Reason for The Red Light Emitted by The Turbocharger of Generator

Should my generator emit red light?

Turbocharger is the most common problem with diesel generators - should it be a red light when the generator is kept at high load? The answer is yes.

Why does my turbocharger emit red light?

The turbocharger is made of iron. When iron becomes hot, it turns red. This effect is called red heat - you can see the effect of color or iron and red light here. Therefore, when the turbine becomes hot, the manifold will also emit red heat.

The temperature of the exhaust in diesel engines varies with the manufacturer. For Perkins engines, up to 600 degrees is very common, which will result in a black to dark red glow. The temperature may vary across the entire manifold, resulting in different colors.

Will the load change the color of the turbine?

As the engine load increases, the exhaust gas heats up and the turbocharging also heats up. You should carefully pay attention to the rated value of the generator - primary rating (PRP), rated standby power (ESP), continuous rating (COP), or limited time rating (LTP). You should always ensure that the generator operates within its rated limit. For example, if your rated value (PRP) generator is rated, it should operate at an average load of 70%.

How do I check if the turbine temperature is within the expected range?

You should refer to the engine specification sheet of the engine, which will state the maximum turbine temperature under test conditions. This is usually under NTP conditions, at sea level, 27 degrees and 50% humidity. Therefore, if your actual environment is different, you may see temperatures higher than those shown on the specification sheet.

To measure the temperature of the turbine, you need an infrared thermometer calibrated to measure the temperature of the manifold.

Why does my turbocharger become hotter than normal?

Many factors can have an impact on the engine and its temperature. For a given load, the turbocharger may have higher temperatures than expected, which are some common reasons. If you think there is a problem, please check these things.

Lack of cooling air

Most engines require air to remove heat, and engine manufacturers will have the lowest airflow requirements for the engine. If you have an engine in your house, you should ensure that there is sufficient air flow to cool the engine and that the air is maintained at ambient temperature - for example, if the engine's hot air is not allowed to circulate, it transfers the room away from the air intake through sealed pipes.

Use the correct engine oil

The engine oil should have the correct slope and be in good condition. Engine oil is the lifeblood of the engine and should be given priority. Poor quality oil can cause additional friction in the engine and result in higher engine temperatures, leading to higher turbine temperatures.

Reuse the correct coolant

The coolant helps to maintain engine cooling. If the coolant level is low or the engine level is incorrect, poor cooling may be encountered. Note: If you have previously used the wrong coolant level, it may have damaged the radiator or internal blocks, and changing to the correct coolant may not be enough to correct the problem.

Pressure too high after exhaust

Each engine will have the maximum allowable back pressure. Check that the back pressure of the exhaust system does not exceed this limit. The higher the back pressure, the higher the temperature of the manifold/turbine.

The load on the engine is too high

Check the load of the engine. For energy devices, the load fed into the control module through a current transformer is usually measured. CT can discharge 1-5% at a speed of 1-5% (or on truly inexpensive CT), so the actual load may not match the displayed load. If you run the generator in prime numbers, please ensure that the average load meets the requirement of 70% for the first wave. In high altitude and hot conditions, the engine may need to be downgraded. Therefore, the highest level at 2000m and 40 degrees may be significantly lower than the actual rated value.

Dingbo Power was founded in 1974 and is one of the earliest manufacturers of generators and diesel generator sets in China. If you want get more information, please feel free to send email to sales@dieselgeneratortech.com we will pay highly attention on your question.