Generator BasicsA generator is a piece of equipment that supplies electrical power during utility power outages. Depending on what it is connected to, a generator allows a facility to continue using air-conditioning, heaters, power receptacles and lights during a blackout. Generators have grown in popularity lately for home use but they have been an essential part of the design for hospitals and large office buildings for generations. For the sake of simplicity, we will not be discussing the type of large generators that produce energy for entire counties or states. These facilities are run by the utility companies and the energy produced is not for emergency use. Rather, this is the "normal" power that occurs on the transmission side of electrical design projects. Therefore, it is the failure of this electricity that prompts the need for the emergency generators that are discussed below and elsewhere in this Generators section. From a technical standpoint, an engine-generator is the combination of an engine (powered by fossil fuels) and an electrical generator. They are mounted together in one enclosure to form a single piece of equipment. This combination can be called an engine-generator set but in electrical engineering documents is usually called a Genset. Electrical generators (gensets) convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. The power created is alternating current (AC) and the kilowatt load (KW) of the power created is designed to match the exact load that is serving the system under normal electrical circumstances. The spinning shaft of the engine creates a magnetic field as would be produced in a motor. The biggest difference though between a motor and a generator is that a motor converts electrical energy to mechanical energy and delivers this mechanical energy in the form of horsepower to the shaft of a driven load. The reverse is true for generators. For more information about basics of motors, review the "Motors" section of this site. Components of a Generator
In addition to these items, as part of the overall system a generator will also require a transfer switch, feeders, conduit and grounding. The transfer switch is typically automatic but in some cases, especially portable units, it can be manual. The purpose of the automatic transfer switch (ATS) is to quickly disconnect the power load from the utility or distribution power source and connect/start the generator.
Types of Genset Engine FuelsDiesel Diesel fuel engines are very popular. They are readily available, reliable, economical and rugged. Diesel engines are very common in commercial and industrial applications as they are available in all common voltages (120/240v 1ø, 120/208V 3ø, 277/480v 3ø) and are sized as high as 2000kw. Natural Gas / Propane Gaseous fuel engines have the same characteristics as diesel. Natural Gas is a readily available utility in most parts of the country but is subject to interruption of the supply line is damaged. An LP (liquid propane) tank is very similar to diesel except that a diesel fuel tank is usually stored under the generator whereas the LP tank is located next to or near the generator, thereby taking up more space. Gasoline Gasoline engines are not as economical or reliable as diesel, natural gas or propane. But they are especially useful for portable generators due to the fact that gasoline can easily be transported from the gas staion (5 gal. container) to the portable generator. Getting gasoline to a portable generator is as easy as filling up a car's gas tank. |
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