CNG Conversion

Unlike liquid fuel, which consistently holds about the same volume of fuel across a broad range of conditions
compressed natural gas (CNG) can expand and contract significantly depending on temperature. For example, under
industry standard conditions (pressure and temperature), a CNG tank on a vehicle may be able to hold 20 gasoline
gallon equivalents, but on a hot day the gas will expand and the tank may only fill to 75% (or less) of its potential.

Tank fill depends on pressure, ambient temperature filling rate.

In US GGE (Gasoline Gallons equivalent or GDE is normally used)

GGE can be defined as the amount of alternative fuel it takes to equal the energy content of one
liquid gallon of gasoline.

For CNG Station the type of meter or dispensing equipment being used to fuel vehicles must be taken into
consideration.

For fast-fill stations that dispense CNG with Coriolis flow meters, which measure fuel mass and report fuel dispensed
on a "gallon of gasoline-equivalent" (GGE) basis, the lbs./GGE factor should be used.

For time-fill stations or other applications that use traditional residential and commercial gas meters that
measure/register in units of cubic feet, the CF/GGE factor should be used.

Conversion formula
Gaoline base

GGE factor=1

Energy content=114000 Btu/lb

For CNG

Energy content=20268 Btu/lb (value may change based on composition)

Conversion factor=5.63 lb/GGE

Conversion factor for volume=5.63/0.04568

Conversion factor=126.67scf/GGE

So conversion from lb to scf=5.63/126.67=0.0444lb/scf

Or 0.570kg/litre (conversion factor is 12.85346)

SCF=(Standard Cubic feet =1 cubic foot of gas at 60 °F (15.6 °C) and 14.73 PSI

Effect of pressure can be included by using Boyles Law gas

P1V1=P2V2

V1=P2V2/P1

So

V1=14.7*126.67/P1

Where P1 is the pressure at which the cylinders are filled and V1 is the volume in standard cubic feet/GGE

If P1=2400 psi

Then

V1=0.77 SCF/GGE

Value can be verified from the table given for reference.

For Temperature effect

General gas law can be used

Which is

P1V1/T1=P2V2/T2

Where

P2=14.7psi,,V2=126.67psi,T2=60 F( Both temperatures must be taken on Rankine scale)

A good rule of thumb is that for every 10ºF plus or minus 70ºF, the pressure will increase or decrease by 100 psi than
that obtained at 70 F on which most of the US systems are calibrated.

For Pakistan the All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) has unilaterally converted sale of gas in litres

Referance

US Department of energy

Wikipedia

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