Are you in need of a backup diesel generator for your hotel and not sure where to start? The best way to decide on the generator capacity is by consulting an electrical engineer/firm to conduct a load analysis. However, the following are some other methods of estimating the size of generator needed for your hotel.
Using a power analyzer/recorder to record the maximum and average demand during a certain period of time (at least a week) is one method. If the energy used by your hotel varies largely during different seasons, make sure to run all the electrical items you use during peak season in order to get an accurate maximum demand reading. The longer you have the power analyzer connected the better.
Alternately, you can use a clamp on ampere meter (or the main ampere meter on your power distribution board) to measure the total amperage used by your hotel. Please make sure to switch on all electrical equipment that will be used during peak season before taking this reading and also remember to measure the amperage on each of the phases. The disadvantage of using a clamp meter is that it will not record spikes that occur due to the starting current of large motors, such as compressors of air conditioning plants, large water pumps, etc. Therefore, the genset is generally oversized to accommodate these power surges (this is based on the number and the size of motors in the system).
Once you have this data, you should consider if there are any anticipated expansions in the foreseeable future. Remember to include this additional power requirement when selecting the generator size as it will be much more expensive to make changes at a later stage. Thereafter, you should decide if you are using the generator for emergency back up power or if you plan to use it on a continuous basis (usually over 8 hours per day and/or over 500 hours per year). If you plan to use the genset for continuous operation, it is advisable to oversize the generator. The most efficient rating, considering both fuel efficiency and wear and tear of the genset, is when it is running at 80% to 90% of its prime rating or 75% to 85% of the standby rating.
Now that you have an idea of the required generator capacity, the other main options to consider are sound attenuation and automatic operation. Nearly all hotels use some type of sound attenuation for their generators, either by ordering them with soundproof canopies or by soundproofing the generator room. Finally, hotels and other establishments where backup power is critical use automatic start control systems together with automatic load transfer switches to ensure a continuous power supply.
The above are basic guidelines on how to get an idea of the size of the electric generator you need. It is strongly recommended that you consult an electrical engineer or a FG Wilson dealer locally to advise you before finalizing the capacity requirement of your generator.
FGW Latin America & Caribbean
