If they shut down the electrical grid how will that affect the distribution of natural gas? I believe the pipelines require compressor stations along their length to make up for friction which reduces line pressure and thus volume of gas delivered per unit time. If the compressors are engine driven by duel fuel engines, no problem. If however, the compressors are driven by electric motors we could be in for some chilly days come November.
It has been known to freeze in Wisconsin in November and occasionally it snows. Anybody know for sure what happens to the pipelines when the electric grid winks out?
Regards,
GtG
I've got a 17KW alternator w/ an automatic transfer switch. It will carry all the 120 VAC loads (lighting, furnace, sump pumps, and such. It supplies enough 220 for my deep well pump but if the gas pressure dies with the electric I'll need to rig for propane to get by.
That will be a problem.
Was a time the compressors were driven by engines that burned natural gas, but that was deemed harmful to Mother Gaia, so the compressors were converted to be run by electric motors.
A few winters ago in Texas, there was a large electrical outage (I don't recall if it was the one caused by all the windmills becoming becalmed or a different one) and all of a sudden the natural gas quit flowing.
The 14KW Kohler standby generator I installed has a dual fuel (propane/natural gas) and we set it up for propane. If tptb ever run natural gas lines out this far (doubtful) I'll be good in any scenario. As it is I have 2,000 gallons of propane on hand now. Should be good for a few months when the shtf.
Propane is spendy, but it is our only source...