Natural Gas Characteristics and Combustion

Natural Gas Characteristics

What is Natural Gas

Natural gas is a fossil fuel derived from hydrocarbons produced thousands of years ago when plant and
animal materials were buried beneath layers of soil and rock. It is mainly composed of methane (CH4), a
colourless, odourless and non-toxic substance. Methane is also produced naturally from sources such as
swamps and ruminants (e.g. cattle and sheep).

BC Gas’ natural gas comes primarily from wells located in northeastern BC. After removal of the
contaminants, natural gas is only slightly odorous. As a safety measure, an odourant called mercaptan (a
sulphur-based compound) is added to the gas before it is fed into the distribution system. Only trace
amounts of odourant (approximately 10mg/m3 or 4ppm) are needed to give natural gas its familiar odour.

Typical Analyses and Heating Values of Natural Gas

Gas heating value in BC varies with the geographic location. It varies from a higher heating value (HHV)
of 39.21 MJ/m 3 (1052.8 Btu/cf) to 37.55 MJ/m3 (1008.2 Btu/cf).

COMPOSITION – % VOLUME
Carbon Relative
Methane Ethane Propane Butane Dioxide Nitrogen Density HHV HHV
CH4 C2H6 C3H8 C4H10 CO2 N2 air=1 MJ/m3* Btu/cf†

Average 95.52 2.627 0.441 0.136 0.40 0.74 0.580 38.58 1035.8
Maximum 98.86 5.135 1.522 0.155 0.64 1.21 0.591 39.21 1052.8
Minimum 93.33 0.225 0.028 0.017 0.01 0.43 0.563 37.55 1008.2

* At 15˚C, 101.325 kPa, dry (Metric Standard Conditions)

† At 60˚C, 14.73 psia, dry (Imperial Standard Conditions)

Notes:
1. Since values in the table represent only the average, maximum and minimum for values in each
column, the sum of natural gas constituents does not add to 100%.

2. Natural gas is analyzed at several points throughout the transmission system. From daily samples the
monthly and yearly averages are calculated.
Natural Gas Utilization

Natural gas, due to its unique molecular structure, is the cleanest burning fossil fuel. The efficiency and
emissions from burning natural gas will vary depending on the application. Equipment-specific data should
be used for energy calculations.

Typical conventional boilers efficiencies:

Industrial gas boiler 75 – 85%
Commercial gas boiler 65 – 80%

Combustion characteristics of natural gas:

Ignition point 590 to 650˚C (1100 – 1200˚F)
Flammability Limits 4.3 – 15% (% volume natural gas in air)
Theoretical flame temperature 1940˚C (3525˚F)
Maximum flame velocity (in air) 0.30 m/s (1 ft/s)
†Specific volume (15˚C, 101.325 kPa) 1.443 m3/kg (23 cf/lb)
Relative density (Specific gravity) 0.58 (average, relative to air)
Boiling point (of liquified natural gas) -162˚C (-260˚F)
Combustion products CO2 , H2O, heat, trace of NO 2 and SO2

†Calculated from natural gas sample with higher heat value of 38.6 MJ/m3.

Air for natural gas combustion:

Theoretical (stoichiometric) requirement for
complete combustion 10/1 (approximate, air/gas volume ratio)
Specific volume (dry, 15˚C, 101.325 kPa) 0.816 m3/kg (13.07 cf/lb)
Air composition (% by volume) O2=20.99, N2=78.03, Inerts=0.98

Combustion with excess air

In practice, combustion is hardly ever carried out in stoichiometric conditions. Some industrial burners
may operate at air/gas ratios which are extremely close to the theoretically correct value, but the majority of
burners require a measure of air in excess of the stoichiometric quantity to ensure combustion is carried
through to completion.

Typical excess air:

For gas boiler (power) burners: 5 – 20% (by volume)
For atmospheric burners: 20 – 30%
Combustion of a Unit Volume

Combustion is a chemical reaction combining fuel and oxygen to produce heat and combustion products.
Atmospheric air contains 21% oxygen (by volume) and is the most convenient O2 source. Stoichiometric
combustion conditions are those where the relative fuel and air quantities are the theoretical minimum
needed to produce complete combustion.

The combustion reaction can be represented by way of a chemical equation for each constituent present in
the fuel:

Methane CH4 + 2 O2 —> CO2 + 2 H2O

Ethane C2H6 + 3.5 O2 —> 2 CO2 + 3 H2O
Propane C3H8 + 5 O2 —> 3 CO2 + 4 H2O
Butane C4H10 + 6.5 O2 —> 4 CO2 + 5 H2O
Pentane C5H12 + 8 O2 —> 5 CO2 + 6 H2O
Hexane C6H14 + 9.5 O2 —> 6 CO2 + 7 H2O

Calculation of Stoichiometric Combustion Products From One Volume (m3 or cf)

From a sample with HHV = 38.6 MH/m3 (1036.4 Btu/cf) which can be considered a typical average.
Constituent Stoichiometric Combustion Products
O2/Air CO2 H2O N2
m3 m3 m3 m3 m3
CH4 0.95830 x2 = 1.917 x1 = 0.958 x2 = 1.917
C2H6 0.02575 x 3.5 = 0.090 x2 = 0.052 x3 = 0.077
C3H8 0.00446 x5 = 0.022 x3 = 0.013 x4 = 0.018
C4H10 0.00166 x 6.5 = 0.011 x4 = 0.007 x5 = 0.008
C5H12 0.00040 x8 = 0.003 x5 = 0.002 x6 = 0.002
C6H14 0.00004 x 9.5 = 0.000 x6 = 0.000 x7 = 0.000
CO2 0.00208 — 0.002 —
N2 0.00738 — — — 0.007
O2 = 2.043

N2 = O2 x 3.76 = —> — — — — — — — — — — — — — ——> 7.682

Air = O2 x 4.76
1.000 Air 9.727 1.032 2.023 7.689

Hence for stoichiometric combustion of the above natural gas sample we have:
Theoretical air requirement: 9.727 m3 of air/m3 of gas
Wet combustion products: 1.032 + 2.023 + 7.869 = 10.744 m3/m3 of gas
Dry combustion products: 1.032 + 7.689 = 8.721 m3/m3 of gas

Note: All volumes at standard conditions 15˚C, 101.325 kPa, dry.

