Difference Between LPG and Natural Gas for Your Cooktop

LPG and natural gas are both types of gaseous fuels that can be used for cooking. LPG is short for Liquefied Petroleum Gas, while natural gas refers to the gas that comes from the earth. Here are a few common differences between the two:

• LPG is much more portable than natural gas, as it doesn’t need pipelines to be delivered. It also has a higher energy content, meaning you’ll get more heat out of it for your money. LPG is available almost everywhere and is not as costly as natural gas.
• Natural gas is delivered at a much lower pressure than propane, so it’s not as dangerous if there’s a leak. However, connecting propane and natural gas appliances can result in malfunctions and presents a danger to people’s safety.

But natural gas or methane is lighter than air; thus, it will disperse quicker than LPG. This might make natural gas safer than LPG.

Depending on the availability, you may choose what type of gas to use.

At Goldline, you have the flexibility to connect your existing gas line or connect an LPG cylinder to the gas cooktops. All of our gas cooktops like this SAB4 Narrow Gas Cooktop can be connected to either of the fuel sources.

Let’s see in more detail them!

What is Natural Gas

Natural gas is a fossil fuel that is made up of methane. When burned, it releases less CO2 than other fossil fuels, making it a more environmentally friendly option. Additionally, if there is a gas leak, the methane will disperse rather than create an explosive hazard.

Benefits of natural gas

• It is safer than other fuels.
• It is more environmentally friendly.
• Natural gas is generally delivered via pipes rather than cylinders, like in the case of LPG.

What is Propane Gas or LPG

LPG or Propane is a gas used in various ways, from cooking food to powering vehicles. It is often called Propane, and it has a higher calorific value than natural gas. It takes less LPG to create the same amount of heat as natural gas. LPG also requires oxygen to gas ratio of approximately 25 to 1, while natural gas is around 10 to 1.

Benefits of LPG

• LPG is highly portable, and often LPG is used for outdoor cooking as well as cooking in an indoor kitchen.
• LPG has higher energy content at 93.2MJ/m3 than natural gas at 38.7MJ/m3. Meaning LPG will produce more heat than natural gas.
• LPG gas might help with faster cooking because it can produce heat.  Also for the same reason, LPG might be a more efficient fuel for your gas cooktop.
• In most cases, LPG is cheaper.

Key Difference between LPG Gas and Natural gas

Energy

LPG has a higher energy content than natural gas, meaning it releases more heat for the same amount of fuel. LPG needs less fuel to create the same amount of heat as natural gas, making it more efficient.

LPG is Highly Portable

LPG gas is petroleum gas that is often used as cooking fuel. It is easily stored in cylinders and transported to every corner of India, making it a very convenient option for cooking. LPG gas agencies cater to the demand for LPG gas by making a distribution network in villages and cities.

The difference in the Extraction Method

There are two main methods of extracting natural gas: Underground and Surface. Underground extraction is the common method, where wells are drilled deep into the earth to access the gas reserves. Surface extraction is used when the natural gas is located near the surface, for example, in a shale formation. 

There are 6,289 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves worldwide– making it an important fuel source for many countries.

And we get LPG while refining oil or extracting from the natural gas production process. Under pressure, LPG forms a liquid and is then transported into cylinders.

Cost-Effectiveness

LPG is cheaper than natural gas because it does not require any infrastructure for gas connection, like pipelines. LPG also burns cleaner than other fossil fuels, making it a more environmentally friendly option.

Installation Techniques

Natural gas is distributed via pipeline, requiring less pressure than LPG. And LPG is distributed in portable cylinders. Thus, both have different installation processes. In general, getting a natural gas connection is costly.

Safety

LPG gas is heavier than natural gas. Thus it disperses slower than methane or natural gas. At the same time, the natural gas is lighter than LPG and vanishes quickly into the air. Thus natural gas may be safer than using LPG.

Is Propane Natural Gas

Propane or LPG is different from Natural Gas or methane. Although both are colourless, clean-burning fossil fuels, propane is more energy-efficient and considered a green fuel. LPG is also highly portable, which natural gas is not.

Conclusion

Both LPG and natural gas are popular and clean fuels for cooking. While LPG is more efficient, Natural gas is much safer. But installation cost, portability, and running cost of the gas cooktop might push you towards getting LPG.

If you are in doubt, you can always contact us; we would be happy to help you!