ABOUT STATIONARY GENERATORS What are generating sets? A generating set is made up of a diesel, gas or petrol engine and an alternator, configured in such a way as to produce electrical current. Generating sets are mainly used in standby applications, to supply power in the event of current cut-off. They can also be used in isolated places as the main source of power when no electrical network exists. How do diesel generators work? A diesel generator converts diesel fuel into electricity. The diesel engine burns diesel fuel in order to produce motion for the generator, which converts the motion into electricity by using the alternator. How do natural gas generators work? As suggested by the name, natural gas generators convert a gaseous supply into electricity. Differently to their diesel relatives, these generators must be able to burn a gaseous (instead of liquid) fuel. That requires a carburetor, which will be specifically designed and configured to handle pressurized gas, blending a precise quantity of fuel and air, and then inject it into the engine to make the generator run. Which fuel is better? There is no absolute answer to this question. However, natural gas is regarded as easier to access during disasters (it comes from underground weather-proof pipelines) and simpler to store. Of course, in case of particularly heavy, earth-affecting disasters (earthquakes come to mind) the underground gas pipeline system might be affected, and thus the regular gas supply disrupted. Traditionally, diesel engines are associated with smaller dimensions and longer life expectancy, making it the most adopted fuel choice for intensive applications, even though natural gas generators have comparable life expectancy in standby applications, becoming therefore a reliable and cost-effective alternative in the standby ecosystem. Moreover, gas-fuelsed generators burn in a more environmentally-friendly way if compared to diesel generating sets. Why do I need an industrial/commercial generating set? There are many reasons to say that buying a generator helps and is useful; here below you can find three of them: There is no other source of electricity available. There is insufficient capacity from the commercial supplier to meet requirements. An additional source of electrical power is necessary in the event of a periodic or sustained loss of commercial mains power. Such power losses can seriously affect different organizations, such as: Hospitals – a loss of patient monitoring and/or life support. Data Centers – a loss in data processing. Offices and accommodation buildings – a loss in power, lighting and lifts. Processing Plants – loss of production, raw material and/or product. What is the difference between kW and kVA? The main difference between these two measurements is the power factor. kW (kilowatt) is the unit of real power, while kVA (kilovolt-ampere) is the unit of apparent power (real power + reactive power). The standard power factor for a three phase generator is 0.8, however it can range from 0 to 1. The kVA value will be always higher than the kW because it includes the reactive power. In relation to industrial and commercial generators, kW is most commonly used when referring to generators in the United States, and a few other countries that use 60 Hz, while the majority of the rest of the world typically uses kVA as the primary value when referencing generator sets. To expand on it a bit more, the kW rating is essentially the resulting power output a generator can supply based on the horsepower of an engine. The kilovolt-amperes (kVA) are the generator end capacity. Generator sets are usually shown with both ratings. Which frequency do I need? Current frequency is expressed in Hertz and depends on your country of residence. United States, Latin America and some Middle East countries use 60 Hz, while the majority of the rest of the world typically uses 50Hz. What is the difference between standby, continuous, and prime power ratings? Standby power generators are most often used in emergency situations, such as during a power outage. They are the ideal solutions for those applications having another reliable continuous power source as utility power, used most often for the duration of a power outage and regular testing and maintenance. Prime power rated generators, defined as having an “unlimited run time”, are used as a primary power source and not just for standby or backup power. A prime power rated generator can supply power in a situation where there is no utility source, as is often the case in industrial applications like mining or oil & gas operations located in remote areas where the grid is not accessible. Continuous power is similar to prime power but has a base load rating. It can supply power continuously to a constant load, but does not have the ability to handle overload conditions or work as well with variable loads. The main difference between a prime and continuous rating is that prime power gensets are set to have maximum power available at a variable load for an unlimited number of hours, and they generally include a 10% or so overload capability for short durations. How do I determine what size Generator I need? Getting a generator that can handle all your power needs is one of the most critical aspects of the purchasing decision. Whether you are interested in continuous or standby power, if your new generator cannot meet your specific requirements then it simply will not work properly and even damage some of the devices connected to it. Determining exactly what size of industrial/commercial generator to get is often very difficult and involves a number of factors and considerations. Contact our subsidiaries: we will help you to choose the right generator for your needs! What type and size of Generating Set do I need? There are many types of Generator Sets. There are single phase or three phase units, portable, stationary and rental. They can be basic manual start, automatic start or continual running units. The type of generator you need is strictly intertwined to your power needs. Does your company need a generator in a remote location that is not connected to the power grid? Your main choice discriminants must be reliability of power, cost and length of life expectancy of the machine, since you will need the generator to run full-time. Do you have to guarantee 100% uptime and cannot waste a second between the occurrence of a power outage and the start of the generator? You must look for quick-starting generators. On the other hand, for standby emergency applications, you might want to explore natural gas generators, which are catching up to diesel solutions’ performance levels and reliability. Generating set can come in open or enclosed version, sound attenuated, skid-mounted or trailer mounted. Check the table below to explore our generators proposal according to your possible needs: POWER RANGE USE PRODUCT 10-800 kVA >800 kVA Standby / Continuous power for commercial and industrial business Stationary Generators < 830 kVA Industrial Gas Generators Stationary Generators > 815 kVA 20-800 kVA Mobile Generators for a wide range of applications Multipurpose mobile generators 20-800 kVA Mobile Generators for Rental purpose Mobile generators Customized Solutions Tailor-made power generators Customized generators How can I assess and compare noise levels? To compare noise levels, you must take values expressed in dB(A) LWA. This is a measurement of the sound power level of the equipment, which is controlled by strict standards and allows relevant comparison. Any other value in decibels, without the symbol LWA, represents the noise level, measured at a given distance, but which may vary according to the position of the measurement point. What are emissions? And what is the relevant regulation? A generating set burns fuel and this means exhaust emissions. According to the fuel/size/application of the generating set, there are different regulations. For industrial/commercial generators, the reference standards come mainly from the EPA and the EU directives. Get in contact with Pramac to know which product does meet your country requirements. Which information is needed to answer a service or parts question regarding my Pramac generator? You should just provide us with model, product specifications and the serial numbers that you find on the nameplate of the unit when inquiring about service and parts. www.pramacparts.com ABOUT US POWER MATERIAL HANDLING APPLICATIONS SUPPORT DISCOVER MORE CONTACT US Privacy policy Term of use Copyright © 2019-2021 PR INDUSTRIAL srl - All rights reserved. PR INDUSTRIAL s.r.l. |Località Il Piano snc - 53031 Casole d'Elsa, Siena - Italy | V.A.T. 06264860484 OK Using our website, you are agree to the use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy. See more at: Cookie_Policy_en.pdf