Combustion of One Gigajoule

Stoichiometric Combustion Products From One Gigajoule of Natural Gas

For typical average natural gas with higher heat value or 38.6 MJ/m3. All volumes at standard conditions:
15˚C, 101.325 kPa, dry.

Product per Gigajoule Volume Mass Density Mass (Weight)

m3/GJ kg/m3 kg/GJ
Natural Gas and Combustion Air
Natural gas, one gigajoule 25.9 x 0.6928 = 17.9
Combustion air, dry, per GJ 252 x 1.225 = 308.7
Combustion Products
CO2 per GJ 26.7 x 1.861 = 49.8
N2 per GJ 199.2 x 1.185 = 236
H2O per GJ 52.4 x 0.762 = 40
Total Combustion Products
Wet combustion products per GJ 278.4 x 1.170 325.8
Dry combustion products per GJ 225.9 — 285.8

SO2 per GJ: (Calculated from the average sulphur content of 20 mg/m3 or 15 ppm) approx. 1g SO 2/GJ

Natural Gas Billing

Natural Gas Sales

In Canada and the USA gas is sold on a higher heating value (HHV) basis. The billing is either in energy
or “standard” volume units. In British Columbia and Alberta the SI metric unit “gigajoule” is used for
billing while in the rest of Canada gas is sold in “standard” cubic metres. Western Europe (including UK)
now sells gas by the kilowatt hour. The SI metric “standard” m3 of gas is at 15˚C and 101.325 kPa, dry.

The US gas industry uses Btu, its multiples (e.g. therm) and also volumetric measure — the “standard”
cubic foot. From the six different Btu’s presently in use, only one is defined exactly with the help of a joule
— the Btu IT (International Table). In the US it is the sales contract, or government regulations which
specify the Btu to be used in a particular transaction. The “standard” reference conditions were established
in 1969 at 14.73 psia and 60˚F. However, many state laws prescribing other pressure and temperature base
conditions for fuel gas measurements still exist.
Definitions and Conversions
SI Metric Energy Units
1. The SI unit of quantity of heat, energy and
work is the joule (J), which is equal to a
newton metre (N•m), and to a watt second
(W•s).
2 The joule provides one coherent unit to
supersede a large number of traditional units:
Btu, therm, calorie, ft.-lbf, hp-h, etc.
3. The preferred multiples for commercial gas
transactions on an energy basis are the
megajoule (MJ) and gigajoule (GJ).
4. The kilowatt hour is widely used as a measure
of electric energy. The accepted symbol in
North America is “kWh”, but the
international symbol is “kW•h”.
Selected SI Prefixes
(Also apply to earlier metric systems)
PREFIX SYMBOL MULTIPLYING FACTOR
exa E 1 000 000 000 000 000 000 = 1018
peta P 1 000 000 000 000 000 = 1015
tera T 1 000 000 000 000 = 1012
giga G 1 000 000 000 = 109
mega M 1 000 000 = 10 6
kilo k 1 000 = 10 3
Heating Value Definition
• Higher Heating Value (HHV)
Gross Heating Value
Total Heating Value
Gross Calorific Value
Total Calorific Value
These terms are equivalents. HHV is a term in
the metric SI and is now used more frequently.
The HHV is the quantity of heat produced by
the combustion of a unit (volume, mass or
amount of substance) of gas in air under constant
pressure, after cooling of the combustion
products to the initial temperature of the gas and
air, and after condensation of the water vapour
created by the combustion to the liquid state.
• Lower Heating Value (LHV)
Net Heating Value
Net Calorific Value
Lower (net) heating value is the higher (gross)
heating value minus the latent heat of
vaporization of the water vapour formed by the
combustion of the hydrogen in the fuel. A “rule
of thumb” for natural gas is HHV=LHV x 1.11.

Conversions

Energy
1 Btu (International Table)
1 Btu (59˚F, 15˚C)
1 Btu (60.5˚F)
1 Btu (thermochemical)
1 kilowatt hour
= 1.055 056 kJ 1 GJ = 947.82 MBtu IT ASME, ASTM, equipment manufacturers
= 1.054 80 kJ 1 GJ = 948.05 MBtu 59 AGA, US Government
= 1.054 615 kJ 1 GJ = 948.21 MBtu 60.5 CGA, Canadian Government
= 1.054 35 kJ 1 GJ = 948.45 MBtu th ASHRAE
= 3.6 MJ 1 GJ = 277.78 kW•h Electric Energy and European Gas Industry

Power and Heat Flow

1 kilowatt (kW) = 3 412 Btu IT/h = 859.85 kcal IT/h
1 boiler horsepower = 33 475 Btu IT/h = 9.81 kW
1 ton refrigeration = 12 000 Btu IT/h = 3.52 kW
For more information and technical assistance,
please contact Bill Hennessey, Transportation and
Marketing Services, (604) 592-7916.

This information herein is a guide only. BC Gas is not responsible for

the accuracy and cannot accept any legal responsibility for any errors
that may be made.

Corporate Head Office

1111 West Georgia Street,
Vancouver, B.C.
Canada V6E 4M4
Web Address: www.bcgas.com 8qrk-1000 07-11-01