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Assemble
your own high output, ultra-efficient, engine driven, DC Genset using one, or more,
ZENA™ welding power
generators!
- Need portable AC Power? OR,
underhood AC power? 1
KW to over 10 KW!
- Care about fuel economy, operating
cost, noise, reliability, and serviceability in remote areas?
- Need an AC generating system
which is lightweight, and ultra compact?
- Want an AC power generation
system which can be retrofitted to existing motors?
- Want an AC power generator which
does not require precise engine speed control, or constant monitoring?
- Want a low cost AC generator
that produces high quality AC current suitable for delicate electronics?
- Want to do it yourself, and
save a lot?
What
is a DC Genset?
A DC Genset is the ultimate in efficient
engine driven power generating technology.
A basic DC genset consists of:
- one, or more, powerful DC generators
(ZENA modular welding power generators are exceptionally well suited for this),
- a DC voltage regulation/control
system,
- one, or more, DC to AC inverters,
and
- a storage battery bank of appropriate
size.
Gensets can also be augmented with
solar, wind, and hydroelectric power generating components for even greater efficiency.
A DC genset is the perfect high
tech solution to high quality, reliable, and efficient AC power generation.
However, in addition to providing
a fuel efficient source of engine driven AC power, DC gensets can also be multipurpose
devises -- used, for example:
- to produce fully regulated DC charging
current for batteries, or
- to produce a plentiful supply of
fresh water in a marine application, by powering water purification equipment, or
- to pump water for irrigation, or
- to produce hydraulic power -- and/or,
- by adding a few more components
from the ZENA mobile welding system product line, you can even use your genset as
a commercial duty DC welder!
Comparing
DC Gensets to Traditional AC Generators:
- A DC genset will typically be
much lighter and smaller than a traditional engine driven AC power generator.
All components in a traditional
AC generator must be physically large enough to handle both continuous and
high short term startup loads (which can often be as much as twice the continuous
load). Likewise, its engine must be powerful enough to drive the generator when supplying
such loads.
However, a DC genset can use a smaller
generator, and a smaller (and quieter) engine to supply the same electrical load.
In a DC genset, both the engine, and the generator, are sized to efficiently meet
the average continuous load for a given system -- simply drawing on reserve battery
power whenever it's necessary to handle a large short term load. And, since precise
engine speed control is not critical to system operation, engine speed can be varied
and/or regulated, inexpensively, to save fuel -- and, to reduce engine noise when
light power loads are supplied.
- Precise engine speed control
is not required.
To provide 50 or 60 Hz AC power,
a traditional AC generator must be operated at a precise speed -- and, it must operate
at this speed continuously -- regardless the load which is being driven. And, because
engine speed control is of such critical importance in an AC generator, a great deal
of extra expense is typically required for proper engine controls.
However, a DC genset does not need
to run at any particular engine speed to provide a perfect 50 or 60 Hz AC current.
And, since precise engine speed control is not critical to system operation, engine
speed can even be varied and/or regulated, inexpensively (call us for information
on stock and custom hardware options for engine speed control), to save fuel
and to reduce engine noise when light power loads are encountered.
- DC Gensets Offer Lower Fuel
Consumption than Conventional Generators
With a DC genset, engine speed and/or
drive power can be adjusted and/or varied (automatically or manually) to efficiently
produce the exact amount of energy required by a given load/application. With conventional
AC generators, engine operation at speed is continuous, and power is also generated
more, or less, continually -- whether or not this power is required by the system
load (or used for any other purpose).
- DC Gensets Provide Superior
Reliability
A DC genset is, typically, much
simpler and smaller than a conventional AC generator and, moreover, has fewer, and
less technologically critical components.
- A DC Genset Can Multitask
In addition to generating electricity,
the drive motor of a DC genset can be used to perform other tasks concurrently.
For example, liquid pumping (including
hydraulic power), air compression, compression of heating and cooling gases, water
filtering/processing, water heating, etc. are all possible alternate uses for such
generating hardware.
- DC to AC Inverters Produce AC
Power Efficiently
AC inverters, thanks to many technological
advances, can operate at well over 95% efficiency -- while providing power in a technically
superior form -- when compared to that provided by typical low to medium cost, engine
driven, AC power generation equipment.
With sufficient battery storage
capacity, a charging/power supply system does not need to operate continuously and
the inverter can silently, and instantly, deliver power to AC load devices as they
are required. Even cycling its charging system "ON" when battery power
is low.
Call Us to Discuss Your DC Genset Application
At ZENA, Incorporated, we have a lot of expertise in adapting our power generating
equipment to other specialized (and often nonstandard) DC power applications other
than welding.
Call our sales department (615-897-2011) -- we will be happy to work with you
on your system design.
ZENA™
is a trademark owned by ZENA, Inc. for its welding systems and related products.
US
& Foreign Patents Pending
©
Copyright 2000-2004 by ZENA, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
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