DUAL FUEL CONVERSION CAN OFFER BIG ADVANTAGES

摘要

Diesel engines comprise more than 80 percent of all on-site generation in the United States. But few diesel engine owners probably realize the advantages of converting their engines to use natural gas in combination with diesel fuel. Dual fuel conversion can help manufacturers, hospitals, hotels and other facilities that rely on dependable backup power systems to cope with weather-related disruptions to diesel fuel supplies for their on-site generators. Dual fuel users also avoid the cost and liability of large diesel storage tanks. On top of that, such conversions afford the opportunity for significant utility power savings through peak shaving. Joe Renner, director of business development for Innovative Technology Group (ITG)'s Dual Fuel branded engines, explains bi-fuel means the ability to burn one fuel or another, whereas dual fuel means the ability to burn both simultaneously in various mixture percentages. "We guarantee a 50-50 mix, but in most cases you'll get a 60 percent natural gas, 40 percent diesel mix," he says. "You can run them at 80-20 and some conversion companies advertise that, but there's a sweet spot where you maximize efficiency for both fuel and engine. This normally occurs below the 80-20 substitution rate."