2MW Generator Crank (October 12, 2006)
713,526
Published 2008-01-08
Brand new 2MW Cat 3516 Generator for the main hospital at my former workplace. We had a contractor in doing the FIRST annual PM work on this machine. When he went to start it, we discovered that Cat's design to place the fuel filter on top of the machine mounted horizontally was a bad idea, and there is no way to prime the fuel system. Poorly designed, if you ask me! Just watch...
For anyone concerned, this was the first start on this engine after it's first annual PM. This is NOT the main backup for the hospital, it's a secondary backup to a set of 3x 1.75MW generators in another room, which serve as the main backup for the building. This generator was not even 'on-line' as part of the system yet, as this generator had not yet been commissioned.
All Comments (21)
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Very good batteries and starter motor(s) allright. Amazing to have so much cranking power on such a big engine without flattening batteries or burning out starters.
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The idea is, it will never run out of fuel. There's enough on site to run this (and the three others in another room) for a minimum 72 hours, and there's a contract with a local fuel supplier to keep refueling trucks rolling 24/7 until utility power is restored.
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I love the sound of starters. So sweet.
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That sounds like fun! I really enjoyed the time I spent working up there, I got to see all sorts of interesting things. This was at a major hospital in Portland, OR. This generator is one in a set of 4, for a combined total of 6.5 MegaWatts for one building, and it still doesn't run the whole building, just the emergency branches, which equal about 60% of the building's power.
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I love how someone (not sure if it was you or not) yelled "Come on!" while she was attempting to start, then she just bursts into life and we get to hear that wonderful thunderous roar from the engine. Music to my ears, just with the audio was slightly better, but its better than nothing ;)
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When the generator on the roof of a Western Electric facility in Seattle was tested back in the 1980's, there was an issue. Turns out there was a slight misalignment between the gas-turbine engine and the planetary gears! As the turbine RPM went from about 60% to 75%, the entire building would start to shake, moan and vibrate, like an earthquake! At around 80% or better of operating RPM, it smoothed right out. Spooky. Not a bit of shaking when the RPM went back down. Odd.
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The amount of power in that room when it was running well at the end is something no video could express.
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Gremlins, maybe. More likely tadpoles living in the fuel filter.
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The company that owns these generators doesn't want to spend any more money than they have to. To reconfigure the fuel filter would cost them more money. I'm glad I don't work there anymore. Thank you, BTW, for reading the description! :)
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Those horizontal filters were always a pain to work with. Thank god they re-engineered later versions to have vertical filters.
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What a beautiful sound!! A Cat coming to life, love it!!
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Thank you - finally, someone who was paying attention. I was getting tired of repeating myself. If others would read the description, they too would have also figured that out.
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Nice and neat installation. We used the ladder rack too for organizing the wiring (350 MCM for our gen set) and it really tidys things up. By the way, the guy at the end hovering over the running engine is either deaf, or will be if he doesn't wear some ear protection. These things are LOUD!
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Good batteries
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I was classified as a student Temp, which was great while going to school, but after I was finished, my position and title never officially changed which led me to get the hell out of there. It was an interesting and sometimes exciting job while it lasted! I got to dabble in almost every trade in the Facilities Maintenance department.
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@sniper50cal2 Correct. This is a backup for a trio of 1.75MW gens. If one of those has a problem, this one kicks on, but I think this one was only set up to handle the most critical of emergency branches (this building has 7 of them). I don't exactly remember anymore, as I haven't worked there in over 2 and a half years.
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Then open ET ( caterpillars electronic technician computer software) then you run the "injector solenoid test" about ten times. Then still with the returnvalve closed, start the engine, while monitoring the fuelpressure. Someone MUST be ready to open the returnvalve. Never let the fuelpressure rise above 650KpA. The engine will start. Every time. This is very helpful especially when the fuel injectors have been replaced. And yes. I am a Cat service tech with 11 yrs experience.
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People make mistakes and none of us know it all.CAT is one of the finest engines in the world, bar none.
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Seems like fuel problem of some kind , love the long cranks and the sound of that starter . Glad it started in the end .
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"Fire ya damn thing!", hahaha.
