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DIESEL ENGINE: APPLICATION IN POWER GENERATION
Introduction to Diesel Engine
The first diesel engine was invented by Rudolf Diesel in the 1890s. It’s an efficient engine with internal combustion and compression ignition. The use of diesel engines by car manufacturers dates back to the 1920s. Back then, diesel engines were large and were used at minimum speed. This was due to the restraints of the fuel injection system that was assisted by compressed air
Application of Diesel Engine in
Generating Power
Today, various industries use diesel-fueled generators as backup power in case the main source cannot fully supply the load required to run their operations. When it comes to power-generating applications, diesel engines are one of the most commonly used engines.
The diesel engine’s ability to start in less than 10 seconds makes it a very attractive option for backup power. In fact, it can also be combined with either a flywheel or supercapacitor for an even faster and more reliable stored energy.
A high-speed diesel engine is often used as an emergency or backup generator to supply power during an outage. Similarly, diesel engines with superior speed can supply power to remote communities—areas that are not linked to the power grid.
Conversely, even a medium-speed diesel generator can be used as main and backup power for remote communities. However, since the engine is larger, it’s also more expensive than a high-speed engine. In this case, economic considerations also come into play. Diesel engines with medium-speed are often used by industries that are required to have their own power source. Moreover, they are also used for distributed energy systems, where they supply power to a distribution network that is near consumers.
Why is a diesel engine more efficient than gasoline?
There are two reasons why a diesel engine is more efficient than a gasoline engine.
- Higher cylinder pressure combined with a correspondingly higher temperature leads to the improved thermal performance of the diesel engine.
- With gasoline engines, the air throttling that is required to control their output conversely reduces their efficiency.
- You get better mileage with a diesel engine because of its fuel density.
Farmers and truck drivers are well aware that running a diesel engine entails reduced costs on fuel consumption. Tractors and trucks encompass a wider range of gear ratios in order for diesel engines to operate at a higher optimum round per minute (RPM) as they change their loads.
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