PTO generator selection help

[Popgadget]

I would love to hear from someone with real world experience on using propane generator. Haven't read any users on amazon saying it won't work

There is no magic in a generator. There should be a listing in your manual or spec sheet for fuel consumption either in gallons per hour or BTU.
There are many sources online for propane vaporization rate vs tank size. Determining if your unit will run, and for how long is a simple arithmetic problem once you have the data.
I ball parked the consumption of a 13kw generator at 200,000 BTU, or a bit over 2 gallons per hour to come to my conclusions.

To answer the question, I do have a propane 22kw Generac standby generator and I built my last one including the fuel conversion on a 20hp Honda engine which was closer to the size that you are talking about.

 

[tradosaurus]

The advantage of propane is lasting a long time. I don't want to have to chance not getting diesel in an emergency weather situation. I only have ten gal diesel at any one time as I don't use my tractor that much

 

[grsthegreat]

My 22kw propane generator never had starting or running issues. But my first tank was 250 gal and my current tank is buried 1000 gal.

 

[ponytug]

Just curious: Do buried tanks have better evaporation performance due to warmer earth temperatures?

All the best,

Peter

 

[grsthegreat]

i do know there are no freezing issues with buried tanks. i have a 1000gal buried tank and the top of the metal tank is about 3 feet under ground. all that shows is an 18" tube to access fill port and regulator. but than again, i never experienced freezing on my above ground tank. it was 250 gallon. where i really see these issues are on small 100 gal tanks and below.

 

[sandman2234]

The advantage of propane is lasting a long time. I don't want to have to chance not getting diesel in an emergency weather situation. I only have ten gal diesel at any one time as I don't use my tractor that much

I don't have a pto generator, or a propane "anything" but I do pay attention when my friends have issues. Pleasant Hill, LA with a 20K whole house back up unit and a 250 gallon tank. The issue was not in the ability of the tank to handle the unit, it did fine. In fact the house became the central cooking and sleeping place for several of the closeby families. Now, the issue...
So you have 100 or 250 gallons of propane and a major storm (as was the case) or a earthquake or an ice storm (more likely for you). When you start the generator, you have basically pretty full tanks, but a couple days or a week later, you have none. In the case where everyone is running portable generators or whole house generators, the two things that happen are 1) gas gets to be in short supply, because either the stations have no power or they have run out because the trucks can't keep up with the added demand of all the generators (happens in Florida regularly). Now, propane has to come in a truck, and what happens if your supplier doesn't have power? Or if one of his drivers wrecks one of the two trucks that supply his customers? (yep, Pleasant Hill). Now the generator tank gets low and you can't do much about it. If you were using diesel, with a tank, you could theoretically grab a couple 5 gallon cans to keep it going from your nearby truckstop or gas station. So many times I have seen "out of gas" signs but filled up my diesel pickup. Another reason for me to seriously consider diesel, is I am a truck driver and when I am home, I have a couple hundred gallons reserve, that in an emergency could be used (with the companies permission of course!)
Anyway, consider not being completely dependent on others, or our government, as it is getting to where other people are only looking out for themselves.
David from jax

 

[grsthegreat]

Here our propane companies will fill your tanks anytime, even in power outage, as long as they can physically get to the property. If trees block the road.... oh well.

The propane co i use has a generator and a large tank farm and 6 trucks. The gas stations near me dont have generators. No gas, no diesel no propane during outage.

 

[bigtiller]

It would seem futile to me to have a 20k whole house generator feed off a 100 or 250 gallon propane tank.
I wouldn't mess with anything smaller than 1000 gallon tank.

 

[Industrial Toys]

In my mind. Propane for gen use with small tanks would add significant stress to any long term (you rarely know when the tricity will come back on) outage. How much should I use, or for how long? Seems to be creating it's own trap in effect. What's worse than having something but not having it?

Have to think of that wonderfull feeling, driving along on the edge of your seat in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere with your fuel gauge hovering on 'E'.

 

[tradosaurus]

The generator is for short term (2 days or less) not for long term.

Talking to long term residents in my area the one big incident was a once and a lifetime ice storm that cut power for 3 weeks.

I'm not planning on spending $6 - 10k on a once and a lifetime incident.

As far a cold and propane I would probably buy a waterproof heating blanket to minimize issues with the propane.
Amazon.com: ARRIS Heated Blanket, 5V Electric Outdoor Waterproof Fleece Blanket with Hood, Waterproof Windproof Stadium Mat for Camping, Picnic, Sports, Football, Concerts, 55 x 27.6 inc …: Kitchen & Dining