Diesel power plants are installed where sufficient coal and water supplies are not available, where small amounts of electricity need to be generated, or where back-up equipment is required to keep the supply running, such as A. industries. B. Hospitals, switchyards, etc.
With power ranges from 2 to 50 MW, these systems are used as central stations in small power companies and plants.
Diesel Based Combustion Engines
A diesel-based internal combustion engine is a type of internal combustion engine that runs on diesel fuel.
Due to their efficiency and durability, diesel engines are widely used in various vehicles, industrial machinery, and for power generation.
Here are some important points about diesel-based internal combustion engines:
Working Principle: Diesel engines work on the principle of compression ignition.
Unlike gasoline engines, which use a spark plug to ignite the air-fuel mixture, diesel engines compress air in the cylinder to a high temperature.
Fuel is injected directly into hot compressed air, causing spontaneous combustion.
Efficiency: Diesel engines are known for their high thermal efficiency.
Compared to gasoline engines, they extract more energy from each unit of fuel.
Part of this efficiency is due to the high compression ratio of diesel engines.
Fuel: Diesel engines use diesel fuel, which is a heavier and less refined product than gasoline.
Diesel fuel has a higher energy density, meaning it contains more energy per unit volume or weight.
Torque and Power: The diesel engine is known for its high torque, making it suitable for high-performance applications such as Examples: trucks, buses, and industrial plants.
Diesel engines traditionally have good torque, but advances in technology have also made them more powerful.
Durability: The diesel engine is known for its robust construction and long lifespan.
It is designed for higher loads due to its higher compression ratio and the nature of the combustion process.
This durability contributes to the product’s longevity and reliability.
Fuel Consumption: Diesel engines are generally more economical than gasoline engines.
This efficiency, combined with the higher energy content of diesel fuel, reduces fuel efficiency and increases the range of diesel engine vehicles.
Applications: Diesel engines are widely used in a variety of applications, including transportation (cars, trucks, buses, locomotives), construction machinery, agricultural machinery, ships, and stationary power generation.
Environmental Impact: Diesel engines are known for their efficiency, but they also produce nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter, which can have environmental and health impacts.
Modern diesel engines are equipped with emissions control technology to reduce these pollutants.
Advances: Technological advances such as common rail fuel injection systems, turbocharging, and electronic engine management have significantly improved the performance, efficiency, and emissions of diesel engines.
Diesel power plants are commonly used as:
- Peak load system:-
Diesel power plants are mainly used in combination with thermal and hydro power plants as peak-load power plants.
- Used as a mobile system.
- They can be used as standby units to supply partial loads. In an emergency, it can be used as an emergency system for communication, water supply, etc.
- A diesel power plant served as a basic source for the power supply of small towns.
- Used as a launch station for launching large steam power plants.
- Used as a main station.
A diesel generator combines a diesel engine and a generator to produce electricity. Diesel generators are typically used in emergency situations such as hospitals, airports, large factories, and movie theaters where power from the grid is not available and continuous power supply is critical. It can be used even in places without a power grid not available. The diesel generator set can be housed in a soundproof enclosure along with the control circuit and circuit breaker. Also known as a diesel generator (short for generator set).
It’s compact, so you can install it wherever you need it. Diesel generators are available in a variety of power ratings and sizes, from a few kVA to thousands of kVA. Portable diesel generators are rated from 8 to 30 kVA (single phase) and can be used in homes, small offices, etc. Large generators up to about 2500kVA (three-phase) required for industries and airports are also available.
How Do Diesel Generators Work?
A diesel generator set uses a compression ignition (CI) diesel engine as the prime mover of the generator. Obviously, the main fuel for diesel generators is diesel. The engine shaft is connected to the generator (alternator) shaft. A diesel engine drives a coupled generator to produce electricity. When a conductor moves within a magnetic field, an electromotive force is induced in the conductor. This principle is used to generate electricity in any generator.