Natural Gas Barbecue

Natural gas barbeques, one of the great frontiers of natural gas industry, are stationary BBQs fueled by natural gas. Natural gas is a mixture of fossil fuels, where methane is the primary constituent. The combustion products of natural gas are carbon dioxide and water vapor. Its ability to burn without producing smoke of toxic gases makes it more eco-friendly. Even though propane provides more energy per unit volume, the cost of natural gas is almost one-fifth the cost of propane. The basic features and working principle are quite similar for NG and LPG fueled grills. Burners for the NG grills are so designed that the BTU output is almost the same as that of the LPG grills. A good variety of shapes in burners may be found, but the H-shaped and oval ones are the most common. To start cooking, a control knob has to be pushed which opens a valve connecting the burner. It causes the gas to rush through the venturi tube and get mixed with air. Turning on the spark igniter will create a spark, which in turn will ignite the gas-air mixture. NG grills often come with lava rock or flame tamer. They are used to act as a conduit of heat. They also catch the drippings from the food and create flare-ups by burning them. The flame tamers are recommended by most manufacturers as they provide more control. Propane grills can be converted to NG grills without much difficulty. The orifices and pipings are needed to be larger and thicker for this purpose. Natural gas is supplied at a lower pressure than the LPG. This requires that the valve connecting the burner to be adjusted to poise the flame height in low setting. The hoses and regulator need to be connected with the main gas line. This conversion process takes place under the supervision of licensed gas fitter. However, higher priced BBQs may be already equipped with necessary parts to run on both fuels. Natural gas BBQs require a permanent connection to the gas lines of the NG suppliers. It makes them incompatible when a need for carrying it outside home arises. However, it also eliminates the need for refilling the gas tanks. Also the cost of the whole device is almost one third of LPG BBQs. The low running cost, safety and adequacy of the fuel make them an appropriate choice for stationary usage.