Generator Blog

A vaneless ion wind generator is a device that produces electricity directly by using the wind to pump an electrical charge from one electrode to another. It is a type of wind power, although wind energy is usually extracted to make electricity by means of a wind turbine.

Electrostatic wind generators work by spraying water from a nozzle facing a toroidal charged electrode. This induces an opposite charge in the water and when the water flows out of the nozzle, each drop carries a small amount of charge. These water droplets are then blown by the wind, going through the center of the charged toroid without touching it. The droplets then hit a fine mesh, adding to its charge. The other alternative is to use the Earth as the second electrode. The main advantage of this system is that it has no moving parts except the water droplets. The disadvantages are that it needs a constant supply of water, its wind profile can’t be reduced, it requires many small parts, and it has to be well-crafted to reduce corona discharge losses.

A generator is a machine which is designed to generate AC electricity. Generators are used by companies for getting power to job sites where power may not be available and for homeowners to provide backup electricity in case of an extended power outage. Generators come in a variety of different sizes and designs. Picking the right one is an important step towards ensuring that your electrical needs are meet if the power goes out.

Standby Generators

Standby generators are larger generators which are designed specifically for the purpose of powering most or the entire house during an extended power outage. Most standby generators use a small car engine to operate the generator. Standby generators can be found in a variety of different sizes. The size is rated by the number of KW the generator can produce. Most home standby generators range between 20KW and 60KW. Industrial standby generators are significantly larger. These produce anywhere between 100KW and 1MW or mega watt. A megawatt is equal to 1000KW.

Fuel Sources for Standby Generators

Home standby generators are powered by either propane or natural gas. In most states it’s illegal to operate a gas or diesel powered stand by generator in a residential zone. Industrial standby generators are almost always powered by diesel.

Portable Generators

Any generator which is on wheels or designed to be moved is classified as a portable generator. Most portable generators are relatively small in size. These range between 1KW and 5KW. They are primarily used for providing power to tools in areas where power is not available. Larger portable units range between 5KW and 15KW. These can be used in the field as well but they are commonly used by homeowners to power small portions of their home if the power is out for an extended period of time.

Fuel Sources for Portable Generators

Nearly all portable generators run on standard gasoline. Some run on propane supplied by a small propane tank but these are rare.

Maintaining a Generator

Generators are all engine driven. Most portable models utilize engines that are similar in style to a lawnmower engine. Many of the home standby variety use a car engine. This means that generators need similar maintenance to a car.

Change Oil: The oil should be changed on a generator periodically. For models without an oil filter the oil should be changed every 50 hours or once a year. For models which do have an oil filter every 250 hours or once a year is recommended.

Air Filter: The air filter should be visually inspected every time the oil is replaced. If it appears dirty then it should be replaced with a new air filter.

Exercise: Generators should be run for one hour once a month. This keeps the engine running properly. This will also prevent the battery from wearing out if it is a model with a battery.

Inspect: Inspect the generator with every oil change. Look at the hoses and any belts. If you see any cracks or other signs of dry rot they should be replaced.

Foster Wheeler AG (Nasdaq: FWLT) announced today that a subsidiary of its Global Power Group has been awarded a contract to design, supply and erect a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) by the Spanish company, REPSOL PETROLEO S.A. The HRSG and auxiliary equipment will be integrated in a cogeneration plant being built at the REPSOL Cartagena Refinery in Murcia, Spain. Foster Wheeler will also provide start-up supervision services.

Foster Wheeler has received a full notice to proceed on this contract.

The HRSG will be coupled with a General Electric PG-6581 gas turbine and recover heat from the gas discharge stream, producing high pressure and medium pressure steam for use in refinery processes and electricity generation at the Cartagena facility. The unit will be equipped with a bypass stack and diverter, as well as post-firing and fresh air capability, for continuous operation even after a combustion turbine trip.

“This boiler is the seventh HRSG awarded to Foster Wheeler by REPSOL, a true testimony that Foster Wheeler meets the high degree of design and quality standards demanded by REPSOL,” said Eric Svendsen, chief executive officer of Foster Wheeler Energia, S.L. in Madrid.

Foster Wheeler AG is a global engineering and construction contractor and power equipment supplier delivering technically advanced, reliable facilities and equipment.The company’s Global Engineering and Construction Group designs and constructs leading-edge processing facilities for the upstream oil and gas, LNG and gas-to-liquids, refining, chemicals and petrochemicals, power, environmental, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and healthcare industries.