Saturday, May 10, 2008

History of the Diesel Generator


The diesel generator owes its roots to mainly two inventors. One of these is the creator of the first generator Michael Faraday and the other is the creator of the diesel engine Rudolph Diesel. The first of these two has contributed greatly to life as we know it today with all his discoveries in electricity.

Michael Faraday was of humble beginning but always had a curious nature. He was at an early age an errand boy for a bookbinding shop and here he vastly increased his knowledge as he read anything he could put his hands on. He was very interested in the concept of energy and force and this interest is one that continued throughout his life and eventually he developed into a famed chemist and physicist.

It was his discovery of electromagnetic induction in the year 1831 that led to the development of the modern generator. He used what he termed his induction ring to discover the electromagnetic induction. This was the generation or induction of electricity in a wire by the use of the electromagnetic effect of the current in another wire. This was the first transformer and followed closely with the discovery of the magneto-electric induction process which is the production of a steady electric current.

He attached two pieces of wire by the use of a sliding contact to a copper disc. He rotated the disc through the poles of a magnet and was able to generate continuous direct current. This was the first generator of time. This group of experiments led to the revolutionized generator that we know today.

The diesel generator however owes its development to the inventor Rudolph Diesel. He started off as a refrigerator engineer and eventually found himself working on many heat engine designs. He in 1892 put out a patent that dealt with the method and design of a engine where combustion would take place in the cylinder. He continued to work to this goal and was successful in the production of a diesel engine that produced an efficiency of 75%.

It is the coupling of his diesel engine with the generator that led to the diesel generator that we known today. His design was rather large and very heavy and found more use in industrial applications as a generator. They were used to power pipelines and for electric plants and water plants. Later on they found applications in the mines and in oil fields. The diesel generator is simply the coupling of the diesel engine with an electrical generator and has been use throughout history since its invention for many applications.

The diesel generator has been seen to be the choice of many of the larger companies as it is well suited for industrial use. A major discouraging factor for its use in terms of the retail market has been the fact that it can be rather noisy but this has been reduced greatly from the first diesel generators and is now almost comparable to the gasoline generators. These generators also offer other perks such as increase fuel economy and reduced maintenance costs which can explain their popularity in industrial applications.

About the Author

John Stafford is the webmaster and a contributor for http://www.diesel-generator-central.com and http://www.diesel-performance-pros.com

Visit http://www.diesel-generator-central.com/articles/ to research your next diesel engine or diesel generator then purchase from one of our wide range. http://www.diesel-generator-central.com offers experienced and professional advice to assist you in your next diesel decison.

John Stafford is the webmaster and a contributor for http://www.diesel-generator-central.com and http://www.diesel-performance-pros.com

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Thursday, April 10, 2008

Introduction to the Diesel Generator

There are several types of fuels that can be used for generators. It is however seen that the diesel generator is normally the choice of the commercial generator user. This is due to their ability to be both very portable and powerful making them suitable for a wide range of uses. In addition to these features there is also the added benefit of being dependable. The typical diesel generator is run at 1800RPM and is water cooled. This makes them great work horses as they are able to run for longer periods of time when compared to the gasoline generator and without much maintenance work required. They are also cheaper to operate due to the low fuels costs as compared to the other types of fuels such as gasoline and propane as well as the lowered maintenance costs due to there being no spark plugs and carburetors.

The diesel generator operation is similar to that of the diesel engine. There are two types of diesel engines. The 2-stroke and the 4-stroke operation are the two types. The 4-stroke operation is the one that is typically used in diesel generators. This process as the name implies uses four strokes.

The first stroke is the power stroke where a fine mist of diesel is sprayed on top of the piston in the hot compressed air space. The fuel is then ignited and the air on top of the piston expands. This pressure then causes the piston to move down and this motion is converted to a rotary motion by a rod that drives the crankshaft.

The next stroke is the exhaust stroke which is initiated by the momentum of the crankshaft turning and the piston then moves up. The next stroke is the suction stroke and this is when the piston reaches the top and the momentum continues so that the piston reverses in direction. The piston then moves down and the compression stroke is next where the direction of the piston is again changed after the lowest point. This cycle continues for the operation of the diesel generator.

Although the diesel generator is by far the cheaper generator overall it can cost a lot more to set up initially and this can be a deterrent to many generator users. The generators are also not as clean burning as the other fuel generators although this has improved much in recent times. The diesel generators may also require a larger store of fuel but this is much safer to store than gasoline. Another disadvantage of the diesel generator is that it can be a lot more noisy compared to their counterparts.

