Jan. 13, 2025
Diesel generators are a popular choice for businesses who need to be able to ensure no disruption to processes or loss of data due to a power cut. A power outage can happen at any time (usually when you least expect it). Outages can be caused by issues with the national grid, severe weather, electrical current failure and more.
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So, you need a backup power supply to minimise downtime and keep your business online. But how do generators work, and why should you consider adding one to your business plan?
At Vital Power we specialise in UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) solutions as well as generators, and our team has put together this guide to everything you need to know about generators and how they work. So, read on to find out more about our backup power generators&#;
First things first &#; what is a generator anyway? A generator is a device (standalone or unconnected to the mains) that produces electrical power. They are used to produce electric current power and electricity when the mains power has an outage, blackout or brownout.
Generators are most often used as standby power options, and our range of backup generators is designed to provide emergency critical power solutions for businesses in emergencies and power outages. Generators come in a variety of sizes and types (from a classic standby generator to portable generators), and can function to power homes, small businesses, commercial sites (such as distribution centres), or organisations (such as hospitals and universities).
Electric generators come in a few varieties and can be powered by various fuels. Diesel generators are some of the most popular for industrial use thanks to their affordability and efficiency. Petrol (or gasoline) generators are generally used for smaller loads, and tend to be louder than diesel equivalents. There are also natural gas generators &#; which are obviously more environmentally friendly than both petrol and diesel generators. Another type is propane generators, which is an eco-friendly option usually preferred when natural gas generators can&#;t be used.
Fuel Injection
Within the diesel generator, the combustion process begins with the first injection of diesel fuel into the engine&#;s combustion chamber. This is usually done with a fuel injector, which sprays a fine mist of diesel into the compressed air within the cylinder.
Air Compression
The diesel engine then compresses the air within the cylinder. This compression raises the temperature of the air inside, creating an environment for combustion. Diesel engines use higher compression ratios than petrol engines, which is why they&#;re so efficient.
Combustion
Once the air is sufficiently compressed, the fuel injector sprays diesel into the hot, compressed air. The high temperature causes the diesel fuel to instantly combust. This rapid combustion generates a significant amount of heat and expands the gases within the cylinder, pushing the piston down.
Piston Movement
The force generated by the combustion process causes the piston to move down within the cylinder. This movement is converted into rotational motion through the engine&#;s crankshaft.
Crankshaft Rotation
As the crankshaft rotates it drives the generator&#;s rotor, which is connected to the electrical generator. This rotational motion is converted into electrical energy through electromagnetic induction.
Electromagnetic Induction
The rotor, usually a magnetic field, rotates within a set of conductors, or stator. This relative motion starts an electrical current in the stator windings, following the principles of electromagnetic induction as described by Faraday&#;s Law.
Generation of Electrical Power
The induced current in the stator windings produces electrical power. The generated electricity is produced in the form of alternating current (AC).
Voltage Regulation
To ensure a stable voltage output, diesel generators typically incorporate voltage regulation systems. These systems monitor the generator&#;s output and adjust the electrical field or excitation to maintain a consistent voltage level.
Cooling Systems
Diesel generators produce a substantial amount of heat during operation. Cooling systems, for example radiators or heat exchangers, dissipate this heat to prevent overheating.
Exhaust System
The combustion of diesel fuel produces exhaust gases. Diesel generators are equipped with exhaust systems, including mufflers and sometimes catalytic converters, to manage and minimise emissions.
Control Systems
Advanced diesel generators feature control systems that monitor and manage various factors, including load, temperature, and fuel levels. These systems can automatically start or stop the generator based on demand.
Generators don&#;t actually make or create electricity. An electric generator uses a process and converts mechanical energy (or chemical energy) into electrical power. This process involves forcing electrons through the generator&#;s electric circuit. Diesel generators use the fuel to generate mechanical power in a diesel engine that is then forced into a circuit to power buildings, devices and more.
Despite what you might naturally assume, when it comes to diesel generators there isn&#;t actually any real &#;generation&#;, or &#;creation&#; of electricity. The way generators provide a source of power to the devices connected is electromagnetic induction.
The process of electromagnetic induction was discovered by Michael Faraday in the 19th century, and refers to a way of converting mechanical energy into electrical energy.
So, in basic terms, this is how generators work to provide a source of electrical power:
Inside the generator, a copper coil called the armature sits between two poles in a magnetic field. This is then rotated by a shaft powered by an internal combustion engine or some kind of turbine.
When the armature passes through the field, it generates a voltage or electromotive force (EMF) in the coil. This voltage then causes a current of electricity to flow &#; this current is the electrical energy &#;generated&#; by the generator.
