LPG is Liquified Petroleum Gas. It is a flammable mixture of hydrocarbon gases that are used for purposes like cooking, heating, and also vehicles.
Proportions of hydrocarbon in LPG are 48% propane, 50% butane, and 2% of pentane.
They have a calorific value of 46-51MJ/Kg and an energy density of 26MJ/Kg which is less than petrol and other fuels.
It evaporates quickly if it is put in the open air, the reason behind this is that the boiling point of the LPG is approximately 0°C and remains in a gaseous state at room temperature.
Since LPG is a gas, it doesn’t cause water or ground pollution. But yes, it causes air pollution.
Uses of LPG
LPG is used as an ignition fuel in vehicles as they burn better than petrol and diesel.
Since LPG has more amount of butane and propane, it is popularly also used as a refrigerant.
It is used as a domestic fuel in other words cooking fuel.
Apart from the above points, LPG is used in many areas like heating processes, agriculture drying processes, motor fuel, chemical feedstock, etc.
Drawbacks of LPG
Burning LPG releases greenhouse gas which is responsible for global warming. It releases Carbon dioxide (CO2) and also some amount of Carbon monoxide (CO). Burning LPG releases more amount of greenhouse gases compared to natural gas but less amount when compared to coal or oil.
Breathing LPG can be a major threat to your life and health.
LPG is very combustible. If there is a leak of LPG and if the gas vapors come in contact with any kind of ignition, then there is a huge risk of explosion if not taken care of properly.
What is a PNG gas stove?
PNG gas stoves are those types of gas stoves that use PNG as fuel for combustion.
In India here, PNG gas stoves are almost the same as LPG gas stoves in body, shape, structure, etc. But the difference comes in the nozzle used in them.
There is a difference in the size of the gas nozzle used in both.
Since these stoves use PNG as fuel, let us know more about PNG so that we can understand it well.
PNG (Pipes Natural Gas)
The full form of PNG is Piped Natural Gas. To understand PNG, first of all, we need to know about Natural gas and CNG (Compressed Natural Gas).
Natural gas is derived from fossil fuels and that’s why it’s also known as fossil gas.
Natural gas is comprised of hydrocarbons and mainly methane.
Natural gas has a calorific value of 42-55 MJ/Kg and has an energy density of 9 MJ/L.
This makes natural gas less toxic than others. When burned, it emits less toxic waste and toxins if compared to others.
The full form of CNG is compressed natural gas. CNG is introduced as a fuel replacement in place of LPG.
So, PNG is just a compressed natural gas that is made available to the user through pipelines.
Since PNG is lighter than air, in case of any leakage, it disperses or mixes up in the air reducing the probability of any kind of accident and that’s why it is much safer than LPG.
Uses of PNG
(1) In the industrial sector, natural gas is used as a fuel for heating processes as well as in many other things like feedstock for producing chemicals.
(2) Compressed natural gas is now widely and commonly used as fuel for vehicles.
(3) Natural gas is also used for cooking food, heating water, ad many more things.
Drawbacks of PNG
(1) Natural gas is lighter than air and hence, disperses in the air very quickly. But since it is even colorless, tasteless, and odorless, it becomes difficult to detect the leakage of the gas.
(2) Natural gas is a non-renewable source of the energy.
(3) Natural gas is mainly comprised of methane which is the most powerful short-lived greenhouse gas.
(4) It needs more space for storage.
CONCLUSION
The difference between LPG and PNG gas stoves can be summarized in these few points:
(1) PNG gas stove nozzles have a greater diameter compared to LPG gas stove nozzles.
(2) LPG gas stoves use LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) as fuel whereas PNG gas stoves use PNG (Piped Natural Gas) as a fuel.
(3) LPG for LPG gas stoves is made available to users with the help of gas bottles and tanks, whereas PNG for PNG gas stoves is made available through gas pipelines.
(4) LPG is heavier than air whereas PNG is lighter than air.
(5) LPG is liquified through pressurization whereas natural gas is liquified at low temperatures.
(6) LPG has an energy content of 93.2 MJ/m3 whereas PNG has an energy content of 38.7 MJ/m3.
Some Frequently Asked Questions
Which gas is cheaper LPG or PNG?
Installation and registration charges might be high for both. But apart from installation and registration charges, if we talk about monthly bills, yes, PNG is about 30% cheaper than LPG as per people using it. Pricing of the PNG is done on a volumetric basis and it keeps varying.
How does an LPG gas stove work?
The process is the same for both LPG stoves as well as PNG stoves.
The gas (LPG or PNG) goes through the regulator to reduce the pressure according to appliance pressure as both have different pressures.
Then from the regulator after adjusting, it finally comes out through the burner where with the help of a spark or matchstick or lighter combustion of the gas is initiated.
Can the LPG stove work with PNG?
The answer is yes. LPG stoves can work with PNG. To make this happen, the jet of the burner is needed to be changed which can be done by professional technicians. And after this change, you can use an LPG stove with PNG.
What are the advantages of using LPG?
These are some advantages of using LPG :
(1) No sulfur content in LPG results in lower pollution than compared to fuels (except natural gas) like coal or oil.
(2) It is much more eco-friendly than other fuels (except natural gas) as it produces only produces 81% of CO2 compared to oil and only 70% of CO2 compared to Coal.
(3) Since it has a high calorific value, it lets you cook faster.
(4) Doesn’t need to hassle much for a new connection or refill as these days you get a doorstep delivery service that is only one call away.
What are the disadvantages of LPG?
These are some disadvantages of LPG:
- It is hazardous as it is an inflammable gas.
- It is a bit costlier than PNG.
- In case of leakage, it causes suffocation.
- LPG is supplied in heavy steel cylinders.
Is PNG safer than LPG?
Though PNG is combustible, it is much safer than LPG. In any case, if there is a leakage of LPG gas then even a little spark can make a big explosion as the gas is denser and does not dissipate quickly. But in the case of PNG leakage, the gas dissipates quickly as it is lighter than air. So in this aspect, PNG is much safer than LPG.
Which chemical is used to detect leakage LPG?
The chemical naming Ethyl Mercaptan is used as an odorizing agent so that it can be smelled in case of any leakage. It is not a gas but a chemical that is mixed with the gas.
What does LPG gas stand for?
LPG stands for Liquified Petroleum Gas.
Why is LPG so expensive?
Actually, the price of LPG depends on few things like IPP (import parity price) and other things like goods and services tax, custom duties, local freight, port dues, bottling charges, marketing costs, margins for oil marketing firms, and dealer commissions, etc. These things make LPG not more but a bit costly.