Many persons however believe that the savings that can be derived from an investment in the diesel generator are indeed well worth the disadvantages. The savings in fuel and maintenance are immense and the hassle free maintenance is a great plus. This is the reason many commercial generator users opt for the diesel generator. Diesel generators are available in mainly larger designs but can also be found on occasion in smaller units. About the Author

John Stafford is the webmaster and a contributor for http://www.diesel-generator-central.com and http://www.diesel-performance-pros.com

Visit http://www.diesel-generator-central.com to research your next diesel engine or diesel generator then purchase from one of our wide range. http://www.diesel-generator-central.com offers experienced and professional advice to assist you in your next diesel decison.

John Stafford is the webmaster and a contributor for http://www.diesel-generator-central.com and http://www.diesel-performance-pros.com

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Thursday, March 6, 2008

Electric Generator and Power Generator Safety Tips

When buying a diesel generator make a list of the lights and equipment that will be running off the generator. Total the wattage requirements to determine the capacity of the generator. Compare wattage requirement and the price of the generator. If the generator is to be connected directly to the electrical system, then it is advisable to hire a qualified technician to install the transfer switch. Ensure that the generator has adequate storage capacity, longer usage time at a stretch, overload protection and auto shut off facility.

Portable generators are critical to have in emergencies or for use in areas where there is no traditional electricity. Always keep in mind there are safety issues related to the proper use of the generators. Portable generators can cause electrocution if they are left in the rain or sitting in water. Keep the generator under a canopy where it is protected, but not totally enclosed. It must still have adequate ventilation. Never touch the generator when you are standing in water or your hands are wet. Never run extension cords through water of any kind. Keep all unauthorized people away from the unit while it is operating.

Make sure all extension cords are of high enough rating for whatever load they are to carry. Also check for fraying, exposed wires or areas where the cord may be underneath something else and is hard to see. Many people will put cords under rugs or furniture, but this can harm the cord and hide any defects in the cord.

Check cords when the portable generator is operating to make sure they are not overheating. Overheating is an indication of too much load for the cord or else damaged wires inside the cord. Even though the cords may be rated for the load you have, if compressors are turning on and off, the load may be temporarily increasing beyond the rating.

Even with the best alternative system such as solar energy or wind energy, sometimes the weather may not cooperate and land us in darkness when the main power source fails. To keep our power system running, a backup engine generator may be just the thing. For businesses with sensitive computer networks, or homes with critical medical equipment, a back up power system such as a diesel generator may be necessary even when grid power is available.

When buying a diesel generator make a list of the lights and equipment that will be running off the generator. Total the wattage requirements to determine the capacity of the generator. Compare wattage requirement and the price of the generator. If the generator is to be connected directly to the electrical system, then it is advisable to hire a qualified technician to install the transfer switch. Ensure that the generator has adequate storage capacity, longer usage time at a stretch, overload protection and auto shut off facility.

Here is an example of a electric generator you can find at XG Power. This one is a 6700-watt Electric Generator 110 / 240 volt with electric start

Our generator packs plenty of power to run heavy-load equipment like heaters or air compressors. Auto decompression ensures easy starting. Dependable, maintenance-free ignition and brushless alternator. Large, super-quiet muffler. Black, tubular steel frame and easy-to-read fuel gauge. This super-fuel-efficient generator gets up to 11 hours of continuous operation on a tank of gas.

Generator Specifications:

* Type : Brushless AVR - Single Phase * AC Frequency : 60 HZ * Maximum AC Output : 6700 Watts * Rated AC Output : 6000 Watts * Rated / Maximum AC Current : 50.0 / 55.0 Amps @ 120 Volts * Driving Method : Direct * Two 110 volt and two 220 volt outlets

Engine specifications:

* Type : 4-Stroke, OHV, Air Cooled * Rated Horsepower : 12HP @ 3,600 rpm * Bore x Stroke : 66mm x 50mm * Displacement : 357cc / 12HP * Cooling : Forced Air * Lubrication : Wet Sump * Oil Capacity : 0.63 qt * Starting Method : Recoil * Ignition System : Transistor Controlled * Fuel Tank Capacity : 5.5 gal (20.8 Litres) * Recommended Fuel : Unleaded Regular * Continuous Operating Hours : 11.3 * Dry Weight : 185 lb (84kgs) * Noise Level @ 25 ft : 73.5 dBA * Package size: 27 in.L x 21 in.W x 22.5 in.H

Melih ("may-lee") Oztalay, CEO SmartFinds Internet Marketing Web: www.xgpower.com EMail: melih@hsfideas.com Tel: (248) 568-2241

Professional grade tools and equipment at everyday low discount prices.

