What are Load Banks and Their Types?
Losing power due to an unforeseen occurrence can affect countless industries, often resulting in a loss of production, revenue, and even life. As such, businesses and industries implement backup generators which serve to ensure that operations may continue even through emergencies. These backup generators are not always perfect, however, and they can fail if not maintained or used properly. As having backup generators onsite for fall-back is crucial for many, it is imperative that operators and facilities are well aware of load bank testing.
Load bank testing is a procedure that allows for a generator or backup source of power to be checked for its reliability and performance. Assessing the capabilities of the generator, such testing will verify whether or not each genset component is in optimal working condition across varying loads. These tests are especially crucial for generators that are rarely operated or not run on a regular basis. Generally, a good rule to follow is to conduct load bank testing on a generator that has not been run at more than 30% of its rated kW load. Manufacturer specifications or recommendations may be followed as well.
During these tests, one will be looking to see whether pressure and temperature levels remain optimal while upholding a desirable horsepower for its intended operations. To begin, an artificial or dummy load is placed on the generator, timing always following various industry standards and regulatory codes. As the load is slowly raised, the engine and alternator are monitored and recorded before an assessment is made.
Generally, load bank testing is best for verifying the capabilities of a generator, those of which cannot be found during the routine start-up of a particular apparatus. Such testing can save large amounts of time and money as well, allowing for issues or defects to be found well before they have the chance to cause a major failure. Load bank testing may also be required depending upon the type of electric motor and application. As an example, NFPA 110 requires testing to be conducted once a month if the generator protects individuals within a commercial building and/or if failure poses risk of bodily injuries or death. Additionally, the power source of the generator may also affect how often testing must be completed.
Depending on one’s needs, there are four primary load banks that may be used for generator testing. The resistive load bank is the most common type, Allowing for a prime mover and generator to be tested at 100% capacity. With the help of resistors, electrical energy may be converted into heat, dissipating into air or water. Generally, such options are best fit for testing generators that operate with a capacity below 200 kVA, small or portable generators, and UPS systems.
The reactive type, meanwhile, takes advantage of inductor or capacitor components to convert electrical energy into a magnetic field. Inductive load banks are only capable of testing upwards of 75% of full power testing, and they are more common than capacitive types. Generally, reactive load banks are best for transformers and motor-driven devices. The combined resistive/reactive load bank tends to share characteristics of the two previously mentioned types, making them useful for single units, multiple units, generators with capacities surpassing 1 MVA, and generators with capacities higher than 200 kVA.
The final major type is the electronic load bank, suitable for average and peak load capacities. By applying an electrical load to the source, the electronic load bank can garner precise data that far surpasses other variations. They can also be programmable, making them fairly diverse in use. Their downside, however, is that they are often more expensive than other various options.
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