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Sunday 28 October 2012

Understanding generator wet stacking problems


Part One from our series of informative load bank usage blogs


Regular load bank testing of your generator prevents damage or engine failure that can occur from running under load or below the WET STACKING LEVEL

Wet stacking - the problem:

Wet stacking occurs due to running the genset on a low load.  This in turn prevents the engine temperature running at the required design temperature, typically 100 - 200oC, and results with un-burnt fuel deposits being left and building up in the engine cylinders. 

This fuel build up will over time line the combustion chamber cylinders and cause a reduction in the engine ratings and efficiency, which will ultimately cause premature failure of the generator.

Wet stacking - the solution:

Running the generator on load of 30% - 100% of the genset rating will allow the engine to reach the recommend operating temperature.  This will burn off the choke deposits and discharge lots of black smoke and maybe hot balls of carbon out of the exhaust.

Load banks can be used in two applications to prevent wet stacking, these are:

      (i)     100% load bank testing
As part of regular maintenance and after say running the load bank for 100 hours at low load the load bank testing for between 2 to 4 hours will be sufficient to clear the carbon deposits and prove the generator efficiency.

     (ii)     Installing a permanent load bank with auto load shedding.
A special controller is fitted to the load bank and the generator output to monitor and regulate the load to  ensure a minimum 30% load setting is always applied.

For a complete range of load banks for generator wet stacking testing - Hillstone are your ideal suppliers


UK Sales office                   +44(0) 161 763 3100
Middle East Sales Office     +971 (0)  4 255 9334

1 comment:

  1. Nice blog, Thanks for sharing such a valuable information about Electrical Load Banks.

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