Got plenty of Propane ?

DiskDoctr wrote:

arizal wrote:
CNG is stored at around 3,000 psi in a compressed gaseous form rather than liquid like LPG so the cost of a storage tank many thousands of dollars more expensive than those used for Propane. Also the amount of BTUs stored in the same sized tank would be much less with CNG as you would not have the advantage of a vaporizing liquid in the tank.
The CNG delivery truck would be ultra expensive and heavy as it would have to be a tube trailer with least a 3,000 pound rating. The only way to make CNG viable is to have a pump at the end of the Natural Gas pipe line to fill the very expensive DOT approved CNG tanks in vehicles. This is why it is seen mainly in city fleets. The tax payers can afford it and it makes the mayor feel like his city is working at being greener.

If you have the ability to fill CNG tanks, you probably already have natural gas at your residence.

ArizAl

Thank you for the detailed info. I didn't know about the pressure differential between propane and CNG.

We do not have NG available here, but it is in a nearby town. There are also a number of well-heads around and a few CNG fueling stations showed up in a nearby city a few years back. I don't think they are still around, though.

@Mowermech-

I believe using the term gouging is quite justified as prices have jumped between 2x and 2.5x in the past month. One could almost make a case that the shortage is a 'national emergency' since it is so widespread and critical to many for heat.

For us, our primary heat is coal. Propane is a convenience with a few ventless heaters. In this -30f to -50f wind and negative single and double digit temps, we exceed our calculated heatload in this farmhouse and have to run the coal above 90% output, which is a lot of extra work. At 80% it needs fed twice a day and keeps the house at 68f-76f quite easily.

We aren't full timers yet, so at least we have the option of waiting for propane. A lot of folks I know with propane as primary heat have fixed pricing for the season, but I am doubting many (most?) campers do.

We've been considering adding a 500gal propane tank for the farm as a just in case, but the hassle of filling smaller tanks has held us back. Maybe this summer we'll reconsider as prices drop (hopefully).

Guess it's time to restart an earlier project to convert my backup boiler over to use straight WVO. It already uses biodiesel, but I didn't make a surplus this year.

We have a few options to adjust to fluctuating markets for fuel, but these unforeseen and rapid onset profiteering events are hard to see coming ;)

I didn't know you could still get coal for home heating. All those old furnaces were taken out of commission around here many decades ago. How do you get the coal to your house? Do you have a room in the basement full of coal and several of times a day you go down there and shovel it into the furnace. Like on the old trains and steam ships? I'm only asking because I don't know.