Creating the power needed behind a highly exclusive luxury tented camp on the Serengeti Plain in Tanzania in just less than eight weeks signified a challenge for Lowveld-based Alternative Power Systems Africa (APSA).
Backed by Barloworld Equipment Energy - Perkins' reputed engines, the company took on the challenge of catering for VIP Safari's need for a quiet, mobile energy source. The Sabora Plains Mobile Luxury Camp uses the power for lighting, refrigeration, airconditioning, hot water geysers, laptops, hairdryers, a local phone network and even the heating of a 15 000 litre portable pool.
The Sabora Mobile Camp consists of eight luxury tents, all 20 m long and 5 m wide. The guest tents boast a main living area, bathroom and sitting area built on wooden decking. The main area consists of a lounge and dinning room complete with seating for 18 people. And, of course, there is still the back of house and staff accommodation. The furniture, many of the pieces genuine, is of original colonial campaign style, giving the client an experience of a bygone era but with all the modern day luxuries, airconditioning being a definite must.
The power solution for such an exclusive mobile camp that simply packs up and leaves in a matter of hours to follow the wildebeest migration across the planes? Two dedicated single-phase super silent generator sets, 50 and 35 kVA in capacity, powered by a Perkins1004 TG1 and a Perkins1004G series engine working in conjunction with a 9 kW trace inverter/battery system.
"By using robust, sophisticated electronics in this intelligent hybrid system we have managed to reduce generator run time to less than 10 hours a day while still providing 24 hour power for guest comfort and the power demands of five star cuisine with a world-renowned chef. The hybrid system also ensures that generators run at peak efficiency with no prolonged 'low load' running times that are so detrimental to diesel engines, states APSA director Mark Rodwell.
APSA's main challenge was to build this energy source with extremely low sound levels for an area where the ambient sound levels are often less than 40 dBA while also catering for the need to be very robust for transportation across the plains. The company's final solution included building a mobile 'room within a room' and powering it with Perkins engines. The result, the company realised sound levels of less than 45 dBA at 7 m on the 35 kVA unit and less than 48 dBA at 7 m on the 50 kVA unit, states APSA design engineer Richard Farrell.
Commenting on the selection of the Perkins engine for this solution, Rodwell said that a combination of factors was considered. Apart from Perkins' environmentally friendly and quiet running engines, its low fuel consumption and reputed reliability did the trick. In addition, the units work in remote locations, making the support of Perkins' global network of more than 4000 distributors and dealers even more appealing.
"Our unique Quadram combustion system enables high power output with lower fuel consumption," states Barloworld Equipment Energy-Perkins engine sales representative Chris Coetzee. "The Viton crankshaft seals and sophisticated controlled swell joints ensures leak-free operation while also giving protection against the toughest of conditions."
"In the end, the generator supplied to the Sabora Plains Camp was a tremendous success," says Rodwell. "The client was absolutely blown away by the low sound levels and was impressed with additional features, such as the CO2 flood/fire prevention system and commented that we had gone beyond the call of what was expected in the supply of this unit."
For more information contact Martin Jacobs, Barloworld Energy Products, 011 898 0450, mjacobs@barloworld-energyproducts.com
Features built into super silent generator sets
* A CO2 flood system to protect the unit in the event of a fire - the units' remote location and quietness add to the difficulty of accessing it in time in case of emergencies.
* A permanent retainer system for the generator engine mountings increases mobility - prevents the need to strap down the engine every time it is transported.
* The unique double door design - assures extremely low sound levels in line with the ultimate luxury, ultimate quietness. People are unaware of generators.
* Complete system automation - dramatically reduces the responsibilities of the camp manager. With no need for manual start-up and shut-down the unit is only checked once a day.
* Power generated at peak fuel consumption and ideal load - to supply power continuously over a 24-hour period - reducing maintenance and prolonging the lifespan of the unit, and
* Ideal load distribution dramatically reduces fuel consumption.
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