Diesel vs. Gasoline Generators

Generators are appliances that provide power during outages caused by storms, operational errors, or other problematic conditions. They can be utilized in the home for personal, or serve a commercial purpose to power industrial buildings, healthcare facilities, office buildings, or any other places of business. They may also be used in areas where connecting to a main source of power is difficult or impossible, though generators most commonly serve as sources of backup power.

How generators work

Generators come in various sizes and configurations based on their intended purposes, but the basic principles behind generators remain essentially the same. Generators don’t actually create energy—rather, they convert mechanical energy from an outside source into their output of electrical energy. They operate on the principle of electromagnetic induction in order to produce their current.

Generators consist of a variety of components including the engine, alternator, and fuel system, just to name a few. The engine is the source of mechanical energy that will be converted into electrical energy. Engines can be powered by a variety of fuel types, though the most commonly used are gasoline and diesel. Which fuel source is best will depend on the purpose of the generator.

The alternator is the component that actually handles the conversion of energy. The alternator is made up of various moving and stationary components that create movement between electrical and magnetic fields, which in turn produces an electric current. The efficiency and durability of an alternator will be largely determined by its materials and housing within the generator.

Fuel systems for generators vary significantly between portable and commercial models. A portable model will generally have a single fuel tank, but a commercial model will likely have an additional external fuel tank to ensure there is enough supply to run for long periods of time. A typical fuel tank will usually provide enough supply to run for four to six hours. Commercial generators may also have complex exhaust systems and other supporting components.

Gasoline or diesel?

Generally speaking, gasoline is best used in portable generators typically meant for supplying power to a home. This is because gasoline is cheaper and generally easier to obtain, making it more convenient. Commercial generators, such as the generators made by Welland Power, will typically run on diesel. Welland Power provides generators to multinational companies operating throughout Europe, South America, Asia, and the Middle East. They recently won the Queens Award for International Trade due in part to their rapid growth.

Commercial generators will typically run on diesel because diesel allows for operations at lower temperatures. This gives the generators increased life spans on average compared to others, making them great long term investments for businesses.

Common uses for commercial generators

It would be much easier to list the types of businesses that don’t rely on generators versus the ones that do. Commercial generators are a practical necessity for any company or service, particularly those involved in health and safety. Generators are absolutely crucial for healthcare facilities like hospitals and nursing homes to carry on normal operations during a power outage. This is especially true for hospitals, who will be ill equipped to deal with incoming new patients during natural or other disasters that have knocked out power. The great northeast blackout of 2003 in the US resulted in approximately half of New York City’s hospitals remaining out of power due to poor preparation for such an event.

Of course, generators are also necessary for practically anyone who wants to stay in business. Food services would quickly run into sanitation issues without generators, offices would lose revenue, financial services would have a much harder time staying open, and retailers would be unable to serve customers. Without generators, the majority of commercial buildings would be crippled in the event of an outage, so it’s impossible to overstate the importance of a reliable generator and the knowledge to maintain it.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Scroll to Top