Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
Some natural gas sources are too difficult or too expensive to reach via pipeline. Converting natural gas to liquid form - which occurs at approximately -260F - decreases its volume by more than 600 times and allows other transportation options, such as specially outfitted tanker ships and trucks, to be used. Once the liquefied natural gas reaches its destination, it is revaporized and transported through existing pipelines.
The insulated tanks that store LNG use "autorefrigeration" to keep their contents cold. First, the natural gas is chilled to -260F° -- the temperature at which it condenses from gas to liquid. At that point, any heat gained from the atmosphere outside the tank is offset by the cooling effect of the resulting LNG evaporation within the tank. (Just wet your hand and let it air dry; you’ll feel evaporation’s cooling effect for yourself.) Any re-vaporized natural gas can be vented and recovered for use.
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