What is meant by liquefaction?
Types of liquefaction
- Liquefaction of gases: This type is the best known and consists of compressing gases at low temperatures to transform them into liquids. It is the method used to make the gas more stable and easier to transport.
- Soil liquefaction: It occurs in saturated soils, generally by the action of earthquakes o seismic movementsThe energy released in these events reduces the strength of the soil until its particles behave like a liquid.
- Chemical liquefaction (such as coal): This process involves chemical, not physical, changes and has specific industrial applications. For example, the process Pott-Brooch converts coal into a mixture of hydrocarbons known as synthetic crude, similar to petroleum.
Differences between liquefaction and condensation
Practical examples of liquefaction
- El Liquid gas found in lighters, stoves and natural gas tanks for residential use.
- El liquid oxygen used in hospitals and other medical applications.
- La arena y saturated water which behave like a fluid during seismic episodes, triggering phenomena such as avalanches and landslides.
