Common Problems with Industrial Generators Part 1

At Dingbo Electric, we provide accurate and detailed answers to many customers' electrical, engine, and generator related questions, and there are many questions every day, some of which are very common and we often answer them. In order to better inform our customers about some of the hottest topics and issues we encounter, Dingbo Power has decided to list common problems. Over time, we plan to expand this section and add any other common questions. If you have any other questions that you would like to see here, please send an email or submit your suggestions online. Top Power will do its best to answer and adopt them here.

1. What is the difference between kilowatts and kilovolt amperes?

KW (kilowatts) and kVA power factor are the main differences in kilovolt amperes. KW is the unit of active power, and kVA is the unit of apparent power (or active power plus reactive power). Therefore, unless defined and known, the power factor is an approximate value (usually 0.8), and the kVA value will always be higher than the kW value.

Regarding industrial and commercial generators, generators with a frequency of 50Hz are generally used in China, while generators with a frequency of 60Hz are generally used abroad. kW is the most commonly used generator in China, while most other countries in the world usually use kVA as the main value for generator sets.

In addition, the rated power is actually the output power of the generator based on the engine horsepower. Kilowatts are calculated by multiplying the rated horsepower of the engine by 0.746. For example, if you have a 500 horsepower engine with a rated power of 373 kilowatts. Kilovolt ampere (kVA) generator capacity. Generator sets typically display two rated values. Use the following formula to determine the ratio of kW to kVA.

0.8 (pf) x 625 (kVA)=500 kW

What is the power factor?

Power factor (pf) is typically defined as the ratio between kilowatts (kW) and kilovolt amperes (kVA) extracted from an electrical load, as discussed in more detail in the above question. It is determined by the load connected to the generator. The pf on the generator nameplate relates kVA to the rated kW value (see formula above). Generators with higher power factors are more effective in transmitting energy to connected loads, while generators with lower power factors have lower efficiency, resulting in increased electricity costs. The standard power factor for a three-phase generator is 0.8.

Dingbo Power has advanced testing equipment, modern production technology, professional manufacturing technology, perfect quality management system, and strong technical research and development capabilities. It can provide 3KW～2500KW various specifications of ordinary, automatic, four protection, automatic switching, low noise and mobile generator sets, high quality and low energy consumption to meet the diverse power needs of customers, and can also meet users with different voltages and different frequencies. It is required to create a parallel power supply system for multiple units. If you are interested in our product or any question on generator, welcome to send email to sales@dieselgeneratortech.com.