Gaseous fuels

Natural gas is extensively present under the earth surface near the petroleum underground fields. The major components of natural gas are methane, ethane, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Coal gas which is also known as town gas is synthesized by the carbonization of coal. It consists of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and a few hydrocarbons. Coal gas is very much expensive and widely used in domestic heating and lighting. Producer gas can be synthesized by the method of partial combustion. Here starting precursors are coal, coke and anthracite coal. These materials are mixed and treated in an air steam blast. Major use of this type of fuel is in glass melting and power generation. When steam is passed over incandescent coke, water gas is produced which is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide and widely used in furnaces. Mond gas is produced by allowing air and steam to pass over waste coal at high temperatures. For power generation, heating and in gas engines, we can use mond gas. Blast furnace gas is a by-product of pig iron in the blast furnace. Coke oven gas is also a by-product.