Bertram31.com General Bulletin Board

Re: Generator

Posted By: bruce
Date: Monday, 21 March 2005, at 7:54 a.m.

In Response To: Re: Generator (Capt. Dave Kosh)

A few quick comments on engine loading.

Don't confuse propulsion with fixed speed, governor run engines.

Fixed speed engines, whether turbo'd or not are designed to run at just that a fixed speed.
A genset when litely or heavey loaded does not change rpm, it just uses more fuel to maintain that rpm as the governor sensenses a change in rpm due to load factors.

With thermostat controlled cooling systems, the engine will remain at temp with no or heavey loads added. This aids in complete combustion along with proper air flow.

With a heavy load, air flow doesn't change because the engine speed is fixed, it just burns more fuel to maintain the fixed speed.

If you wanted to really stir things up, the logic would tell you that heavy loaded getsets will carbon more because they burn more fuel with a fixed amount of air flow.

Propulsion engines are designed to run at different speeds.
I think this is where the confusion has occured.

There are certain points, especialy with turboed engines where fuel out weights air flow and if run at that point, engines will carbon.

Also large engines, even though they have thermostats will not reach full operation temp until they are loaded depending on certain conditions.

Now, they are some gensets that do carbon up the exhaust pipe to the point of clogging them up.
Northern lites on certain models where notorious for this.

Had one a few months back that wouldn't run.
Owner had spent quit a bit of money on repairs with no satisfaction.
I told him to yank the elbow and replace it.
Proiblem fixed.

The Yanmar GM series small sail boat engines would do the same around 800 hours. Mostly because they were never run long enough to really heat up which addes to complete combustion of the fuel.

Having a 20 kw and only using a 1kw load will not change the life of the engine.

The key is using the gen set, allowing it to come up to operating temp before loading it and proper maintenance.

Messages In This Thread

Generator
david jones -- Thursday, 17 March 2005, at 8:17 a.m.

Re: Generator
Capt. Dave Kosh -- Thursday, 17 March 2005, at 11:31 a.m.

Re: Generator
JK -- Thursday, 17 March 2005, at 12:24 p.m.

Re: Generator
Vic Roy -- Thursday, 17 March 2005, at 8:19 p.m.

Re: Generator
Capt. Mike Holmes -- Thursday, 17 March 2005, at 8:32 p.m.

Re: Generator
JK -- Thursday, 17 March 2005, at 9:05 p.m.

Re: Generator
david jones -- Thursday, 17 March 2005, at 9:09 p.m.

Re: Generator
Vic Roy -- Thursday, 17 March 2005, at 9:54 p.m.

Re: Generator
Capt. Dave Kosh -- Sunday, 20 March 2005, at 11:04 p.m.

Re: Generator
bruce -- Monday, 21 March 2005, at 7:54 a.m.