The electrical output from the generator is typically alternating current (AC) power. Some generators produce direct current (DC), but AC is much more common.
Generators work using a control system to operate, and need to be switched to in order to power electricity. This can be done manually, though this means that in the interim after the outage and before the generator is switched on, you may have some downtime. This can lead to data loss, loss of profits or disruption to your daily processes.
Many businesses opt to use a control panel with their backup generator in order to automatically switch between mains power and generator power. Using ATS (Automatic Transfer Switch) or AMF (Automatic Mains Failure) panels is one way to ensure a smooth transition and to limit any loss of power. ATS or AMF panels automatically detect the A/C supply and loss of mains power, and will switch to the generator when it needs to.
Wondering which panel is right for your generator? Read more about ATS or AMF panel choices on our blog.
Generators are made up of lots of parts, with nine main ones:
Perhaps unsurprisingly, a generator&#;s engine is one of the most important parts. How much power your generator produces and how many devices or buildings it can power will be decided by the size and overall power of the engine.
Another big hitter, the fuel system is what keeps your generator running. The overall fuel system is made up of a number of parts &#; including a pump for fuel, a return pipe, fuel tank and a connecting pipe running between the engine and the fuel tank.
As the name suggests, the control panel is what controls the overall running of the generator. ATS or AMF panels can automatically detect loss of A/C power from the mains and switch the generator power on.
The alternator (sometimes called the genhead) controls the process by which mechanical energy (or chemical energy) is converted into electrical energy. The alternator system creates the electromagnetic field that generates electricity.
By their nature, generators get hot. The electrical generation process produces a lot of heat, and it&#;s important to keep things cool so nothing burns out or overheats. Diesel fumes and other heat will be removed by the exhaust.
It&#;s important that the generator power is regulated for a steady flow that won&#;t blow any devices. If required, the voltage regulator can also convert power from A/C to D/C.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Voltgent.
Featured content:The charging point means the generator is always ready when you need it for emergency or standby power. It supplies a consistent flow of low voltage energy to keep the battery ready.
All the parts &#; nuts, bolts, levers, pipes &#; in a generator need to keep moving. Keeping them lubricated with enough oil can stop generator parts from wearing, rusting and breaking down. While the generator is in use, it&#;s important to keep an eye on the lubrication level.
What holds it all together &#; a sturdy frame structure that holds all the above parts together.
For a full guide to all the parts in a well-equipped critical power system, read more about our generator parts diagram.
It&#;s important to get the right sized generator. If it&#;s too small, you won&#;t be able to power everything you need in the event of an outage. Undersized generators can also struggle to power the load you need, which can cause outages and strain on the machinery. However, a generator that&#;s too big can also lead to a wastage of resources, damaging any connected machines and overspending on the budget.
The size or voltage of the generator you need will depend on how much electrical power output you need. We recommend adding up the wattage of all possible devices, buildings and services you&#;ll need to power. The Vital Power team can help calculate the total power requirement of your system in kilowatts (kW) and kilovolt ampere (kVa).
At Vital Power we stock a range of leading brand names, with generators to suit every business or facility. Whether you want to hire a generator or upgrade your site with a generator system of your own, our team can help.
We offer a complete range of major and minor services for generators, so the maintenance of your generator is handled by our team of engineers.
Working Principle of Diesel Generator &#; A diesel generator (sometimes known as a diesel genset) is a device that produces electricity by a combination of a diesel engine with an electric generator (commonly known as an alternator). This is a type of engine generator and although most diesel compression ignition engines are designed to run on diesel fuel, specific models are approved to run on other liquid fuels or natural gas. Diesel generator sets are employed in places where there is no access to the power grid as an emergency power source if the grid fails and for more complicated applications such as grid support, peak-lopping, and power grid export. Diesel generator size is crucial to avoid low-load or power shortages.
There are many product choices available in the market today related to diesel generator equipment, devices, and related products. Linquip offers you all the information you need to make the best decision about what is right for you. If you have any questions about diesel generators, it would be our pleasure to assist you. We are available at any time, so please don&#;t hesitate to contact us. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact our expert team right away. It would be wise for you to take a few minutes to read Linquip&#;s article entitled, &#;What is Industrial Diesel GenSets?&#;.
Become a Linquip Expert, and then you&#;ll have complete access to everything Linquip has to offer. With a Linquip account, you can demonstrate your industrial technology skills in a way that is customized to industry-specific needs. Would you be interested in contributing to Linquip as a Guest Poster? If you are interested in Guest posts, Linquip can provide you with the option to publish your content on its platform.
