Why Is Methane Gas Used in Gas Calibration

Methane holds several properties that make it distinct from other gases when used for calibration. The accuracy that methane provides in gas calibration is second to none. Having this resource at our fingertips has proven to be extremely resourceful in the use of gas calibration. These are a few reasons why methane gas is used in gas calibration.
 
Best Measuring Responsiveness
 
When using methane in gas calibration applications, methane has the ability to hold a lower pressure reading than any other gas, with the exception of pentane. The reason why pentane isn’t as widely used is due to its high flammability and combustion rates. Methane is also known to have higher responsiveness at high gas pressure reading, making it suitable for capturing accurate gas pressures, whether low or high.
 
Low Combustibility and Flammability
 
As we mentioned earlier, Pentane was the main competitor for gas calibration with methane. When it was discovered that the gas was reactive with high combustibility and flammability, it was an easy decision to go with methane.
 
In general, compressed gases have a few safety hazards to be aware of—pentane being one of the extreme circumstances. And though methane is less likely to combust, it doesn’t exclude methane from incidents such as explosions and fires. Rather, it just means that we need to keep a tight eye on it while we work to calibrate our gases. Due to its flammable and explosive properties, methane is typically transported and stored in calibrated gas cylinders for distribution.
 
Easily Accessible
 
One of the most attractive aspects of methane is that it remains readily available. It is accessible in every corner of the earth. For this reason, there is an abundance that drives the cost down, and due to it being natural, it is also nontoxic. With all these things in mind, methane is the single most used natural gas for that reason.
 
Methane has made its presence known in how it reacts to gas calibration. It also has a higher safety rating, and although not completely safe, it is safer than its other gaseous counterparts. With low levels of combustibility and flammability, this is seen as a reliable resource. Another reason why methane is used in gas calibration is its ease of access, as there is a sheer abundance of gas, making it a commodity for gas regulation.