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

Abstract

The research analyzes the benefits to the economy and environment of using natural gas in
Nigeria, particularly for small-scale power production, to power local power generation sets.
A 3.5 kVA generator, an LPG carburetor, a Wattmeter, and other lighter materials required
for the experiment were used to perform the analysis experimentally. Additionally, a code
written in Engineering Equation Solver served as the theoretical foundation for the analysis
of energy conversion methods starting from first principles. The experiment lasted for eight
hours, and the generating set's lifespan was predicted to be five years. The results show 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 to be 175.6
N/kWh. Furthermore, PMS seems to be a more cost-effective choice given the high cost of
LPG at the moment, which can reach N750 per kilogram. However, with LPG price
reduction to N350, using LPG is more economically viable with greater potential for cutting
down greenhouse gas emissions in the country.