Economic-Based Comparative analysis of Gasoline and Liquefied Petroleum Gas for Small Scale Power Generation in Nigeria

Abstract

In this study, economic and environmental benefits of using
natural gas in Nigeria, particularly for small-scale power
generation sets was analyzed. A 3.5 kVA generator, an LPG
carburetor, a Wattmeter, and other equipment were used to
perform the analysis experimentally. A code written in
Engineering Equation Solver served as the theoretical basis for
the analysis of energy conversion methods starting from first
principles. The experiment lasted for eight hours, and lifespan of
the generating set was predicted to be five years. The results
indicated that for delivering the same output of 3.5 kW, the
instantaneous PMS and LPG consumption were 0.511 liters/h
and 0.391 kg/h, respectively. When using PMS, the cost of
electricity per unit was determined to be 183.5 N/kWh, while the
cost of electricity per unit for LPG at the current prices of PMS
and LPG was high at 324.2 N/kWh. However, when using LPG
at a lower LPG price per kilogram, the unit cost of electricity
was determined as 175.6 N/kWh. Furthermore, PMS seemed to
be a more cost-effective choice given the high cost of LPG at the
moment, which is about N750 per kilogram. Hence, with LPG
price reduction to N350, using LPG is economically viable with
greater potential for cutting down greenhouse gas emissions in
Nigeria.