Generator manufacturer Diesel Electric Services recently completed its first biogas-fuelled generator, which can export 150 kW of electrical power.
The generator has a six-cylinder spark- ignited reciprocating piston engine, with turbocharging and intercooling qualities.
Also, to gain as much use of the biogas as possible, 230 kW of heat is recovered from the engine jacket, oil cooler and exhaust gas. This is used to heat water from ambient conditions to 80 °C, which is then used at various places in the process.
The generator is designed to operate on a continuous 24/7, 365 days-a-year basis, parallel to mains, offsetting the load from the rest of the plant.
In the event of a power failure, the generator can supply power to the auxiliary systems of the biogas plant to ensure that there is no loss in production of the biogas.
Despite the milestone achieved with building this generator, Diesel Electric Services admits to a few problems encountered during the building phase, which is predominantly the case with any new technology.
However, the company was able to overcome these through extensive in-house testing, which was made possible by the installation of a permanent natural gas line earlier this year. The end result led to the product being delivered to site only needing minor adjustments of the settings to accommodate the biogas fuel.
The gas that Diesel Electric Services uses for the generator is generated from chicken abattoir waste material, which has sufficient quantities of methane to generate power.
Further, the company indicates that more biofuel generators can be designed based on the client’s specification, in order to guarantee efficiency of operation on site.
Additionally, Diesel Electric Services provides repair services for clients who purchase their products, as it has over 20 technicians who are factory trained in all aspects of power generation.
Also, there is a substantial administration division within the department that manages the after sales and contractual side of the service business with technical support being provided to the company’s technicians and factory.
The company also offers diesel fuel, water and oil analysis as part of its servicing on request, which gives further insight into the condition of the engine and cooling system. Also, Diesel Electric Services offers to clean diesel fuel as and when required, using its own equipment, which can also be done for biogas generators.