HP Generating Set - Manual (Page 21)

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Other solutions are to add inhibitors to the fuel or
to obtain greater turnover by using the fuel for
other purposes. A gum inhibitor added to diesel
fuel will keep it in good condition up to two years.
If the building furnace has an oil burner, it is
possible to burn diesel fuel in the furnace,
connecting both the engine and the furnace to the
same tank. In this way, a large supply of diesel fuel
is available for emergency use by the Generating
Set, and the fuel supply is continuously turned over
since it is being burned in the furnace. Thus, there
is no long term storage problem.
11.4 Self Contained Dependability
In some areas, where natural gas is cheap, natural
gas spark ignition engines are used in Generating
Sets that are intended for continuous service. For
standby service, however, this is not recommended.
The natural gas supply and regulation system adds
substantially to the complexity of the installation,
and there is little to be gained in terms of fuel cost
over a period of time. More important, it makes the
emergency power less dependable. Not only is
such an engine less dependable than a diesel, but
often the same storm or accident that disrupts the
normal electric power also cuts off gas service.
Thus, a natural gas engine would be disabled at the
very time it is needed. By contrast, a diesel engine,
with its fuel in a nearby tank, is a self contained
system that does not depend on outside services.
It is more dependable and affords greater standby
protection than systems which depend on a public
utility for fuel.