Generators and Invertors

The Small Power Generation Bible

If you have any questions about small power generation then this is the book for you! Whether you want to build it or buy it, this book has all the essential details for assembling a small power plant for full time or emergency use. See Steve convert a Ford Pinto engine into a reliable generator with a homemade propane carburetor and governor. Build an automatic or remote starter, so you don't have to go outside to get your power going in bad weather! Build an engine protection device that turns the generator off in case of low oil pressure or high temperature. Find out how to safely isolate the engine vibration so that you wont crack your concrete slab. Learn how to make your generator as quiet your new car at idle!

Discover how to convert most of the engine's heat into hot water for heating and home or see how Steve uses it to heat his pool!

Learn about transfer switches, 2 pole and 4 pole alternators and how to properly size your generator for reliable operation.

Learn about different fuels such as gas, diesel, propane, bio diesel, used oil, even sewer gas! Know if your fuel tanks will float in case of a flood and how to calculate "Adequate Separation Distance" from buildings, trees and people.

Get all the important details on batteries and battery back up systems. You get essential information on lightening basics.. and more!

This book pushes the limit for the amount of information that you can cram into one book If you have ever thought about generators or had a question about small power plants then you will want this book!

Table of Contents

• INTRODUCTION & PURPOSE (7)
• PART 1: GENERATOR BASICS
  • 1. SAFTEY (9)
  • 2. EFFICIENCY OF ENERGY CONVERSION (14)
  • 3. WIND POWER AND BIO-GAS (15)
  • 4. GENSET TYPES (17)
  • 5. SIZING A GENERATOR (18)
  • 6. MOTOR LOADS AND STARTING (20)
  • 7. AIR-CONDITIONING AND REFRIGERATION (23)
  • 8. TRANSFER SWITCHES & BACK FEEDING (25)
  • 9. PARALLEL OPERATION OF GENERATORS (29)
  • 10. VOLTAGE DROP IN FEEDER LINES (32)
  • 11. MOUNTING YOUR GENERATOR SET (35)
  • 12. BASIC ELECTRICITY (44)
  • 13. GENERATOR SUPPLIERS (52)
• PART 2: BUILDING GENERATOR SETS
  • 14. GENERATOR PROJECT OVERVIEW (59)
  • 15. ENGINE GOVERNORS (64)
  • 16. MAKING A GOVERNOR (68)
  • 17. SPRING WINDING (91)
  • 18. SPRING DESIGN (94)
  • 19. CONVERTING ENGINES TO BI-FUEL OPERATION (100)
  • 20. COMMERCIAL GAS CARBURETORS (101)
  • 21. DESIGNING GASEOUS FUEL CARBURETORS (104)
  • 22. BUILDING GAS CARBURETORS AND ADAPTERS (107)
  • 23. MAKING A GAS VALVE (121)
  • 24. ENGINE FLYWHEELS (123)
  • 25. MAKING FLYWHEELS AND COUPLINGS (128)
  • 26. FLYWHEEL HOUSING (137)
  • 27. MAKING FLYWHEEL HOUSINGS (139)
  • 28. MAKING A REMOTE STARTER (151)
  • 29. HOME-MADE CASTINGS SOLVE PROBLEMS (159)
  • 30. MAKING A WATER-COOLED EXHAUST MANIFOLD (169)
• PART 3: HEAT RECOVERY
  • 31. BASIC DEFINITIONS (176)
  • 32. VOLUMETRIC EFFICIENCY (180)
  • 33. PRINCIPLES OF COMBUSTION (182)
  • 34. OUTLINE OF HEAT EXCHANGER
    • DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION 187
  • 35. SELECTING AN ENGINE (189)
  • 36. ENGINE ANALYSIS (189)
  • 37. THERMODYNAMIC ANALYSIS (191)
  • 38. PROPERTIES OF FUELS – TABLE (197)
  • 39. COOLING SYSTEMS (198)
  • 40. MISCELLANEOUS COOLING SYSTEM TOPICS (214)
  • 41. DESIGNING SHELL AND TUBE HEAT EXCHANGERS (215)
  • 42. STRESSES IN HEAT EXCHANGERS (218)
  • 43. ESTIMATING THE LENGTH OF THE WATER HEATER LOOP (224)
  • 44. BUILDING THE SHELL AND TUBE HEAT EXCHANGER (225)
• PART 4: NOISE ABATEMENT
  • 45. NOISE AND VIBRATION (235)
  • 46. MAKING VIBRATION ISOLATORS (242)
  • 47. PROPERTIES OF SOUND (245)
  • 48. MUFFLERS AND EXHAUST SYSTEMS (261)
• PART 5: FUELS AND FUEL STORAGE
  • 49. CORROSION (270)
  • 50. FUEL TANKS (279)
  • 51. SALVAGED TANKS (297)
  • 52. PROPANE TANK VAPORIZATION CAPACITY (300)
  • 53. PROPERTIES OF FUEL OILS (304)
  • 54. VEGETABLE OILS AND ANIMAL FAT FUELS (311)
  • 55. MAKING AN EXPERIMENTAL BATCH OF BIO-DIESEL (315)
  • 56. OIL FILTRATION AND CLARIFICATION (317)
• PART 6: BATTERY AND INVERTER SYSTEMS
  • 57. BATTERIES (324)
  • 58. INVERTERS (333)
• CONCLUSION (343)
• BIBLIOGRAPHY (345)
• SUPPLIERS (347)
• INDEX (350)