Fuel Composition Comparison

Natural Gas, Energy Crop, Wood Gas, and Agriculture Wastes

Introduction
Different types of fuels have different chemical compositions, which affect their energy content,
environmental impact, and combustion characteristics. In this document, we will compare the
fuel composition of four common types of fuels: natural gas, energy crop (switch grass), typical
wood gas, and agriculture wastes. We will use the following parameters to compare the fuels:
carbon content, hydrogen content, oxygen content, nitrogen content, sulfur content, moisture
content, ash content, and heating value.

Natural Gas
Natural gas is a fossil fuel that consists mainly of methane (CH4), a hydrocarbon gas that
contains one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. Natural gas also contains small amounts of
other gases, such as ethane, propane, butane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide. The
composition of natural gas varies depending on the source and processing method, but a typical
natural gas sample has the following composition (by volume):

 Methane: 70-90%
 Ethane: 0-20%
 Propane: 0-5%
 Butane: 0-5%
 Carbon dioxide: 0-8%
 Nitrogen: 0-5%
 Hydrogen sulfide: 0-5%

The carbon content of natural gas is about 75%, the hydrogen content is about 25%, the oxygen
content is negligible, the nitrogen content is about 1%, and the sulfur content is about 0.1%. The
moisture content of natural gas is usually very low, as it is removed during processing. The ash
content of natural gas is also negligible, as it does not contain any solid particles. The heating
value of natural gas depends on the composition and pressure, but a typical value is about 37
MJ/m3 (1,000 BTU/ft3).

Energy Crop (Switch Grass)

Energy crop is a term for plants that are grown specifically for their use as biofuels. Switch grass
is a perennial grass that is native to North America and can grow in various soil and climate
conditions. Switch grass can be harvested and converted into various forms of biofuels, such as
ethanol, biogas, or syngas. The composition of switch grass varies depending on the variety,
growing conditions, and harvesting method, but a typical switch grass sample has the following
composition (by dry weight):

 Carbon: 45%
 Hydrogen: 6%
 Oxygen: 40%
 Nitrogen: 0.8%
 Sulfur: 0.1%
 Moisture: 10-20%
 Ash: 3-5%

The heating value of switch grass depends on the moisture and ash content, but a typical value is
about 18 MJ/kg (7,800 BTU/lb).

Typical Wood Gas

Wood gas is a type of syngas that is produced by the gasification of wood or other biomass.
Wood gas consists mainly of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), and methane (CH4), with
small amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen (N2), and water vapor (H2O). The composition
of wood gas varies depending on the type and quality of the biomass, the gasification method,
and the gas cleaning process, but a typical wood gas sample has the following composition (by
volume):

 Carbon monoxide: 20-30%

 Hydrogen: 10-20%
 Methane: 2-5%
 Carbon dioxide: 10-15%
 Nitrogen: 40-50%
 Water vapor: 5-10%

The carbon content of wood gas is about 30%, the hydrogen content is about 15%, the oxygen
content is about 25%, the nitrogen content is about 30%, and the sulfur content is negligible. The
moisture content of wood gas is usually high, as it is not removed during gasification. The ash
content of wood gas is also negligible, as it is separated from the gas stream. The heating value
of wood gas depends on the composition and pressure, but a typical value is about 6 MJ/m3 (160
BTU/ft3).
Agriculture Wastes
Agriculture wastes are the residues or by-products of agricultural activities, such as crop
harvesting, animal husbandry, or food processing. Agriculture wastes can be used as biofuels,
either directly or after conversion into other forms, such as biogas, ethanol, or biodiesel. The
composition of agriculture wastes varies depending on the type and source of the waste, but a
typical agriculture waste sample has the following composition (by dry weight):

 Carbon: 40-50%
 Hydrogen: 5-7%
 Oxygen: 35-45%
 Nitrogen: 1-3%
 Sulfur: 0.1-0.5%
 Moisture: 10-30%
 Ash: 5-15%

The heating value of agriculture wastes depends on the moisture and ash content, but a typical
value is about 15 MJ/kg (6,500 BTU/lb).

Conclusion
In this document, we have compared the fuel composition of natural gas, energy crop (switch
grass), typical wood gas, and agriculture wastes. We have seen that natural gas has the highest
carbon and hydrogen content, and the lowest oxygen and ash content, which makes it the most
energy-dense and clean-burning fuel among the four. Energy crop and agriculture wastes have
similar carbon and oxygen content, but energy crop has lower nitrogen and ash content, which
makes it more suitable for biofuel production. Wood gas has the lowest carbon and hydrogen
content, and the highest oxygen and nitrogen content, which makes it the least energy-dense and
most diluted fuel among the four. However, wood gas has the advantage of being produced from
renewable and abundant biomass sources, which makes it a sustainable and low-cost fuel option.