Under loaded diesel generator set

Hello

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Now, coming to your question...underloaded engines do have an issue with turbochargers..

Howevr if you can keep a close watch on oil consumption, and monitor it at regular intervals you may manage to run it.

It is not going to kill your engine...

it is uneconomical to run unloaded engine as your kwh/litre will come down.

There will not be major problems.

Cheers.

It will be highly inefficient.Engine is most inefficient and will consume more fuel.

Your answer was dead on. You obliviously have a lot of experience with military generators. Wet stacking is normally seen as oily film where the exhaust manifold attaches to the head.

Diesel engines like to work and you will find that your best performance figures for gensets are usually between two thirds load to full load.

As pointed out previously if you run diesel engines at low loads for lengthy periods of time at low loads, expect high maintenance costs. The problem is exacerbated in turbo charged engines.

A not "too expensive" solution to the problem would be to have a variable "dummy load" fitted to the system....................this would always ensure that the genset(s) do not run under light load conditions.

In the past I worked with larger diesel engines and generating sets, but the problems with low loads are the same. High fouling of the engine, and if fitted, the turbocharger will be the first signs of the load being too low. As described by PetroPower, the lube oil will foul (monitor your oil quality; colour, viscocity, TBN, etc), and in the exhaust canal sticky fuel and soot deposits will form. When the turbocharger, if fitted, will foul too much the T/C will start surging (blowback of compressed air through the compression side of the T/C). once in a while. Cleaning the exhaust side of the turbocharger on low loads (refer to manufacturer's recommendations) can reduce this.

Hi...there is no shortcut solution in this situation. You've gotta load the DG to 50% or more even if it means adding a dummy load (add a heating load) or examine purchase of a smaller rating DG say 75kva / 125kva to take care of such situations // akt

Running a diesel at light load will eventually carbon up the valves/pistons/rings, leading to incomplete combustion, causing fuel washdown of cylinders, scuffed pistons and cylinders. It will start smoking as well. Not a big deal short term/short periods of time but shortens the life of the engine considerably long term. It will run most efficiently @ >75% load. This heats up the cylinders better and will burn cleaner. As previously mentioned, a dummy load is an option (or go turn everything on in the empty apartments/buildings).

The fuel prices don't gives you the privilege to load the genset with dummy load.

The bast solution is to replase the 250kva genset to 2 gensets that will give you the best combination.

If you want you can build automatic sincronized system that will swich tham or parallel them according to the load demand.

I don't now what are the forum rouls but if it's posible I can post a link to a controller that we works with that can goive this solution.

Elad