Natural Gas Piping
Natural Gas Piping
(OP)
I am installing an emergency generator that runs on Natural Gas.
TWO questions:
1. Generator requires 170 cubic feet of gas at full load, the meter pressure is 5 PSI, and the distance from meter to generator ia about 100 feet -WHAT SIZE PIPE IS NEEDED??
2. Somehow I recall that "black iron" pipe is best for gas, AND that I should NOT use anything with more than 75% copper -- Why can I NOT use COPPER with natural gas?
TWO questions:
1. Generator requires 170 cubic feet of gas at full load, the meter pressure is 5 PSI, and the distance from meter to generator ia about 100 feet -WHAT SIZE PIPE IS NEEDED??
2. Somehow I recall that "black iron" pipe is best for gas, AND that I should NOT use anything with more than 75% copper -- Why can I NOT use COPPER with natural gas?
pipingdesigner
www.pipingdesigners.com





RE: Natural Gas Piping
SCH 40 Steel
Fitting factor 1.2
100 feet
5 psia upstream
2.5 psia downstream
730 MBH
Copper is a poor choice if H2S is present. Check the relevant building code for your area: IMC, UMC, etc. They will have the information you require. If I recall correctly, there is a cutoff limit such that when H2S is XXX ppm then copper is not allowed. Some engineers will state that copper is not allowed; however, I refer your relevant mechanical code for this determination.
RE: Natural Gas Piping
Also, some local building codes still have pipe requirements left over from the old old old days ( 1930's) when the towns would produce their own gas using coal gasification- in those days, the low BTU coal gas would require galvanized piping, but today's natural gas uses "black (ductile) iron" or carbon steel.
RE: Natural Gas Piping
Is the 2.5 PSI (presumably gage and not absolute) quoted by CRG the required pressure at the generator? Without knowing the required pressure it is not possible to size the pipe.
regards
Katmar
RE: Natural Gas Piping
RE: Natural Gas Piping
Come on PipingDesigner! Give us some info and we will give you some answers
regards
Katmar
RE: Natural Gas Piping
John