Radiator Mounted Load Banks

Cressall Resistors' load banks for fixed installations are designed as a bolt-on addition to the set, requiring a space of only 400 - 800 mm between the radiator and the acoustic splitters. The resistor elements themselves are type HPR stainless steel grids.

These have a large surface area, with a typical power density of only 1-2W/cm2 and a low pressure loss: about 10-20 Pa (1-2 mm water gauge) in the radiator airflow. The grids are assembled in banks with ceramic insulation rated for 1kV operation.

Because the load bank makes use of the radiator airflow for cooling, the basic design is simple, low-cost and adaptable to almost any engine.

Most standard generating sets in the range of 50-1000kW have radiators with a free pressure loss of at least 125Pa, so a load bank can be added without the need for modifications to the basic design or an increase in the rating or cost of the acoustic splitters.

The illustration shows a single-section 100kW dummy load installed between the radiator and the acoustic splitters of a 255kVA set with a Volvo engine.

Cressall builds suitably rated dummy loads tailored for these sets with powers from 50kW to 400kW, using a modular construction with just two basic frame sizes.

All designs feature resistor grids, frames and supports entirely from stainless steel and ceramic electrical insulation, side mounted terminal boxes and wiring in high-temperature silicone-insulated cable.


150kW Dummy load for containerised generating set as installed

Cressall Resistors Ltd, Evington Valley Road, Leicester, LE5 5LZ U.K. Tel: (+44) (0)116 273 3633