Natural Gas and similar gases for highly efficient power and cogeneration plants
Natural gas is a gas which is largely composed of methane. It is extracted from underground deposits, mostly together with crude oil, and features a methane content of about 80 to 99 percent depending on the composition. Further constituents include ethane, propane, butane and ethene as well as carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Depending on the composition, the usable heat value varies from 9.5 to 10.5 kWh / Nm³; natural gas is therefore ideally suited as a fuel for gas engines.
Today, natural gas is one of the most important sources of energy. The demand is on the rise, and fossil resources are becoming increasingly valuable. Rising natural gas prices and the need for sustainable conservation of the environment necessitate maximum efficiency in the transformation of energy to power, heat, and cold. Today, highly efficient power production and cogeneration (CHP) plants run on natural gas.