Diesel generator sets will generate a lot of heat during normal operation. Too much heat will cause the temperature of the engine to rise, which will affect work efficiency. Therefore, the unit must be equipped with a cooling system to reduce the temperature of the unit. There are two common cooling systems for generator sets: water cooling and air cooling. The following editor will introduce them to you respectively:
Air-cooled generator set: Use one or more large fans to force exhaust air against the generator body to dissipate heat. Its advantages are simple structure, easy maintenance, and no risk of cracking or overheating. Generator sets are limited by thermal load and mechanical load, the power is generally small, and the power conversion rate of generator sets is also relatively low, which is not enough for energy saving. The air cooler must be installed in an open cabin, which has high requirements on the environment and high noise, so it needs noise reduction treatment in the machine room. The air cooling method is more used in small gasoline generators and low-power diesel generator sets.
Water-cooled generator set: The internal and external water circulation of the body takes away the heat generated inside the body through the cooling water tank and fan. Both functions are to dissipate heat in the air, and there is not much difference in use. The advantages of water-cooled units are the ideal cooling effect, rapid and stable cooling, and high power conversion rate of the unit itself. The installation site of the water-cooled unit has small limitations, low environmental requirements, low noise, and a remote heat dissipation system that can be realized. Water cooling is generally used in large diesel generators and high-power diesel generator sets. The common brands of diesel generator set on the market now are Cummins, Perkins, MTU (Mercedes-Benz), Volvo Shangchai, and Weichai are generally water-cooled generator sets.