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Home Standby Generators
It is frequently more
convenient and cost effective to power a backup generator with gaseous fuel such
as Natural Gas or Propane.
Gaseous fuels burn cleanly, start easily and fuel is abundantly available through your gas
main or from a propane tank already on site. Gasoline and gaseous fueled
generators cost about half as much or less than as diesel generators but require more maintenance
and usually do not have the same durability.
Gaseous fuels provide
you with potentially unlimited back up power run time during extended utility
power failures.
Every
fuel has advantages......
Advantages of
Gaseous Fuels for Generators
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Clean burning. It leaves no
lead, varnish, or carbon deposits that cause the premature wearing of pistons,
rings, valves, and spark plugs. The engine stays clean, free of carbon and
sludge. This means less maintenance and an extended engine life.
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Properly maintained,
gaseous-fuelled engines produce less air pollution than gasoline or diesel
engines, according to studies conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.
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Gaseous fuel does not have
the dangers (such as fumes and spills) associated with gasoline or diesel
fuel.
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As a internal combustion
fuel fuel, gaseous fuels do not require the additives that are usually
blended into some grades of gasoline.
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Unlike liquid petroleum
fuels, most of the gaseous fuel used in Canada and the United States comes
from North American sources.
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By a four-to-one margin,
the safest way to provide heat is with gas. That's what the National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA) concluded in its study, U.S. Home Heating Fire
Patterns and Trends.
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gaseous fuel is non-toxic,
so it's not harmful to soil and water.
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gaseous fuel has an
enviable safety record due in large part to the stringent codes and
regulations developed by the government and industry.
Advantages of Propane Fuel for Generators
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Long shelf
life
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Easily stored in both large
tanks or smaller cylinders
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Obtainable during power
outages
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Home delivery available for
large tanks
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With propane's simple
molecular composition, propane-fuelled vehicles emit significantly lower levels
of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides than gasoline-fuelled
vehicles. The level of toxic air emissions from propane-fuelled vehicles
is also low.
Advantages of Natural Gas Fuel for Generators
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Unlimited fuel source, no
refilling required Natural gas can be piped directly to the generator,
eliminating the need for periodic refueling during the outage.
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Usually
available during power outages.
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Natural gas
engines had 53% lower oxides of nitrogen (NO), 85% lower total particulate
matter (TPM), and 89% lower carbon monoxide (CO) than diesel.
Advantages of Diesel for Generators
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Frequently
the most cost effective choice of fuel due to its low price relative to the
BTU value (energy content) purchased.
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Diesel fuel
is very dense relative to its BTU value and does not require heavy tanks to
transport, which frequently makes diesel the fuel of choice when carried to
difficult to reach location.
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Can be
manufactured from renewable resources (biodiesel)
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If properly
stored and conditioned, diesel can be stored for many years.
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Diesel
performance is better in terms of engine output you can expect about 30% power
more output and 45% more fuel economy from diesel compared to gasoline or
gaseous fuel.
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Because of
lower per kilowatt fuel consumption diesel engines generally release less
carbon dioxide per kilowatt hour produced.
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