Natural Gas Vs. Gasoline Generator

Natural gas and gasoline both supply power to generators, but vary in cost and results.

Generators refer to electrical devices used to convert mechanical energy, or the energy associated with the position or motion of an object, into electrical energy. Generators can work via gas power, which can take the form of gasoline or natural gas.

Definitions

Gasoline refers to a relatively inexpensive, highly flammable, petroleum-derived liquid that remains the dominant form of fuel for generators and other motor-driven machinery. Natural gas, more costly than gasoline, refers to a gas consisting mainly of the chemical compound methane, which must undergo extensive processing to serve as a fuel source.

Pollutants

Natural gas generators are clean burning, they use fuel without venting harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. Gasoline generators produce emissions, or transfers harmful exhaust gases into the air, negatively impacting the environment.

Availability

Natural gas generators require no fuel storage, since the generator connects to commercial or residential utility lines and draws gas as needed. Gasoline generators require the outside purchase of gasoline which must be manually fed into the generator.

References

• PoweredGenerators.com: Natural Gas Generator Overview
• "The Electric Generators Handbook"; Ion Boldea; 2005

Resources

• "Electrical Equipment Handbook"; Philip Kiameh; 2003