Do you manage a commercial or industrial facility? Do you wonder if a natural gas generator has benefits? If you do, you know it is critical to have a standby generator onsite. Power outages can happen without warning, so having a backup plan in place to ensure the continuation of critical operations is a must. One of the best options on the market for businesses today is a commercial natural gas generator. But before you commit to such a large purchase, let’s try to answer the following questions: how does a natural gas generator work and what are the main natural gas generator benefits?
How Does A Natural Gas Generator Work?
All natural gas generators, including commercial natural gas generators, work by using a combustion process to convert natural gas into electricity. The generator uses an engine to compress air and natural gas together. Once combined, the mixture is then ignited. The resulting force activates a turbine, which is connected to an alternator, and electricity is produced.
Unlike gasoline- or diesel-powered generators, natural gas generators burn gas instead of liquid. This means they have carburetors – a device that combines a precisely measured amount of fuel and air and injects the mix into the engine’s cylinder, which is specially designed to manage pressurized gas. In short, generators harness mechanical energy (in this case, natural gas) to create electricity!
A more detailed explanation of how a natural gas generator works is listed below in three steps:
- Injection – the internal combustion engine in an industrial natural gas generator injects fuel and air into a combustion chamber, which is then mixed and compressed by the piston.
- Ignition – after the piston compresses the air and fuel mixture, the spark plug ignites the fuel with a spark. The spark then causes an explosion in the chamber that the generator will turn into mechanical energy.
- Electricity generation – this ignition causes the gas mixture to expand, pushing the piston down with enough force to turn the crankshaft and spin the rotor. When the rotor spins, an electric current is created that will generate power for the appliances, tools, or facility that you need to power.
Uncovering The Benefits Of Modern Generators
In the past. Many business owners avoided commercial natural gas generators because of the fuel type. Using gaseous fuel in an industrial backup application was costly and often did not generate enough power for the task at hand. However, recent technological innovations have improved the functioning of these industrial natural gas generators. These innovations have improved performance, reduced stress on engine bearings, and increased power densities. This, in turn, means more powerful engines and reduced up-front costs for buyers. Additionally, buyers have realized that natural gas is also a more environmentally friendly choice than diesel, making these types of generators popular across many industries.
Why Buy a Natural Gas Generator?
Investing in a commercial natural gas generator often involves significant capital outlay for a business owner. However, there are many benefits to this type of generator that offset the cost:
- Lower fuel cost – natural gas fuel typically costs less than diesel fuel, meaning that your long-term operating costs will remain low for the duration of your generator’s life.
- High fuel supply – with a natural gas generator, you can connect to your local pipeline for a near-unlimited supply of fuel (barring a natural disaster). With natural gas, you don’t have to worry about fuel storage or shelf-life. You simply tap into the local fuel supply!
- Low emissions – natural gas is one of the cleanest burning fossil fuels. It releases far less toxins into the atmosphere than other generator fuels.
- Quiet – commercial natural gas generators run more quietly than their diesel counterparts, making them ideal for applications where you may house them inside or in a location with noise ordinances in place.
It is worth noting that natural gas can also be easier to access during a disaster because it is carried underground and is readily available anywhere that gas grills are sold. It is also easier to store than diesel or gasoline. According to the Natural Gas Supply Association, as long as a propane container remains intact, the gas inside can remain usable for an indefinite period of time.
If you are ready to purchase a standby generator to keep your business up and running during an emergency, consider an industrial natural gas generator. They are convenient, environmentally friendly, and may cost less to run than a gasoline- or diesel-powered generator over time. Invest in the peace of mind a generator can bring, and keep the lights on no matter what Mother Nature throws your way!
