Generator sets – Are you sure they are installed correctly?

For a correct installation, the following key stages must be taken into account:

First, the area where the genset will be installed must be marked out, as there must be enough space around it for the installation.

The points that then need attention are:

• Transport and unloading of the genset.
• Floor (base) supporting the genset.
• Proper ventilation.
• Anti-vibration mounts.
• Sound insulation.
• Exhaust system.

Transport and unloading of the genset

TESCOM gensets are designed so that transport, loading and unloading can be carried out easily and safely. For this purpose, open-type and soundproof gensets are fitted with a metal base with suitable holes for lifting by crane.

Depending on their size, they can be moved with a forklift, using additional feet that raise the genset off the floor and allow the forks to be inserted.

Floor (base) supporting the genset

Confirming that the floor on which the genset will rest has the load-bearing capacity per m² to support its weight is the most important factor at this stage. This should be a prerequisite and must be checked before the genset is selected and ordered.

If load-bearing capacity is not an issue, the simplest way to secure the generator is with bolts placed through the appropriate holes in the generator's metal frame. You must check that the equipment is firmly secured and that the support areas are level with the ground. Otherwise, equipment vibration may increase and the engine-alternator alignment may be affected. Also, as mentioned at the start, there must be enough space around the genset for technicians to access it comfortably.

Proper ventilation

In indoor installations, both open-type and soundproof gensets require good ventilation for cooling and combustion. To calculate the required ventilation airflow, the following must be added together:

• Engine combustion airflow.
• Engine cooling airflow.
• Alternator cooling airflow.

It is vital to have separate air inlets and outlets to prevent recirculation of the hot air expelled by the engine fan and heating of the generator, as this can cause the genset to shut down due to high temperatures. In practice, this means that the genset room must have a sufficiently large louvered opening. Do not forget the size of the louvers and control of the inlet air temperature: the air temperature must not exceed 40 °C, to prevent derating of the genset.

Do not position the genset so that the radiator is on the same wall as the air inlet, as this would encourage recirculation of hot air in the room, causing overheating.

Anti-vibration mounts

When running, gensets produce vibrations which, if not minimized, can be transmitted to their surroundings, causing noise and damage to the structures that support them. To avoid this, suitable anti-vibration mounts capable of absorbing most of the vibration must be placed under the genset.

All TESCOM gensets include anti-vibration blocks built in between the engine-alternator assembly and the base frame.

For installations where this point is especially critical, there are additional anti-vibration elements, such as springs and elastomeric materials (e.g., Sylomer), that complement and enhance the effect of the anti-vibration blocks.

Sound insulation

The noise generated by a genset is the product of mechanical vibration and the movement of the various parts of the equipment.

Although in many cases we cannot act on the noise produced by the generator itself, it is possible to isolate the machine to reduce it.

This can be done through the walls of the room that will house the genset, or at the air inlets and outlets, by placing various barriers in the path of the cooling airflow.

In hospitals or residential areas, genset noise is a major problem that must be solved, and in such cases TESCOM uses and designs accessories to achieve maximum sound insulation. These are:

• Soundproofed air inlet and outlet baffles (super silent canopy option).
• Reinforced exhaust silencers (critical silencer option).
• Double layer of sound-absorbing material in the canopies (super silent canopy option).
• Acoustic air traps (super silent canopy option).

Exhaust system

To discharge the exhaust gases produced by the engine, and in addition to attenuating the noise produced, there must be an opening in the room to vent the exhaust gases while the genset is running. An exhaust silencer is usually fitted as well.

Proper and complete evacuation of the exhaust gases requires a system of exhaust ducts that vent the gases outdoors (chimneys). TESCOM's technical department will calculate the ideal dimensions of these ducts to ensure the machine operates correctly.