Diesel Generators - The Pros and Cons
A diesel generator is an example of hybrid engine-solution. This is a special case of hybrid engine-solution. A diesel compression ignition engine is typically designed to operate on diesel fuel alone, although some models are adapted for use with other liquid fuels as well.
The advantages of using diesel in this case are: first, it has a high energy density; diesel fuel is much more dense than gasoline, so it will burn at a higher temperature and for a longer time period than gasoline. Second, the exhaust of a diesel-powered generator is cleaner than that of an gasoline-powered generator, and diesel is also better suited for urban locations because of its density. There are disadvantages of using diesel generators in comparison to the other alternatives such as gasoline and natural gas. First, diesel engines have a lower Horse Power (HP) than the other options. Additionally, the exhaust from the diesel-powered engine has sulfur oxide and carbon monoxide - two harmful pollutants that contribute to air pollution. The only exception to this would be if you want to use a small portable diesel engine - in this case, the fuel source should be suitable for the size of the generator. Get more facts about generators at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine-generator. Smaller diesel generators from this homepage require a more lightweight design in order to allow them to be transported and installed easily. The HP rating for a small diesel engine will be much lower.
Since smaller engines will use less fuel overall, you can save money in the long run by using a smaller engine that uses a small amount of diesel fuel. However, it would be preferable to get a diesel engine that can operate at a higher horsepower rating because it can operate at a higher potential speed. Fuel efficiency is another major disadvantage of diesel generators compared to other options. For one, diesel fuel is very expensive as compared to gasoline fuel. Secondly, diesel fuel is not abundant and so, diesel generators would need to rely on other sources of power like natural gas or electricity to operate. This would greatly reduce their operational costs. Be sure to see page here! Lastly, diesel generators do not meet the energy demand of industrial or commercial applications. Unlike residential generators, industrial generators are typically required to operate in high power demands. Diesel fuel just cannot provide the power needed to operate such heavy machines. In these cases, electrical power is used instead. With all the pros and cons, there seems to be no real alternative to diesel generators.
For most commercial, industrial and even residential applications, the best alternative would be an electric standby generator. Since they do not have the disadvantages diesel generators have, there are numerous benefits to be found with them. Also, they are less costly to operate. Finally, there are no major environmental concerns associated with their use as compared to fuel supplied by other fuels.
