Comment by ACCount37
8 hours ago
Why go for long synthetic chains?
Methane has good energy density, doesn't demand cryogenics or diffuse through steel, burns very cleanly, and can be used in modified gasoline ICEs - without even sacrificing the gasoline fuel capability.
Isn't the point that it is as simple and convenient as normal gasoline and also that you can use your gasoline car? If you are using gases it is a hassle for everyone and you need a new car or a full retrofit. At some point we have to ask ourself why we would even do that. Is it really worth it compared to just using a battery?
Without cryogenics, methane has such low energy density that a low-pressure fuel tank would still have to be as big as a bus for your compact methane-powered vehicle to go as far as you could on a few gallons of gasoline.
Why?
CNG ICE vehicles exist, especially in parts of the world that have cheap natural gas and expensive gasoline - often as dual fuel retrofits.
They have to deal with high pressure tanks, but compared to the woes of hydrogen storage, that's downright benign.
Good question.
It's just the physical properties of methane.
That's why they use high-pressure tanks because with low-pressure gas storage, the tank needs to be bigger than the car.
Energy density of methane is still lower than any other hydrocarbons.
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