The addition of odorants to natural gas is essential for safety. Natural gas, in its pure form, is colorless and odorless, making it difficult to detect if there's a leak. This poses a serious risk, as undetected leaks can lead to explosions or asphyxiation. To address this, odorants are added to the gas so that any leakage can be detected early, ensuring safer usage.
According to the Chinese standard "Natural Gas" GB/T 17820-2012, section 5.3 states that natural gas used as a town gas must have a detectable odor. The minimum amount of odorant required is specified in section 3.2.3 of the "Code for Design of Urban Gases" GB50028-2006, while section 3.2.4 outlines the quality and parameter requirements for urban gas odorants.
In China, the most commonly used odorant is tetrahydrothiophene (THI). It is typically added at a concentration of 20–25 mg per cubic meter of gas. Tetrahydrothiophene is a clear, volatile liquid that is insoluble in water but miscible with alcohols, ethers, benzene, and acetone. It has a strong, unpleasant smell that remains stable and does not dissipate easily. Even at a very low concentration of 0.01 ppm in the air, it can be detected by the human nose.
Importantly, THI is non-corrosive to gas equipment and pipeline gaskets, and it does not cause olfactory fatigue, meaning people don’t get used to the smell over time. For these reasons, it is widely used as a warning agent for gas leaks in city gas and natural gas systems. Earlier odorants like ethanethiol were phased out due to their instability and potential health concerns.
The amount of THI added to natural gas is minimal and considered safe for both humans and the environment. For those looking to monitor gas levels, products such as methane detectors or combustible gas detectors are highly recommended for enhanced safety.
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