3.3 Room design
In order to start to consider the possible layouts for the room, the follow criteria
must be determined:
1) Room should have one or two entrances. The one size should make
allowance for the delivery and installation of the equipment, and afterwards for
servicing and maintenance of the equipment.
2) The room should be well ventilated. Openings for air inlet and outlet should
be large enough to ensure free entrance and exit of air in the room. As a rough
guide, the air inlet to the room should be as large or larger than the sides of the
generator (see "air inlet" in the graphs).
In open generators the air outlet duct will be 1.5 times larger than the radiator
size. In silent generators the air outlet duct will be at least the same size of
the air outlet grid of the generator, preferably increasing the size of the duct
progressively towards the exit (see "cooling outlet" in graphics).
It is very important to provide adequate ventilation to keep the engine and
alternator cooled. An adequate air flow requires the air to be vacuumed by the
end of the alternator, pass over the engine, continue through the radiator and
finally, due to the radiator fan strength, it is expelled outside the room through
the outlet duct.
Exhaust gases will be led out through a pipe, trying to cut the most of the
length, completely minimizing the use of curves and providing them with the
best possible radius. The exhaust gases outlet pipe is suspended by some
type of bracket, not directly welded to the exhaust of the generator. Binding is
done through a flexible joining sleeve of high temperature.
3) The room must maintain a high ventilation level to prevent gas from building
up, it may be necessary to have other windows available to ensure air
exchange. Do not install the generator in a poorly ventilated area where
exhaust gases may accumulate or can be drawn into a occupied building.
4) Room dimension should allow for good maintenance/escape access around
the generator: at least 1 meter around the set and at least 2 meters headroom
above the set.
5) Room must be equipped with fully charged BC and ABC fire extinguishers.
6) Protection from exposure to airborne contaminants such as abrasive or
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