How to Identify the LP Gas or Natural Gas Fuel Source
 Natural gas is supplied by the utility company through piping, usually buried in the street in front of or behind the building, and entering the building through a gas meter which is located outside or at older installations, possibly inside the building. Our photo (left) shows a gas meter installed indoors in a building utility basemen. |
 LP Gas or "bottled gas" or liquid propane gas is supplied (usually) by a local LP gas distributor who fills an LP gas tank located on and serving the building. The LP gas tank may be above ground (usually at a building exterior wall) or it may be buried at the property. Our photo (left) shows a rather large outdoor aboveground LP gas tank. |
Natural gas and LP gas appliance compatibility
These two fuels are similar in that both are used to provide energy to home heating systems and other appliances but they have some different properties of operating gas pressure, weight, method of distribution, and chemistry. Most gas appliances are delivered already set up to use either natural gas or LP gas but not both.
Most gas appliances can be converted from one fuel to the other - what is involved may be simply changing gas metering orifices in the equipment (for example at the burners on a stove) or it may also be necessary to change or adjust a gas regulator located inside the appliance.
Watch out: Do not hook up an LP gas-ready appliance to a natural gas supply nor can you connect a natural-gas ready appliance to an LP gas supply without reviewing and acting on the manufacturer's instructions for converting the appliance from one fuel to the other. It is virtually always the case that some equipment adjustments and changes are necessary to switch between natural gas and propane gas.
As JR, an industry manager familiar with gas pressures pointed out, these two fuel gases operate at different pressures. In residential appliances
- Natural Gas system pressure: Natural gas operates at a nominal pressure of 7” WC (about 0.253 psi)
- LPG or Liquid Propage Gas system pressure: LP gas or propane operates at a nominal pressure of 11” WC (about 0.397 psi)
- Actual NG or LPG gas pressures vary: [Note: the exact pressure you see in the building at an appliance may vary from these numbers depending on the gas distribution piping system size, diameter, number of appliances served, number of appliances operating, regulator adjustment, and other factors. See Gas Regulators for Appliances and Gas Regulators for LP Tanks. See LP or Natural Gas Pressures for a table showing the range of variation in LP gas pressure in the tank at various temperatures. - Ed.]
If you are planning to convert from one gas fuel to another, such as from LP gas (bottled gas or liquid petroleum gas) to piped in natural gas, see our advice and safety warnings at Gas Conversion LP Natural Gas.
source: http://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Gas_Faults.php
www.eastbaygaslines.com
No comments:
Post a Comment