More about Power Units

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Power units are devices that produce energy for a system to utilize. The most common type of power unit is the electrical generator, which uses mechanical energy to produce electricity. Power units are also used for fluid power systems, and generate hydraulic and pneumatic power for a wide range of industrial machinery.

Power units use a diverse range of fuel sources to generate the necessary power. Among these sources are natural gas, liquid propane vapor, diesel fuel, and electricity. Power units that run on electricity may serve a different function than generator-type power units; many units take the raw current and output it as necessary to the components within a system or convert it to the necessary output power.

Generators serve as either primary or backup energy sources. Backup generators are used by many facilities that already have regular access to power. In some cases, a backup generator is in place to supplement another generator, while in others it is used only in emergencies when the main power source suffers a failure. Generators that are used as primary energy sources may be permanent fixtures or portable units. In large scale operations, such as on-location film production or oil platform power generation, portable units can be huge trailer-mounted units. Permanent generators are extremely useful in locations that have limited or nonexistent access to other power sources, or those that require additional power. In many situations, a generator is the most economical solution to energy requirements.

Power units are manufactured using a multitude of materials, the nature of which depends largely on the application. The power units used on oil-drilling platforms, for example, are often fashioned from corrosion-resistant stainless steel, and are sealed to prevent degradation of internal components. Various power outputs and inputs are available, including AC and/or DC power to meet virtually any horsepower requirements.