FAQ

Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) is a gas obtained by blending air with any gas or gas mixture, having a calorific value equal to the calorific value of methane. Information on blending Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) with air is presented on our website. SNG is used to replace natural gas in industrial enterprises, gas power plants, and is applied for the gasification of settlements (cities, districts, villages). SNG can also be referred to as gas containing methane (CH4), obtained through coal gasification. Bio-SNG can be called gas containing methane, obtained through biomass gasification or biogas recovered from landfills, but bio-SNG can also be referred to as gas obtained in the process of blending bio-LPG with air.

To accurately calculate the cost of SNG for a business, you need to add to the wholesale prices of LPG converted to 1 kWh the operating costs of the equipment, such as: 1) the total cost of obtaining the vapor phase of LPG - the costs of heating the gas in LPG vaporizers, 2) the costs of electricity consumption for the operation of the compressor and pumps. However, the total operating costs are usually around 3% of the wholesale price of LPG. The dynamics of LPG and natural gas prices can be monitored on the websites of suppliers, exchanges, etc. In September 2022, natural gas was five times more expensive than LPG. The latest price ratios at the beginning of 2024 show that LPG is more expensive than natural gas by 5-10%. However, the situation with the instability of natural gas prices may repeat, and the profitability of SNG systems during the period of rising natural gas prices will be measured in months, and sometimes even weeks of business operation.

To select the appropriate equipment and estimate costs, four main parameters need to be considered:

1. Maximum flow of SNG or natural gas per hour in normal cubic meters (Q = ? Nm³/h or MMBTU/h).

2. Gas pressure at the connection point (P = ? from 0.035 to 10 bar or from 0.5 to 145 psi).

3. Required calorific value of the gas (heat of combustion), for example, for natural gas 8,900 kcal/m3 (1000 BTU/Cu.Ft.), but some facilities in the European Union may use nitrogen-enriched gas, and its calorific value may be 5,260 kcal/m3 (22.0 Mj/m³).

4. Propane and butane ratios in LPG gas, for example, 60% propane and 40% butane.

5. The installation costs of SNG systems are several times lower than the installation costs of LNG for industrial enterprises.

Please leave us your request on our website with the above-mentioned parameters, and we will send you an offer for connecting the SNG system.

There are no special requirements; the placement of the main equipment is done in accordance with regional requirements for the installation of equipment for LPG (LPG tanks, pumps, vaporizers, SNG blenders, pipelines, etc.). For industrial enterprises installing SNG systems on their premises, it is not necessary to obtain separate approvals or permits from the natural gas supplier, as the connection occurs after the natural gas metering node.

SNG-blender, is a device where LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and air are automatically mixed under high pressure in the required ratio, producing SNG gas (synthetic natural gas) with properties similar to natural gas (NG). The SNG-blender is characterized by its precision, automated gas mixing process, and a broad range of adjustments for calorific value and pressure.

The Venturi-type propane-air blender (LPG/AIR Mixers) is a device that combines propane or LPG to create a mixture of synthetic natural gas (SNG) by drawing atmospheric air through the Venturi tube and diffuser. The maximum pressure at the outlet of this blender can reach 0.5 bar (7.2 psi); however, achieving precision in mixing and, consequently, stable calorific value of the gas at the outlet may be challenging.

According to the standard EN 16723:2017 "Natural Gas And Biomethane For Use In Transport And Biomethane For Injection In The Natural Gas Network" in the European Union, which requires online monitoring of the heating value and Wobbe index every 30 minutes before injecting biomethane into natural gas pipelines. Biomethane obtained during the biogas purification process does not always meet the minimum required heating value of 34.0 MJ/m3 (8,120 kcal/m3). SNG blenders can be applied to blend 2-10% LPG with biomethane to meet the heating value requirements before injecting it into the natural gas pipeline. Blenders are most popularly used for biomethane applications in Germany and the Czech Republic.

A key concept in the context of 'synthetic natural gas' is the constancy of the heat flux obtained during gas combustion, characterized by the Wobbe Index.

The Wobbe Index (both upper and lower values) is a parameter characterizing gas or gaseous fuel, determining its ability to generate thermal energy during combustion. It is the ratio of the calorific value to the square root of the relative pressure and density under the same reference conditions. The formula for the Wobbe Index looks like this:

The Wobbe Index is significant as it influences the combustion of gas in devices such as burners, furnaces, or gas turbines. In practice, both the lower and upper Wobbe values are applied depending on the specific application.

Mixing LPG and air is entirely safe. The process of blending LPG with air takes place in a special tube of the largest diameter of the SNG blender. Mixing does not occur in the direct stream; inside the mixer, there are special partitions of specific dimensions and tilt angles to ensure the absence of vibrations and proper blending. As for the explosive concentration, it pertains to gas leaks in the room. The explosive concentration of natural gas ranges from 5 to 15% of the room's volume. When the concentration of gas in the air of the room is less than 5% or more than 15%, combustion occurs.

The PEAK SHAVING SYSTEM is a device that ensures the automatic injection of SNG into the natural gas (NG) pipeline in the absence or reduction of natural gas pressure. The available control valve and automatic control system can provide the blending of SNG into NG. A more cost-effective solution may be the AUTO ACTUATION SYSTEM - an automatic system for supplying natural gas in the absence of gas pressure using an ON-OFF valve, without the gas blending function.

To operate the high-pressure automatic SNG blender, it is necessary to use an air compressor with an air receiver tank. The selection of the compressor's performance depends on the input parameters of the SNG system. Venturi-type SNG blenders can operate without a compressor at pressures up to 0.5 bar. Venturi tubes, when in operation, produce a distinctive loud sound by drawing in air from the atmosphere.

BioLPG, also known as BioPropan, is a type of gaseous fuel that is identical in composition and chemical properties to traditional liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) but is produced from organic materials or waste. The BioLPG production process may involve processing various organic raw materials such as sewage sludge, agricultural residues, sawmill waste, and even bioethanol or the synthesis of renewable hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

Currently, BioLPG finds practical application in gas supply systems in the United Kingdom.

One of the interesting technologies is the production of DME, which stands for dimethyl ether, a gas similar to propane. DME can serve as both a finished product and an intermediate raw material for the production of biopropane. Its main source of production is the dehydration of methanol. Various raw materials are used for production, including biomass, waste, wood, agricultural products, as well as fossil fuels such as gas and coal. DME can be blended with LPG in proportions of 20% for household purposes (heating and cooking) and 25% - 30% for transportation purposes.