MacAllister Power Systems

LocationsCareersContact UsMacAllister.com
  • Home
  • Equipment
    • Electric Power
      • Generators
        • Cat® GC Diesel Generator Sets
      • UPS
    • Industrial Engines
    • Rental Power
      • Power Systems Rentals
      • Temperature Control Equipment Rentals
      • Air Compressor Rentals
      • Event Services
    • Used Generators
      • Decommissioning Services & Asset Recovery
    • Blue Bird Bus
  • Parts & Service
    • Online PartStore
    • Parts Information
    • Service Information
      • Generator Service
      • Industrial Engine Service
  • Solutions
    • Finance
    • Paperless Invoicing
    • Extended Service Coverage (ESC)
    • Decommissioning Services & Asset Recovery
    • Sell Your Generator
    • Combined Heat and Power
    • Online Tools
    • Contract Purchasing
    • Engineering Toolbox
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • Locations
      • Fort Wayne
      • Indianapolis
      • Indianapolis – Brookville Rd
      • Lafayette
      • South Bend
      • Terre Haute
      • Washington
    • Careers
    • Legal Notices
Home / Solutions / Engineering Toolbox / Generator Set Exhaust Systems

Generator Set Exhaust Systems

A gen set exhaust system must collect gases from engine cylinders and discharge them as quickly and silently as possible. It must minimize back pressure, which can cause horsepower losses and temperature increases that can shorten the engine’s life.

Several factors impact the exhaust system performance. Building constraints, noise control, condensation, vibration, heat dissipation and building codes must be considered.

Exhaust Piping

Each gen set must be equipped with its own exhaust system. Ganging or sharing exhaust piping increases chances of fumes entering idle engines or equipment, subjecting them to corrosive gases.

Specify Schedule 40 piping. Its heavy duty construction dampens vibration and resists corrosion from condensate. To minimize back pressure from bends in the exhaust system, make sweeping 90 degree bends with radii of at least one and one half times the pipe diameter.

Exhaust piping should not exert more than 37kg (60 pounds) of weight on the engine when the system is at operating temperature.

Flexible connections are needed to relieve exhaust system components of vibrational fatigue. They can also prevent vibration transmission throughout the building and can accommodate misalignment problems at installation.

Long pipe runs require flexible connections to provide for thermal growth. For example, a 6m (20 foot) steel exhaust pipe at 30 C (100 F) will increase 33mm (1.3 inches) when heated to 510 C (950 F). Similarly, pipe supports must also allow for thermal growth.

Consider insulating pipes. Up to a liter of water vapor can be produced from burning a liter of fuel in diesel engines. Insulation helps retain exhaust in gaseous state and lessens heat radiating into the gen set room.

Install long horizontal exhaust pipe runs with a slight downward pitch away from the engine. A trap should be at the lowest point of the run so condensate can be drained.

Consult with your engine manufacturer or its dealer for proper exhaust specifications.

Muffler/Sound Abatement

Mufflers, when installed as close to the engine as possible, offer best sound attenuation and minimize pipe vibration. Like piping, mufflers should be installed in a slant and equipped with a condensate drain.

Several grades of mufflers are available. Because noise level varies by engine model, rating and the distance at which it is measured from the exhaust outlet, work with the engine manufacturer data and the muffler performance data to assure adequate silencing for the application.

Exhausting Exit from Building

Pipe should be installed with at least 229mm (9 inch) clearance from combustible materials. High temperature insulation or prefabricated insulating sections can be used over pipes to prevent head radiation. Pipes passing through wooden walls or roofs require single walled metal thimble guards 305mm (12 inches) larger than the exhaust pipe diameter. Double walled metal thimbles must be 153mm (6 inches) larger than pipe diameter. The thimble must conform to the National Fire Protection Association bulletin NFPA-110 and local building codes.

Both horizontal and vertical exhaust stacks should extend above or away from the building. Horizontal pipe outlets should be oriented away from prevailing winds and cut at 30 to 45 degree angles to reduce gas turbulence and resulting noise. Vertical stacks require rain caps which impose little back-pressure and can be forced open by exhaust. In all instances, stacks should be located away from building air intakes.

Contact Us
  • Extended Service Coverage (ESC)
  • Finance
    • Credit Application
  • Paperless Invoicing
  • Online Tools
  • Decommissioning Services & Asset Recovery
    • Decommissioning & Equipment Purchasing FAQ
    • Sell Your Generator
    • Free Appraisal
    • Contact Us for Decommissioning Services
  • Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
  • Contract Purchasing
  • Engineering Toolbox
    • Generator Set Ratings
    • Generator Set Specifications
    • Generator Set Foundations
    • Generator Set Rooms & Enclosures
    • Generator Set Ventilation
    • Generator Set Noise
    • Generator Set Starting Systems
    • Generator Set Cooling Systems
    • Generator Set Exhaust Systems
    • Generator Set Engine Governors
    • Generator Set Fuels
    • Generator Set Sizing
    • Generator Set Motor Starting
    • Other Generator Technical Considerations
    • Generator Set Testing
    • Automatic Transfer Switches

MacAllister Power Systems

6300 Southeastern Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46203

(800) 382-1896

24-Hour Rental Hotline
866-622-7367

Contact Us

New / Rental / Used Equipment

Generator Sets
Uninterruptible Power Supplies
Industrial Engines

Generator Rentals
Electrical Equipment Rentals
Air Conditioner Rentals
Chiller & Cooling Tower Rentals
Heater & Dehumidifier Rentals
Air Compressor Rentals

Used Generators

8 Convenient Locations

Fort Wayne
Indianapolis - Brookville Rd
Indianapolis - HQ
Indianapolis - Rental & Used
Lafayette
South Bend
Terre Haute
Washington

More MacAllister Sites

MacAllister Machinery
MacAllister Ag
MacAllister Hydrovac
MacAllister Kubota
MacAllister Outdoors
MacAllister Railroad Machinery
MacAllister Rentals
MacAllister Transportation
MacAllister Used
Michigan CAT

Copyright © 2022 MacAllister Machinery Co., Inc.    All rights reserved.    Legal Notices  /  Copyright  /  Privacy Policy