The Portable Propane Generator
Anyone who has worked with gasoline will tell you it’s a messy, dangerous business. From filling the lawnmower to filling the car any experience with gasoline leaves the consumer less than impressed. Gasoline also has other drawbacks, its extremely flammable and any equipment using gasoline as a fuel source emits toxic gas as a byproduct, a byproduct that is extremely damaging to the environment. For this and other reasons many people are turning to portable propane generators for the portable energy generation needs.
These propane generators use non toxic propane gad which is stored in a cylinder. The fuel produces far less toxic byproducts than either gasoline or diesel generators and also eliminates much of the danger of dealing with flammable liquids. This is because the consumer is not filling a tank with either gasoline or diesel but will rather exchange an empty tank for a full one when required, the tank being filled by a third party. The ease of use (and the fact that propane has a longer shelf life than gasoline) means that multiple canisters can be filled and stored and a few easy to apply safety tips will ensure that the user is never out of gas. A simple rotational system based on first in, first out will ensure that a constant supply of propane is at hand.
Propane powered generators can supply enough power to service multiple household appliances and provide a better energy to output cost ratios than other generators of similar output. According to Generac, a company that designs and produces Generac portable generators a 45 gallon cylinder tank can power an 8 kilo-watt generator the generator can supply power to most essential household appliances for approximately 24 hours within normal operating parameters.
As with all generators, propane powered generators require maintenance at regular intervals. In the absence of common sense precautions propane generators can cause injury and even death. Although propane is cleaner burning than some of the other fuel sources it still produces carbon monoxide as a by product of the power generation cycle. In enclosed spaces carbon monoxide buildup will cause unconsciousness which can quickly become fatal. Care should always be taken to use propane in a well ventilated area and preferably outside. Some tanks have also been known in rare instances to leak. Although propane is odorless a substance is added during the manufacturing process which aids in the detection of leaks. If a rotten egg odor is detected during operation the user should immediately turn off all valves and remove the cylinder from the generator and return it to the outlet where it was purchased and inform the sales person. Although propane and gas cylinders resemble each other they are not interchangeable and care should be taken to keep inventories clearly marked to ensure that no mistakes are made.
The use of portable propane generators makes sense from both an environmental and cost effectiveness point of view. For eco friendly generators also see solar and hydro power generators. However it cannot be overemphasized enough,that as with all generators when using fossil fuel or its by products, care and diligence are required to prevent injury. Common sense should be the guiding principle in the use of propane generators.
