Diesel generator sets, as commonly used backup power sources or mobile power sources, play an important role in many situations. However, when starting a diesel generator set, many people may fall into some misunderstandings, which may not only affect the normal operation of the unit, but also shorten its service life. Let's take a look at the common startup misconceptions below.
Do not perform pre startup checks
Many people often neglect the inspection work of the diesel generator set before starting it. Actually, pre startup checks are crucial. It is necessary to check whether the oil level is within the normal range. Insufficient oil may lead to increased wear and tear on various engine components; Check the coolant level, insufficient coolant may cause the engine to overheat; Also check if the fuel level is sufficient and if there are any leaks in the fuel system. In addition, checking whether the battery voltage is normal and whether the connecting components are loose are also essential steps. If these checks are ignored, various malfunctions may occur after startup, and even failure to start may occur.
Directly start the refrigeration machine
Some users, for the sake of convenience, directly start the diesel generator set when the ambient temperature is low, which is a very incorrect practice. In low temperature environments, the viscosity of engine oil increases, the fluidity deteriorates, and the lubrication effect between various components is poor. If started directly, the starting resistance of the engine will increase, the load on the starter motor will increase, which can easily cause damage to the starter motor and also exacerbate the wear of internal components of the engine. The correct approach is to preheat the unit before starting, using methods such as hot water preheating or electric heating preheating to raise the temperature of the engine body to a certain level before starting.
Ignite continuously multiple times during startup
When the diesel generator set fails to start, some users will anxiously ignite it multiple times in an attempt to start the set as soon as possible. But this approach is wrong. Continuous multiple ignitions can cause the starter motor to work for a long time, generating a large amount of heat, which can easily lead to overheating and burning of the starter motor. Moreover, continuous ignition may cause fuel to accumulate in the cylinder, leading to the phenomenon of "flooding" and making it more difficult to start. Generally speaking, the interval between each startup should not be less than 15 seconds, and the number of consecutive startups should not exceed 3 times. If the startup is still unsuccessful after 3 attempts, the cause should be identified and the fault should be resolved before restarting.
Load immediately after startup
After the diesel generator set is started, there needs to be a warm-up process to fully preheat and lubricate the various components of the engine, and then load it after reaching normal working temperature and pressure. If the engine is loaded immediately after starting, it will bear a large load before reaching the optimal working state, which will cause incomplete combustion, carbon deposition, increase fuel consumption, and also have a significant impact on the mechanical components of the engine, affecting the service life of the unit. Usually, the warm-up time should be determined based on the ambient temperature and unit model, usually 3-5 minutes.
Understanding and avoiding these misconceptions about starting diesel generator sets can enable us to better use and maintain the units, ensuring their stable and reliable operation at critical moments, and providing strong power security for our production and daily life. I hope everyone can take it seriously and maximize the efficiency of diesel generator sets.
