2.
When would we need an emergency
generator?
How does an emergency generator work?
What planning needs to be done?
What loads are powered by a generator?
How do I properly size the generator?
Where do we get one in an emergency?
Should we Purchase or Rent?
3.
Causes of Outages
Weather: lightning, wind, rain,
snow, heat, cold and ice
Utility Equipment problems and
grid overload
Fallen trees or tree growth
Animal Contact
Human Error: Underground
digging, cranes, traffic,
vandalism, etc.
Misc.: Mechanical damage,
construction error, fire, etc.
Risks involved during a loss of
power
Loss of Communications
Loss of Security
Lost or Corrupted Data
Lost Productivity
Lost Confidence
Continuation of Emergency
Services
•3
5.
Catastrophic Events
and Weather cause us
to question the
reliability of our critical
power systems
What risks are real?
What are the most
common failures of
emergency power?
Area
Date
Cause
Without
Power
CA
6/06
Grid
Failures
2,500,000
St. Louis
7/06
T-Storms
700,000
Buffalo
10/06
Snow
400,000
St. Louis
12/06
Snow/Ice
720,000
WA/OR
12/06
T-Storms,
Wind
1,500,000
OK/MO
1/07
Ice
500,000
Northeast
4/07
Snow
500,000
NY
6/07
T-Storms
385,000
Chicago
8/07
T-Storms
615,000
•5
6.
When would we need an emergency
generator?
How does an emergency generator work?
What planning needs to be done?
What loads are powered by a generator?
How do I properly size the generator?
Where do we get one in an emergency?
Should we Purchase or Rent?
•6
8.
Emergency Generators are complex
System
Design, Installation, On-going Maintenance
impact reliability.
Single Generator designs have single points of failure
Rental Power backup strategy
Consider Integrated Paralleling Solution with multiple
generators
Fuel
Reliability
Natural Gas, Propane, Diesel, Bi-fuel
How much fuel is enough? Is fuel maintained?
Costs
Fuel type, paralleled solution, enclosures, connectivity
features
What is the best solution for critical power?
•8
9. SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Critical
Status: Normal
Transfer Switch
Generator
Distribution Panel
Equipment
Utility
Distribution Panel
Transfer Switch
Generator
•9
10. SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Critical
Status: Utility failure
Transfer Switch
Generator
Distribution Panel
Equipment
Utility
Distribution Panel
Transfer Switch
Generator
•10
11. SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Status: Line interrupt delay
Generator
Distribution Panel
Critical
Transfer Switch
Equipment
Utility
Distribution Panel
Transfer Switch
Generator
•11
12. SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Status: Transfer switches signal generator to start
Generator
Distribution Panel
Critical
Transfer Switch
Equipment
Utility
Distribution Panel
Transfer Switch
Generator
•12
13. SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Status: Transfer switches verify rated output
Generator
Distribution Panel
Critical
Transfer Switch
Equipment
Utility
Distribution Panel
Transfer Switch
Generator
•13
14. SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Status: Transfer switches transfer to generator
Generator
Distribution Panel
Critical
Transfer Switch
Equipment
Utility
Distribution Panel
Transfer Switch
Generator
•14
15. SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Status: Utility is re-energized
Generator
Distribution Panel
Critical
Transfer Switch
Equipment
Utility
Distribution Panel
Transfer Switch
Generator
•15
16. SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Status: Return-to-utility timer
Generator
Distribution Panel
Critical
Transfer Switch
Equipment
Utility
Distribution Panel
Transfer Switch
Generator
•16
17. SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Status: The load is transferred back to utility,
generator cool-down begins
Generator
Distribution Panel
Critical
Transfer Switch
Equipment
Utility
Distribution Panel
Transfer Switch
Generator
•17
18. SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Status: Generator shuts down
Generator
Distribution Panel
Critical
Transfer Switch
Equipment
Utility
Distribution Panel
Transfer Switch
Generator
•18
19.
When would we need an emergency
generator?
How does an emergency generator work?
What planning needs to be done?
What loads are powered by a generator?
How do I properly size the generator?
Where do we get one in an emergency?
Should we Purchase or Rent?
•19
20.
Full or Limited
Operation?
Orderly Shutdown?
Standby Generator picks
up selected loads
automatically
UPS backs up selected
loads until they can be
shut down
No Backup?
No power until the
utility returns
No services provided
•20
21.
Who will be in charge?
Determine the loads to be backed up
What is the Voltage and Amperage?
Where will the generator be located?
How will it be hooked up to the building?
Who will hook it up?
Have we scheduled a practice outage?
•21
22.
When would we need an emergency
generator?
How does an emergency generator work?
What planning needs to be done?
What loads are powered by a generator?
How do I properly size the generator?
Where do we get one in an emergency?
Should we Purchase or Rent?
•22
24.
When would we need an emergency
generator?
How does an emergency generator work?
What planning needs to be done?
What loads are powered by a generator?
How do I properly size the generator?
Where do we get one in an emergency?
Should we Purchase or Rent?
•24
25.
After selecting loads (Whole or Limited)
What is the Voltage (single or three phase)
What is the Amperage needed
Oversize the generator by 25% to handle motor starting and
unexpected loads
Work with Engineer, Electrician or Generator Dealer
Make a written plan for this if you are relying on rental
power
kW = Volts * Amps * 1.732 * 0.8
1000
•25
26.
When would we need an emergency
generator?
How does an emergency generator work?
What planning needs to be done?
What loads are powered by a generator?
How do I properly size the generator?
Where do we get one in an emergency?
Should we Purchase or Rent?
•26
27.
Generator Dealers (Generac, Cat, Cummins, Kohler, MTU)
Equipment Rental Houses (United, RSC, Hertz)
Make prior arrangements with supplier
Have a backup plan to your backup plan!
In a weather related outage, the rental inventories are limited
Have an electrician hook it up
•27
28.
When would we need an emergency
generator?
How does an emergency generator work?
What planning needs to be done?
What loads are powered by a generator?
How do I properly size the generator?
Where do we get one in an emergency?
Should we Purchase or Rent?
•28
29.
Done properly, and rental strategy could
work
Plan
ahead
Save costs
Emergency power only when needed
Guaranteed contract should be considered
Electrician should hook it up
Train personnel on operation
Have a practice power outage
30.
Done poorly, it won’t work
Plan everything
Who is trained on-site to operate the generator?
What loads are backed up?
Volts/Amps/kW Rating
Who will deliver the generator?
Dealer or outside service
Are the roads blocked due to the storm?
Where will the connections be made in the building?
Who provides the cables?
Where will I get fuel? Do I have a backup plan for fuel?
How quiet is it?
Is it sized properly?
How will I pay for it?
31.
Purchase Automatic Standby Power
Immediately available during an outage
Maintenance Plan
Exercise automatically, preparing you for an outage
Very affordable at any kW size
Diesel
Natural Gas or Propane
Bifuel
Quiet
32.
When would we need an emergency
generator?
How does an emergency generator work?
What planning needs to be done?
What loads are powered by a generator?
How do I properly size the generator?
Where do we get one in an emergency?
Should we Purchase or Rent?
•32
Throughout our more than forty years of business development, top management at Generac has never lost sight of its original objective—the manufacture of electric power generation equipment.
We believe our success is due in large measure to the caliber of our people and the relationships we've forged with our customers and suppliers. We’ve worked hard to establish a reputation for product excellence and innovation. Today, Generac is recognized in the industry for its high quality, dependable products and its responsiveness to customer needs.
This slide is the first in a sequence of animated slides. Each animated power sequence should be explained.
An Open Transition ATS continuously monitors incoming voltage from the utility line. When utility power is interrupted, the Open Transition ATS immediately senses the problem and signals the generator to start. Once the generator is producing rated voltage and current, the Open Transition ATS safely switches from the utility line to the generator power line. While the load is on generator power, the Open Transition ATS continues to monitor the utility line’s power supply or lack of power supply. When the switch senses the utility line voltage has returned for a sustained amount of time, it transfers the electrical load back to the utility line. During this retransfer process, the Open Transition ATS breaks the load from both power sources. A loss of power is seen even when going from two live sources.
Sequence 1
The power flowing from the utility has been interrupted or the utility voltage is lower than the acceptable limits. This low voltage limit is typically set to 85% of normal utility voltage.
Sequence 2
The transfer switch waits briefly for the utility to immediately return. Most outages are only 1 or 2 seconds. Transfer switches have a line interrupt timer that delays the starting of the generator for 2-3 seconds. This allows the utility an opportunity to clear a fault in utility distribution prior to starting the generator. The window of delay is different for each manufacturer, but it usually varies from 0.1 to 10 seconds.
Sequence 3
The generator is signaled to start by the transfer switch. Traditionally, this was a simple 2-wire start contact closure. Digitally controlled switches may perform this function via digital communications.
During this sequence, the generator is building output voltage and frequency. The ATS must sense rated output prior to transferring.
Sequence 4
The ATS verifies rated generator output. Typically, ATS settings are 90% voltage and 90% frequency.
Transfer switches also have a warm-up timer for the engine; however, it is often bypassed or set to zero. Most applications require, or desire, the generator to start and run within 10 seconds. If an engine warm-up period is desired, it is typically set for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Sequence 5
The ATS now transfers the load onto the generator.
Sequence 6
Utility voltage returns and is sensed by the ATS controller. When the ATS controller detects utility voltage at an acceptable level, it begins the return-to-utility timer. Typically, acceptable utility voltage is set to 90% of normal voltage. This setting is often referenced as the utility pick-up voltage.
Sequence 7
The return-to-utility timer delays retransfer to the utility. This timer is typically set for 15 to 20 minutes. Utility volts must remain above the voltage pick-up setting for the entire length of time set by the return-to-utility timer.
Reasons For Timer Delay:
Ensure better utility stability prior to retransfer (The utility has just had an event.)
Good for the generator to have facility load (It minimizes wet stacking effects.)
A standard option on transfer switches is a return-to-utility bypass function. This provides the user with the ability to force a transfer back to the utility without waiting for the return-to-utility delay. This might be done if the generator is low on fuel.
Sequence 8
The ATS transfers back to the live utility voltage. Most transfer switches derive transferring power from the source to which they are transferring. This prevents the ATS from inadvertently transferring into a dead source.
Sequence 9
After the load is switched back to the utility, the generator cools down by running unloaded for a preset time. At the end of this cool-down period, the generator shuts down. Typically, the generator cool-down timer is set for 3 to 5 minutes.
