Walk-in generator enclosures on the roof of the London Home Office in the UK.
As businesses and industries add more and larger emergency standby generators to reduce the impact of power outages, where to locate these generators often becomes a problem. Stand-alone buildings or large mechanical rooms are not an option in many applications, particularly at existing facilities or other sites with limited space or other installation obstacles. Outdoor generator enclosures are the answer in these situations, and as emergency standby generators have become more vital to the continuation of business, so too have outdoor generator set enclosures that are properly designed, ventilated, secured, and located.
Once the design team decides to install a generator set outside in an enclosure, the overall cost and ease of installation will depend on the physical location of all elements of the system, including generator set, fuel tanks, and accessories. Several types of enclosures are available, including weather-protective, sound attenuating, and walk-in.
Weather-protective. While all metal enclosures provide weather protection, these basic enclosures only secure the generator set and provide protection from the elements. They do not retain heat or hold temperatures above ambient in cold weather or provide cooling beyond the ventilation and airflow offered by incorporated louvers or perforated panels. Sound attenuation is minimal, and due to their tight fit, access panels or doors are required for maintenance and inspections.
Sound-attenuated, walk-in enclosure outside a bank data center in Belgium.
Walk-in. This term encompasses a wide variety of enclosures that are custom built to a specific application. Walk-in enclosures often include sound attenuation as well as space for power switching and monitoring equipment, lighting, fuel tanks, and other equipment. They can also accommodate insulating and heating capability. Local inspection officials may be treat walk-in enclosures as a building.
Virtually any size generator set can be housed in an outdoor enclosure available from the generator supplier or a wide variety of third-party suppliers. There are several enclosure factors to consider.Site
The location of an outdoor enclosure should be level, well drained, and secure from flooding, fire, icing, and vandalism. For reasons of reliability, the generator set should be located near the main electrical service but not so close that localized problems at the service entrance will interfere with the generator set. For example, a fire at the utility service entrance would be less likely to affect a standby generator set located some distance away. Control panels and connections should have ample clearance for easy access, and the fuel tank should be located so that refueling is convenient. The National Electrical Code (NEC) requires that all outdoor generators include an inside or outside service disconnect, either at the generator or at the point where the generator feeder enters the building. Also, the generator should not be near building openings, combustible materials, or building ventilation inlets.
In multiple-generator applications, spacing between generators is a factor, and enclosures should be oriented so that the heat from one generator is not drawn into others. Sometimes, as a last resort, the only outdoor location for an enclosed generator set may be a rooftop. Provided the roof is properly designed or modified to take the extra weight, this can often be a solution in urban areas. While this location may resolve space limitations, supplying fuel, load bank testing, and maintenance may be more difficult.
A skin-tight generator enclosure with access panels and a residential exhaust silencer at a hospital in Audubon, IA.
Weather Protection
The kind and amount of weather protection is often a matter of geography. In tropical climates, the principal weather challenges are sun, heat, rain, salt spray, windstorms, blowing sand, and lightning. Within 60 miles of the ocean, aluminum enclosures resist corrosion from salt air. In more northern climates, ice storms, heavy snow, and severe cold pose the main threats. Any outdoor generator set enclosure should have a corrosion-resistant finish (often aluminum or painted steel), stainless steel hinges, corrosion-resistant handles and other hardware, and rain shields on cooling air intakes and exhaust. Cooling-air intakes and exhaust may need motorized louvers that open when the generator set is started and close automatically when the generator set is off to protect against precipitation.The outer surfaces of the enclosure can be primed and painted sheet metal--either steel or aluminum. The paint needs to be of a quality and thickness to retain gloss and to resist minor impacts and corrosion due to salt spray, humidity and water in accordance with appropriate ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards.
In areas where ice and snow accumulate, planning for weather includes regular removal of snow and ice around doors, louvers, and dampers. In cold climates, the enclosure may have to be fitted with an electric space heater in addition to having a coolant heater on the generator engine. For NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) life-safety applications, NFPA 110 requires a minimum ambient temperature of 40 degrees F inside the enclosure. Also, diesel fuel may need to be heated to prevent gelling.
In storm-prone areas, an enclosure with added structural strength to withstand high wind loading can be a plus. Outdoor generator enclosures are available with enhanced strength that resists wind speeds of over 150 miles per hour. In earthquake-prone areas, a seismic-certified enclosure may be required. In flood-prone areas, install the generator and enclosure well above the highest expected water level – on an elevated platform or a rooftop, for example.
A walk-in generator enclosure at a major regional hospital in Swindon, England.
Temperature
Generator sets can maintain their rated power output as long as the ambient air temperature flowing into the enclosure does not exceed the cooling system ambient temperature rating and static restriction. If the air exceeds the temperature, the output of the generator will have to be reduced to prevent overheating of the generator set.Cooling requirements for the enclosed generator set can also be affected by site selection. Whenever possible, the enclosure should be in an area where there is free airflow. Locations such as covered parking ramps or other nearby walls or overhangs may restrict cooling airflow or require complex routing of the engine exhaust. Adequate flow-through ventilation keeps temperatures in the optimum operating range. This will allow the generator set to operate at its nameplate rating. The best enclosures incorporate advanced radiator, fan, and louver designs that provide optimal airflow through the enclosure to control engine and generator operating temperatures even in the most severe environments. Keep cooling air intakes and exhausts clear of obstacles.
Vandalism is a common problem that can compromise a standby power system’s reliability. Lockable access points to connections, switches and valves deter unauthorized persons from interfering with system operation. Access to the fuel tank and system controls should also be restricted.
Sound Attenuation
Noise can become a major concern if units are located near property lines or in a crowded urban environment. Most locales have ordinances that set limits on permissible sound levels at the property line. While exhaust silencers can greatly suppress exhaust noise, much of the noise from an enclosed generator set comes from the cooling air fan. This fan noise is harder to control but can be greatly reduced by careful design of the air intake and air exhaust plenums.Sound attenuation depends on many factors, including the sound level produced by the generator engine, the design of the air intake and air exhaust plenums, the type of exhaust silencer and local conditions. Most generator set enclosure providers offer one or more levels of sound attenuation as options.
Additional issues regarding sound attenuation include:
- Critical sound-attenuation remedies will increase the overall footprint, complexity, and cost of an installation.
- Sound-attenuating materials in the walls and ceiling of the enclosure not only trap sound but also heat.
- If sound attenuation is required, specify non-hygroscopic and non-flammable material to prevent moisture build-up inside the enclosure.
- Pay particular attention to noise generated at cooling air intake and exhaust plenums. The design of airflow through the enclosure is critical to minimizing this noise.
Enclosed Rental Power units at a utility peaking site in Australia
Fuel
For increased security and to reduce the footprint of an installation, many generator sets can be ordered with an integrated high-capacity fuel tank. Integrated fuel tanks protect fuel lines and filler connections within the enclosure for better security and provide a very compact installation. Look for tanks that include dual-wall construction, fuel gauges, and provisions for catching fuel leaks, ruptures and overflows. Be sure to allow sufficient clearance around the enclosure to allow fuel trucks to access the enclosure. Consult with local authorities regarding fuel tank codes.Maintenance
In walk-in enclosures, make sure there is sufficient room within the enclosure for easy maintenance access to key generator set components. Skin-tight enclosures should have large access doors and panels. Good interior and exterior lighting can make all maintenance and troubleshooting tasks easier.Specifying the best enclosure for a standby power system is an important task, because it can have an impact on both the short-term operation and long-term reliability of the system. Start with a thorough assessment of power needs, installation location, and environment, and work with the generator set and enclosure supplier to design an installation that fits all your specifications.
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