DIESEL ENGINE
GENERATOR SETS
During the continuous operation of the generator set, the refueling frequency is an important part of maintenance management. Reasonable arrangement of the refueling cycle can ensure the stable operation of the equipment and prevent power outages or equipment damage caused by fuel depletion. The key factors influencing the refueling frequency mainly include the type of unit, fuel tank capacity, load rate, type of fuel, and operating environment, etc.
Generator sets can be classified into standby units, regular units and continuous units according to their uses. Different categories have different control methods for fuel consumption. Standby machines are mostly used in scenarios of sudden power outages and usually do not operate for a long time. Therefore, the frequency of fuel consumption is relatively low, and it is only necessary to check the fuel level regularly. Commonly used units bear part of the daily load and have relatively stable fuel consumption. Generally, fuel replenishment or inspection is required every 8 to 12 hours. Continuous type units are typically used in scenarios such as communication and mining areas where power supply is not interrupted. A timed refueling mechanism needs to be set up, and it is recommended to use a monitoring system to monitor the oil level in real time.
The capacity of the fuel tank is the physical basis of the refueling cycle. The fuel tank capacity of small portable units is generally between 10L and 30L, and they can operate at full load for 3 to 8 hours continuously. The oil tank of medium-sized fixed units is usually 100L to 500L, supporting full-load operation for 10 to 24 hours. Large-scale units are equipped with oil tanks of over a thousand liters and have the ability to operate for multiple days. Before operation, the estimated fuel consumption should be calculated based on the load power, and the refueling time should be reasonably arranged.
The load rate directly determines the fuel consumption within a unit of time. When operating at full load, the engine has a heavy working load and fuel consumption increases. The fuel consumption difference between 50% load and 100% load can reach more than 30%. In situations where the load fluctuates greatly, it is recommended to monitor the consumption trend in real time through a fuel flow sensor and scientifically set the refueling interval.
The type of fuel also affects combustion efficiency and fuel consumption. Diesel-type units generally have low fuel consumption and high calorific value, making them suitable for long-term high-load working conditions. Gasoline units have good starting performance, but the fuel is highly volatile and the fuel consumption is relatively high. Using non-standard fuel or inferior fuel products will accelerate fuel consumption and increase the risk of carbon deposits, thereby shortening the refueling cycle.
In addition, factors such as the operating environment temperature, altitude and humidity will affect the atomization efficiency of fuel, indirectly leading to changes in fuel consumption. For instance, in high-altitude areas, the air is thin, the engine power decreases and fuel consumption increases. Therefore, it is necessary to appropriately shorten the refueling intervals.
To ensure operational safety, check the oil level before each startup and record the actual oiling frequency based on the number of operating hours. For power generation systems that operate 7×24 hours a day, a dual oil tank switching system can be introduced or an automatic fuel pump device can be connected to avoid delays in fuel replenishment due to manual intervention.