Infrastructure Engineering · Lesson 16 of 24 · 25 minutes

Audit generator banks and usable fuel

The original startup lessons ask whether a generator becomes available in time. This lesson asks a different question: can the available bank carry the backed load at all? Follow a source claim through its real-power conversion, post-loss capacity and fuel ledger. A failed arithmetic claim should stay failed even when the combined installed nameplates look impressive.

Learning objectives

• Convert the source-specific generator kVA rating to real-power capability.
• Test one independent bank after one unit is unavailable.
• Separate usable fuel consumption from gross tank volume and dynamic qualification.

Predict → run → explain

1. Read the declared boundary and units. Predict the selected result before calculating.
2. Run the starting case and inspect the ledger, assumptions and model limits.
3. Apply the challenge, run again, and explain the difference. Export only the last completed inputs and results.

Usable unit MW = unit MW × derating × loading; available MW = (installed − unavailable) × usable unit MW; elementary N+1 count = ceil(required MW / usable unit MW) + 1.

Declared starting inputs

{
  "requiredMW": 27,
  "unitMW": 2.4,
  "derating": 1,
  "loading": 1,
  "installed": 10,
  "unavailable": 1
}

Challenge

Does thirteen installed per side close the capacity screen?

{
  "installed": 13
}

Twelve remain, giving 28.8 MW and 1.8 MW headroom. Dynamic, routing, fuel, emissions and equipment evidence remain open.

Separate usable-fuel ledger

Source statement: constant load and the stated source coefficient. Usable L = load kW × hours × L/kWh. Gross storage, reserve and transfer capability remain unresolved.

{
  "loadKW": 27000,
  "hours": 48,
  "litresPerKWh": 0.25
}

The generator bank that cannot meet its claim — static equivalent

1. Expose ten labelled generator blocks per bank.
2. Remove one and compare 21.6 MW with the 27 MW demand plane.
3. Add units through the capacity-only control without erasing the open redesign badge.
4. Trace bulk tank → transfer pump → day tank separately from the electrical route.

Per-bank surviving-unit table, capacity inequality and usable-fuel ledger.

Change installed units and derating; inspect a separate fuel calculation and an illustrative start/qualify/load sequence.

Narrative steps are not physical seconds. Essential states and quantities remain available without animation.

Assessment and answer criteria