The significance of fuel management in diesel generator sets

 

Even as India moves towards a cleaner and greener economy, the ubiquitous diesel generator (DG) set, being an emergency power backup solution, is here to stay. However, DG sets are taken for granted with little or practically no thought spared for issues like fuel management. In this thought-provoking article, Gaurav Adlakha discusses why fuel monitoring and delivery management are important issues that can significantly contribute to overall efficiency of DG sets.

Fuel management systems are employed in almost every industry to monitor, control and maintain the fuel stock. Generators powered by diesel fuel are known for their fuel efficiency. In the event of a power outage or when the power grid is disconnected, these generators provide a backup power supply system for homes, businesses, and offices.

Diesel generators do require some sort of diesel management. Due to their infrequent use, the fuel (diesel) used in such generators is more likely to deteriorate with time. Though diesel-powered generators undergo periodic maintenance, diesel maintenance often goes unnoticed and is not always incorporated into regular maintenance programs. The fuel must still be monitored in order to ensure its integrity, particularly when stored for an extended period of time. A malfunctioning emergency power supply system can become the greatest concern if it is not regularly monitored.

Moreover, using the wrong diesel grade or failing to test the quality of the diesel can cause a great deal of malfunction within the genset. Additionally, it is common for people to simply store fuel until they need it and use it as needed, which in turn leads to various problems. A good fuel management strategy is therefore necessary to ensure the smooth functioning of diesel gensets.

 

How to Manage Diesel Fuel in a Generator?

Proper maintenance of diesel engines can be improved through training team members in the following areas:

• Routine pumping to keep systems dry
• It is also recommended that the tanks have proper venting
• Bacterial growth must be checked as it may clog the filters
• Also, every opening of the tank must be sealed properly to prevent contaminants from entering the tank

Alternatively, it is possible to have an outsourced company handle every step of the diesel management process.

Efficient management of fuel requirement of diesel generators can result in:

• Significant cost savings
• Preventing fuel waste
• Better fuel economy
• Reduced carbon footprint
• Easy fuel management

 

DG Sets: The backbone of myriad industrial sectors

Diesel gensets are highly preferred in the various industrial sectors for the multiple advantages they offer. Diesel gensets, for example, are reliable, versatile, affordable as well as less expensive to maintain. Furthermore, with regular maintenance, such as filter replacement, and oil changes, diesel generators can last for decades. The best thing about diesel gensets is that because they use diesel which is less flammable, they are less likely to catch fire. Last but not least, CPCB II-compliant diesel generator sets emit significantly less pollution and are much cleaner. Diesel generators are therefore highly popular with companies who place a high value on environmental sustainability.

The availability of power for construction activities, such as road levelling, crane operation, concrete mixing, road and bridge construction, is one of the most pressing challenges facing the real estate and construction industry. All of these operations necessitate the use of electricity for powering machinery on the construction site. Generally, grid power is not available at these sites; therefore, companies rely on diesel generators for continuous and uninterrupted power supply.

A similar trend can be seen in the real estate sector, where diesel gensets are providing much-needed power backup for residential properties across the nation. With India’s housing sector expanding at a rapid pace, power supply and usage remain major concerns. Diesel generators provide on-demand electricity to further reinforce India’s booming real estate sector.

The availability of eco-friendly diesel generators in the market enables real estate developers to build skyscrapers without worrying about power failures on the board-line. Moreover, powering luxury/ high-end residential and commercial real estate projects which require electric power 24×7, all year round, requires the installation of diesel-powered gen-sets, irrespective of weather conditions. Generators are also installed in extreme weather-prone regions due to necessity. These are the places where it is essential to have an air conditioner and heater running constantly.

Likewise, the oil and gas, manufacturing, and engineering industries require gensets for operations that require heavy machinery. They may suffer thousands or even millions of dollars in revenue loss if the power goes out during an emergency, making it difficult for them to provide their customers with timely service. These industries rely on diesel-powered generators to keep their operations running smoothly even during power outages.

Also read: GenCell Launches Off-Grid Ammonia-To-Power Solution

DG sets are here to stay

Diesel generator sets powered by diesel fuel have been widely used as standby and remote power sources for over a century and their popularity continues to grow to date. Since generators play a crucial role for residences and businesses, both as a primary and backup power source, these will continue to be the preferred source of power generation for years to come. Regardless of how often you use your generator, it is important to take care of fuel management in your diesel genset so that it can perform reliably during emergencies.

 

About the author: Gaurav Adlakha is Co-Founder & COO, The Fuel Delivery (https://www.thefueldelivery.com)