20.02 How is fuel cooled to avoid problems?

High temperature is not a common problem because most generators include a fuel cooling radiator to treat the return fuel before it is received by the day tank. The fuel cooling radiator is mounted as a slave to the generator engine coolant radiator, and utilizes the same engine fan.

The fuel cooling radiator on the engine may not be practical where the engine utilizes a remote radiator for its coolant system. In this case several methods of fuel cooling may be used:

• (a) a dedicated fuel oil radiator and fan are installed at the day tank for return flow fuel from the engine.

• (b) fuel return from the engine is directed to a gravity return flow pipe to a bulk storage tank. Since the engine consumption is only 1 / 3 of the engine fuel pump flow, the fule supply to the day tank should be increased by about 3 times to accommodate the higher flow.

• (c) A temperature sensor in the day tank activates a return flow pump to pump fuel back to the bulk storage tank, allowing the day tank to be re-filled with fuel at a lower temperature.