Gas generator for home - selection criteria and review of popular models
A modern person cannot imagine his life without the availability of electricity, moreover, this applies to all spheres of activity from work and household chores, to various types of recreation. If we talk about life in a city or other settlement, then the issues of their power supply were resolved even at the stage of electrification of the country (the GOELRO plan at the beginning of the 20th century), but in remote areas where there was never any housing or they were abandoned, the issues of power supply for modern developers have to deal with independently. For autonomous power supply, the industry produces various types of generators operating on different types of fuel, such as gasoline and diesel fuel, as well as natural and liquefied gas. Gas generator for home - types, device and principle of operation, as well as selection criteria and an overview of popular models - this is the topic of this article in the editorial office of homemaster.techinfolux.com/en/
The content of the article
- 1 Device and principle of operation
- 2 Types of gas power generators
- 3 Features of gas generators for home
- 4 Advantages and disadvantages of natural gas gas generators for home and summer cottages
- 5 Gas generator selection criteria
- 6 Leading manufacturers of gas generators
- 7 Which is better to buy a gas generator for a country house
- 8 The best models of gas generators for home according to the editorial board
- 9 Features of installation of gas generators
- 10 Video: Generac Gas Generator - Customer Testimonial
Device and principle of operation
The main elements of any gas generator are the generator itself, which generates electric current, and the internal combustion engine, which runs on gas fuel.
In addition, the unit includes such elements as: protection and operation control units, fuel injection and exhaust gas removal, as well as a body (frame) on which all structural elements are located.
The operation of the unit is based on the fact that when the rotor rotates, which is the moving part of the electric generator, an electric current begins to be generated in it.
Rotational movement in such devices is provided by an internal combustion engine, in which the rotation of its shaft is provided by burning the fuel (gas) used.
The energy released during gas combustion drives the motor shaft, the rotation of which is transmitted to the shaft of the electric generator.
Types of gas power generators
Depending on the functionality and design, the type of fuel and the type of use, gas-fired electricity generators are classified as follows:
- by functionality - standard, cogeneration and trigeneration;
- by design and type of use - for permanent and periodic use, as well as an emergency source of electrical energy;
- by type of fuel - operating on natural (main) or liquefied gas, as well as on associated gas during oil production, and industrial gas (metallurgical industry, biogas, etc.).
Note! In the course of their operation, cogeneration gas-generating plants not only generate electrical energy, but also utilize the heat generated during gas combustion; for this, a special heat exchanger is provided in the unit design. Trigeneration models generate cold as an additional function, acting as an air conditioner.
Features of gas generators for home
When using gas electric generators for domestic purposes, as a rule, this is a backup power supply that runs on liquefied gas and is used only for generating electricity (standard functionality).
In some cases, when there is no centralized power supply at the location, such equipment is used as the main source of electricity, and natural or liquefied gas can serve as fuel for it.
Important! The cost of liquefied gas is quite high, so its use as a fuel to generate electricity on a permanent basis is too expensive and not cost-effective.
Gas generators of constant type of use have in their design a liquid or air cooling system that provides the required operating parameters of all units and mechanisms in the specified values.
The models used as a backup power source are equipped with an air-cooled system only. The duration of their work is limited and is no more than 20 hours.
Note! The time of use of each specific model is indicated in the product passport and depends on its design features.
Regardless of the type of gas used and the nature of use, equipment of this type is equipped with single-phase or three-phase electric generators, which is also reflected in the accompanying documents for the product and in their markings indicated on the case.
Advantages and disadvantages of natural gas gas generators for home and summer cottages
If gas generators operating on liquefied gas have the main advantage of their mobility, then models using main gas have much more of them, these are:
- Units operating on main gas assume stationary installation and long-term operation as the main source of power supply.
- The low cost of natural gas makes it possible to generate electricity at a low cost.
- Environmental safety is determined precisely by the type of fuel used.
Among the disadvantages of such equipment, the following indicators should be noted:
- Fire and explosion hazard - implies compliance with certain rules for installation, operation and maintenance.
- Installation requires obtaining permits and the necessary approvals.
- When placed inside a building, ventilation is required to provide the required air exchange.
- When liquefied gas is used as a reserve fuel, cylinders with it should be placed in warm rooms.
Gas generator selection criteria
When choosing a gas generator for a home, the main selection criteria are the following indicators, such as:
- the type of fuel used (natural or liquefied gas) and the ability to operate on other types of fuel (gasoline, diesel fuel);
- technical characteristics: electric power, phase distribution of the output voltage, as well as the noise level during use;
- type of cooling system;
- availability of protection and automation systems;
- start type: manual, semi-automatic or automatic;
- reliability - can be guaranteed by the manufacturer's brand;
- product cost.
