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Power Insider – Feb 2018

February 2018 Articles:


Saving on the Power Investment: Why the Natural Gas Equation Makes Cents

Adapted from Generac Industrial Power

The key to making a smart investment in a facility’s backup power solution is to consider both the short- and long-term financial impact. More options exist today than ever before, particularly within the spectrum of how backup power is created and used within a facility.

With many recent technical reports that support the reliability of the natural gas infrastructure, it’s important to diligently evaluate natural gas-fueled backup power. Using diesel generators has long been the de facto choice for backup power among consulting-specifying engineers, but tides are starting to turn. A number of factors – new and old – play into a facility’s critical need, as well as preference, for these backup power solutions.

Guy LeMonnier, Wolverine Power Systems Senior Level Sales Engineer, points out that Michigan has an environment that favors the use of natural gas systems. “The lack of natural disasters makes Michigan one of the safest states in the nation for the distribution and reliance on natural gas. Michigan is geographically shielded from direct impacts of hurricanes, away from common epicenters of earthquakes, and is outside of the of the area known as “Tornado Alley”.

How Natural Gas Looks Smart
Natural gas is a smart fuel choice for three primary reasons: environmental stewardship, longer running times and increased reliability. Because it’s a fuel supplied by a public utility, refilling fuel tanks is not an issue. And while natural gas­-fueled engines eliminate the burden of fuel containment, spillage and other environmental concerns associated with fuel storage, they produce significantly fewer emissions into the facility’s airspace. Lastly, with natural gas, there’s no ongoing fuel maintenance required. Unlike diesel, natural gas will not degrade and its supply will continue to flow almost indefinitely.

Paramount to making natural gas­-powered generators work as a smart investment is employing the use of paralleling technology. With solutions like the Generac Modular Power System (MPS), further steps are taken to integrate the power generation system in a way that increases power capacity while adding the benefit of redundancy and easing the degree of system maintenance.

A Long-Term Investment Strategy That Pays Off in the Short Term
From a pure investment standpoint, traditional paralleling solutions can be complex – with pricey third­party switchgear and other electrical systems adding additional layers of costs. Through its innovative MPS solution, however, Generac provides integrated paralleling, thereby significantly simplifying the entire system.

An MPS solution manages cost in several ways verses a traditional larger single genset or paralleling system. The ability to expand your MPS solution can mean a significant reduction in your initial capital investment. There is no need to install more power than you currently need. Simply add more modules as your business grows and power requirements increase.

Multiple generators also provide flexibility during service operations. With multiple generators available for use, a unit can be taken out of service for repair and scheduled maintenance without creating a complete loss of the facility’s standby power. The units that remaining in­service can still serve critical site loads should there be a need. The capital cost to replace a smaller generator unit is a fraction of the large, single generator expense.

Additionally, the simple and integrated design of a Generac MPS solution can also decrease installation time while adding more savings. The lighter weight of the MPS gensets makes them easier to transport and move around which makes them easier to place on job sites. Not surprisingly, this requires smaller, less expensive lifting equipment.

The Savings Add Up
While there may be the added capital expense cost of the multiple natural gas generators and installation verses a single diesel unit, a more significant value is created over a 25­year product lifetime, where even two 150 kW natural gas units compared with a single 300 kW diesel unit will contribute to an almost 20 percent lower total cost of ownership. The cost savings are primarily derived from the fuel, as diesel fuel, refueling, storage and maintenance add to annual operation costs.

The economics supporting natural gas also improve as runtime increases, which is to say that should any power outage last longer than a diesel tank’s supply, there’s a clear financial advantage that tilts in favor of a natural gas ­based system.

At an initial cost per kilowatt, diesel and natural gas units are comparable up through the 150 kW nodes. Natural gas gensets get more expensive with larger engine sizes. But, smart system owners will need to look beyond initial costs when making a decision. Several of those decision factors include:

  • Fuel pricing (per gallon or per thermal unit, plus delivery and maintenance)
  • Storage and runtime (48­hour tanks versus unlimited natural gas runtime)
  • Annual load bank testing and fuel polishing (assuming low annual runtime)

Looking Beyond the Hard Cost
As is with any investment, it’s not always about the hard costs. It takes a 360­degree perspective to see how soft costs might impact the backup power investment. There’s a strong social benefit to reduced emissions using natural gas. There’s also the consideration for technical competency in terms of the end user as well as how the preventative maintenance team will execute a diesel fuel maintenance policy.

Email us for more information or call 800-485-8068


Wolverine Power Systems, Committed to Service 24/7

Generator service in Michigan by Wolverine Power Systems

Wolverine Power Systems is constantly raising the bar in terms of service and support for all makes and models of generators. We recently added five new factory-trained and certified technicians as well as three customer support team members. This allows us to cover the entire state of Michigan with 24/7 emergency support!

Dave B., Service Manager at Wolverine Power Systems says this about the importance of factory certified technicians, “The emergency generator systems are designed to protect your property and even the lives of those on site. After an emergency generator system is installed, it must be maintained to ensure it meets both the manufacturers requirements, and any local regulatory codes. The individual or company who services this equipment is largely responsible for how well it functions. Therefore, it is important that the technicians servicing your equipment have been factory trained with a proven proficiency with emergency generator systems. When power outage occurs, multiple electro and mechanical devices are put into motion simultaneously; a properly factory trained generator technician possesses the specific knowledge necessary to test these various functions and uncover any potential deficiencies that could prevent the system from functioning as designed. All Wolverine Power Systems technicians are factory trained and are available for our customers 24/7/365.”

Contact our central dispatch whenever you need us. We’re there to answer your call during business hours, or for an after-hours emergency, we’ll promptly return your call, usually in under 15 minutes. With offices and technicians strategically located throughout Michigan, we’re typically able to reach your site in Michigan within two hours, and often in an hour or less. Each technician’s service truck is fully stocked with parts, GPS, laptop and all the equipment necessary to perform testing, maintenance, repair, and other services such as fuel tank integrity analysis, and diesel fuel filtration and reconditioning. We also offer a unique remote monitoring system designed to allow off-site diagnosis and, in some cases, resolution of an issue by means of direct serial connection, phone line, or Ethernet connection.

In addition, our growing rental fleet provides additional backup power options or solutions when power is needed the most. These units are great for emergency weather situations or if you need temporary power for an event.

From large industrial diesel to residential natural gas and propane units, we service it all! For added dependability we recommend enrolling in one of our “Scheduled Maintenance Programs”. There are several options to choose from, or we can customize plan that works just for your needs. Our maintenance programs include complete inspections, fluid changes and testing. It’s a great way to find and correct minor problems before they turn into major issues.

Additional maintenance services we provide include:

  • Generator Load Bank Testing – Generators should undergo a load bank test annually to verify the system will perform under load and assure the generator is ready when you need it most. This also helps to avoid wet-stacking and clean out carbon deposits. Our testing meets NFPA 110 and JCAHO accreditation requirements.
  • Fuel Polishing – improper fuel maintenance can lead to tank sludge buildup and eventually clog a diesel fuel system. Severe damage or ruined equipment can result. We recommend fuel polishing be done regularly on diesel fuel stored for an extended period. Our specially trained technicians will test the fuel to ensure the best polishing process to treat fuel and filter out debris down to 1 micron.
  • Transfer Switch Scheduled Maintenance – A transfer switch maintenance program should include periodic testing, tightening of connections, inspection for evidence of overheating and excessive contact erosion, removal of dust and dirt, and replacement of contacts when required.

Trust our expertise when it comes to servicing your power equipment, from emergency repairs to general service and parts to maintenance  – our team is ready to serve!

Email us for more information or call 800-485-8068


A Growing Generator Rental Fleet!

Michigan Generator Rental at Wolverine Power Systems

Wolverine Power Systems is continuously adding new units to our dependable fleet of rental generators. These units are ideally suited for work sites, events or in emergencies. Our flexible options include small portables, to trailer mounted (towable), to large industrial units for any situation including:

  • Industrial, commercial
  • Prime or standby

Rental units are available in affordable short-term or long-term options, daily, weekly or monthly. We also rent light towers and pumps. Call 800.485.8068.