Generator 101: Introduction to Generators

James Kerschinske Generac

Generator 101
When would we need an emergency generator? How does an emergency generator work? What planning needs to be done? What loads are powered by a generator? How do I properly size the generator? Where do we get one in an emergency? Should we Purchase or Rent?

When would we need an emergency generator?

Causes of Outages
Weather: lightning, wind, rain, snow, heat, cold and ice Utility Equipment problems and grid overload Fallen trees or tree growth Animal Contact Human Error: Underground digging, cranes, traffic, vandalism, etc. Misc.: Mechanical damage, construction error, fire, etc. Loss of Communications Loss of Security Lost or Corrupted Data Lost Productivity Lost Confidence Continuation of Emergency Services

Risks involved during a loss of power

When would we need an emergency generator?

What is your emergency plan?

Catastrophic Events and Weather cause us to question the reliability of our critical power systems What risks are real? What are the most common failures of emergency power?
Area CA St. Louis Buffalo St. Louis WA/OR OK/MO Northeast NY Chicago Date 6/06 7/06 10/06 12/06 12/06 1/07 4/07 6/07 8/07 Cause Grid Failures T-Storms Snow Snow/Ice T-Storms, Wind Ice Snow T-Storms T-Storms Without Power 2,500,000 700,000 400,000 720,000 1,500,000 500,000 500,000 385,000 615,000

Generator 101
When would we need an emergency generator? How does an emergency generator work? What planning needs to be done? What loads are powered by a generator? How do I properly size the generator? Where do we get one in an emergency? Should we Purchase or Rent?

How does an emergency generator work?

Generator and Automatic Transfer Switch Permanent or Rental Generator

How does and emergency generator work?

Emergency Generators are complex
System Design, Installation, On-going Maintenance impact reliability. Single Generator designs have single points of failure

Rental Power backup strategy Consider Integrated Paralleling Solution with multiple generators Natural Gas, Propane, Diesel, Bi-fuel How much fuel is enough? Is fuel maintained? Fuel type, paralleled solution, enclosures, connectivity features What is the best solution for critical power?
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Fuel Reliability

Costs

SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Status: Normal

Critical
Transfer Switch

Generator Distribution Panel

Equipment
Transfer Switch

Utility Distribution Panel

Generator

SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Status: Utility failure

Critical
Transfer Switch

Generator Distribution Panel

Equipment
Transfer Switch

Utility Distribution Panel

Generator

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SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Status: Line interrupt delay

Critical
Transfer Switch

Generator Distribution Panel

Equipment
Transfer Switch

Utility Distribution Panel

Generator

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SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Status: Transfer switches signal generator to start

Critical
Transfer Switch

Generator Distribution Panel

Equipment
Transfer Switch

Utility Distribution Panel

Generator

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SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Status: Transfer switches verify rated output

Critical
Transfer Switch

Generator Distribution Panel

Equipment
Transfer Switch

Utility Distribution Panel

Generator

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SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Status: Transfer switches transfer to generator

Critical
Transfer Switch

Generator Distribution Panel

Equipment
Transfer Switch

Utility Distribution Panel

Generator

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SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Status: Utility is re-energized

Critical
Transfer Switch

Generator Distribution Panel

Equipment
Transfer Switch

Utility Distribution Panel

Generator

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SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Status: Return-to-utility timer

Critical
Transfer Switch

Generator Distribution Panel

Equipment
Transfer Switch

Utility Distribution Panel

Generator

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SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Status: The load is transferred back to utility, generator cool-down begins

Critical
Transfer Switch

Generator Distribution Panel

Equipment
Transfer Switch

Utility Distribution Panel

Generator

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SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Status: Generator shuts down

Critical
Transfer Switch

Generator Distribution Panel

Equipment
Transfer Switch

Utility Distribution Panel

Generator

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Generator 101
When would we need an emergency generator? How does an emergency generator work? What planning needs to be done? What loads are powered by a generator? How do I properly size the generator? Where do we get one in an emergency? Should we Purchase or Rent?

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What Planning Needs to be done?

Full or Limited Operation?
Standby Generator picks up selected loads automatically

Orderly Shutdown?
UPS backs up selected loads until they can be shut down

No Backup?
No power until the utility returns No services provided

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What planning needs to be done?

Who will be in charge? Determine the loads to be backed up What is the Voltage and Amperage? Where will the generator be located? How will it be hooked up to the building? Who will hook it up? Have we scheduled a practice outage?

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Generator 101
When would we need an emergency generator? How does an emergency generator work? What planning needs to be done? What loads are powered by a generator? How do I properly size the generator? Where do we get one in an emergency? Should we Purchase or Rent?

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What loads are powered by a generator?

Lighting Computers Security System and Phone System Air Conditioning/Heat UPS/Data Pumps (fuel, water, etc) Other electrical equipment

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Generator 101
When would we need an emergency generator? How does an emergency generator work? What planning needs to be done? What loads are powered by a generator? How do I properly size the generator? Where do we get one in an emergency? Should we Purchase or Rent?

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How do I properly size the generator?

After selecting loads (Whole or Limited)
What is the Voltage (single or three phase) What is the Amperage needed Oversize the generator by 25% to handle motor starting and unexpected loads Work with Engineer, Electrician or Generator Dealer

Make a written plan for this if you are relying on rental power kW = Volts * Amps * 1.732 * 0.8 1000
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Generator 101
When would we need an emergency generator? How does an emergency generator work? What planning needs to be done? What loads are powered by a generator? How do I properly size the generator? Where do we get one in an emergency? Should we Purchase or Rent?

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Where do we get one in an emergency?

Generator Dealers (Generac, Cat, Cummins, Kohler, MTU) Equipment Rental Houses (United, RSC, Hertz) Make prior arrangements with supplier Have a backup plan to your backup plan!
In a weather related outage, the rental inventories are limited Have an electrician hook it up

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Generator 101
When would we need an emergency generator? How does an emergency generator work? What planning needs to be done? What loads are powered by a generator? How do I properly size the generator? Where do we get one in an emergency? Should we Purchase or Rent?

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Should we Purchase or Rent?

Done properly, and rental strategy could work
Plan ahead Save costs Emergency power only when needed Guaranteed contract should be considered Electrician should hook it up Train personnel on operation Have a practice power outage

Should we Purchase or Rent?

Done poorly, it wont work
Plan everything Who is trained on-site to operate the generator? What loads are backed up?

Volts/Amps/kW Rating Dealer or outside service Are the roads blocked due to the storm?

Who will deliver the generator?

Where will the connections be made in the building? Who provides the cables? Where will I get fuel? Do I have a backup plan for fuel? How quiet is it? Is it sized properly? How will I pay for it?

Should we Purchase or Rent?

Purchase Automatic Standby Power
Immediately available during an outage Maintenance Plan Exercise automatically, preparing you for an outage Very affordable at any kW size

Quiet

Diesel Natural Gas or Propane Bifuel

Generator 101
When would we need an emergency generator? How does an emergency generator work? What planning needs to be done? What loads are powered by a generator? How do I properly size the generator? Where do we get one in an emergency? Should we Purchase or Rent?

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Questions?
James Kerschinske Generac

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