NATURAL-GAS STORAGE

In applications where storage volume is limited, the density of the stored material is the important parameter. The storage of natural ps (methane) at ambient temperatures is an example of this. Adsorption can be used to enhance this storage density, but the traditional methods of activation of carbons to increase adsorption capacity do not appear to be suitable for increasing methane density at ambient temperatures. Activation of PVDC carbon by steam and activation of CNS carbon using carbon dioxide both showed increases in methane adsorption per unit mass of activated carbon; but when these results are considered from a storage volume standpoint, there is little to be gained from activation.