Diesel generators are extremely helpful equipment that generates electricity by consuming diesel fuel. A silent diesel generator is a hybrid of a diesel engine and an electric generator that is commonly used as a backup power supply in industrial and residential applications. It can be configured in a variety of physical and electronic ways. These engines are typically installed in rural areas where they are connected to a power grid and can be utilized as a primary or backup power source. Furthermore, diesel generators can be used to offset the grid&#;s peaking power needs since they can be turned on and off fast, without causing latency. Generators for commercial usage range from 8 KW to 2,000 KW, whereas generators for household usage range from 8 to 30 kW. They are also used on large ships for additional power, which can range from lighting, fans, and switches to providing power to the propulsion system.
Diesel generators, on average, require 0.4 liters of fuel per kWh produced, resulting in a 25 percent efficiency ratio. The efficiency of any diesel generator, on the other hand, is dependent on the situation and how it is used. In essence, the diesel engine is an internal combustion engine. Unlike a gasoline engine, the diesel engine ignites and burns the fuel pumped into the injection chamber using compression heat rather than spark ignition. Diesel engines, in general, have the highest thermal efficiency of any internal combustion engine, especially for continuous and heavy-duty use, allowing for a percentage of the Carnot efficacy. Many crude oil derivatives can be utilized in diesel engines. Natural gas, alcohols, wood gas, gasoline, and diesel are some of the fuels that a diesel engine can burn.
Exhaust gasses are produced when diesel or other fuels are burned. Carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and particulates are all produced by diesel generators. These generators release this into the environment, significantly lowering air quality in the surrounding areas. Every liter of gasoline contains 0.73 kilograms of pure carbon, while diesel fuel releases 2.6 kg of carbon dioxide.
The diesel generator is made up of various parts that work together to produce electricity. Some of the most important components of a powerful diesel generator are as follows:
IC Engine: The engine is the most important part of a diesel generator set, as it provides mechanical energy that is later transformed into electrical power. The power output of these generators is proportional to the engine size. The more powerful the engine, the more electricity it produces.
Alternator: The alternator is another crucial component of a diesel generator. It converts the engine&#;s mechanical input (the spinning of the shaft) into electrical output via induction. An alternator is constructed out of a rotor that creates alternating electricity by producing a magnetic field. Hence, the rotor is regarded as the alternator&#;s primary component.
In the early s, Faraday discovered (or at least described) the mechanism of &#;electromagnetic induction&#;. When you move a wire (or any electrical conductor) through a magnetic field, an electric current is induced in the wire, according to this principle. If the wire is stationary but the magnetic field moves, the same holds. The electrons flow across the wire simply by traveling through a magnetic field. The electrons flow in one direction if the wire moves north-south and the other direction if the wire moves south-north. The more powerful the field and the longer the wire, the more current is induced. Several massive, powerful magnets are arranged in a cluster around a central, revolving shaft in modern generators. This is referred to as the rotor or armature. The magnets could be permanent or electromagnets, but the essential is that they create a magnetic field that causes the engine to spin. The &#;stator,&#; which is effectively a series of tightly bundled coils of wire, all packed closely around the rotor, is another significant sub-component of the alternator. The rotor constantly transfers the north and south poles of its magnetic field(s) across the bundles of wire that surround them when an external force (such as a diesel engine) spins the central shaft. This results in a large amount of electrical current flowing back and forth across the cables, which we refer to as &#;alternating current&#; or &#;AC&#; mains electricity.
Fuel System: The fuel system stores and distributes the fuel to the generator. The most critical factor in getting the engine to run is fuel. The fuel&#;s chemical energy is transferred to mechanical energy, which is ultimately converted to electrical energy by the engine.
The most visible component of the fuel system is a tank that holds enough fuel to operate for at least 6-8 hours. For smaller, portable generators, this tank may be built inside the generator housing, or it may be a distinct external structure for bigger, permanently installed generators. Other components of the fuel system include pipework to deliver fuel to the engine, a fuel pump similar to those found in most vehicles, a fuel filter, and a fuel tank ventilation pipe or valve to prevent overpressure or vacuum. There will also be an overflow connection to ensure that if the tank is overfilled, the fuel is routed away rather than sprayed on the engine or alternator&#;s surface.
Lubricating (oil) System: This component ensures that a diesel generator&#;s different components work smoothly. As a result, to avoid any problems, it&#;s critical to keep a constant eye on the generator&#;s lubricating system. Because a generator has a lot of spinning parts, it&#;s critical to have a good lubrication system that not only protects the moving parts from friction but also keeps them cool.
Voltage Regulator: This is a complicated but necessary component. Without it, the AC produced would vary in voltage and amperage depending on the engine&#;s speed. Because modern electrical equipment requires a very stable power supply, something must be done to balance it. The workings of a voltage regulator are highly complex, and this content will not go into detail about them.
