Anytime the power goes out there are a myriad of generators which kick on to keep electricity flowing. Think about places which absolutely need power or people’s lives can be at stake. Hospitals, nursing homes, and other care facilities should come to mind.

Diesel generators are the backbone of operations like this. Why diesel? There are several reasons actually. Diesel generator are more reliable. They are more likely to start and they are less likely to conk out. They have better power outputs as well.

Think about shipping and locomotives. They chose diesel when their industry modernized. Diesel fuel is widely available, mass produced and safer, mainly because of it’s high flashpoint. Diesel fuel can even been delivered to remote locations thanks to services like ours. We deliver diesel fuel anywhere in the Lynchburg and greater areas of Virginia. This diesel can be used for generators and vehicles alike.

Diesel’s track record is solid. Trains switched to the fuel over 100 years ago. Trains have enjoyed the power, stability and reliability of diesel and have no plans to switch to any other fuel in the near future.

It is estimated that diesel generators make up between 70-80% of all “stand bye” units. These are units which switch on instantly when there is an interruption in power from the grid. It is also estimated that almost half of all diesel fuel sales are to the power generation, specifically diesel powered electricity generators.

Diesel generators are more expensive than gas generators but the tradeoff is that gas generators are more dangerous and less reliable, although there have been many improvements and advances in that space in recent years.

Diesel generators are electricity generators which use diesel fuel as their source of chemical energy. The machine burns this diesel and generates electricity which can be used for various things. They’re widely used for backup power, remote locations, or situations where grid electricity isn’t reliable or available.

How it Works

The generator ignites the fuel under high pressure conditions. The pressure from these tiny explosions cause the pistons to turn. These will then cause a crankshaft to turn. The shaft is connected directly to an alternator that uses electromagnetic induction to create an electric field that is then piped out through cables.

The system dates way back to the 19th century and was invented by Rudolf Diesel, a German engineer. The original design used pressurized air to ignite the fuel. Subsequent versions would include a spark plug which saw a more efficient ignition of the fuel.

Gas vs Diesel

Gasoline powered generators are as popular as ever. This is because they use the same unleaded gasoline that most people’s cars use. It is widely available and easy to access. But diesel generators are preferred by people who value fuel efficiency as well as some other beneficial features. In fact, most large commercial fuel powered generators use diesel fuel.

As we mentioned earlier, diesel fuel is more efficient. Diesel engines extract more energy per unit of fuel due to their higher compression ratios (typically 14:1 to 22:1 vs. 8:1 to 12:1 for gas). This means they burn less fuel to produce the same amount of power.

Diesel generators also last longer. This is because they are built more sturdily than gas generators. They can have up to more than double the lifespan of a gas generator.

Diesel fuel also has double the shelf life that gas has. Gas is listed as being fully storable and ready to use for 6-12 months whereas diesel is listed at 12-24 months.

For all these reasons you can see why diesel is preferred by many. This especially holds true for large commercial operations where they deal with volume, safety and durability. Think hospitals, emergency businesses, remote location headquarters and the like.

If you are in the Lynchburg area of Central Virginia and need diesel fuel delivery please give us a call at 434-845-0971