YOUR GUIDE TO PROPANE FUELED GENERATORS
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| Discount gensets |
OVERVIEW
A propane generator is a set that contains an engine and an electric generator head mounted together into a single piece of equipment called genset.
Propane is a colorless gas found primarily in natural gas and petroleum. Technically speaking it is a hydrocarbon (C3H8), which for practical use is produced as a by-product of both natural gas processing and crude oil refining. This fuel is often referred to as liquefied petroleum gas, LP-gas or LPG.
PROS AND CONS OF PROPANE GENERATORS
LPG gensets are widely used in homes where grid is not available or as backup power sources. They range from small portables to large standby systems. Depending on the size, they can power small appliances and tools or an entire home. LPG price generally follows crude oil price trends. However LPG has a lower BTU content than diesel and gasoline: with the same HP of an engine, a LPG powered model will generate 15% less power than gasoline model, and 30% less then a diesel. Although LPG is normally cheaper than gasoline or diesel, its lower cost per gallon does not completely offset its lower efficiency, which makes it a more expensive fuel choice. However, if the genset is used only in an emergency, this does not present a real issue.
The fuel type for a standby generator is normally selected based on the fuel used for your home heating. LPG standby gensets are most commonly used in the homes not serviced by the natural gas distribution system. The pipe sizing, construction and layout must comply with NFPA 58 as well as state and local codes. As for portable gensets, selection of the fuel depends on your application. If you have to frequently move an equipment from place to place, such as on construction sites, dragging a propane cylinder along with the genset may be inconvenient. For such applications diesel and gasoline models with built-in fuel tanks make more sense. But for an emergency home use an LPG-fueled portable genset is a more reliable choice because propane can be stored practically indefinitely and it will not gum up the engine's fuel system. It is also the only type of fuel that can be refilled during a major blackout when gas pumps may not work. Portable LPG gensets are more expensive than gasoline powered models, but they generally last longer and start better in cold weather.