Decarbonization of Canister Gas Fuel

Basics

• This page aims to cover the various ways in which Canister Gas / LPG Canister Fuel can be/is being Decarbonized

Methods

Complete Substitution

• Electrification
  • Easy for lights via LED / LEP based solutions etc
    • Short of novelty uses which are far smaller than when Incandescent Mantels were the MAIN option for expeditionary lighting etc
  • For Canister Gas Stoves it is a bit more difficult
    • Substitution with Pressure Stoves using Fuel Alcohols can preform at similar heat outputs, albeit with more fuel consumption (and thus logistical issues)
    • Non-Pressure Trangia type stoves can be used as well, but have even less heat output
      • Although low temperature operation, and ease of extinguishing fires/spilled fuel SOMEWHAT make up for this issue
    • Pressure Stoves using heavier Biofuels such as Biodiesel or even PPO / Emulsion Fuels / Pyrolysis Oil etc fix the issues of low heat output, but negate the ease of extinguishing, and add potentially more emissions / harder starting (necessitating pre-heating with another fuel, or complex Oil Burner Blowtoch based preheaters etc
    • Some Non-Induction Options exist, but may not have the heat output to be a “drop in” replacement
      • A Portable Induction Stove and/or continued improvements in Portable Battery Banks / Portable Solar Panels etc may change this calculus

Near-Drop In Solutions

• This would be still using Gas Canisters, but changing the gas to more easily produced options such as:
  • Dimethyl Ether
  • Ethylene / Ethane (from ethanol)
• Given their dissimilarities to the existing fuels, there may be various issues such as:
  • Material Compatibility Issues
    • Especially with O-Ring seals and Gaskets
  • Reduced Specific Heat
  • Need to modify nozzles/burners due to different ideal Air-Fuel Ratios
• Finally this would also require retooling/quite significant changes in industrial supply chains

Drop In Solutions

• Essentially Make:
  • Bio-Butane
  • Bio-Isobutane
  • Bio-Propane
• Then use the existing infrastructure and solutions, albeit with Traceability / Proper certifications to PROOVE it is non-fossil fuel based etc
  • This would be more expensive in theory but either with Carbon Tax based solutions, or simply ‘’after fossil fuel phase out’’ this would be the only way to make said fuel really
    • Along with Power-to-X

Status of Drop In Solutions

Non-Road/Industrial Use of LPG

• Essentially use this to get a hard number target
• If sales of Gas Canisters etc are tracked this would be a more accurate measurement