How do you Convert propane heat to electric heat?

Answer 1

Answer 1: Yes, using a propane-powered generator. However, such generators are only about 10%, give or take, efficient. On average, local power generation stations tend to be around 40% efficient. It would require powering the local generator with diesel to begin to approach 40% efficiency.

Propane, itself, is usually fairly cost-effective in terms of its power potential... but "potential" is the operative word, there. A gallon of propane contains around 27 kilowatt hours (KWH) of energy potential; and so as long as the cost of propane isn't too high, it can compete well with the typical cost of electricity from the local power company. For example, even at a propane cost of $4.00/gallon, the 27KWH of energy potential is only around fifteen cents; and that's right around, give or take, what PG&E, for example, is charging for electricity, per KWH, in California.

However, using propane to run a generator that's only 10% to 20% (actually, very few of them are even close to being as high as 20%) efficient means that each gallon of propane used to generate electricity actually becomes quite inefficient. If a propane generator is only 10% efficient, then suddenly the 27KWH of energy potential in that gallon of propane becomes only 2.7KWH. At that rate, the cost per KWH of electricity output of the propane-powered generator skyrockets to around $1.50/KWH (compared with regular electricity's cost of only fifteen cents per KWH, give or take... only one-tenth of the cost of running the propane generator).

Of course, different efficiencies of different generators, and the actual costs of both propane and regular electricity in various locales, manifestly affects these numbers. Everyone's mileage will, of course, vary. There arre also, now, some permanent (as opposed to portable) generators that are for more than just backup; and some of them are a bit more efficient (though still not enough to make propane electricity generation tuly cost effective).

The cost of the generator, too, must be considered. Assuming it lasted x number of years, then you'd have to amortize its cost over those years (factoring-in depreciation, of course). So, then, the amortized -- and even if depreciated -- cost of the generator must also be considered.

So, yes, you can make electricity from propane...

...but at a not-insignficant cost; a cost that basically makes it not cost effective.

Finally, there's the carbon footprint to consider. Even though propane is very eco-friendly, and its burning generally causes fairly low carbon emissions, it's so inefficient in an electrical generator that it can actually begin to approach the carbon footprint of a coal-burning electrical generation plant!

It's simply not either cost effective, or ecologically sound, to use propane to generate electricity. It's fine in a pinch -- in an emergency -- but not as a permanent, normative means of generating electricity. Many of those in the northeast United States who lost electricity because of hurricane Sandy, and whose electricity took weeks to restore, rushed-out and bought generators of varying sizes, powered variously by propane, gasoline, diesel, and even bio-diesel (essentially, used cooking oil). They work, just fine, but all of them will tell you that their pocketbooks and wallets will be much happier when the regular electricity is restored.

Answer 2

If it is a propane furnace, have a contractor install a strip heat section in the supply ductwork and wire it to your breaker box. About $100-$150 plus install and electrical. lc

Answer 3

it is turned into a liguid and then put into a battery and then stuck into an object that needs that

Answer 4

The only way you can, is if the heater is switchable from the MFG.

It must be designed to run NG, if it is, contact the MFG and buy the NG

orifice.

Answer 5

Propane is combustible. When propane is burned, heat is created. In a propane-powered generator, the thermal energy powers the engine, which powers the generator.

Answer 6

it is burned

Answer 7

no