Backup Generators for Water & Sewage Treatment Plants
Water & sewage treatment plants play a vital role in our everyday lives, even if we don’t realize it. These plants remove physical, biological, and chemical contaminants from waste water. If the power were to go out due to inclement weather, winter weather storms, natural or man-made disasters, or a power grid failure, not only would waste water treatment be affected, but it could even affect the availability of clean drinking water. Considering that these facilities play such a vital role, a reliable source of power is required to help ensure that operations can continue even in the event of a power outage. Backup commercial generators are a sound solution when it comes to emergency backup power for these facilities.
Overview
When installing a commercial backup generator for a sewage & water treatment plant, it’s important to note that it is not a simple matter of buying a generator and installing it on-site at the facility. The generator must be properly sized to meet the facility’s power needs, installed safely and properly, as well as regularly serviced & maintained.
Resources on the subject of generator installation can be found here: What to Know Before Installing a Backup Generator
In addition to the items to consider before installing a backup commercial generator, water treatment and sewage treatment plants also need to consider the following.
Code Compliance
Backup generator installations for water treatment and sewage plants must adhere to NEC (National Electrical Code), which dictates the requirements for your operation and facility. Be sure to consult with an engineer on what type of emergency generator system would be required for your facility and discuss what items (systems, equipment, machinery, etc.) must be powered in the event of a power outage to determine what size generator you may need.
There are additional code requirements to consider, such as the generator must start up within X amount of time in order to maintain operation, but also to ensure safe facility environments for employees. Be sure to cover these requirements with your engineer!
Generator Type
The two most popular commercial generator choices used for standby applications are diesel and natural gas generators. As their names state – the generators are categorized by the type of fuel that they use. Both generators have their own benefits and downsides, which we’ll briefly cover below.
Diesel Generators
Diesel generators are one of the most commonly installed generators in the market for emergency backup power and standby generator selections. Diesel generators are versatile and can be used across various industries, applications, and require less overall maintenance intervals. The drawback to diesel generators is that their maximum operating runtime is restricted by the capacity of their fuel tank. If you choose to install a commercial diesel generator for your business or facility, be sure to work out a plan to replenish your diesel fuel supply. Keep in mind that if the plan includes having diesel fuel delivered to your location, it may prove difficult if there is inclement weather or natural disasters that may impede the fuel truck. It’s also plausible to prepare in advance by securing external diesel fuel tanks that can be stored on-site in the event of an emergency to replenish the generator’s fuel supply.
Natural Gas Generators
Natural gas generators are a popular generator choice, especially in urban environments. Natural gas generators generally produce less noise, the fuel burns cleaner than their diesel counterparts, and can be connected directly to the local gas line, removing the need of fuel storage. The downsides to natural gas generators include more frequent maintenance is required with natural gas generators and if utility companies are forced to shut off the gas supply due to a natural disaster, the generator will be rendered virtually inoperable. While this makes natural gas generators seem like a poor choice, there may be options to install a conversion kit on the natural gas generator, so that it can run off of liquid petroleum gas (LPG for short or known simply as propane). Propane gas is relatively easy to acquire and equally easy to refuel & replenish.
Additional Considerations
Autonomy
When installing a commercial generator as a backup power solution, consider investing in an automatic transfer switch (ATS for short). An automatic transfer switch prompts the generator kick in after it detects that power from the main grid has been lost. Once power from the main grid is restored, the generator will then be prompted to shut off.
Without an ATS, a staff member will need to be on-site to manually flip the switch on the generator controls to run the generator in the event of a power outage and must also manually turn off the generator once power is restored.
Variable-Frequency Drive (VFD) Option
Variable-frequency drives are easy to operate, can convert single-phase power from small generator sets to 3-phase power, and can supply power under a variety of horsepower demands. They require little power in order to start the generator and can allow for sustained operations of the generator at various operating speeds.
Generator Control Panels
When installing a commercial generator for your water or sewage treatment plant, the generator has to be integrated within the existing electrical circuits. This means that the generator must be able to integrate with key equipment, components, and systems to ensure that all can remain operation in the event of a power outage. In addition to integrating the generator, you need to be able to control the functions with relative ease. This is where generator control panels (or generator controllers) come into play.
Generator control panels can essentially be seen as the user interface that allows operators to control the generator, as well as check on system diagnostics, overall functions, and current status of a generator.
Generators are heavy pieces of machinery and like all heavy equipment, can be prone to overheating, fluctuations in speed, and can suffer from everyday wear & tear, engine fatigue, or be affected by ambient temperatures and climate. Critical functions include protecting your generator’s engine by monitoring oil pressure, coolant temperature, and automatically shutdown the generator engine to prevent irreparable or costly damage.
More information on generator control panels can be found here: Generator Control Panels
Conclusion
While there is a lot to consider when installing a backup generator for your water treatment plant or sewage treatment plant, we wanted to cover some of the main items that should be taken into consideration. Installing a commercial generator to use as a backup power solution can be an intimidating and involved process, but we can help you through it.
If you have any questions, looking for consultation, or simply looking for a backup generator for your water treatment plant or sewage treatment plant, please reach out to us at Woodstock Power Company
610-658-3242 or sales@woodstockpower.com
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