Natural Gas Air Compressors vs. Electric Compressors: This Guide Will Help You Choose the Right Choice

There are many types of air compressors, making it difficult to choose the right one Natural Gas Air Compressors vs. Electric Compressors. This guide will help you make an informed decision by revealing the pros and cons of common air compressors.

We are comparing electric and natural gas compressors as these are the best options for both technicians and engineers who travel to customer sites or on job sites.

Each situation is unique. It’s important that you start by looking at where you live and what compressed air will be used for throughout the year. Also, you should decide if you need a steady supply of compressed air or if it’s more convenient to send power to all locations.

This will help you to determine if you are able to take advantage of secondary benefits such as heat recovery from natural gas compressors or easier installation and use electric air compressors.

The Benefits of Gas Compressors

Air compressors powered by natural gas are best outdoors or in remote locations where they can provide constant air pressure, high power, and long-lasting compression. There are many powerful compressors that use natural gas for power. You can hear the difference when they rev up.

Because they can work in any space, these compressors are a great choice for those who need to move around a lot or work in remote areas. You can move the compressor around more freely and place it in the most convenient location for workers without having to plug into a power source.

The standard natural gas compressor is a powerful model that can power many applications and will work efficiently. It can often achieve a higher efficiency with a partial load. Some reports even mention that it can keep its highest efficiency level at as low a 30% load.

The advantages of gas compressors include heat recovery and heat use for other purposes. Many natural gas compressors have access to heat from both the gas exhaust and the cooling jacket water. These elements can be used in many applications, such as space heating and connecting to boilers. This will help companies cut down on their utility costs.

If you use natural gas for multiple purposes, such as power turbines, it may be possible to reduce overall plant consumption up to 25% by recovering waste heat from the turbines and natural gas compressors.

Many companies promote natural gas compressors as being environmentally friendly, in addition to reducing dependency on external utilities. Natural gas is very efficient. NW Natural says that natural gas produces almost no carbon monoxide and about 45% less than coal. It also has 30% less CO ₂ than petroleum.

Experts also believe that natural gas is cheap and will continue to decrease in cost. Scientific American predicts that gas prices will continue to fall through new supplies, shifting demands and increased competition among suppliers around the world.

These compressors may also be useful for your industry because they can reduce the risk of sparking.

Gas Air Compressors Cons

Natural gas compressors can produce hazardous exhaust when operating indoors, or in spaces with poor ventilation. This is a problem with all combustion-type air compressors. However, many forget to include natural gas.

Although natural gas compressors have a lower life expectancy, they can still be dangerous in an accident and have high fire risk. You must transport the natural gas reserves. This means that you are at risk of staff using your natural gas compressor improperly and any accidents in your fuel depot.

Gas compressors are also quite loud. The noise from most gas compressors can cause more disruption than normal and can damage your employees’ hearing if left unattended. You will need to have enough space and protection equipment in order to dissipate sound. These compressors should be used outdoors only.

The initial cost of a natural-gas compressor and its installation cost are both higher than others. Large facilities can save up to 50% per year in utility costs. This allows them to pay the installation cost back more quickly than other compressors.

Electric Air Compressor Pros

The unique advantage of electric air compressors is that they can be used in any environment where electricity is available. They are quiet, silent, and produce no harmful byproducts or toxic exhaust, which makes them ideal for indoor use. The electric air compressors work continuously without the need to stop or refuel.

They are also less distracting for your employees. The electric compressors do not produce any harmful exhaust, strong smells, or loud noises Read more