Generators are machines that aren’t connected to the power grid but can produce electricity. They’re a backup power source when there are blackouts or general power grid related failures. There are different sizes, brands, and fuel types. All the variations are available because generators are designed to cater to a wide range of backup power needs. You can buy smaller portable generators to take with you on camping trips so that they can power a few devices while you are away from any power sources. Industrial generators, on the other hand, are huge powerful machines that can produce enough electricity to power a hospital or entire manufacturing plants. This is the specific the type that we install and repair at Reactive Generators.
Even though generators are typically used for backup power supply at homes across Australia, they can also be used as a primary power source for commercial and industrial properties in remote areas of the country or that don’t have easy access to the power grid. The larger the machine, the more complicated its engine is and that means it needs licensed professionals, like the trusted team at Reactive Generators, to handle installations, repairs, and generator servicing in Queensland, Brisbane and other locations across Australia. They use fuel to produce electricity and the types include diesel, petrol, natural or liquid gas and propane.
How do generators make electricity?
Technically speaking, generators don’t create electricity out of thin air. What they’re doing is taking charged mechanical kinetic or chemical energy and converting it into electricity and then directing it where it’s needed. Kinetic energy is energy that’s generated from movement. Generators capture the energy that’s built up inside from the movement of its mechanical parts and force that energy into an electrical circuit to become electricity. Large industrial generators can convert all kinds of energy from movement into electricity. Generators can be powered by waterfalls or other bodies of water because they provide powerful amounts of kinetic energy. Smaller generators for homes and commercial properties don’t need enormous kinetic energy like that and can rely on traditional sources like diesel and gas. Generators are made up of a few parts and they all contribute to the proper conversion of energy to electricity. It’s a good idea to get well acquainted with these parts because technicians will be regularly upgrading or changing them a few times a year for routine generator servicing in Brisbane.
- The Engine
The engine is the mechanical part that creates the motion energy needed before conversion can begin. It supplies the generator with the energy it needs to eventually turn that into electricity for your property. The size of the engine inside your generator will determine how much electricity it can supply.
- The Alternator
This is where the magic happens. Alternators convert the mechanical energy into electricity. It contains moving and static parts that create the perfect environment (an electromagnetic field) for electrons. It moves the electrons so that they can become electricity to be directed into your property.
- The Fuel System
Fuel powers the mechanical parts to create the energy. This system includes a tank, filtration, a pump, and piping to connect the tank to the engine.
- The Cooling System
Movement creates heat and moving mechanical parts are equally susceptible to this. A generator needs a cooling system to make sure that overheating doesn’t happen.
- The Lubrication System
All the parts in the generator need to be lubricated so that they work well. Engine oil makes sure that everything works smoothly and protects parts from excess water. That’s why frequent oil and oil filter changes are needed to keep your generator operating at top performance levels.
Do I need an industrial generator?
It’s easy to understand why you need a generator for residential use, but have you considered how important they are for industrial properties? Industrial properties (which include plants, mines and factories) are often in some of Australia’s most rural locations to allow for the best mechanisation of the agricultural or manufacturing operations. The most reliable source of power in these outback areas, and the more certain guarantee of productivity, is industrial generators. Yes, that’s even more than the national power grid because it is less accessible and consistent in the outback areas. Most of Australia’s local farming and agricultural sector already rely on the installation of industrial generators as a safe, cost-effective and readily available source of both everyday power supply (prime power) and backup power. Clearly, the reliance on this power is working well because we have access to all kinds of fresh produce without fail. Diesel generators have been designed to meet the toughest of power demands and that includes those of any industrial property with any amount of work being done on it. Generators will provide cleaner energy for long hours at a time and they have an excellent lifespan which is easily comparable to that of a car. This makes them the ultimate energy investment for any industrial property owner or manager because they’re guaranteed to do the job of keeping you powered up at all times.
These are just some of the parts doing the work of creating electricity for you. There are many other parts, but these are the main components that explain, and contribute towards, how a generator works. Basically, a generator is an engine and engines will work well if you know how to look after them. Engines need routine maintenance but it’s especially important to do this for your generator because it’s an engine you rely on in emergency situations. You don’t want it to fail on you when you need it most. So, speak to a qualified generator technician at your earliest convenience to create a proper servicing schedule that’ll help to keep your generator running for a decade and even longer.
Reactive Generators is Queensland’s most trusted and experienced power solutions provider to commercial and industrial clients. We’ve been in the business of back-up and prime power for fifty years and know everything there to know about generators. Visit our website to check out our extensive range of generator servicing in Brisbane and the surrounding area.
