[57377] in North American Network Operators' Group
Re: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Robert Boyle)
Fri Apr 4 20:49:57 2003
Date: Fri, 04 Apr 2003 20:47:06 -0500
To: nanog@merit.edu
From: Robert Boyle <robert@tellurian.com>
In-Reply-To: <Pine.GSO.4.44.0304041655350.10939-100000@paixhost.pch.net>
Errors-To: owner-nanog-outgoing@merit.edu
At 05:01 PM 4/4/2003 -0800, Bill Woodcock <woody@pch.net> wrote:
> > 4) In larger sizes, Diesel gensets are _cheap_.
>
>The only difference between the diesel and gas genset is the carburetor,
>which is just different, not more expensive.
Not entirely accurate. Since has low volumetric energy density compared to
diesel, NG/Propane gensets are basically de-rated diesel gensets. A 150KW
diesel would be approximately 100KW as a NG and slightly less than that
when running on propane.
There is an interesting research/marketing paper from Onan/Cummings on
current and emerging power generation methods including diesel, ng,
propane, hydrogen, turbines, reciprocating engines, microturbines, and fuel
cells.
http://electrochem.cwru.edu/yeager/ohiofuelcell/Norrick-Cummins.pdf
When I was evaluating gensets for our datacenter, I found a really
interesting unit which uses propane and/or natural gas mixed with the air
to extend the runtime by adding significant BTUs from the gas. However, it
can run directly on diesel alone should the gas supply be interrupted for
some reason. Very neat technology and obvious after the fact, but much more
expensive.
We opted for a standard diesel genset since it is reliable and proven. The
last thing I wanted was unknowns in a energy source I need to depend on
when everything else goes to hell.
-Robert
Tellurian Networks - The Ultimate Internet Connection
http://www.tellurian.com | 888-TELLURIAN | 973-300-9211
"Good will, like a good name, is got by many actions, and lost by one." -
Francis Jeffrey
