Generator Room Ventilation

[mechbuild]

Hi,
A large generator room is located in a factory where 21 generators are located and natural ventilation is provided by only louvers.
These generators are tripping very frequently after installation, may be due to lack of enough ventilation requirement.
I have suggested forced ventilation of 30 ACH/HR by installaing additional exhaust and supply fans.

Can any body give me a best solution to overcome this problem.

Regards,

 

[MintJulep]

These generators are tripping very frequently after installation, may be due to lack of enough ventilation requirement.

Or maybe it's something else.

The first step in solving any problem is to understand the problem.

 

[mechbuild]

Hi,
It has been confirmed from service personnel and generator supplier that there is no enough ventilation provided, further, they also recommended me to provide forced ventilation to overcome this problem.

 

[berkshire]

Have you established the cause of the trip out?
B.E.

 

[mechbuild]

I checked once again with the service people and sebsequently the supplier, they said that tripping is due to indequate ventilation. These generators are prime mover, (continuous running) and the heat which is acumulated in the generator room is increasing the room temperature since existing natural ventilation is not sufficient to dissipate this heat, and this is the main reason why the generators are not performing well. so we need forced ventilation to overcome this problem.

 

[offshorehvac]

Please check the data sheet of engine and the alternator and check the heat balance data. Try to find the amount of heat dissipated by the
-engine,
-alternator
-and the flue gas ducts.

With this information you should be able to calculate the amount of air flow required for the ventilation. In case you still need help, refer to ISO 8861.

 

[berkshire]

Are the radiators for these generators exhausting into the room, Or is that waste heat ducted away?

I have improved several generator setups by ducting the waste heat from the radiators out of the room.
B.E.

 

[marcoh]

Also are the generators air cooled or water cooled.

If air cooled the radiator fans should have more than sufficient air flow to ventilate the plant room (Assuming all discharge air is ducted to outside and not recirculated within the room!

If water cooled the manufacturer should be able to provide the heat rejected to the plant room.

Last generator room ventilation I designed required 12,000L/s ventilation per 2000kVA gen set (water cooled)

 

[mechbuild]

Thank you all! I will get back to you with more detail as requested.

 

[ChrisConley]

Back to the OP (orignial post). You note that you are planning on running 30ACH through the space with forced ventilation. That is a lot of air...

Once you have the heat rejected to the room from the gensets you should be able to come up with a more reasonable number.