Natural gas is a nonrenewable resource. It is a widely talked about resource because it is non-renewable, meaning it can’t be created or re-made by man. This means we need to take care of the natural gas that we have. It is formed deep underground in rock formations when decomposing plant and animal matter are exposed to intense heat and pressure. Below we are going to look at the common uses of this greenhouse gas.
Power Generation
The most common industrial use of natural gas is power generation. It is a major source of electricity generation through the use of cogeneration, gas turbines and steam turbines. Cogeneration is the generation of electricity and other energy jointly, especially the utilization of the steam left over from electricity generation to produce heat. The gas turbine is the engine at the heart of the power plant that produces electric current. A gas turbine is a combustion engine that can convert natural gas or other liquid fuels to mechanical energy. This energy then drives a generator that produces electrical energy. A steam turbine is a device that extracts thermal energy from pressurized steam and uses it to do mechanical work on a rotating output shaft.
Natural Gas burns more cleanly than other fuels, such as oil and coal, which has made it become more popular. Environmental groups are trying to get regions to switch to natural gas rather than coal.
Domestic Use
Natural gas is a powerful domestic cooking and heating fuel. Through pipes into a home, it can be used for appliances like ranges and ovens, clothes dryers, and central heating (boilers, furnaces, water heaters, etc.). This resource is typically available through providers throughout the United States, similar to gas south.
Transportation
CNG or Compressed natural gas is a fuel which can be used in place of gasoline, diesel fuel and propane/LPG. It is starting to be used in vehicles but has some downfalls which is affecting its popularity. The main downside being the power or strength of the actual vehicle. Besides cars, it is starting to be used in aircrafts.
Overall there are many uses of Natural Gas and it is important to our environment