[TenTec] Emergency Power via Generator - Natural Gas

[Bob Cunnings]

I know this is only anecdotal, but here goes -

years ago, when I lived in Michigan, I drove a propane powered pickup
truck. That darn thing would *not* start at temperatures below 0
degrees F or so. I would always need to drive my gasoline powered car
on a morning colder than that!

Yes 0 F is pretty cold, but overnight lows fell below that point more
than a few times each winter (in those days), and I still had to go to
work.

After 3 years I sold it because refueling was a hassle, with propane
stations set up to refuel vehicles few and far between out in my neck
of the woods. The upside was that it was economical, at least at that
point in time.

Bob NW8L

On 3/7/07, Gary Hoffman <ghoffman at spacetech.com> wrote:
> Things will be better, but not perfect.
>
> You are right that your natural gas is delivered to the house as a gas, and
> you will never freeze up your gas supply lines in the same way you could
> have frozen up an undersized propane tank.  All to the good.
>
> Natural gas engines I am told, will start, on the other hand, better than
> propane engines, but not so well as gasoline engines.  This is because there
> is less expansion of the natural gas in the engine itself, thus less
> chilling effect, but it is not zero.  Hence they start better but not
> perfectly.
>
> One must point out in fairness that gasoline also endures a chilling effect
> in the engine as well.  However, there is more mass available in liquid form
> to keep it from freezing (only for a while !) until the engine starts up and
> self-heats.
>
> My bottom line on this is that I would take prudent steps to keep the
> natural gas powered engine in a warm environment.  It should be insulated
> and heated.  Then, when the power goes off, it starts out nice and warm,
> fires up easily, and will thereafter self heat while you are running it.
> That is how Coleman sells their larger units commercially.  Both propane and
> natural gas fueled.  Go look at them in the stores.  You will see the
> cabinet, the insulation, and the electric heaters.
>
> The same serious problems about cold batteries apply to any engine that you
> attempt to start automatically with an electric starter.  If the battery is
> just so cold, the chemical reaction comes to a halt, and you will NOT get
> power out of the battery.
>
> Likewise the oil.  Unless you use a good synthetic rated for extreme cold,
> the viscosity will be so high that you will not rotate that engine,
> regardless if you somehow get power out of the battery.
>
> Unless of course you heat the oil, battery, engine and all, inside that warm
> cabinet.
>
> Regards,
>
> Gary
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <ac9s at mchsi.com>
> To: <tentec at contesting.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2007 7:55 PM
> Subject: [TenTec] Emergency Power via Generator - Natural Gas
>
>
> > "I am talking about the propane feed into the engine itself.  The rapid
> > expansion of the propane causes sub-zero temps inside the engine, unless
> the
> > ambient supplies enough heat to compensate.  That is why they won't start
> up
> > if it is too cold unless they are in a warm enough ambient."
> >
> > Can I assume I will not have the same cold weather starting problems with
> a
> > natural gas powered generator - ignoring the cold oil and battery issues
> of
> > coures?  I don't think the natural gas is fed to the house as a liquid, or
> if
> > it is I assume it turns to gas in the regulator as the house feed.  We are
> > lucky enough to have natural gas to the house and are just about to commit
> to
> > a whole house generator - powered by natural gas.  The main purpose is to
> keep
> > the sump pumps alive during rainy weather here in central Illinois, but I
> am
> > about to retire and would like to be able to travel with a reasonable
> > assurance of the heat staying on during the winter.
> >
> > Thanks much --
> >
> > Keith
> > AC9S
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>
>