The world of manufacturing can frequently be very chaotic and fast-paced, hence it’s essential always to prioritize power reliability and stability. When that’s not the case, it can result in some major accidents and even financial losses.
Luckily, when you have industrial gas generators within your reach, these problems can effectively be reduced. Every company that aspires to run its business effortlessly and smoothly must have one.
But the question is, how can you choose the one that’s going to “keep up with you” and enable you and your business to function seamlessly? Several factors must be considered, and below, the most essential ones will be enumerated.
What Do You Need Exactly?
Before you make any final decisions as far as this is concerned, you first need to define your needs in terms of the type of generator that you plan on using. One of the most effective options is an industrial natural gas generator which typically leverages natural gas as its primary fuel source. You can normally find it in regions that have a lot of natural gas supplies, or where emissions regulations are put in place. This is generally an amazing option for anybody who is eco-conscious, and who doesn’t want to deal with massive operating expenses that usually come with diesel generators.
Then there’s a standby generator which represents an independent power source and that is designed to enable the entire facility to properly function even when an outage happens. As soon as it notices that there’s an issue with a power source, it will immediately turn on, which is great because it drastically reduces any disruptions and delays in maintaining machine uptime.
If you run a business that must maintain operation all the time, then you can definitely make use of the standby generator. And last, but not least is an emergency generator, which is intended to power critical systems.
Although it isn’t capable of maintaining operation for the whole facility, it is generally very reliable and perfect for safety systems, like emergency lights, fire alarms, and many other essential systems.
The National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 110 code requires companies to have at least one emergency generator for any systems that are pivotal for human safety.
What Size Do You Need?
Another important aspect of this process is to determine the size of the gas generator that your company will be employing. Industrial generators are renowned for providing somewhere between 50kW to more than 3 Megawatts of power.
These things can be very tricky, hence it’s essential to get your facts straight when it comes to this to avoid getting the wrong size. For instance, if you opt for something too small, then it most likely won’t be able to meet the demands and needs of your job site.
On the flip side, if you obtain an industrial gas generator that’s too large, then there’s a chance that you will destroy it, along with anything else that’s linked to it. People who aren’t too familiar with these generators, tend to think that the larger they are, the better, which isn’t necessarily the truth.
Bear in mind that each job site application is authentic in its way, hence you need to carefully think things through if you want to be sure you’ve picked the right size. Certain elements must be factored in, in these instances, and they include these:
- You first need to make a list of all the things that your future industrial gas generator will power
- Don’t forget to determine the starting and running wattage
- You also need to figure out the constant running time that’s required to power site equipment
Where Do You Plan On Placing It?
These types of generators are generally very large, particularly if you compare them with the units that are utilized for regular households, which means that they need lots of space. Therefore, if you’re not able to provide it, this will result in generator overheating.
Since industrial gas generators are generally very costly, it would be advisable to put them in a place that is difficult to reach, and that only you and your technicians can access it. In addition, you also need to be sure that your generator is properly safeguarded from all kinds of outside factors that may endanger it in any way.
One of the most effective ways to do this is by putting it over the flood line. We cannot stress enough how pivotal the location of your industrial gas generator is. That’s something that can immensely expand its lifespan, and, at the same time, protect it from different detrimental things, such as heat, weather elements, etc.
Is Portability Important To You?
Portability is another factor that must be prioritized in these instances. If you plan on moving your generator quite often, to various locations, like construction sites, then you should opt for the portable industrial gas generators.
The ones that are the best solution for these purposes are the generators that are mounted on trailers. They are very flexible, and practical, can easily be transported, and usually have built-in fuel tanks.
In contrast, if portability isn’t mandatory for you, then you can consider having a standby generator in a particular location that’s most convenient for you. Stationary generators are generally very big and they need to be professionally installed, as well as the connection to the electrical system.
Maintenance Is Crucial As Well!
Every generator comes with different needs and demands in terms of maintenance, which is something that you should also take into account before you make the final decision. There are industrial gas generators that simply need to be maintained regularly, and yet, there are those that aren’t as demanding when it comes to this.
It’s up to you to think about your maintenance needs and then acquire a gas generator that will be able to accommodate them.
Selecting the wrong industrial gas generator can potentially be a very costly mistake. That’s precisely why it’s of huge importance to go through everything that’s been said today, to avoid making any serious errors.
