SMART CUSTOMER: Diesel Generator standard performance and deration

Did you ever face a situation where you bought a diesel generator and found that it is not giving the output as claimed in the marketing collateral's or presented during the sales pitch? Nothing can be more frustrating than that.

Probably this issue is related to deration, and we all must know about it.

When a generator operates in less than its rated capacity, it could possibly be that the generator is running with deration.

All diesel generators are designed to run efficiently at sea level under a standard condition of ambient Temperature and Pressure (STP). Generators are certified by the manufacturer which specifies the rating, and this rating is true at STP. Any fluctuation from STP can affect the performance of the generators. However, the effects of these factors are minimal unless the conditions are extreme.

            All generators need adequate air for combustion. Air is trapped inside the combustion chamber and is put through extremely high pressure and temperature combined with fuel. The mixture then ignites and pushes the piston down. The quality of air thus becomes very important to determine the power output from the ignition.

                In areas of high altitude, air pressure drops reducing the air density. This results in presence of less oxygen in the combustion chamber and hence reduces the power output. A lot of heat is generated during the combustion process. This heat needs to be dissipated, to maintain the optimum temperature for the engine. At high altitude, due to low air density heat dissipation happens at a lower rate and the engine remains hot and overheating could be a common problem.

                High ambient temperatures also reduce air density and can cause similar ignition 

problems due to inadequate air supply inside the combination chamber.

                In cases of extreme humidity, water vapour in the air displaces oxygen and low oxygen levels result in poor ignition.

We have tried to explain how non-standard ambient conditions can adversely affect generator performance. To guess the new output under the non-standard conditions, every manufacturer uses their own deration recommendation.

To know more about our products visit us at www.mahindrapowerol.com or call us at 1800-419-1999  

SMART CONSUMER – Natural Gas and its future in India

India has a heavy appetite for energy, we are the third largest energy consumer in the world today and will become top consumer within a decade. Our share of total global primary energy demand is set to double (to 11%) by 2040. Improving living standards and aspiring middle class of the country are driving this growing demand.

To meet this increasing energy demand India is strategically moving towards a gas-based economy. India aims to increase the share of gas from the current 6.2% to 15% in its primary energy mix by 2030. As per BP Energy Outlook, 2019, the gas consumption of India in 2040 is estimated to be 185 billion cubic meters.

In order to move towards 15% share of Natural Gas in our economy, various steps are being taken including enhancing natural gas production and building gas infrastructure (gas pipelines, City Gas Distribution networks and LNG regasification terminals).

Construction of over 16,800 km of pipeline is already completed and an additional 14,300 km to be done to complete the National Gas Grid, out of this 11,000 km is under construction now.

Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has authorized 228 geographic areas covering 406 districts spread over 27 States for City Gas Distribution (for both domestic and commercial use). The network will cater to 70% of the population in India.

Snapshot of City Gas Distribution (CGD) authorization in India

A brief of major gas pipeline projects which are being implemented by Central Government PSUs are as under

(Source: http://petroleum.nic.in/natural-gas/about-natural-gas)

Jagdishpur – Haldia/Bokaro – Dhamra Pipeline Project (JHBDPL) & Barauni- Guwahati Pipeline project (BGPL):

GAIL is executing a 2655 km. long pipeline project. Phase-I of the project from Phulpur up to Dobhi (Gaya) with spur line to Varanasi, Patna, Gorakhpur & Barauni has been commissioned in 2019. Further, Pipeline from Barauni to Guwahati is also being implemented as an integral part JHBDPL project to connect North East Region (NER) with the National Gas Grid. The approx. length of the pipeline is 729 km. The entire project will cater to the energy demand of Eastern and North-Eastern Region covering six states, namely Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Assam.

North East Region (NER) Gas Grid:

A joint venture of five oil and gas CPSE's i.e. GAIL, IOCL, OIL, ONGC and NRL named as “Indradhanush Gas Grid Ltd” (IGGL) has been entrusted to develop trunk pipeline connectivity in all North Eastern States i.e. Assam, Sikkim, Mizoram, Manipur, Aruncahal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya in a phased manner. Prime objective of these pipelines would be to transport the domestic natural gas produced in the north east states and the same may first cater to the local requirements. It shall also connect the NER grid to the National Gas Grid.

Kochi-Koottanad- Bangalore-Mangalore (Ph-II) Pipeline Project (KKBMPL):

41 Km of Phase-I of pipeline has been commissioned and 887 Km of Phase-II is under progress in two sections. Construction work by GAIL of Kochi-Koottanad- Mangalore Section (444 Kms) is under progress and expected to be commissioned shortly. Work on other section is under progress.

Ennore-Thiruvallur-Bangalore-Nagapattinum– Madurai – Tuticorin Natural gas pipeline (ETBNMTPL):

IOCL is laying Ennore-Thiruvallur-Bangalore-Nagapattinum– Madurai – Tuticorin Natural gas pipeline (ETBNMTPL), length- 1385 km. This pipeline will connect new Ennore LNG Terminal with various demand centers in the region.

What is Natural Gas?

Dead organisms buried under sedimentary rock for millions of years, subjected to intense heat and pressure, gets converted to crude oil (petroleum) and natural gas.

