The truth is that electricity can be erratic, especially in residential places. Business operations might get interrupted, or delays at work can happen when the power from the grid is failing. This is where diesel or natural gas-powered generators come into the picture.
These pieces of equipment become handy when you want a continuous source of electricity that will provide power to hydraulic units, fans, pumps, air conditioners, lights, and more. It’s used in commercial, medical, real estate, mining, construction, and manufacturing plants where the operations need almost 99.99% productivity most of the time.
So, what are they, and which option is right for you?
What’s the Difference Between the Types of Generators?
Gensets, in the past, were powered by either diesel or natural gas. The former is a more affordable option and reliable, but it produces a lot of noise that many might find annoying and the other one is not a cost-effecting option.
Diesel types are well-known because it’s more available, and previously, it was the only option if business owners want to provide power for industrial and commercial establishments. The gas varieties were not popular because they use too much fuel, especially in large productions, but thankfully, this is not the situation for many people in many countries today.
With the advent of modern technology, new knowledge, and engineering techniques, both gas and diesel are now available to be used in various places. There are shops in Canada like Prima Power new and used generators that will make it more affordable for owners to get what they need. Here is some information on what you need to know about the two.
Definition of a Natural Gas Generator
Natural gas is very efficient, and it’s commonly used in portable generators. As a cheaper alternative for providing electricity in rural areas, it’s greatly favored even if it’s part of the fossil fuel family, it’s still adequate, and it can be eco-friendly compared to other options.
On the flip side of the coin, a lot of environmental advocates are against the use of coal because they are considered to be dirty. Your choice should depend on what your preferences are and how you’re going to use these pieces of equipment, so it’s best to read the features of the natural gas generators before buying them. This is regardless if they are used or new.
Drilling is one of the ways to get natural gas from the earth, and it’s essentially no different from oil. Its initial appearance is similar to that of oil, and it’s then going to get processed in various manufacturing plants and processing facilities where it’s going to get changed into natural gas. This form is wrapped into cylinders which are made available to many customers across the globe.
These types function similarly to other types of generators. Your only learning curve will be the utilization of natural gas to power and start the electricity. If it goes well, it would be ideal in large cities and metropolitan areas where larger companies have already installed and established large pipelines to deliver natural gas to the entire community. More about natural gas is on this page here.
Are there Pros of Using This?
-Power your commercial buildings and residential homes with more affordable and cleaner fossil fuel alternatives.
-Greenhouse emissions are known to be lower with natural gas, and emissions of nitrogen, sulfur, and others are limited. Burning the fuel is more eco-friendly than others.
-No unpleasant odors are produced by the equipment, and the gas isn’t pungent at all compared to the strong odors of diesel.
-This is a great alternative when powering up an entire home when there are blackouts.
-Get the natural gas supplies and major pipelines more easily when you live in a major city. There’s no need to store it.
About the Disadvantages
-The benefits might also be considered as a disadvantage. For example, if you rely on a pipeline in the city, it can be interrupted when there are storms, fires, and other calamities in the area. This is the case for those who wouldn’t want to store fuel in their homes.
-Explosions are more common and it might be considered to fire hazard.
-Carbon dioxide emissions are evident, and it’s a non-renewable energy source, so it’s not ideal to those concerned with mother earth.
What are the Diesel-Powered Generators?
Generators that use diesel can be classified into two parts: these are the electrical and the diesel engine. They are ideally used as a backup during blackouts and frequent outages and are ideal for ships as well. However, they are only going to do great in smaller homes but not in large establishments. Some of the benefits of using them are:
-While natural gas is cheaper than diesel, they are generally more power efficient, and you’ll get more out of it than the other alternatives. Energy density is very high with this option. Read posts about diesel at this link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/diesel-engine.
-Get peace of mind when you install them since there’s always an assurance that you’ll get the needed electricity and power when you need it the most. Machines and life support equipment are now needed at various hospitals, and a minute of outage can make a world of difference in life and death in some cases.
-Aside from being efficient, the newer and more improved models are now running at a much quieter pace. This means that they are not becoming a nuisance any longer.
-Reliable and sturdy supply that will never fail you when things go wrong.
-No requirement for wires or spark plugs, so maintenance expenses can be greatly reduced.
-Less flammable so they are safer choices on most fronts.
Cons
-Diesel is a major pollutant, and it might not be a good option for environmentally-conscious individuals.
-Made up of heavy and larger components, so they will require extra space at home.
-Noisy equipment so if you get a second-hand model that’s commonly available in Canada, it might not be a good fit if you can’t stand too much sound.
It might be best to determine the purpose of the generator in the first place, your budget, and the pros and cons of each type before buying it.