Industrial property owners and managers who aim to invest in backup power solutions are usually always concerned with how efficient they are. That is both in how they operate and in how fuel is consumed because industrial environments have high-powered needs. Besides the need for economical fuel consumption, industrial environments are not exactly places where someone is freely available to refill the tank every two hours to keep it running. The fuel consumption rate of your generator is dependent on a number of factors including your usage, manufacturer scope, environmental conditions and so much more.

Determining your generator’s fuel consumption

The consumption question is also highly dependent on the fuel type you choose for the installation of your industrial generator. Fuel for generators comes in many forms and they typically include diesel, petrol, or gas. Modern generators are manufactured to produce the most efficient product possible, because this benefits industrial usage environments and calls for greater fuel efficiency. This also means that the newest models consume significantly less fuel than their older counterparts. The manufacturer will also come with their own recommendations and claims of certain levels of fuel consumption, but you can’t be exactly certain because the numbers depend on how you use the generator. The one thing we can tell you is that how you use your generator and the fuel it consumes are directly related. The required power generated is in direct proportion to the amount of fuel it consumes. You will have to consider what this means for calculating the size of your industrial generator needs and what unit is best suited for this.

Why some generators burn more fuel than others at the same load?

The most important factor to consider here is that fuel consumption is also related to cooling fans and water pumps of various generator sets. When a generator is used for bigger loads, you can expect that the fuel consumption will be higher.  In cases where your generator is used for loads below 50 per cent, the fuel consumption will be lower. With that in mind, it’s important to remember what happens if you underload your generator and if you overload it. The technicalities can vary but we have some quick tips that help you up the fuel-economical factor in your unit below.

3 tips for fuel-efficient industrial generator usage

• Regularly service your industrial generator 

Speak to your Brisbane generator maintenance specialist and you’ll realise how important this is towards protecting the function of your generator. Not just that, but proper maintenance can significantly reduce fuel consumption. The right team of professionals can service critical parts and address any damages that can cause it to work under stress, and in turn, increase fuel usage. A licensed operator can also ensure that you get genuine parts from a reliable supplier to protect the structural integrity of your generator.

• Don’t Over or Underload

This was already touched on earlier, but it is important to re-emphasize because it directly relates to higher fuel consumption. Overloading your generator means it needs to generate more power which results in higher fuel consumption.  A professional can be called out to help you navigate this tricky part of generator usage because there are steps to take to ensure that you don’t push your generator off its limits. Underloading your engine will limit it from reaching its maximum operating temperature on time.

• Maintain coolant levels and function

Low coolant levels and improper function can cause incomplete combustion, which will increase fuel usage. Coolant is an essential fluid to ensure that your engine does not overheat, and this is very likely in the case of industrial settings. Overheating generators are likely to use more fuel than those appropriately cooled and this can greatly affect the consumption.

Call Reactive Generators for expert advice and service

These strategies and tips can help reduce fuel consumption in your industrial generators, but nothing beats a one-on-one consultation with one of our experts. We may discover generator applications or use techniques that are uniquely designed for you. Contact us today if you are an industrial generator user in the Toowoomba, Ipswich and the Gold Coast and we can discuss all this and much more.