Natural Gas is the cleanest of all fossil fuels. When burned it produces fewer greenhouse gases and air pollutants when compared to other fossil fuels. Natural Gas is primarily Methane (CH₄) with smaller quantities of other hydrocarbons (Ethane – C₂H₆, Propane – C₃H₈, Butane – C₄H₁₀ etc).

After extraction, the gas is sent to a processing plant to separate the impurities from the pure gas. After processing it is transported to distribution center through pipelines. From the distribution centers the gas is supplied for various industrial and domestic use.

With recent improvements in the oil and gas extraction technology and better infrastructure the usage of natural gas is poised for an exponential growth. It is increasingly becoming a popular choice of fuel for locomotives and power generation.

Let us understand the various types of gases available in the market today.

PNG (Piped Natural Gas):

It is the Natural Gas which is distributed to individual users through pipe lines. PNG is safer than LPG, being lighter than air it dissipates quickly in the air in case of a leakage. As PNG is supplied through pipes, there is no need to store the gas in cylinders, it is an uninterrupted supply. 

CNG (Compressed Natural Gas):

It is the Natural Gas in compressed form. They are stored in cylinders and commonly used in vehicles.

LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas):

It is not the Natural Gas. It is a by-product of Petroleum. Derived during refining of the Petroleum. Contains primarily Propane and Butane and other compounds. They are stored in cylinders and commonly used as cooking gas. It is heavier than air.

LNG (Liquid Natural Gas):

Natural Gas becomes liquid in extreme low temperature (-162^oC) and the volume reduces 620 times. The liquid is stored in vessels and transported to various parts of the world. When LNG reaches its destination, it is again converted to gas in regasification facilities.

Be a part of India’s gas revolution.

To know more about our products visit us at www.mahindrapowerol.com or call us at 1800-419-1999  

What is kVA and how is it calculated?

We all know that power ratings are shown in different forms. We are familiar with ‘Watts’, ‘Kilowatts’, ‘Amps’, ‘Volts’. However, outside the diesel generator industry not many are fully aware of the definition of kVA. and how it is calculated. A Kilowatt (kW) is a more popular term as that is how electrical equipment is usually rated.

Actual power vs Apparent power. 

To put it in a nutshell, the difference between Kilowatts and kVA is the difference between actual power and apparent power. 

kVA describes the total amount of power being used - in a 100% efficient system kW and kVA will be the same. In practice, however, electrical systems are not 100% efficient, hence not all of the system’s apparent power is being converted. 

In theory, one kVA is equal to 1,000-volt amps. Whereas, a volt is for measurement of electrical pressure, an amp is a way of electrical current measurement. A term called apparent power (the absolute value of complex power, S) is equal to the product of the volts and amps.

Power Factor.

A diesel genset is engineered with a power factor of 0.8. With this information, it is easy to convert kVA to kW - as the efficiency level of the electrical system in question is known. Electrical efficiency is expressed as a power factor in between 0 & 1 - and the closer the power factor is to 1, the higher the efficiency of kVA converted into actual kilowatts. 

Calculation of kW to kVA: -

Apparent power (kVA) x power factor (pf) = actual power (kW)

e.g. 100 kVA x 0.8 = 80 kW

The formula for converting kW into kVA is:

Actual power (kW) / power factor (pf) = apparent power (kVA)

1 ton = 200 BTU/minute

1 ton = 12,000 BTU/hour

1 ton = 3.517 kilowatts

Mahindra Powerol deals in high kVA gensets that are extremely fuel efficient and robust.

To know more about our products and the industries we cater to visit our website at: - www.mahindrapowerol.com or call us at 1800-419-1999

SMART CUSTOMER: Why do you need a back-up generator

Running a business takes a lot of efforts. You have sacrificed the golden years of your youth in establishing your business. You have earned respect in the society and today you stand tall as a successful business leader. You are still hungry for more and want to take your business to the newer heights of success. Your business is well prepared against all odds and growing continuously. 

But often we see many business owners don’t prepare for power cuts and never consider having a backup generator. Are you fine watching your business operations come to a halt due to a power outage and wait until power is restored? Your customers may go away because you are not operating. 

Imagine there is a power outage due to a violent act of nature and power supply network is broken, it can only be restored after a couple of days. All your business activities will come to a standstill and you can do nothing about it. You will need a generator for backup power.

If your business is data sensitive or needs to access live data continuously a continuous power supply is a must. A backup power arrangement is a must for you.

If you are from the manufacturing industry, a power outage means loss of productivity. You cannot afford a loss in production. You need backup power.  

Preparing for a power outage is straightforward when you have power industry professionals like Mahindra Powerol at your service. All you need to do is take permission from your local electricity board authorities. We will help you to determine what size of back-up generator and what fuel (Diesel or Natural Gas) will be suitable for your business. You may also refer our blog 10 Things to remember before buying a generator.

Usually, people keep the generators away from public view, at the basement, backyard or rooftop. But Mahindra Powerol offers gensets with attractive Coral Orange colour with a unique trapezoidal design which can be flaunted proudly and can be installed in the prime location which will catch maximum eyeballs. 

Having a backup generator is like having insurance. We genuinely hope that there is never a situation where you must use a generator, but it is important to have the assurance of an uninterrupted power supply in the event of a power outage.

To know more about our products visit us at www.mahindrapowerol.com or call us at 1800-419-1999