تاریخ بروزرسانی(Update Date): 23rd January 2025
Gases play a vital role in daily life and industries, encompassing a wide range of types. From simple gases like oxygen, essential for breathing, to more complex ones like natural gas, which consists of various gas compounds. LPG, composed of propane and butane, also finds extensive applications in heating, cooking, and transportation. Each of these gases, with their unique properties and historical significance, has profoundly influenced technological development and improved human life. This article primarily focuses on the history of natural gas and LPG.
Gas in Ancient Civilizations
The earliest use of natural gas dates back to ancient times. Evidence suggests that around 1000 BCE, natural gas flames emerging from cracks in the earth were observed and utilized by ancient civilizations such as China, Iran, and Greece. At that time, these flames were often considered sacred phenomena and were employed in temples or religious sites.
The first practical use of natural gas was by the Chinese people. They used hollow bamboo pipes to channel gas from leakage points to their desired locations. One of their applications involved burning gas to evaporate seawater, enabling them to extract salt. Additionally, the Chinese, using primitive tools, also dug shallow wells to access natural gas.
17th Century
The term “gas” was first introduced by the Belgian chemist and physician Jan Baptista van Helmont in the early 17th century. This term was derived from a Greek word meaning chaos and disorder. While studying the fermentation process, he noticed an invisible substance (carbon dioxide gas) produced during evaporation. He named this invisible material, which was neither solid nor liquid, “gas.”
Robert Boyle also studied the properties of gases, leading to the discovery of Boyle’s Law for gases. This law states that at a constant temperature, the volume of a gas is inversely proportional to its pressure, meaning that if the pressure of a gas increases, its volume decreases, and vice versa, provided the temperature remains constant. Using precise tools like bent mercury tubes, Boyle discovered this law through meticulous experiments. This law is considered one of the foundations of modern chemistry and physics.
18th Century
Scientific Discovery of Various Gases
In the 18th century, prominent chemists such as Joseph Priestley and Henry Cavendish made significant discoveries about gases that transformed our understanding of air composition and various gases. In 1774, Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen; by heating mercuric oxide, he released a gas that he called “dephlogisticated air” and found it essential for breathing and combustion. In 1766, Henry Cavendish discovered hydrogen; by reacting metals like zinc with acids, he produced a gas he referred to as “inflammable air,” later identified as one of the main components of water. These discoveries laid the foundation for modern chemistry and significantly enhanced scientific knowledge of elements and natural gases.
Use of Gas for Urban Lighting (Coal Gas)
The use of gas for urban lighting began with coal gas in the late 18th century. William Murdoch, a Scottish engineer, was the first to use coal gas for illumination in 1792. He tested the idea in his own home by distilling coal to extract the gas. In 1807, the first public lighting system using gas was installed on the streets of London by the Gas Light and Coke Company, efficiently illuminating the streets. This technology quickly spread to other cities in Europe and America and became the standard for lighting streets, homes, and public spaces by the mid-19th century.
19th Century
The First Industrial Drilling for Natural Gas
The first industrial efforts to extract natural gas date back to the early 19th century. In 1821, William Hart in Fredonia, New York, drilled the first natural gas well. Observing gas seeping from the ground, he dug a simple well to bring natural gas to the surface. Hart utilized this gas to light street lamps and homes in Fredonia, marking the first industrial application of natural gas in the world. This achievement by William Hart marked the beginning of a new era in the utilization of natural gas resources and sparked the development of modern technologies in the industry.
The Invention of Gas Pipelines
During the same period, technology for transporting natural gas from wells to consumption areas began to develop. In the 1820s, the first wooden pipelines for transporting gas were built in Fredonia. This simple yet effective technology paved the way for using pipelines on a larger scale. Later, pioneers like Samuel Kier, a forerunner in the oil and gas industry in America, introduced more advanced systems using metal pipes. In subsequent decades, advancements in industrial materials such as steel and welding led to the creation of modern pipeline networks. These developments facilitated the widespread and sustainable use of natural gas in industries and daily life, laying the foundation for the global gas industry.
20th Century
The 20th century was a crucial period for the development and widespread use of various gases. During this era, different gases, including natural gas, propane, butane, liquefied petroleum gases (LPG), and industrial gases such as Freon and helium, played an essential role in industries, transportation, and everyday life. This century witnessed significant advancements in the exploration, extraction, refining, and scientific and industrial applications of gases, which had a profound impact on human life and the progress of science.
Natural Gas and the Development of Transmission Networks
In the early 20th century, natural gas was recognized as a major energy source. The development of gas transmission pipelines in the United States, Europe, and the Soviet Union enabled the transportation of gas over longer distances. Natural gas was used for electricity generation, home heating, and as a raw material in the petrochemical industry. Furthermore, in the 1960s, the introduction of natural gas liquefaction (LNG) technology made international gas trade possible. This advancement allowed countries like Japan and South Korea to import natural gas in liquid form.
History of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
LPG, composed of propane and butane, was discovered in the early 20th century by Walter Snelling. In 1910, he realized that some petroleum gases could be liquefied under pressure and stored in tanks. This discovery led to the development of storage and transportation technologies for LPG. In the 1920s, LPG was introduced commercially for heating and lighting in areas without access to natural gas. By the 1930s, industrial processes for separating propane and butane from crude oil and natural gas in refineries were developed, and LPG became a clean, versatile fuel for domestic, industrial, and agricultural uses.
Throughout the 20th century, LPG rapidly became one of the primary portable fuels. In the 1940s, it was used as vehicle fuel and for military applications during World War II. The 1950s and 1960s saw the expansion of LPG distribution networks and its entry into global markets. Larger storage tanks, transport tankers, and advanced infrastructure contributed to increased LPG production and consumption. By the late 20th century, LPG gained popularity as a cleaner fuel for urban transportation and reducing air pollution.
Conclusion
The history of gas demonstrates that this invisible substance, like many other natural resources, has experienced numerous ups and downs. From the sacred natural flames in ancient civilizations to the first practical use of natural gas by the Chinese for salt extraction, humanity has always strived to make the best use of its surrounding resources.
Studying the history of gas reveals that this journey, though filled with risks and challenges, was accompanied by human perseverance and ingenuity. Early drilling efforts, the development of pipelines, and advanced gas extraction and liquefaction technologies are all symbols of humanity’s determination to harness natural and liquefied gases for improving the quality of life and advancing technology. Natural gas and LPG, as two vital resources, will continue to be part of the path of transformation and innovation.