200 kVA power class
200 kVA Diesel Generator (160 kW)
200 kVA is the rating where a generator stops being a single-load machine and starts covering a whole facility. At a 0.8 power factor it delivers 160 kW, enough for a small hotel, a clinic with a theatre, a supermarket or a light production line, and it is usually bought with an automatic transfer switch and a canopy.
Ratings
Ratings at a glance
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Prime power (PRP) | 200 kVA / 160 kW |
| Emergency standby (ESP) | 220 kVA / 176 kW |
| Rated voltage and frequency | 400/230 V, 50 Hz (380/220 V or 60 Hz on request) |
| Rated speed | 1500 rpm, four-pole (1800 rpm for 60 Hz) |
| Full-load current | 289 A per phase at 400 V |
| Typical duty | Standby for essential circuits in a commercial building; prime power for camps and small plants |
Specification envelope
What is normally inside a 200 kVA set
| Item | Typical range | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Six-cylinder, 6.0-9.0 L, electronic governor usual | Load acceptance and fuel curve over the working day |
| Alternator | Brushless, class H insulation, IP23, AVR controlled | Recovery time after motor starting and load steps |
| Fuel consumption | 29-33 L/h at 75% load (120 kW) | Daily fuel draw and tank capacity |
| Base tank autonomy | 300-400 L, 9-12 h at 75% load | Refuelling frequency on standby duty |
| Noise at 7 m | 66-73 dB(A) canopy, 80-86 dB(A) open frame | Neighbour boundary conditions |
| Weight | 1.9-2.4 t open, 2.0-2.6 t canopy | Roof or plant room loading, lifting plan |
| Footprint | Approximately 3.4-3.9 m x 1.2 m canopy | Access for maintenance and radiator airflow |
Sizing
What to confirm before fixing 200 kVA
- The load step, not just the running load. A set recovers from a load step of a defined size; the recovery figures are declared per engine. Chillers and lifts that start with several compressors or motors at once are the usual cause of an undersized machine.
- Chiller and compressor starting. Three or four compressors coming on together can demand more than the running total. Where the chillers can be staged, the starting order should be written into the control sequence.
- Altitude and ambient. Rated output holds to about 40 C and 1000 m, after which the engine and alternator derating curves apply. Riyadh, Dubai and Gulf coast sites in summer sit at or above that limit.
- Fuel storage. A 300-400 L base tank covers a day. Where a week of autonomy is required, plan a bunded bulk tank and a transfer arrangement instead of a larger base tank.
Applications
Typical 200 kVA applications
-
Hotels and serviced apartments
Standby for guest lighting, lifts, kitchen and water pumps, usually with the air conditioning on a separate circuit.
-
Clinics and medical centres
Theatre, sterilisation and refrigeration, where the transfer has to complete before battery-backed equipment runs out.
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Supermarkets
Refrigeration cases, lighting and checkout; the critical load is often smaller than the connected load.
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Small plants and workshops
Machine tools, compressors and extraction, sometimes as prime power where the grid connection is limited.
Options
Options usually specified at this rating
| Option | What it changes |
|---|---|
| Automatic transfer switch (ATS) | Motorised changeover rated above the full-load current, with a mechanical and electrical interlock |
| Enclosure | Canopy with lockable doors and an exhaust outlet clear of windows; open frame only where the room is already treated |
| Bunded base tank | Containment of a spill, and the reason base tanks are often preferred over remote tanks |
| Remote monitoring | Alerts on mains failure, low fuel, low coolant and engine fault, by GSM or ethernet |
| Exhaust treatment | Residential silencer, or a critical silencer where the site boundary is close |
Questions
200 kVA questions we are asked
What is the full-load current of a 200 kVA generator?
289 A per phase at 400 V three-phase. A 400 A main breaker is therefore the usual starting point, and standby-rated switchgear is often used where the set only ever runs on mains failure.
How much fuel does a 200 kVA set use in a day?
At 75% load, which is 120 kW, consumption runs 29-33 L/h, so roughly 700-800 L over a 24 hour run. On standby duty with short outages, the annual figure is far lower because the machine sits at zero load.
Can a 200 kVA generator run a whole hotel?
It can carry the essential load of a small hotel, not the full connected load. Lighting, lifts, kitchen, pumps and a limited number of air conditioning units are typical; full air conditioning usually needs 400 kVA and above.
How loud is a 200 kVA generator?
A canopy set normally measures 66-73 dB(A) at 7 m, depending on enclosure design and whether the engine is at full load. Where a boundary limit below 65 dB(A) applies, the enclosure has to be specified for that figure rather than chosen from a standard range.
How much space and what base does a 200 kVA set need?
Allow a footprint of about 3.9 m by 1.2 m for a canopy set, plus a metre of clearance on the radiator and door sides. A level concrete slab capable of taking the static weight is sufficient; anti-vibration mounts normally come with the base frame.
Related
Other pages in this range
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Diesel generator sets
How ratings are defined and how to move from a load list to a specification.
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100 kVA
80 kW, the entry rating for three-phase standby power.
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300 kVA
240 kW, the next step up for hospitals, hotels and cold stores.
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Request a quote
Send the load list and site conditions, and we reply with the rating and build options.
Quoting a 200 kVA set for a hotel, clinic or plant?
Send the essential load list, the transfer time you need and the site conditions. You will get a rating, a fuel figure and the options that fit the building.