Leading manufacturers of gas generators
Gas generators are produced in many technically developed countries of the world. In our country, the products of such brands as:
- Generac, Mirkon Energy, Briggs and Stratton (USA);
- SDMO (Kohler) (France);
- "FAS", "Grandvolt", "Gazvolt", "REG" (Russia).
The most popular among domestic users are models used as a backup source of electrical energy, equipped with air cooling and running on liquefied gas.
Which is better to buy a gas generator for a country house
When choosing a gas power plant, it is necessary to take into account the selection criteria that were discussed above. Of these, the most important are the use of the unit and its technical characteristics.
Models up to 6.0 kW are generally used for power backup and are air-cooled.More powerful generators, the power of which can be 20.0 kW or more, are used as the main source of power supply and have a water cooling system, and are also equipped with various protection and automation systems.
A sufficient number of models from various manufacturers are presented on the market for such equipment in our country to choose the one you need for specific conditions of use.
The best models of gas generators for home according to the editorial board
Gas generators are not as widespread in our country as their counterparts operating on liquid fuels, but, nevertheless, they are in certain demand among consumers.
The specialists of our editorial office compared the technical characteristics of different models and studied user reviews on the use of specific devices, and here are what products, in their opinion, should be paid attention to when choosing such equipment.
Gazvolt Standard 6250А
Gazvolt Standard 6250A is a Russian-made model equipped with a Chinese engine.
The main technical characteristics are shown in the following table:
Fuel type | Electric power, kW | Cooling type | Starter type | Fuel consumption, m³ / hour | Weight, kg | Overall dimensions, mm |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liquefied / main | 6,0 | Air | Manual, electric | 0,3 | 80 | 700×540 ×555 |
Feedback on Gazvolt Standard 6250A model:
"GENERAC 7045"
"GENERAC 7045" - this is one of the models of a whole family of similar equipment produced by an American manufacturer for permanent use.
Main technical characteristics of the model:
Fuel type | Electric power, kW | Cooling type | Starter type | Fuel consumption, m³ / hour | Weight, kg | Overall dimensions, mm |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liquefied / magistral | 10,0 | Air | ATS, electrical | - | 176 | 1218×636 ×732 |
"SDMOPERFORM 3000 GAZ"
This model is universal, becausethe design of the engine used allows it to be used both on liquefied gas and gasoline, which is convenient during operation.
The main technical characteristics of the gasoline generator:
Fuel type | Electric power, kW | Cooling type | Starter type | Fuel consumption, m³ / hour | Weight, kg | Overall dimensions, mm |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LPG / Gasoline | 3,0 | Air | Manual | 0.19 / 0.6 l / h | 44 | 650×510 ×460 |
Briggs & Stratton 8 kW Standby Generator
The model is designed for continuous use and has successfully proven itself in operation.
The main technical characteristics of the Briggs & Stratton 8 kW Standby Generator are shown in the table below:
Fuel type | Electric power, kW | Cooling type | Starter type | Fuel consumption, m³ / hour | Weight, kg | Overall dimensions, mm |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liquefied / magistral | 8,0 | Air | ATS, electrical | 0,6 | 123 | 710×890×620 |
"Russian Engineering Group GG7200-A" (REG)
This is a model of a gas generator that operates only from a bottle of liquefied gas, its distinctive feature is the presence of a 12 Volt DC outlet that can be used to charge batteries.
Main technical characteristics:
Fuel type | Electric power, kW | Cooling type | Starter type | Fuel consumption, m³ / hour | Weight, kg | Overall dimensions, mm |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liquefied | 6,0 | Air | Manual, electric | 0,3 | 91 | 775×660 ×645 |
Features of installation of gas generators
The main difference associated with connecting the unit to the energy source used is the type of fuel - liquefied or main gas.
Important! To connect the gas generator to a liquefied gas cylinder, you must use a special reducer, this procedure is performed by the user independently. To connect to the gas main, it is necessary to obtain technical specifications for the performance of the relevant work and their implementation by a specialized organization that has a permit (license) for this.
When installing a unit installed permanently and connected to the main gas pipeline, in addition to fulfilling the technical conditions, it is necessary to fulfill a number of requirements that ensure its safe operation, these are:
- the room where the gas generator is located must be equipped with a supply and exhaust ventilation system;
- the area of the room must be sufficient to make it possible to easily carry out inspection and preventive measures during the period of use of the equipment;
- the room must contain fire extinguishing equipment and appropriate equipment.
Video: Generac gas generator - customer testimonial
To what extent is it convenient and effective to use a gas generator as a source of power supply for a country house, the following video will tell: