Tuesday 24 January 2023

Maintenance of electric generators: How to do it?

 Acquiring a power generator requires the investment of a significant amount, however, the ROI is usually very attractive, since the equipment increases the power and performance of a company. To mitigate the probability of failures or problems in its operation, it is essential to implement a maintenance schedule for electric generators.

In fact, an electric generator provides more energy security both in terms of supply in remote areas, and in terms of security of contribution in the event of failures in the local distribution network.

Therefore, having a good team and performing frequent maintenance instances, in addition to providing reliable and uninterrupted electricity, also makes it possible to optimize the company's competitiveness.

In this article, we address the importance of maintenance for the good performance of the generators, as well as we indicate how to do it and what to prioritize when carrying out these instances.

Essentially, properly maintaining generators allows them to continue to work smoothly and, as a result, extend their useful life.

In fact, when we talk about maintenance, we can point out that the most effective in terms of economy and efficiency is preventive. But, in fact, what does it cover?

The preventive maintenance of electrical generators has as main objective to detect possible errors, failures and problems in the equipment to correct them in advance.

In this way, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of major damage that triggers corrective maintenance - more expensive, more time-consuming and the enemy of productivity.

With regard to preventive actions, it is important to check that the control does not set alarms. In the event that it occurs, it is recommended to contact the authorized dealer to make the correct diagnosis. Another important aspect is to check that the equipment is placed in the initial operation -automatic, stop or manual.

Considering the points indicated so far, it is easy to understand that the proper functioning of the generators depends directly on the performance of frequent preventive maintenance that, in fact, promotes the integrity of the equipment.

In short, taking care of the good conditions of the equipment considering this type of maintenance is interesting because:

·        It optimizes the invested capital by reducing the depreciation of this highly technically complex equipment and by increasing its useful life.

·        Improve customer satisfaction.

·        Reduce risks in general.

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to invest in the maintenance of electric generators!

How to maintain electric generators

Now that you have learned more details about the importance of complying with a maintenance schedule, promoting a significant increase in the useful life of the equipment, it is interesting to focus attention on the main points that must be considered when carrying out this task.

Under this context, the activities inherent to maintenance are concentrated in 2 elements: the engine and the alternator.

1. Engine maintenance

Each generator has its particularities, for this reason, before starting the maintenance process, it is essential to consider the manufacturer's indications and specifications.

With that said, we are ready to describe the most important aspects of maintaining a team's engine:

·        Oil level check: To do this, the engine needs to be level on the horizontal. Then, using a dipstick, the oil level is measured - ideally, the oil should be between the MIN and MAX marks.

·        Change of filters and oil: It is recommended that these changes be done at the same time. But be careful, the oil must be the same as that recommended by the manufacturer!

·        Inspection of the air filter -and possible change-: If the engine has a visual system, the filter must be changed, when the warning appears on the element indicator.

For other equipment, it is recommended to change it every six months. In fact, if the concentration of dust and other agents is very high, replacement must be carried out more frequently,

Generally, how dirty the intake filter is is related to its size and the amount of dust in the air.

·        Auxiliary element strap adjustments: To verify its integrity, it is essential that it be checked while it is still hot. That is, after the engine stops running.

For this, it is recommended to loosen the screws, tighten the belts and check if they give 10 millimeters between the pulleys.

In the case of belts that work in pairs, they must be changed at the same time.

·        Cooling system check: It should be filled with a coolant that protects the engine against corrosion and freezing.

As anticorrosives tend to weaken over time, it is recommended to change it frequently.

·        Cleaning or changing the fuel filter: To check the condition of the filter, the fixings must be loosened, preventing any residue from entering the injection system.

If you just need to clean it, the ideal is to remove it from the equipment, wash it and let it dry.

When the time comes to install it, it is important to lubricate the joint with oil, screw on the filter, bleed the fuel system and discard the old filter - if there was a replacement.

Check the condition of the spark plug in diesel, gas or gasoline generators: After 20 hours of ignition, it is recommended to check that the spark plug remains clean. If during the verification, it is detected that it is dirty, the ideal is to clean it with a copper wire brush. After this maintenance, it is necessary to check this element every 50 hours, while it continues to work.

To perform this maintenance, the spark plug socket must be removed. With the help of a suitable key, the spark plug is removed, cleaned and then, to assemble it, the process is repeated in reverse.

2. Alternator maintenance

To perform alternator maintenance, it is important:

·        Check the windings: mainly if the equipment has been inactive for a long time.

To do this, the inherent resistance of the insulation to ground must be measured using a megger, since this can be affected by humidity or dirt in these elements.

In other words, when measuring the insulation, the winding situation is checked.

·        In the case of generators with brushes and slip rings, these structures must be inspected: The brushes can last the entire useful life of the equipment, however, they can often show wear of ¼ of their length. When it happens, the ideal is to replace them.

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Tuesday 22 November 2022

How does an electric engine work?

 

An electric motor is a machine that has the ability to transform or convert electrical energy into mechanical. This is done thanks to the action of the magnetic fields generated by its coils.

In addition, as another essential fact, we can highlight that they are normally made up of a rotor and a stator.

This is the general and basic definition of an electric motor, but for sure, how does it work and what benefits does it bring to industries, people and the world in general? Find out below.

Operation of an electric motor

There are different types of electric motors, with different scopes and purposes, which operate in machines of all kinds, from vehicles and large industrial machines to small household appliances.

But, if we focus on the motor itself, we can say that it always works in the same way: through the interaction between sinuous currents and a magnetic field, which generates force or energy within it. That is to say, they start from the principle of electromagnetic induction that tells us that when a conductor is in interaction with the lines of magnetic flux and there is a movement between them, a voltage is induced in the conductor which, in turn, being in a closed circuit will generate the circulation of an electric current and consequently the induction of a magnetic field that will interact with the existing one causing a torque and movement of the same.

All this allows the rotor or rotating part to move, producing the operating cycle.

As we mentioned before, there are different types of electric motors, which mainly influences their composition. These can be divided into two large groups:

dc motor

This class of motor has the same number of poles in the rotor and stator.

These motors are used when it is necessary to continuously regulate their speed, and they are divided into three classes: in series, parallel and mixed.

Alternating current motor

We are talking about those that operate with alternating current, as its name reflects. That is, it converts electrical energy and turning forces with the help of the interaction between magnetic fields.

As you can see, in general, in electric motors there are two key parts: the rotor and the stator.

·        The rotor is mainly composed of a kind of steel sheets that together form a package, it can be of 3 different types: slotted, squirrel cage or salient poles.

·        Meanwhile, the stator can be salient pole or slotted. In both cases it does not move mechanically, but rather magnetically, and it is made up of sheets of silicon steel.

Benefits of the electric motor

Now that you know what an electric motor is and how it works, it's time to list some of its benefits.

Attractive autonomy

Of course, the autonomy depends on the type of purpose that the electric motor has and the equipment or device that it operates.

However, in general terms, we can say that electric motors offer very good autonomy, especially when they are complemented with accumulators and batteries of great capacity and durability.

In cars, which is perhaps the most visible example, these engines allow an average autonomy of more than 290 kilometers, which means that millions of people can cover their daily distances with them, and at the same time pollute less, due to the absence of gas emission.

In other smaller appliances and equipment, they can provide several minutes and even hours of continuous operation at high power.

Task streamlining

Electric motors came into the world to make life easier for us, as well as for industries and companies.

Angle grinders, blenders, washing machines, there are many devices that contain electric motors, and that allow a certain task to be done more quickly and efficiently, compared to manual methods or processes.

In the case of industries, they play a key role in standardization and automation, while helping to preserve quality and operational flow.

Economy

When electric motors operate only in a certain device, equipment or machine, as is the case with vehicles, expenses are considerably reduced.

And it is that thanks to these, gasoline, diesel and other fuels are not needed to generate the energy and power necessary for operation.

The best of all is that, at the same time, they reduce environmental pollution, by putting aside the emission of gases, at the same time that they mitigate noise pollution, because electric motors are usually much less noisy.

High power for the job

Electric motors were born to increase the power and range of different machines, like many of the examples that we have given.

This allows having the necessary "muscle" for heavy work and large volume operations, which must also be performed continuously, as occurs in factories and production spaces.

In this way we see how a simple machine plays a key role in the productivity and industrial dynamics of environments and, consequently, in the well-being of societies and populations.

Perfect! If you followed us to this point in the text, you already have a clear idea of ​​what an electric motor is, how it works and why it is so beneficial.

Understanding these machines and their scope is a key step to making smart investments when incorporating functional equipment and artifacts into your projects and performance areas.

Remember that electric motors are an alternative that combines high power with functionality and economy, and at the same time that they are characterized by their low or null environmental impact.

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