What is the differance between propane and natural gas?

Question

I am comfused. To me, natural gas would be a cleaner, safer product. But my school is using Temporary propane powered space heaters to heat our cafeteria in the winter (the caferteria is undergoin construction right now). That really bothers me. I am afraid of the effects of the fumes emitted by the heaters. Do I not need to worry? Help me out here.

Thanks,

Confused

Answer 1

Hope these links help:

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-diff...

http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infxt...

Answer 2

Propane is a liquid under pressure. Natural gas or methane is just a gas,but it resist compression. The fumes from the burning of the gas should exhausted to outside. The heater may smell the first few times it is heated, but it is not dangerous.

Answer 3

Propane is a safe, clean burning fuel. It has been used in the construction industry for years for temporary heat and to heat homes and water, dry clothes, and obviously for cooking...

When propane burns, it requires two types of air. Combustion air and ventilation air. An adequate supply of air for the burner is necessary for complete burning of the propane within the heater. When this happens the only thing coming out of that heater is carbon dioxide and water vapor. The ventilation air is necessary to get those products of combustion away from the heater. When you burn propane once it is quite clean, But if you reburn it a second time, now you are making nasty gases like carbon monoxide!

Even the smallest construction heaters are typically putting out the heat of two house furnaces, so the air requirement is significant. If you are concerned, I would ask the site supervisor or someone in charge if they are ensuring adequate ventilation of the heaters.

Propane is not a fuel you need to be frightened of, but you do certainly have to respect it! Nobody will give you grief for asking a question!

Answer 4

Propane is C3H8 and natural gas is (mostly) methane, which is CH4. They are similar in that they are both saturated hydrocarbons that are extremely flammable and commonly used as fuels, but they are two different molecules.