Diesel generators are often used for electricity used in homes, industries or other businesses as an alternative to grid power supply and are very handy when electricity is in short supply or in areas where there is no grid supply. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the basic components of such devices as diesel generators.
Diesel engines
The mechanical energy input to the generator comes from the diesel engine. The maximum power output of a generator is proportional to the size of the motor. When evaluating a diesel engine, there are many variables to consider. The type of fuel used is one of them.
Generator engines use different types of fuel. Gasoline is used in smaller engines, while diesel is mainly used in larger engines.
alternator
An alternator is a generator assembly that converts mechanical input from an engine into electrical output. It consists of a housing that houses a series of fixed and movable components. These components work together to generate energy by causing relative motion between the magnetic and electric fields.
Voltage Regulator
As the name suggests, this component regulates the generator output voltage. As the generator output increases, the DC current supplied by the voltage regulator decreases. The voltage regulator reaches steady state after the generator reaches full operating capacity and only provides enough DC current to keep the generator output at its maximum operating level.
Cooling and Exhaust System
Due to continuous use, different components of the generator heat up. For this, a cooling and ventilation system is required to remove the heat generated during operation. For small generators, fan cooling is usually used, while larger generators use coolant. In all cases, the generator should be installed in a well-ventilated, air-filled open space.
As far as the exhaust system is concerned, the gases emitted by the generator are similar to those emitted by any other diesel or gas engine, and they contain extremely dangerous compounds that must be handled with care.
Lubrication system
Since the engine of a generator has moving parts, lubrication is required for long-term durability and trouble-free operation. Generally, the lubricating oil level should be checked every 8 hours of operation of the diesel generator. As a rule, after every 500 hours of use, the diesel generator should also check whether the lubricating oil leaks and replace the lubricating oil.
control panel
This is the user interface for the diesel generator, including the power socket and controls. Depending on the make and model of the generator, the control panel will have different options. Diesel generator on and off, engine indicators for pressure, temperature, battery voltage, engine rpm, and meter current or output voltage, etc. are just what you can find on it.
