What you need to know about CNG Tanks

Compressed natural gas is considered as one of the best and most viable alternative fuels today. With global oil prices scaling record heights, the importance of finding a less expensive alternative to gasoline cannot be emphasized. In addition, the worsening condition of the environment, particularly air quality and global warming, has led people to actively look for a cleaner alternative to dirty fossil fuels especially gasoline and diesel. Among the many alternative fuels today, compressed natural gas is considered a very viable option because it is less expensive, readily available, more eco-friendly and is generally safer than petroleum-based fuels.

The safety of compressed natural gas actually depends on two important factors: the physical properties of natural gas itself and the CNG fuel system that is designed and built according to stringent quality standards. The physical properties of CNG by itself already make this fuel a safer alternative to gasoline. For instance, CNG has a limited range of flammability compared to gasoline. In order to burn, CNG needs between 5 to 15% of air and fuel mixture.

CNG also has a higher ignition temperature of 1100 degrees Fahrenheit compared to gasoline’s 600 degrees. This means that, unlike gasoline which can ignite even with the slightest spark, it takes a higher temperature to ignite CNG. This results to a lower risk of fire hazard when using CNG. CNG also has lower fuel density and is lighter than air. In case of leaks, the gas will simply disperse into the atmosphere. In fact if the shipwrecked oil tankers around the world contained natural gas instead of crude oil, there would have been far less damage to the environment. Compressed natural gas is also non-toxic and non-corrosive. It does not contain any toxic ingredients that can harm the body when inhaled.

The other important factor to the safety of CNG is the system by which it is contained and processed. An important component of this CNG system is the CNG tank or cylinder. These tanks are specially designed to contain the CNG safely at pressures of between 3,000 to 3,600 PSI. Most CNG tanks are made of steel, aluminum or plastic. New technologies have also allowed the invention of lightweight composite cylinders that are especially suited for use in vehicles because of the reduced weight. CNG cylinders that are bundled with safety-valve generally follow the ISO 11439 standard. These CNG tanks are usually sold separate from CNG conversion kits and valves.