Compressed natural gas (CNG) is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline (petrol), diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill (natural gas is lighter than air, and disperses quickly when released). CNG may also be mixed with biogas, produced from landfills or wastewater, which doesn’t increase the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere.
When natural gas compressed at very high pressure is called compressed natural gas, (CNG). It consists mainly of methane (95%) which is a relatively unreactive hydrocarbon and makes it nearly complete combustion possible. The other 5% is made up of various gases such as ethane, propane and butane inclining small amounts of other gases nitrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and water vapors, etc. Because of the gaseous nature of this fuel, it must be stored in either a compressed natural gas (CNG) state or in a liquefied natural gas (LNG) state. The CNG is now being used as a better fuel than gasoline for running buses, cars and three-wheelers in metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, etc. because of its complete combustion and no unburnt carbon is being released into the atmosphere to cause air pollution. Recently a plant for LNG has been established in Gujarat. CNG or LNG are very clean fuels which cause very little pollution and also have very high calorific value. Natural gas has octane rating of 130.
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