Page 45 - Uninterruptible Power Supplies

Standby Power Generating Sets
Standby Power Generating Sets 43

installation and will occasionally suffer from an overload of work. At
such times it will be difficult to attach importance to a test run at a dis-
tant location, and it is likely that test runs will occasionally be neglected.
With remote control the performance of test runs is so much simpler
and the awkward wrangles are less likely to arise.
At locations which do not have technical staff an occasional visit by
competent personnel will be necessary for inspection and maintenance
purposes, but these do not have to coincide with test runs, they can be
at any convenient time and frequency.

Remote Monitoring
In addition to remote control it is now possible to install remote moni-
toring systems. This is more appropriate to continuously running plant
but a large standby generating set without the benefit of supervision
from on-site technical staff may well deserve a degree of monitoring.
Basic monitoring may include data such as starter battery condition,
start and stop times, power, voltage, speed, exhaust temperature for
each cylinder, jacket water temperature, oil pressure, engine room
ambient temperature, and vibration.
If any of the readings do not fit into the expected pattern a warning
is given to the appropriate person or persons. It is not necessary for
monitoring to be continuous, data can be scanned periodically, say at
10-min intervals. Recorded data can be used to reconstruct events after
a failure or breakdown.
Experienced personnel in the maintenance business tell us that vet-
eran engine attendants are able to sense potential problems through
unusual noise, vibration, or smell before the instrumentation has had
time to react. We are in danger of losing this sixth sense!
Today’s engines are likely to include microprocessor controls in the
speed governing, voltage regulating, and fuel systems, and it is impor-
tant that all control or monitoring systems within the installation com-
ply with national legislation regarding electromagnetic compatibility
and interference levels.

Location of Equipment

The location for the generating set should be carefully chosen. Where
the standby installation is part of a new building or installation it will
probably be housed in a generator room forming part of the new works.
Where the standby installation is being added to an existing installa-
tion it is common practice to house the generating set in an outdoor
container-type housing. The preceding sections of this book refer to a
number of topics which have a bearing on the location of the equipment
and are discussed in the text which follows.

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