Diesel Generator 5,000 KW, 6,500 surge "All Power"

OK, I know this generator isn't the best (China), but that's not the question.

It has a fuel shut off that is almost impossible to reach.

It's fuel injected, it's diesel... does it need a fuel shutoff?

I cycle it monthly, no problems so far.

 

More important would be a valve/shutoff on the tank vent to essentially seal the tank when the engine is not running so that temperature and ambient air pressure variations don't cycle air in and out of the tank with occasional condensation forming in the tank. This happens when real cool weather is followed by warm humid air and the air's moisture condenses on cool surfaces, including the diesel fuel in the tank. Water then sinks and won't evaporate resulting in water accumulation. This then causes issues. A diesel shut off valve generally does not need to be closed between operations for the engine's sake. Its there mostly to facilitate changing fuel filters or draining water from separators and not having fuel run all over the place if a line failed while dormant. Keeping the fuel good and dry is first and foremost important.

AT

 

Yeah I was thinking about the water fuel separators like on my tractors, anybody got a number for a small one?

 

Air Time got it . I leave my diesels with the fuel valves on and (I MARK THEM for Off &ON directions) .I use magnets with a bright red flagging tape to stick on the machine when they are in storage more to remind me to check the oil level / fuel & remove air intake & exhaust oiled plug to stop moisture getting in & for the fuel cap , I grease the sealing / thread area well put the cap in a zip-lock baggie install the cap slowly and the suck out all air in baggie & seal .
I haven't started the snowblower in 3 years, just needs all plug's pulled & fuel added , a few others are also waiting with red tags on them .
My gas machines get new auto trany oil & diesel fuel in there tanks while they wait. I can drain them & add gas & off they go after years of sitting. Some of my logging gear is used and then will sit for years till it's time to work again. I fill the chippers & skidders with used ATF & diesel & then plug all ports , HYD vent also ..
Hour meters installed on all machines ,hrs on filters when changed .
This keeps the moisture down , I live in a rain forest .
Sloth

How small is the machine ? or how big of area do you have to install one ?

 

1 cylinder diesel, 5,000 KW, so not much space, something smaller than my MF30 tractor, not sure, maybe 3" from end to end on a 1/4" hose line, maybe 2" deep, I'm not even sure something exists...

 

I haven't seen one as such , as small . I use a small Racor on my yota 3B & kubotas have a small one that's 5" tall is my smallest.
If you find one , PLZ pm me the info , Id buy a few. I did see some small units when in China & India .

Sloth

 

Air shut off valves are generally needed as safety device on diesels that operate in natural gas fields, oil fields, refineries or similar environments where there is a good probability of hydrocarbons being plentiful in the air. Having been in the diesel engine design world, specifically for the fuel system, controls and diagnostics, we never ran into a need for air shut off valves outside of operation in environments where hydrocarbons may be abundant in the air. Engine oil is not a concern. Unless equipped with an oil field air shutoff option, you will not find one on a Cummins engine for that purpose. Some models do have air throttle valves to assist in creating the right fractions of fresh air and exhaust gas recirculation and those can double as an air shut off valve, but if the combustion/emission strategy didn't need it for EGR control, it would not be there.... but YMMV.

AT

 

Don't know how we got into run-a-ways diesels , but I plug the in & out and seal up the engines when they can sit for a year 2-five +.
The fuel shut off valves are in off for long storage but the diesel is still in the lines , Gas engines are drained & a mixture of NEW ATF & DIESEL is in the line & carb float , same as a rag in is soaked in this & stuffed in the intake of the carb behind the air filter & exhaust hole . Im talking Looooong term ..

Fuel & water separators is what I thought AZ was asking & AT answered the petcock question.
Here is the type I saw when working in China : 0000900212,OE 0000900212 Other fuel water separator for OE

Sloth

Edit : AZ your not turning off the fuel & letting the diesel run out / off ?
This is not a good practice , the fuel pumps like to have diesel fuel for lube & lack of air . Air in the system causes problems & corrosion.
Best is the use the method that is installed on the engine for shut down & if needed then turn off the fuel petcock .
On Gas carb engines , yes I run them out so Im not leaving fuel in the float chamber ,but for fuel injected gas ,NO i don't run them out . If I do store a fuel injected engine , I add ATF into the fuel that it will shut off with , keeping a heavy oiled fuel in there till next start.None of my engines have catalytic converters or HO2S on them ..
OIL & catalytic converters or HO2S don't play together very long.
Sloth

 

Battery Disconnect Switch
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/...b33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_12541.jpg

These are used for the batterys . I have had my chipper battery in from 1993 & it still starts the engine. After a day of use the key is removed & the battery switch is opened & key left beside it.

 

No I'm not turning off the fuel and letting run till it stops, just wanting to know what happens if after it stops, and it stops 2 different ways, 1 I think is a key operated electrical solenoid on the injector, and 2 is a lever on the side of the engine (I don't know what it does), I don't see any way that is controlling the air input... Just wondering what good it does if you turn it off using the key, then why do you need to shut off the fuel supply?

 

You are correct, We had these in the Gulf on every diesel engine, Periodically we tested the ESD device for the Government boys,
It had to work, By that I mean it had to kill the engine and not just slow it down, Most are manually operated, This was a major problem on the Deep Water Horizon, When the natural gas hit the air intakes the generators ran away, More than likely this was the primary ignition source.

 

We actually had 2-V-12 71's with Impco carburetor's mounted on the blowers, We were running an estimated 70/30 fuel mix
70% diesel 30% natural gas, It worked.

 

Yeah I'm thinking that it may float the valves, I think my RD-6 works that way, because on it you flip one lever and compression starts then you flip the other lever to feed fuel. I'll work on the make and model, I think it was Northern Tool from China.

 

(12V71's In duel fuel ) Is for the post above ^^^^^^^^^^^^
also seen 16V149 in straight NG fuel with spark plugs installed rather than injectors .
Starts on NG then changes over to methane (Poo fuel )

Sloth