Bi-Fuel Diesel Generators: A Reliable Option for Hurricane Response and Relief

Leading emergency response institutions such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) contract with utility and private companies to provide temporary power, enabling first responders, medical personnel, and clean-up personnel to respond immediately when hurricane-related emergencies arise.

Diesel generators currently provide a good solution, but there’s one problem — diesel fuel supplies are often overwhelmed by increased demand and supply-chain disruptions. Slight modifications to diesel generators can make them bi-fuel, meaning they can also use natural gas, propane, etc., providing a more reliable option for hurricane response than generators running diesel alone.

Bi-Fuel Benefits for Hurricane Response and Relief

Retrofitting a conventional diesel generator with technology such as OptiBlend® allows additional energy into the combustion chamber on top of what is in the diesel fuel. Therefore, the diesel generator produces the same power when running bi-fuel using less actual diesel fuel.

Since the generator uses natural gas to offset some of the diesel fuel it would have burned, the diesel supply will last longer. Hurricanes affect diesel supplies, but the natural gas supply will likely remain stable because it’s often transported through underground pipes.

Diesel Power Generator Applications

With slight modifications to the air intake system with OptiBlend®, diesel power generators can be reliable options during hurricane emergencies in the following capacities:

First Responders

First responder teams such as search and rescue, temporary medical camps, and shelters need a constant supply of power to respond efficiently and effectively.

Search and rescue personnel need reliable power to maintain seamless communication, charge or power heavy tools such as concrete saws, and keep lights on. Diesel generators can aid search and rescue efforts for extended periods by providing a vital source of power.

Diesel generators modified with technologies such as OptiBlend® can be a reliable power supply for life-saving medical equipment such as ventilators, defibrillators, oxygen generators, and more. Temporary medical camps also require power to maintain specific temperatures to aid recovery and store medications.

Temporary shelters need a steady power supply for cooking, keeping warm, and lighting the facility.

Supplies

Hurricanes often disrupt the water supply. Bi-fuel diesel generators provide power necessary for pumping and purifying water for people affected by the storm.

People displaced or otherwise impacted by hurricanes require a steady supply of fresh food until the emergency passes. Diesel generators can power freezer units and refrigerated trucks that rely on external power to preserve food.

Maintaining climate control is also critical for warehouses that store perishable goods. In addition to keeping the climate control systems operable, diesel generators can provide a reliable power supply for electric equipment such as forklifts, pallet jacks, conveyor belts, and information systems.

Utilities

Especially in emergencies, cities and municipalities need sewage treatment to prevent odor, blockages, bursts, and other unsanitary conditions. Diesel generators provide power for sewage treatment equipment such as blowers, pumps, and climate control systems.

For potable water utilities, diesel generators are used to power water pumps, treat drinking water, and provide a constant water supply for irrigation to prevent food shortages after the emergency.

Another essential utility is communication. Effective communication channels can mean the difference between life and death in emergencies. For example, diesel generators can power cell towers, emergency call centers, internet and data centers, and radio stations.

Medical Care Facilities

Diesel generators can ensure proper medical care facility operations in many ways, including refrigeration and air conditioning. Medications such as insulin and some vaccines need refrigeration to maintain their efficacy. Air conditioning in the facilities help maintain comfortable environments to promote recovery and reduce the spread of disease by ensuring proper ventilation.

Hospitals, emergency care centers, and mobile medical facilities also need a regular and reliable power supply to power monitoring equipment. For example, medical personnel may need to read vital signs or deliver medication using infusion pumps.

Another reason medical care facilities need reliable power is to maintain electronic records management systems. Manual, hand-written, analog patient records can easily get lost or damaged during extreme weather. Diesel generators can enable electronic records management during emergencies by providing reliable power.

During a hurricane emergency, diesel generators can power facility systems such as HVAC, oxygen generation, and communication. These systems are critical for efficient response, evacuation, and restoration.

Clean-up

Hurricanes leave debris, fallen trees and branches, power poles, plastic, and construction material behind. Clean-up crews travel long distances from surrounding areas to assist in the clean-up after a hurricane, and may rely on temporary camps and support that require reliable electric power. Bi-fuel diesel generators can fulfill that role while the clean-up is underway.

Restoration

Lastly, diesel generators can aid in restoration processes after a hurricane, such as reconstructing damaged structures. Diesel generators can continue providing electricity to construction sites until traditional power infrastructure is restored.

All these applications are possible through a simple retrofit to the generator’s air intake system. Using OptiBlend® technologies, a diesel generator can operate at the same power output using less diesel fuel.

Do you want to know how OptiBlend® works? Contact us today!