Combining Methane, Ethane, Propane, and Oxygen produces: Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, and Water (Oxygen Dihydrate).
CH4 + C2H6 + C3H8 + O2 -> CO + CO2 + H2O
This is the primary reaction. It is an
exothermic combustion reaction (it produces heat), Carbon Monoxide is only formed in trace quantities (less
than 1 ppm). The Water vapour, which sounds fairly harmless, actually often carries particles of soot from
burnt dust, or foreign materials in the Natural Gas into the air. As such it can be a problem, it can be
dealt with through the usage of an ionizer, which would attract all the droplets to its surface, getting them out
of the air, but would also tend to increase the amount of Carbon Monoxide produced.
Combining Nitrogen and Oxygen produces Nitrogen Dioxide, Nitrogen
Trioxide and related compounds.
N2 + O2 -> NO2 + NO3 etc.
This is a secondary reaction, it is an
endothermic combination reaction (it requires an outside energy source to take place, it is not self
sustaining). The products are all usually referred to as Nitrogen Oxide (NOX). Nitrogen Dioxide
is particularly dangerous since when combined with water it produces Nitric Acid (NO2 +
H2O -> H2NO3)Since human lungs contain a considerable amount of moisture,
inhaling Nitrogen Oxide is considered to be extremely dangerous..
This reaction is actually independent of the
Nitrogen in the natural gas itself, since there is an ample supply of Nitrogen in ordinary air. The reaction
will take place wherever conditions permit (it requires an appropriate energy source to sustain the reaction,
heat or ultra-violet light are both effective).
This is the primary reaction. It is an
exothermic combustion reaction (it produces heat), Carbon Monoxide is only formed in trace quantities (less
than 1 ppm). The Water vapour, which sounds fairly harmless, actually often carries particles of soot from
burnt dust, or foreign materials in the Natural Gas into the air. As such it can be a problem, it can be
dealt with through the usage of an ionizer, which would attract all the droplets to its surface, getting them out
of the air, but would also tend to increase the amount of Carbon Monoxide produced.