Cooling System: In addition to mechanical energy, the engine creates a lot of waste heat, just like in a car. The electrical resistance of the wires generates heat when the power passes through the alternator. This heat is absorbed by a coolant fluid, usually but not always water, which then passes via a heat exchanger, discharging its heat into the air or sometimes into a secondary coolant fluid.
Exhaust System: Exhaust gases are produced by all internal combustion engines. These are poisonous and must be kept away from the engine and any humans around. Exhaust gases are usually carried through pipes and released into the atmosphere. Before installing a new generator, check with your local health and safety standards to see how and where exhaust systems must be channeled.
Starter and Battery System: The diesel motor, like the one in a car or a truck, is started by a small electrical motor. This electrical starter motor is powered by a battery that is charged either by a separate charger or by the generator&#;s output.
Control Panel: The Control Panel houses the Start/Stop button as well as indicators for various parameters, as listed below:
It&#;s critical to keep an eye on these traits when operating a generator to ensure that it works properly.
The Housing/Frame: An open structural frame, weatherproof housing, or a transportable unit will house the diesel generator. All of these functions work together to keep the components connected and secure. It also guarantees that all electrical components are grounded correctly.
The working principle of a diesel generator is established on the thermodynamics law of energy conversion. This law states that energy cannot be created or destroyed but can only be changed from one form to another.
To produce AC (alternating current) power, diesel generators go through a series of stages. When the diesel generator starts, it goes through its four combustion processes: suction, compression, power, and exhaust. As a consequence, the fuel&#;s chemical energy is transformed into rotational mechanical energy. This mechanical energy is employed to turn a crankshaft. The spinning shaft is now used to rotate the alternator&#;s rotor. The rotor and stator are the two crucial parts of an alternator that creates electricity.
The rotor, a cylindrical component surrounded by magnets, spins inside the stator, which is made up of a fixed arrangement of conductive copper wiring. In the end, the movement of the magnets across the wiring is what generates electrical charges in the circuit. Electricity is generated when the rotor spins. The magnets surrounding the rotor are precisely positioned to create a magnetic field as they pass through the stator&#;s copper wiring. The magnetic field is commonly produced by two polarized magnets in an electric generator application. This magnetic field generates voltage, which is captured by the stator. The voltage regulator then delivers the electricity to the desired location while managing the voltage received.
The alternator produces an AC, which is converted to DC with the help of a rectifier in a diesel generator.
Note that the electromagnetic field in the rotor is created by the excitation system. The electrical power produced in the stator is proportional to the strength of the magnetic field formed. Direct current (DC) is used to generate the electromagnetic field, and it can range from 50 amps to amps or more, based on the size of the generator. Modern excitation systems are static, with DC generated by rectifying AC power with power potential transformers (PPTs) and saturable current transformers (SCTs).
The disadvantages of earlier versions, such as higher noise and maintenance expenses, have been overcome by modern diesel engines. When compared to gas engines of equal size, they are now quieter and require less maintenance.
The following are the key advantages of diesel generators:
On the other hand, diesel generators have several disadvantages, particularly in terms of the environment. 1 liter of fuel produces an average of 2.7 kg of CO2. Diesel generators pollute the environment significantly more than other power sources. It emits not just carbon monoxide but also particulate matter and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. Diesel generators also lead to noise pollution, and when compared to other energy sources, they may have a high upfront cost, as well as costly servicing and maintenance. Regular oil changes are the most important continuing servicing requirement for a diesel engine. Well-maintained diesel generators can survive a long time, while those that aren&#;t, can&#;t.
Starting the generator in the winter might be difficult. Glow plugs and other heating components can be used to warm up the engine, including the incoming air, to overcome this problem. However, there is a cost involved with this. Diesel generators can create harmful exhaust fumes, are heavy, and are difficult to transport.
(Portable) diesel generators are frequently used in conjunction with batteries for energy storage, even though this combination has considerable drawbacks. For many applications, batteries are considered too heavy, discharge fast, and take a long time to recharge. It is also well recognized that batteries have a short usable life, that they induce atmospheric acidification, and that their manufacture reduces valuable natural resources like cobalt and nickel.
The following are the primary disadvantages of diesel generators:
An electric generator and a diesel engine are used to generate electricity by a diesel generator. In most cases, diesel generators use liquid fuels or natural gas as their primary fuel. A diesel generator works by compressing air and burning fuel.
By spinning the alternator, the diesel engine creates an AC electrical current. Electrical equipment is powered by this. A variety of applications can be served by them, including schools, hospitals, factories, and homes.
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