A data center generator may run for only a few hours a year, but on the day the grid fails it has to start, take the load and keep going for as long as the fuel lasts. Much of that is decided by the package around the engine: where the fuel comes from and in what condition, how the air gets in and out, how the exhaust leaves, and how loud the whole installation is at the fence.
AXON supplies those parts as one package around the generator sets chosen for the project, from a single containerised unit to multi-unit installations.
Fuel that is still good when it is needed
Diesel that stands for years in a standby tank collects water, and microbial growth and sludge follow. A fuel polishing system circulates and filters the tank contents while the generators are at rest, so the engines start on clean fuel.
Belly tanks under the sets and day tanks close to the engines are sized for the autonomy the operator specifies, with level, leak and overflow monitoring connected to the controls.
Emissions and noise next to the building
Data centers are often close to offices and homes, and permits for backup generators more and more often set NOx and noise limits. An SCR system in the exhaust reduces NOx with a urea solution; exhaust silencers, attenuated air openings and the acoustic enclosure bring the sound level down to the figure in the permit.
Testing before handover, and every year after
Few operators want to commission a generator on the live IT load. A load bank lets the set run at a defined load for as long as the test needs, so cooling, voltage regulation and fuel supply are proven before handover and at each periodic test.
What AXON supplies for data centers
- Containers and acoustic enclosures for the generator sets
- Belly tanks, day tanks and fuel polishing systems
- Exhaust gas systems with SCR, and exhaust silencers
- Air inlet and outlet silencers
- Auxiliary MCC cabinets and circuit breaker panels
- Resistive and resistive/reactive load banks
- Remote radiators from TECS Engineering, our group company
What to send with an enquiry
- Number of generator sets, their make, model and rating
- Required fuel autonomy and where the bulk fuel is stored
- NOx limit and the noise limit with the point where it is measured
- Site ambient temperature and altitude
- Electrical scheme: voltage, auxiliary loads, connection to BMS or SCADA
- How the sets will be tested: load bank on site or built into the package
Questions we are often asked
Which generator sets can AXON work with?
Diesel and gas sets from independent makers. The set is chosen for the project, and we build the package around it.
Can the package meet NOx limits for backup generators?
Where the permit requires it, the exhaust system includes SCR. The required limit and the raw emissions of the engine decide the design, so send both.
Is a load bank needed if the site already has a real load?
Most operators prefer not to test on the live IT load. A load bank lets the generator run at full load without any risk to the facility.
Can fuel polishing be added to an existing installation?
Yes. Polishing systems are modular and can be connected to new or existing tanks.