How to specify a silent diesel generator set for a commercial site

A silent diesel generator set is specified by four numbers, and buyers who get them right avoid both oversizing and noisy complaints after installation.

Start with prime power. Prime power is the load a set can carry continuously while supplying a variable load, and it is the figure that should be matched to your actual running demand plus a modest margin. Standby rating, which is higher, is reserved for emergency duty and should not be used as the everyday working figure.

Next, set the noise target. Enclosed sets are commonly quoted at 65 to 75 dB(A) measured at seven metres, and the target depends on how close the nearest building is. If the set sits next to offices or homes, ask for the measured level at your distance, not just a canopy description.

Ventilation is the third number. A canopy that meets a noise target still needs enough air to reject engine and alternator heat. Undersized air inlets raise the temperature inside the enclosure and shorten component life, so the radiator and enclosure should be sized together by the manufacturer.

Finally, decide fuel autonomy. Base tank sets are usually offered with eight or twenty four hour tanks, and the choice depends on how quickly fuel can be delivered on site. For remote locations a double walled tank with a bund and level alarm is often required by local rules.

Once those four numbers are fixed, the engine and alternator brands follow. We supply silent sets from 8 kW to 3,000 kW with Cummins, Perkins, Baudouin, Yangdong or SDEC engines and matched YHG alternators, and every unit is load tested before dispatch. Send us your site conditions and we will propose a configuration.