Paul,
 With the latest round of emission controls by the EPA, stationary
 agricultural diesel engines used for irrigation wells have tripled
 in replacement cost for a 125-150 hp to over $20K.

 I realize this is an airborne rotary forum but I couldn't help but
 think about the suitability of a rotary operating on nat. gas as an alternative.

 The diesel units run direct drive around 2,000 to 2200 rpm powering
 irrigation wells and electric generators.  Nat. gas is currently
 exempt from emissions (Boone Pickens has a lot of it for sale) and a
 lot of farms have access to it including mine.

 Due to their low rpm, these diesel units have excellent longevity at
 8-10,000 hours. Could a rotary with a gear reduction provide a lower
 cost reasonably long life alternative?

 Danny Petersen
 Lincoln Nebraska

 It  will run fine on NG. Make sure it has the apex seal oil metering
 pump. It should run for about 3000 hours. With ceramic apex seals a
 lot longer but I don't how much longer.

 Paul Lamar

 In southern Alberta, around Lethbridge especially they use a lot of
irrigation. Years ago they used the early Chrysler Hemi engines running
Natural gas. I do not know the engine life in hours, but it was long. The big
problem for engines in areas that need irrigation pumps is airborne dust.
Light breezes pick up the dust. It does not have to be like following another
vehicle on a gravel road.

 Check the www.rotaryengine.com site and look at the non-automotive section.
They ran engines on 6% sour gas and got 4,000 hours. Sweet gas engines to
16,000 hours generating 75 to 80 Kw power [107 HP]. some what similar to what Danny
needs. The REC engines likely ran at 3600 RPM for the generators, so a 2.14
reduction box would let the engines run about 4500 RPM with minimal engine
life issues.

Dale Davies


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