Advantages and disadvantages of diesel power generator

Diesel power generator have the following advantages.

i.        The construction of diesel power generator is simple.

ii.        The generator can be put on load easily.

iii.        The generator can be started quickly.

iv.        No need of requiring large amount of water for cooling.

v.        The size of diesel engine plant is small compared to the steam plant for the same capacity of generation.

vi.        The maintenance cost of the generator is less.

vii.        The thermal efficiency of diesel generator is high compared to the steam generator.

viii.        There is no standby loss for diesel power generator.

ix.        The generator can be easily located nearer to load center.

Disadvantages

In addition to the above advantages, the diesel generator have the following disadvantages.

i.        Diesel generator do not work satisfactorily for over loads.

ii.        The cost of diesel is high.

iii.        The plant capacity is limited.

iv.        The life of diesel generator is less compared to the steam plant.

In addition to the above disadvantages, the system of generation suffers from the operational and constructional difficulties.

The available water head is less than 30 m, such generator are called low-head water generator. The available water head is between 30 and 100 m, such generator are called medium-head water generator. The available water head is more than 100 m, such generator are called high-head water generator. Hydroelectric generator can be classified as:

i.        Runoff River generator without pondage.

ii.        Runoff River generator with pondage.

iii.        Reservoir generator.