So, a couple of weeks ago, I had to go do some testing at the Met Life Building for one of our clients, Barclays (Financial Firm). One of the rooms that I had to go do testing in was one (1) of their most recent built-out Generator Rooms. So I'm reading the power output for each of these generators (there are 3 in this room alone) on it's nameplate (which shows important information), the Maximum Power Output is 2 Megs, which equals 2,000,000 W. Now, I know that's a big number, but I really couldn't put a finger on just how big this thing is, power wise. Physically... it's huge. It makes the Hummer H1 look small. It is a V-24, quad-turbo, diesel powered engine, not sure how many liters.

So right now I took the time to do some conversions and this is what it equates to in horsepower & torque:

HP = 2,682
TQ = 7,668 (based on 1800 RPM cause that's how they run when they are called to turn on for emergency power)

This is each engine... there's 3 engines in this Gen Room.

Just found it interesting and wanted to share.

Andre

Made a mistake... edited.

 

Damn... sounds like a locomotive.

Love big engines... ever see the Discovery program (maybe TLC or History) when they look at boat engines, so big they have access doors you walk through to maintain the connecting rods...

 

Andre, everything in your life is calling you to go FI

 

It really is amazing. You also have to see the wind storm that it creates within the room when all three are running. Their radiators have to be about 10ft high x 12ft, so you can imagine how big the radiator fans are. They do have fresh air openings into the room, but not nearly enough to make-up for lost air, so as soon as you open those double doors (which takes a good amount of strength to do with all the negative pressure) to enter the room, you get sucked in. And once you're in there, it's constant turbulence from movement of air.

Yeah... I've seen those shows with the boat engines. Each cylinder is like the size of a house... lol. I think we saw the same episode where they were building the boat engine in sweden or switzerland or something like that.

Andre

 

That is so true... lol.

Those turbos sound like those low frequency whistles that people use for dogs except much much louder.

Andre

 

does it have vtec, yes or no?

 

The poor diesel engine can't rev up to 6000 RPM for the VTEC switchover, but with a built bottom end and some head work, the torque would double without a doubt.

Andre

 

So how big is the battery room that holds the equipment over while the generator gets up to speed and commercial power is MIA?

I mean, you lose commercial power and the generator is stone cold, what holds you over until the generator gets going?

 

we have a built in generator in the backyard that runs off the propane tanks for the pool heater. I was servicing it last weekend and found that it was actually a V-twin motor and made 30 horsepower. I think its a 2000watt generator that runs the water/heater in the winter. The difference in power is just insane! I guess the cost of staying in business in case of a blackout pays far more than the cost of installation and maintenance of those hugemungous generators! PICS OR IT NEVER HAPPENED!

 

yes! with the thermal camera