Abstract
Diesel generators (DGs) are set to work as a backup during power outages or support the load in remote areas not connected to the national grid. These DGs are working at a constant speed to produce reliable AC power, while electrical energy demand fluctuates according to instantaneous needs. High electric loads occur only for a few hours a day in remote areas, resulting in oversizing DGs. During a low load operation, DGs face poor fuel efficiency and condensation of fuel residues on the walls of engine cylinders that increase friction and premature wear. One solution to increase combustion efficiency at low electric loads is to reduce diesel engine (DE) speed to its ideal regime according to the mechanical torque required by the electrical generator. Therefore, Variable Speed Diesel Generators (VSDGs) allow the operation of the diesel engine at an optimal speed according to the electrical load but require additional electrical equipment and control to maintain the power output to electrical standards. Variable speed technology has shown a significant reduction of up to 40% fuel consumption, resulting in low GHG emissions and operating costs compared to a conventional diesel generator. This technology also eliminates engine idle time during a low load regime to have a longer engine lifetime. The main objective of this survey paper is to present the state of the art of the VSDG technologies and compare their performance in terms of fuel savings, increased engine lifetime, and reduced greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. Various concepts and the latest VSDG technologies have been evaluated in this paper based on their performance appraisal and degree of innovation.
Highlights
Despite all improvements in renewable energy technologies, numerous remote sites and applications are still dependent on Diesel generators (DGs) and fossil fuels to produce electricity
DGs are widely used as a backup in countries with a high frequency of electric shortage both for residential and commercial sectors, and as a primary source of energy production in some power plants
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO) are two hazardous and destructive gases produced during incomplete diesel combustion, among other particulate emissions [2,3]
Summary
Despite all improvements in renewable energy technologies, numerous remote sites and applications are still dependent on DGs and fossil fuels to produce electricity. DGs are widely used as a backup in countries with a high frequency of electric shortage both for residential and commercial sectors, and as a primary source of energy production in some power plants. It is possible to reduce the NOx species from the diesel chamber during the combustion process using a Energies 2022, 15, 592 pre-combustion method in a very early stage of ignition [4]. These technologies pre-combustion in a very early stage ofenvironmental ignition [4]. Fuel quality and economy play an important role indifferent diesel load regimes
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