Micro CoGen.

I know soundproofing diesel generators has been bounced around a bit before and I've already learned quite a bit from this forum. I have three "Changfa style" single cylinder water-cooled generators that I want to use in different settings. One will be for emergency power, mounted on a small trailer. Another may end up in a cube van for work. And the other... probably at my shop where I run my small business off the grid.

I understand most of the sound from a diesel is mechanical rather than just the exhaust. Mounted on a trailer, shouldn't that help a lot of the lower level thump sounds? Beyond that, I'm thinking of a plywood box, caulked seams plus some sort of sound deadening material. I can't afford the high end stuff so I'm looking for cheaper alternatives such as "brown board" used for house sheathing. What about leaving a space between the brown board and the exterior wall?

Products like Lizardskin are good for stopping metal to metal sound. I understand that wouldn't do much good. But what about heavy mass material like Dynamat. Again, it isn't attached to a metal floor or body... would it do that much good?

Creative ideas?

My plan is to do sound level readings before, during and after the project, seeing how each treatment cuts a bit more of the sound. Of course, I'll report back as I go.

Arkansas has nice net-metering rules. Essentially, any electricity generated by renewable resources can be fed back into the grid at a 1:1 rate. Not avoided cost. KWH out, kwh in. We can generate a credit from month to month. Renewable energy includes biomass and biofuels. I currently run my company off-grid and am working on cogen for process heat. Most of my electricity comes from a diesel generator running on veg-oil based fuels (biodiesel and others). I have also been working with biomass gasification for the past six years.

I want to install a generator at the house, running on used cooking oil and/or biomass gasification. My plan is to run it during the winter, generating more power than needed and creating a credit with the power company. I'll also capture the exhaust and coolant heat for home heat. I also have some solar hot water panels as well. What are some options for connecting to the grid at 7kw to 12kw? Use a rectifier to convert it to DC and then come back through an inverter/controller for grid quality power? Ideally, I want to be able to have power during outages as well.

Any suggestions on the grid intertie options?

I have three Changfa clone Chinese water cooled diesel gensets but have always wanted a slow-revving Lister. Found a two cylinder air cooled that came out of the oil field. Runs good.

Is an air-cooled Lister still a good idea for long term running? Any feel for what size generator it would push? I'd like to get something down in the 850 to 1200rpm range. Slow revving, run it forever.

Any feel for what it's worth? The guy said he wanted $875 but that was his starting point.

A few months ago I asked about adding a "real" oil filter to my Changfa copy engines. Y'all told me about splicing into the oil line that feeds the head. Sounds simple enough... but where do I return the oil after it goes through the filter? One member said to drill and tap a port but where do you suggest adding it?

Also, I don't want to starve the head for oil. Should I add a metering valve to restrict the flow to the filter so as to keep most of it going to the head?

By the way, I'm going to start a sound-deadening project soon. I'll keep y'all posted.

Todd

How can I add a standard automotive spin-on oil filter to a Changfa style clone? Also, anyone have a source for the adapter plate for a remote mount radiator? George at Utterpower doesn't offer them for sale anymore.

Hi, I've had a Changfa style S1100/12kw for a couple of years but am just starting to incorporate it into my day to day operations. I also picked up a S195/8kw recently that I'll either use at the shop or at the house as emergency power.

For the past three years, I've run my entire small business off the grid using a diesel generator on biodiesel. Currently, I use a 6kw light plant that has a 3 cyl Mitsubishi engine (just under 1 liter in displacement). It's fairly quiet and economical. Now, I want to run the 12kw Chinese diesel and must do something to silence it.

I have a small chemical company (industrial specialty cleaning) and want to do some cogeneration for process heat. Here are some of my plans. I invite any tips and suggestions y'all might share.

Sound deadening: A friend is going to loan me an industrial sound level meter. My plan is to fab a doghouse to go over the generator, adding layers of silencing and testing the loudness at each step. These include:
Automotive exhaust (will check exhaust back pressure to make sure I don't add any more, goal 1.5psi to 3psi max)
Run exhaust through water drum to capture heat
New air breather with larger pleated air filter

Quiet Doghouse:
-plywood box, 3/4"
-add dense foamboard house insulation
-add space between foamboard and plywood to create dead airspace
-coat interior of plywood with industrial undercoating material, keeping dead airspace
-apply indoor/outdoor carpet to interior surface of foam board

The exhaust and coolant will be located outside the doghouse.

I have run heated WVO/biodiesel in my Ford F-250 for over 200,000 miles (over 7 years). I plan on putting together a two tank system for the generator: start on diesel/biodiesel and switch over to heated WVO once up to temp.

Beyond the chemical business (all biodegradable, mostly using sustainable ingredients) I do a lot of biomass work. I have done biomass gasification and am working on ethanol and methane now. Someday I may fuel the diesel generator with woodgas, keeping at least 15% liquid fuel in the mix.

Tips? Suggestions? Warnings? Thanks in advance for any brainstorming y'all might be able to add.

Todd

Years ago, George at Utterpower used to sell a plate to go onto the engine with a thermostat and supply/return ports for the coolant. It also had a port for a thermometer. I read on his site that he doesn't offer those anymore. Anybody know another source for a "radiator delete" plate?

I have an S195/8kw and an S1100/12kw. Preparing for cogen on both the exhaust and coolant heat.

Thanks in advance,

Todd