×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Location of Diesel Gen Set

Location of Diesel Gen Set

Location of Diesel Gen Set

(OP)
Does anyone have experience with the placement of a standby diesel gen set concerning how far away to keep the genset from a nursing care residence using through the wall heat pumps in each room.

I am concerned about exhaust fumes from the proposed 300 KW genset being picked up by the hvac units.



RE: Location of Diesel Gen Set

The important thing is to keep the exhaust stack high enough that the exhaust dissipates upwards and doesn't get circulated by wind currents near the building. Engines can be adjusted to minimze smoke at the cost of acceleration and transient response performance, but there will always be some emissions.

I would also be concerned about noise and odor from the diesel fuel (if the tank is near the generator set). You also need to check building codes for clearance requirements. I would guess the through-the-wall heat pumps would be considered an 'opening' by most codes.

RE: Location of Diesel Gen Set


I would get recommendations from your local gov't authorities/inspectors.
They are going to have to approve it in the end anyways

RE: Location of Diesel Gen Set

Please consider the belly tank, if any, as a fuel storage. See California ( or Uniform) Fire Code for the required separation of the tank from buildings.

RE: Location of Diesel Gen Set

A genset of this size needs a local fuel tank so that the engine's fuel pump does not have to work very hard. The local tank a.k.a. "day" tank is refilled automatically or manually from the main tank using a transfer pump and auxiliary fuel filter. You also need an overflow line from the local tank back to the main tank in case the transfer pump stays on too long.

Best bet is to make refueling automatic using an exposionproof float switch in the local tank. You also need an alarm float switch for the local tank in case the transfer pump fails and you need to activate some type of altenate pump such as a hand cranked pump.

Both tanks need to be vented far enough away from electrical devices to prevent fire hazard.

You should consider connecting the genset exhaust to the same height smokestack that you would use for an oil furnace for space heat. I do not know how much horizontal space you have on the property but if horizontal space is at a premium that is your best bet.

RE: Location of Diesel Gen Set

(OP)
Thanks for all of the comments.  

I will soon have a site meeting with the genset supplier, electrical contractor, local utility, and the owner to discuss this issue of genset placement.  

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources