nanog mailing list archives
Re: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator
From: Robert Boyle <robert () tellurian com>
Date: Fri, 04 Apr 2003 20:47:06 -0500
At 05:01 PM 4/4/2003 -0800, Bill Woodcock <woody () pch net> wrote:
> 4) In larger sizes, Diesel gensets are _cheap_. The only difference between the diesel and gas genset is the carburetor, which is just different, not more expensive.
Not entirely accurate. Since has low volumetric energy density compared to diesel, NG/Propane gensets are basically de-rated diesel gensets. A 150KW diesel would be approximately 100KW as a NG and slightly less than that when running on propane.
There is an interesting research/marketing paper from Onan/Cummings on current and emerging power generation methods including diesel, ng, propane, hydrogen, turbines, reciprocating engines, microturbines, and fuel cells.
http://electrochem.cwru.edu/yeager/ohiofuelcell/Norrick-Cummins.pdfWhen I was evaluating gensets for our datacenter, I found a really interesting unit which uses propane and/or natural gas mixed with the air to extend the runtime by adding significant BTUs from the gas. However, it can run directly on diesel alone should the gas supply be interrupted for some reason. Very neat technology and obvious after the fact, but much more expensive.
We opted for a standard diesel genset since it is reliable and proven. The last thing I wanted was unknowns in a energy source I need to depend on when everything else goes to hell.
-Robert Tellurian Networks - The Ultimate Internet Connection http://www.tellurian.com | 888-TELLURIAN | 973-300-9211"Good will, like a good name, is got by many actions, and lost by one." - Francis Jeffrey
Current thread:
- Re: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator, (continued)
- Re: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator Alex Rubenstein (Apr 02)
- Re: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator Dan Armstrong (Apr 02)
- Re: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator David Lesher (Apr 04)
- Re: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator Bill Woodcock (Apr 04)
- RE: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator Matthew Kaufman (Apr 04)
- RE: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator Bill Woodcock (Apr 04)
- RE: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator Matthew Kaufman (Apr 04)
- RE: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator Bill Woodcock (Apr 04)
- Re: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator Leo Bicknell (Apr 04)
- Re: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator Bill Woodcock (Apr 04)
- Re: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator Robert Boyle (Apr 04)
- Re: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator Bill Woodcock (Apr 04)
- Re: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator Robert Boyle (Apr 04)
- Re: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator Alex Rubenstein (Apr 02)
- Re: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator Timo Janhunen (Apr 04)
- Re[2]: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator Richard Welty (Apr 04)
- Re: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator Stephen Sprunk (Apr 04)
- Re: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator Daniel Senie (Apr 04)
- Re: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator Bill Woodcock (Apr 04)
- Re: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator David Lesher (Apr 04)
- Re: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator David Lesher (Apr 04)
- Re: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator Brian Wallingford (Apr 04)