Liquefied Natural Gas - Term Paper Example

First Last Number 15 September Liquefied Natural Gas Introduction Liquefied natural gas is basically natural gas that has been transformed into liquid state. The largest part of natural gas is mainly methane with some small traces of hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, water, oxygen, nitrogen and other compounds of sulphur. Liquefaction process begins after acquiring natural the gas from its production field. The natural gas acquired from the production field is subjected to liquefaction process thereby cooling down to -1610C. Natural gas changes its properties after liquefaction process into a colorless, odorless, clear liquid that is neither toxic nor corrosive. The liquefied natural gas is majorly composed of methane gas with small traces of other hydrocarbons. The other elements and compounds are removed after cooling to negative degrees, which acts as purification process (Leslie). Liquefied natural gas occupies a volume that is 600 times less enabling easier storage and transportation. After being transported to the desired terminals, liquefied natural can either be distributed in the liquid state or transformed back into the gaseous state. The gas is then sold to the consumers for either commercial or domestic use. Product and environmental impacts The products of liquefied natural gas are mostly attained following combustion process. During combustion, liquefied natural gas produces mainly produces water vapor and carbon dioxide. The products are similar to the ones that human beings produce when they breathe. Taking a look at the two products resulting from combustion process, liquefied natural gas is therefore environmentally friendly as compared to petroleum products. Petroleum products and other fossil fuels are made up of complex molecules leading to emission of harmful gases into the environment, upon their combustion (Nasr 73). since the use of liquefied natural gas emits very little amount of greenhouse gases as compared to other fossil fuels, many countries are advising their citizens to use liquefied natural gas as an alternative to mitigate emissions of harmful products to the atmosphere. Scientific studies have identified and classified certain gases under greenhouse gases. The gases include carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrogen oxides and methane. The increase of the greenhouse gases results into global climate change. There are other negative impacts of greenhouse gas emissions such as acid rain and air pollution caused by either emission from transport sector or industrial emission. Apart from air pollution caused by emission of harmful substances from combustion of both petroleum products and fossil fuels, excess emission of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere does not assist in combating greenhouse effect. There should be little emission of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere as the gas is not effective in trapping heat like other greenhouse gases (Adam 107). Therefore, the use of liquefied natural gas should be encouraged as compared to other fossil fuels to reduce carbon emission to the atmosphere. Transportation and storage of liquefied natural gas is a bit challenging. If not carefully handled, the cylinder carrying it may burst causing a lot of instability among greenhouse gases. However compared to the oil spill resulting from faulty pipelines of petroleum products, the results are not as severe as that experienced during oil spill. A good example is the oil spill at the Gulf of Mexico that occurred after pipes burst. The spilled oil is very dangerous to the environment as it affects all living things on both offshore and onshore. One such examples of the oil spill were witnessed along the Mexican gate. Uses Liquefied natural gas has got a many uses. The uses vary from gas-fired electric generation, natural gas-powered industrial operation, transportation and cooking (Sanggyu 10025). Liquefied natural gas is currently being used in the generation of electricity. The other use of the liquefied natural gas is for powering boilers. By use of the gas in powering boilers reduces operation cost by eliminating the use of scrubbers to remove nitrogen and sulphur compounds present when using fossil fuels. The gas is also mixed with other fossil fuel for combustion process aimed at reducing harmful molecules to the environment. Technological advancements have resulted to the use of cogeneration process during production of electricity, with the aim of reducing les nitrogen compounds and other harmful compounds to the environment. The other advancements have resulted to the liquefied natural gas being used to drive vehicles as well as for cooking. Street bulbs are also being powered by liquefied natural gas. Conclusion Liquefied natural gas is basically natural gas that has been transformed into liquid state. The natural gas acquired from the production field is subjected to liquefaction process thereby cooling down to -1610C. After cooling, Natural gas changes its properties after liquefaction process into a colorless, odorless, clear liquid that is neither toxic nor corrosive. The products of liquefied natural are mainly water vapor and carbon dioxide, attained after combustion process. Taking a look at the two products resulting from combustion process, liquefied natural gas is therefore environmentally friendly as compared to fossil fuels and petroleum products. The uses vary from gas-fired electric generation, natural gas-powered industrial operation, transportation and cooking. Works cited Abrahams, Leslie S., et al. "Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions From US Liquefied Natural Gas Exports: Implications for End Uses." Environmental science & technology (2015). Lee, Sanggyu, Nguyen Van Duc Long, and Moonyong Lee. "Design and optimization of natural gas liquefaction and recovery processes for offshore floating liquefied natural gas plants." Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 51.30 (2012): 10021-10030. Nasr, G. G., and N. E. Connor. "Liquefied Natural Gas." Natural Gas Engineering and Safety Challenges. Springer International Publishing, 2014. 45-99. Wilson, Adam. "Proposed Cluster Liquefied-Natural-Gas Production System Raises Tolerance of CO2." Journal of Petroleum Technology 65.04 (2013): 106-109. Source Assessment Source type Number found Number read Number cited Journals 6 3 2 Popular source 4 3 1 Internet source 7 3 1 There are different critical downstream processes undergone by natural gas during its production. The various downstream processes have been critically assessed, compiled and documented by Nasr in his book about natural gas engineering with the respective safety challenges. The book provides more information concerning the basics and principles applied during gas processing, distribution and transmission, gas flow bas well as analysis of the network applied (Nasr). Liquefaction process of natural gas involves removal of unwanted molecules present in the gas. According to the information authored and edited by Adam, unwanted materials that are removed from natural gas during liquefaction process include water vapor, carbon dioxide and other small traces of by hydrocarbons (Adams 107). Various methods of purifying liquefied natural gas have also been provided. Production, transportation and use of liquefied natural produce various effects to the environment. The effects brought about by liquefied natural gas are as a result of either leakage of the liquid gas or emissions resulting from its combustion (Lim). Various studies have compared and documented the effects of using liquefied natural gas and other fossil fuels to the environment. The use of liquefied natural in combustion emits only carbon dioxide and water as opposed to other fossil fuels that emit other harmful substances to the environment. The gasses emitted to the atmosphere result to air pollution, production of smog or green house effect thereby changing the world temperatures (Leslie S., et al). Liquefaction process enables separation of the gas into various components that are later combined during compression process for making refrigerant, after cryogenic heat exchanger. The process is simple and power efficient, making it appropriate for offshore liquefaction processing (Sanggyu 10024). Liquefied natural gas simplifies the process of transporting and storing natural. The process adds value into handling natural gas as it enables reduction of the volume occupied by over 600 times (Mokhatab). The approach has diversified production and distribution of natural gas in the world thereby promoting trading activities. The easiness associated with handling liquefied natural gas has encouraged and promoted new developments in the natural gas industry. The business of liquefied natural gas has grown worldwide thereby becoming one of the biggest international trade activities. The activities span from production of the gas, liquefaction as well as shipping has been positively embraced thereby promoting multinational agreements among trading partners (Griffin). The outcome has been more advancement aimed at restructuring liquefaction process. The increased advancement in the business of liquefied natural gas has resulted to development of new laws to regulate various activities taking place in the industry (Kidnay). The laws are for ensuring smooth and organized businesses among the industry players, both producers and consumers of liquefied natural gas (Howlett 273). The information acquired after reading the nine articles while researching about liquefied natural gas had had both similarities and differences. The diversity in the information enabled collection of relevant information concerning liquefaction process of natural gas, its products, uses and various environmental impacts. It became clear that liquefaction process of natural gas acts as a purifying process, as molecules of other non useful compounds like water vapor and other harmful gas are removed. Liquefaction process reduces the total volume required to store the gas thereby promoting easy storage and transportation of natural gas. When liquefied natural gas is combusted, it gives out water vapor and carbon dioxide gas. However, the volume of carbon dioxide produced is very small compared to other fossil fuels. There is no production of harmful gases during combustion thereby making liquefied natural environmental friendly. The uses vary from gas-fired electric generation, natural gas-powered industrial operation, transportation and cooking. works cited Abrahams, Leslie S., et al. "Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions From US Liquefied Natural Gas Exports: Implications for End Uses." Environmental science & technology (2015). Griffin, Paul. Liquefied Natural Gas: The Law and Business of LNG. Globe Law and Business, 2012. Howlett, Bob, and Eva Maleviti, eds. "Liquefied Natural Gas: The Law and Business of LNG." International Journal of Energy Sector Management 6.2 (2012): 273-274. Kidnay, Arthur J., William R. Parrish, and Daniel G. McCartney. Fundamentals of natural gas processing. Vol. 218. CRC Press, 2011. Lee, Sanggyu, Nguyen Van Duc Long, and Moonyong Lee. "Design and optimization of natural gas liquefaction and recovery processes for offshore floating liquefied natural gas plants." Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 51.30 (2012): 10021-10030. Lim, Wonsub, Kwangho Choi, and Il Moon. "Current status and perspectives of liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant design." Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 52.9 (2013): 3065-3088. Mokhatab, Saeid, et al. Handbook of liquefied natural gas. Gulf Professional Publishing, 2013. Nasr, G. G., and N. E. Connor. "Liquefied Natural Gas." Natural Gas Engineering and Safety Challenges. Springer International Publishing, 2014. 45-99. Wilson, Adam. "Proposed Cluster Liquefied-Natural-Gas Production System Raises Tolerance of CO2." Journal of Petroleum Technology 65.04 (2013): 106-109. Read More