Going Alternative with Synthetic Gas
The race to find alternative fuel sources is intensifying. There are plenty of reasons for this, and the fact that many traditional fuels are non-renewable resources is just one of them. New sources of fuel are needed to help save the environment, and they are also necessary in order to reduce our dependence on foreign fuels. Many different things are in the works, but syngas is definitely among the most promising ones. Syngas, or synthesis gas, is made up of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. It’s created through coal, biomass and waste-to-energy gasification, which is conducted in an oxygen-deprived environment. The products are heated to a temperature of 2,500 degrees Celsius and synthesized into syngas. There are many exciting benefits and advantages associated with syngas. Learn more about this unique fuel below.
An Important Catalyst
If you think syngas can be used to fuel a car, think again. That doesn’t mean that it’s not useful though. One of the main advantages of syngas is that it can be used as a catalyst to create synthetic natural gas, ammonia and methanol. It is also an intermediate in the creation of synthetic petroleum, which can then be used as a lubricant or fuel. In other words, otherwise unusable materials are turned into syngas, which is then used to create usable products. The process is quite efficient, and it offers many exciting benefits.
Why Not Use it as a Fuel?
It’s only natural to wonder why syngas can’t be used as a fuel. If it could, it would make a dramatic difference in a world where gasoline and other types of fuel are becoming more precious by the day. The problem is that syngas is about 50 percent as dense as natural gas. As a result, it’s nowhere near as efficient. For that reason, it’s just not practical to burn or use as a fuel. Fortunately, there are other ways to use syngas, so producing it is a worthwhile endeavor. It’s generally used to produce biofuels like ethanol, so it serves a very practical purpose.
How Syngas Helps the Environment
The carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen that are used to create syngas would otherwise end up in area landfills. For that reason alone, syngas is a positive development for the environment. One of the best ways to save the planet is by finding new uses for things that would otherwise be discarded. We all need to learn to be more efficient, and the gasification process is an exciting way to produce new materials that can be used in different ways.
How Syngas Helps the Economy and the Country
Syngas is becoming more popular by the day. As a result, demand for it is skyrocketing. As demand increases, more and more jobs will be created. The economy will benefit enormously over the long run. Furthermore, syngas can be produced domestically, which will help to reduce our dependence on foreign fuel sources.
As you can see, syngas is an exciting way to help the environment and produce materials and products that are needed on a regular basis. If you haven’t heard a lot about it so far, that’s about to change. As the world becomes more aware of the benefits and advantages of synthesis gas, it’s sure to become more popular than ever.
Stephen Craig is a part of an elite team of writers who have contributed to hundreds of blogs and news sites. Follow him @SCraigSEO.