Combustion Generators Powered by Gasoline and Petrol
Do you own a standby generator set? If so, it is probably a petrol generator. Gasoline-powered generators are the most familiar types of generators to most consumers. They are made up of two main parts, a generator head to provide the electrical power and a gasoline engine to move the generator.
The internal combustion engine revolutionized mankind’s way of life. It provided a cheap source of motive power that helped create the automobile and forever changed the way man traveled. Without a lightweight, efficient and reliable petrol engine, the Wright Brothers would have never made that historic first flight at Kitty Hawk in 1903. These qualities also make it a logical choice to use in engine generators.
Advantages of a Gasoline Generator
A gasoline engine is a good choice to drive a portable generator. For one thing, its fuel can be obtained easily. Gasoline has good energy density compared to other generator fuels. It is easier to store and handle than propane or natural gas, and it is also not as dangerous. They are also cleaner-burning and lighter than comparable diesel engines. Another factor is that gasoline engines are easy to manufacture and their fuel systems are less complex than that of generators that run off natural gas (NG). That’s why gasoline-powered generators are a good standby generator choice over diesel generators, propane generators, compressed natural gas generators, liquefied natural gas generators, or other types of electrical generators. Portable gasoline generators come in a price range that enables more people to buy them than other types of emergency generator.
Disadvantages of Gasoline Generators
Of course, they have their drawbacks. Gasoline is more expensive than diesel, NG or propane, so it doesn’t make economic sense to use it in situations when the genset is meant to pull prime duty (be the prime source of power) or used for very long, like industrial generators or commercial generators. It is more reasonable to use it for jobs which only last for a limited time. Gasoline also cannot be stored for very long as it tends to gum up in the generator fuel tank and lines if left alone. It also produces dangerous fumes during operation and so needs good ventilation. Portable gasoline generators often put a premium of transportability and so are often air-cooled and not housed in an enclosure. This means they are less fuel-efficient and noisier but cheaper to procure and easier to maintain than liquid-cooled units.
Posted in Generators