Fuel Efficiency of 3.5 kVA Diesel Generators: How Much Diesel Do They Consume?
Diesel Generators are a true savior for setups that need a 24-hour power backup, as they experience frequent power failures. Modern-age diesel generators can serve you quietly and efficiently for long hours. A 3.5 kVA diesel generator is suitable for many setups due to its power efficiency, medium size, and cost.
However, you must know the fuel consumption rate of the genset to calculate the duration it can support and the fuel cost it will incur. In this article, let us explain how fuel consumption varies and how much fuel a 3.5 kVA diesel generator can consume.
What Is A 3.5 kVA Diesel Generator?
Before we discuss the fuel consumption of a 3.5 kVA diesel generator for generating power, we must know what this term means. kVA denotes kilovolts-amperes, a unit of apparent power. That means a 3.5 kVA diesel generator is capable of supplying 3500 volts-amperes of electrical power. However, usable electrical power would be a little less.
Factors That Determine Fuel Consumption
The manufacturers of a 3.5 kVA diesel generator will provide you with the approximate fuel consumption of the generator in ideal conditions. However, the real scenario would be different based on many other factors. Let us check what the factors are that determine fuel efficiency and consumption of a DG set.
Load
Load is the unit or amount of power the generator produces, which is the most important factor determining the fuel consumption of a 3.5 kVA diesel generator. If you use the genset to generate a very nominal power, the fuel will be wasted. On the other hand, if you use the genset for maximum capacity power output for a long duration, then fuel consumption will be highest. The best practice would be to use it at 70% of its full capacity.
Efficiency
The fuel efficiency of a 3.5 kVA diesel generator varies in different models manufactured by different manufacturers. The more fuel-efficient the genset, the less fuel it will consume. However, the efficiency mentioned in the manual differs from reality due to operating conditions.
Operating Conditions
Operating conditions like hot weather, high altitude, moisture, etc., affect the performance and fuel consumption of a 3.5 kVA diesel generator. In higher altitudes, due to thin air, gensets use more fuel to keep running. In hot and humid weather, gensets use more fuel to keep the engine cool.
Maintenance
It has been observed that a well-maintained 3.5 kVA diesel generator is more fuel efficient than one without maintenance. Better fuel efficiency means lower fuel consumption.
Fuel Quality
The fuel quality is also crucial for improved fuel efficiency and consumption. Fuel with impurities will lead to more consumption, and it may lower the power production capacity of the genset.
Average Fuel Consumption of a 3.5 kVA Diesel Generator
The average fuel consumption of a 3.5 kVA diesel generator is between 0.7 to 1 L per hour when it operates at 70% to 100% of its output capacity or load.
On the other hand, at 50% load, a 3.5 kVA diesel generator is supposed to consume 0.5 L of diesel per hour.
A real-life example could be like this: if you run a 3.5 kVA DG set for 10 hours a day at its 50% to 100% capacity, your genset will consume 5 L to 10 L of diesel in one day.
Final Thoughts
A 3.5 kVA DG set can be fitted for several operations, from household to commercial places. The fuel efficiency of different models of 3.5 kVA diesel generator, produced by different manufacturers, differs from each other. Even the fuel consumption of any particular genset is not static due to external factors, like load, operating conditions, maintenance, and fuel quality. However, if you consider the above factors and try to run the genset with best practices, the fuel efficiency and consumption can be optimized.
