How To Prevent Condensation Forming in Generator So That It Can Work Properly

Posted by Marisa Tara on October 18th, 2021

Calling a generator service professional can be a good option for those who don\\\'t want to worry about timely maintenance of their equipment, especially if condensation on the generator is a problem.

Since the generator service company will take care of this maintenance, you can save time and put extra effort into doing other important jobs.

However, it is never a waste of time to understand some of the processes and problems that can occur. That\\\'s why we\\\'ll explain what condensation in a generator is, what can cause it, and how to avoid it.

What Is Condensation In A Generator?

Condensation is essentially the formation of water that can occur in a generator. It reduces the efficiency of the unit and can shorten its lifetime, requiring the generator to be replaced earlier than expected.

How Does This Process Work?

Before we can understand how this process works, we need to understand other important concepts: relative humidity, specific humidity, and dew point.

Condensation is simply a change in the state of water, i.e. the change of water from a gaseous state to a liquid state. The dew point is the point (technically temperature) at which this change occurs. It depends entirely on the external pressure and the ambient temperature.

Specific humidity: the mass of vapor in a room relative to the total mass of air in the room. This means that air can carry different amounts of water vapor depending on temperature and pressure, so the warmer the air, the higher the pressure and the greater the water vapor carrying capacity.

Relative humidity: Unlike specific humidity, relative humidity is the maximum amount that air can hold divided by the amount of water vapor, and it is this amount that stabilizes pressure and temperature. In other words, the condensation point is reached when the relative humidity is 100%.

Consequences Of Condensation 

Now that we have a better understanding of how the condensation process works in generators, what the relative humidity is and what the specific humidity is, it is important to discuss some of the consequences that this process can have.

Generators are made up of different chemical elements that are in the fuel system. Therefore, some external factors can interfere with the proper functioning of the generator and even shorten its lifetime.

External factors such as temperature and humidity at the generator installation site can lead to the formation of mold and bacteria.

If this condensation is not stopped by a separating filter and the tank is not constantly filled, these molds and bacteria can eventually form a \\\"sludge\\\" which can clog and damage the machine\\\'s strainers, filters, and spraying system.

Other factors that can affect the timely operation and maintenance of the generator include.

• Temperatures are too high
• Temperatures too low
• Pressure changes
• Offshore installation

How Can I Reduce Or Prevent Condensation In The Generator?

As we have already explained, keeping the fuel tank full, installing separate filters to prevent mold and bacteria, draining water, and recycling diesel fuel are some options to keep equipment in good working order.

However, cold temperatures or high humidity can affect the condition and quality of the generator.

The heating element keeps the air temperature high enough to prevent corrosion of the machine. If the generator is shut down for long periods of time or if it is located near the sea, the heater is even more important and necessary.

Remember that regular maintenance and cleaning of the unit is important to identify problems before they start to damage the generator.

Allowing a professional generator service company may be an easier solution.

Taking care of the equipment and preventing moisture from condensing on the generator can be very tedious and also requires some technical knowledge. And that\\\'s not all: the process can be expensive.

That said, a much simpler and advantageous strategy is to hire a professional since this eliminates the need to worry about condensation or other problems that may appear. After all, the company will be responsible for performing the maintenance of the equipment and you will not need to worry.