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Friday, December 21, 2007

Nonfiction Idea Generators

 by: Neal Naughton

The hardest part of nonfiction writing is finding a subject to write about. Unless you’re a student or a professional writer no one is going to select a topic for you. That means you have to come up with your own themes. If you’re like most writers, your subject matter will be things that interest you. I used the headings listed below to generate ideas for my writing. Hopefully these idea generators will help you become a more productive writer.

HOW DID I SOLVE THAT PROBLEM?: This question can lead to an infinite number of article ideas. The articles that result from it are generally the easiest to market, because many people have the same problem. A writer just starting out could develop a niche by answering this question. Which was how I got started. I was an electronic technician when I published my first article. At the time I was flooded with printed information, catalogs, data sheets, articles, etc. To handle this overflow I developed a filing system. Then I wrote an article about how I solved my problem. The article entitled, “The Ultimate Electronics Reference File” was published in The Electron, a technical journal. A couple months later I was looking for a cheap source of electronic parts, test equipment, etc. (This was before E-Bay.) That thought led me to write “Getting More For Your Electronics Dollar” which appeared in the same publication.

OBJECTS: Observation and/or memory of an object can lead to many ideas. For example, I once owned a multicolored 1955 Chevrolet. With that old car in mind, I wrote an essay entitled “Ode To An Old Car” which was published by a local newspaper.

CHANGES: Some are good and some aren’t, it’s that simple. Either way using this topic, you can create an articles defending or attacking changes. Which I did in “The Advantages Of Flex Time” also published in a local newspaper. I set the piece in a gas station

HOW I DID IT: This is a variation on the above topic. As a woodcarver, I used this statement to detail how I created a certain kind of carving. The resulting article “Carving An Ancient Artifact” was published by Chip Chats Magazine.

OPINIONS/RANTS: Now I’m passionate about a few things in life, though some folks who know me might disagree with this statement. “Nonfiction Idea Generators” is one of the things I’m passionate about, after all I did write this article. But, what I’m not sure of is whether this is an opinion piece or a rant.

READ: Newspapers, magazines, e-zines, cereal boxes, and anything else you can wrap your eyes around. Read to find ideas for future articles. Ask yourself, as you read, “is there anything here I can use? Does this leave me with unanswered questions?” If so, good. That is what you’re looking for. Write down your thoughts and save them along with the article. More about this later.

LISTEN TO YOUR FRIENDS: Sometimes, when friends talk you’ll hear something that sounds like a great subject for an article. An article you know you can write. But before you do, you probably should ask for permission to use the info—if you value the friendship.

SOMETHING THAT MADE YOU LAUGH: Changes are, it’ll make others laugh, too.

SOMETHING YOU’RE CURIOUS ABOUT: One of the best sources of nonfiction ideas can be found by just wondering about something. Example, in a chemistry class studying different types of sugars, I asked the instructor how brown sugar was made. He said he didn’t know and assigned the topic to me. I did the research and wrote a two page report (about 300 words) on the subject.

PUT YOUR DREAMS TO WORK: I had a dream about selling an essay, which I had hadn’t even written at the time of the dream. The essay, now exists, and is part of an e-book I am writing. The essay is about putting my world back together, as a freelance writer, after being laid off from NASA Glenn Research Center, where I worked for sixteen years as a subcontractor. This is not an easy thing to write about; but since the dream, I now have a use for that story.

USE LISTS OF CURRENT MARKETS: Here is a great way to find not only subject matter, but also a market for the piece, should you write it. But before you do a knock-their-socks-off piece for a listing: read the writer’s guidelines, study the publication and its advertising. The advertising will tell you a lot about the publication and its readers.

REVERSE A PUBLISHED ARTICLE’S IDEA: The article you clipped above could serve as an idea generator, if you reverse the argument put forth in the article.

SAVE YOUR ARTICLE IDEAS: When you find an article idea, write it down. Use a single sentence. Put the idea away for a few days. Then go back to it, find a target market. Study the publication you intend to submit it to. What kind of people read this journal? Slant your article for those readers.

Remember, use you Article Idea Generators often and wisely. An idea is a terrible thing to waste. Good Luck.

Neal Naughton is a technical writer, copywriter, and creative writer. He is also a ghostwriter, who can handle your next article etc. You can reach him at nealnaughton@WRITENEAL.COM. All of his articles are copwrited and can not be reproduced without his written permission.

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