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Propane & Natural Gas: Interchangable?
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Propane & Natural Gas: Interchangable? (PeteCresswell) 03-11-2008
Posted by (PeteCresswell) on March 11, 2008, 7:50 pm
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 If an engine will run on propane, will it run on natural gas
without modification?

"Natural Gas" = the stuff they pipe into people's houses
underground from a central distribution point.

Pressure considerations?
--
PeteCresswell

Posted by Vaughn Simon on March 11, 2008, 8:30 pm
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> If an engine will run on propane, will it run on natural gas
> without modification?
>
My Onan generator happily runs off of either fuel. I only need to make a
slight mixture adjustment for most efficient operation. It requires the same
fuel pressure for either fuel, though it naturally takes different regulators to
supply that pressure. By the way, the pressures involved are very low. If I
remember correctly, it only takes 11" water column (less than 1 PSI).

Vaughn



Posted by (PeteCresswell) on March 12, 2008, 1:24 pm
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Per Vaughn Simon:
> My Onan generator happily runs off of either fuel. I only need to make a
>slight mixture adjustment for most efficient operation. It requires the same
>fuel pressure for either fuel, though it naturally takes different regulators
to
>supply that pressure. By the way, the pressures involved are very low. If I
>remember correctly, it only takes 11" water column (less than 1 PSI).

I've got my little EU2000 and about 200 feet of heavy-duty
extension cords.... and that certainly fills the bill of what I
wanted a generator to accomplish.


But the more I read, the more I think that for anything larger
the only sensible route for somebody who has natural gas piped
into their property and doesn't need to run the gennie at other
locations... and doesn't anticipate earthquakes... is a natural
gas installation.

Bolt the gennie to a poured concrete pad somewhere in the yard
far enough from the house to avoid exhaust fume issues, put a
little dog house over the gennie (or maybe build a garden shed
around it), run the gas to the gennie, run an electrical cable
from the gennie to a cutover panel in the house.


To wit:
--------------------------------------------------------------
- No worries about "feeding the beast" when gas stations may
be shut down due to the same power outage you're using
the generator for.

- No fuel storage issues.

- Cheaper per-hour running given no road-fuel taxes on nat gas

- No issues with going outside in the dark in freezing rain
to refuel.

- Greatly-reduced theft issues if the thing is bolted to the
pad thoroughly enough.
--------------------------------------------------------------


Am I missing anything in this judgment?
--
PeteCresswell

Posted by Ulysses on March 12, 2008, 3:17 pm
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> Per Vaughn Simon:
> > My Onan generator happily runs off of either fuel. I only need to make
a
> >slight mixture adjustment for most efficient operation. It requires the
same
> >fuel pressure for either fuel, though it naturally takes different
regulators to
> >supply that pressure. By the way, the pressures involved are very low.
If I
> >remember correctly, it only takes 11" water column (less than 1 PSI).
>
> I've got my little EU2000 and about 200 feet of heavy-duty
> extension cords.... and that certainly fills the bill of what I
> wanted a generator to accomplish.
>
>
> But the more I read, the more I think that for anything larger
> the only sensible route for somebody who has natural gas piped
> into their property and doesn't need to run the gennie at other
> locations... and doesn't anticipate earthquakes... is a natural
> gas installation.
>
> Bolt the gennie to a poured concrete pad somewhere in the yard
> far enough from the house to avoid exhaust fume issues, put a
> little dog house over the gennie (or maybe build a garden shed
> around it), run the gas to the gennie, run an electrical cable
> from the gennie to a cutover panel in the house.

You need to get enough fresh air to it or it will suffocate. Maybe a small
fan forcing air in will help. I've seen some "mighty-fine" shed designs
around generators that ended up with a bunch of vent holes cut into them and
eventually the genny ended up outside.

>
>
> To wit:
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> - No worries about "feeding the beast" when gas stations may
> be shut down due to the same power outage you're using
> the generator for.

You mentioned earthquakes so better make sure you don't have one of those
gadgets that shuts off the gas when it shakes.

>
> - No fuel storage issues.
>
> - Cheaper per-hour running given no road-fuel taxes on nat gas
>
> - No issues with going outside in the dark in freezing rain
> to refuel.
>
> - Greatly-reduced theft issues if the thing is bolted to the
> pad thoroughly enough.
> --------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> Am I missing anything in this judgment?
> --
> PeteCresswell



Posted by z on March 12, 2008, 5:27 pm
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>
>> Per Vaughn Simon:
>> > My Onan generator happily runs off of either fuel. I only need to
>> > make
> a
>> >slight mixture adjustment for most efficient operation. It requires
>> >the
> same
>> >fuel pressure for either fuel, though it naturally takes different
> regulators to
>> >supply that pressure. By the way, the pressures involved are very
>> >low.
> If I
>> >remember correctly, it only takes 11" water column (less than 1
>> >PSI).
>>
>> I've got my little EU2000 and about 200 feet of heavy-duty
>> extension cords.... and that certainly fills the bill of what I
>> wanted a generator to accomplish.
>>
>>
>> But the more I read, the more I think that for anything larger
>> the only sensible route for somebody who has natural gas piped
>> into their property and doesn't need to run the gennie at other
>> locations... and doesn't anticipate earthquakes... is a natural
>> gas installation.
>>
>> Bolt the gennie to a poured concrete pad somewhere in the yard
>> far enough from the house to avoid exhaust fume issues, put a
>> little dog house over the gennie (or maybe build a garden shed
>> around it), run the gas to the gennie, run an electrical cable
>> from the gennie to a cutover panel in the house.
>
> You need to get enough fresh air to it or it will suffocate. Maybe a
> small fan forcing air in will help. I've seen some "mighty-fine" shed
> designs around generators that ended up with a bunch of vent holes cut
> into them and eventually the genny ended up outside.

my buddy built one with fatmat auto sound insulation and he cut a hole
with a small electric fan that ran off the gen. Its super quiet


>
>>
>>
>> To wit:
>> --------------------------------------------------------------
>> - No worries about "feeding the beast" when gas stations may
>> be shut down due to the same power outage you're using
>> the generator for.
>
> You mentioned earthquakes so better make sure you don't have one of
> those gadgets that shuts off the gas when it shakes.
>
>>
>> - No fuel storage issues.
>>
>> - Cheaper per-hour running given no road-fuel taxes on nat gas
>>
>> - No issues with going outside in the dark in freezing rain
>> to refuel.
>>
>> - Greatly-reduced theft issues if the thing is bolted to the
>> pad thoroughly enough.
>> --------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>> Am I missing anything in this judgment?
>> --
>> PeteCresswell
>
>
>


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