What Is the Function of Jacket Water Heater for Diesel Generator?

As the temperature gradually decreases, especially in cold areas at high altitudes, it becomes more difficult to start diesel generators in winter. The temperature inside the engine drops sharply and the oil viscosity increases, which directly affects the starting performance of the diesel engine. To fix this problem, Dingbo Power suggests that users can install a water jacket heater and an engine oil heater.

Diesel generator sets generate power by injecting diesel into the cylinders with high pressure and low temperature compressed air mixed to form a spontaneous combustion of high temperature and high pressure mixture. When the ambient temperature decreases, the temperature of the combustion chamber will also decrease, resulting in a change in the clearance of the diesel engine components, which makes the resistance torque required to start increased.

Furthermore, diesel fuel contains a certain amount of wax, which will be precipitated at low temperatures. This may lead to filter blockage and affect the normal supply of fuel. In this case, the lowest temperature at which the fuel will give trouble-free flow in the fuel system is called the Cold Filter Plugging Point (CFPP). In the cold winter, the viscosity of diesel fuel will increase, the fluidity will be weakened, and there may even be wax formation, which will cause the diesel to fail to flow, making it difficult to start the engine. In addition, when starting the diesel generator, the lubricating oil and coolant may also condense into a solid state due to the low temperature and damage the engine.

A water jacket heater on a diesel generator can maintain the engine coolant at a consistent and optimal temperature and prevent damage such as cracking of the engine block or other components. Typically, the jacket heater keeps the coolant in the engine (the jacket water) warm at around 35 degrees Celsius. It also warms the oil in the engine as well in the crank-case by convection. This help ensuring the lubrication of oil and protecting moving parts from wear and reducing the risk of damage caused by uneven thermal expansion during cold starts. By keeping the engine warm, the heater ensures that the diesel fuel ignites more readily, preventing cold starts that can be challenging due to the higher ignition temperature of diesel compared to gasoline. With the water jacket heater, a diesel generator set can be started at any time and quickly reach full capacity, regardless of cold weather. This process not only reduces mechanical wear, but also ensures the stability of the output power.

It’s wise to install a water jacket heater when your diesel generator is used in cold conditions. The heater can significantly improves the reliability of diesel generators and ensures consistent operation without delays. It can reduce warm-up time and decreasing the amount of fuel consumed during start-up. The heater ensures the reliable start-up of the diesel generator at critical situations.  The heater reduces premature wear of engine components, leading to lower maintenance costs and extending the engine’s overall lifespan.

In a word, a water jacket heater plays an important role in maintaining the operation of diesel generator in cold weather. Don’t hesitate to reach out for any further information or assistance regarding to diesel generators. Contact us at dingbo@dieselgeneratortech.com, and we will gladly help you.