800 kVA power class
800 kVA Diesel Generator (640 kW)
An 800 kVA diesel generator delivers 640 kW at a 0.8 power factor. From this rating upward the set is rarely a standalone item: it usually arrives containerised, it is often one of several machines running in parallel, and the fuel, cooling and cabling installations are designed as part of the same package.
Ratings
Ratings at a glance
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Prime power (PRP) | 800 kVA / 640 kW |
| Emergency standby (ESP) | 880 kVA / 704 kW |
| Rated voltage and frequency | 400/230 V, 50 Hz (or 11 kV via transformer; 60 Hz on request) |
| Rated speed | 1500 rpm, four-pole (1800 rpm for 60 Hz) |
| Full-load current | 1155 A per phase at 400 V |
| Typical duty | Standby or prime power on technical, industrial and marine duty, frequently in parallel |
Specification envelope
What is normally inside an 800 kVA set
| Item | Typical range | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Six-cylinder 18-24 L class, or a V-configuration engine, electronic governor | Block load acceptance and heat rejection to the radiator |
| Alternator | Brushless, class H insulation, IP23, AVR controlled, 2/3 pitch, often with a permanent magnet exciter | Voltage recovery on large steps and with drive-heavy loads |
| Fuel consumption | 115-130 L/h at 75% load (480 kW) | Bulk storage design and delivery intervals |
| Fuel autonomy | 950-1100 L per 8 h at 75% load, normally in a bulk or belly tank | Whether a day tank and transfer pump are needed |
| Noise at 7 m | 70-76 dB(A) containerised, 71-78 dB(A) canopy, 82-88 dB(A) open frame | Planning conditions on industrial and data centre sites |
| Weight | 6.0-7.5 t open, 10-12 t with a container and tank | Route survey, crane capacity and slab design |
| Footprint | Approximately 5.5-6.5 m x 2.0 m canopy, or one 20 ft container | Compound layout and maintenance access |
Sizing
What changes at 800 kVA
- Heat rejection becomes a design item. Radiator airflow, recirculation between sets and room ventilation have to be planned; sets that overheat on site are usually a ventilation problem rather than an engine problem.
- Fault level and protection. A 1155 A machine needs switchgear, cable and protection settings that match, and where sets run in parallel the protection scheme has to cover reverse power and circulating current.
- Parallel operation. Data halls and process plants usually specify N+1 with two or more sets. The number of sets, the load sharing method and the control architecture are decided before the quotation, not after.
- Fuel logistics. Above 100 L/h, deliveries, bunding, fire separation and often a day tank in the plant room become part of the project scope.
Applications
Typical 800 kVA applications
-
Data centres and technical halls
Two or more sets in N+1, running regularly on load and tested against a defined load step.
-
District cooling plants
Chiller and pump loads with large drives, where staging and soft starting decide the set rating.
-
Mining and heavy industry
Prime power and standby for crushers, mills and conveyors, including sites with a weak utility supply.
-
Marine and port duty
Shore power, auxiliary and shipyard loads, generally containerised or skid mounted with heavy-duty air filtration.
Options
Options usually specified at 800 kVA
| Option | What it changes |
|---|---|
| Multi-set paralleling | Number of sets, load sharing, synchronising, and the protection and control architecture for N+1 |
| Container specification | Weather protection, acoustic grade, tank inside or below, cabling and control room space |
| Heat rejection | Radiator or remote cooling, ducting, and ventilation design for a closed compound |
| Heavy-duty filtration | Dust or sand filtration where the set works in desert or quarry conditions |
| Remote monitoring and SCADA | Run hours, fuel, alarms and load profile reported to a control room or service desk |
Questions
800 kVA questions we are asked
How many amps does an 800 kVA generator deliver?
1155 A per phase at 400 V three-phase, or about 1270 A at the 880 kVA standby rating. At that current, busbar and cable selection and the fault level of the installation are as important as the set itself.
How much fuel does an 800 kVA set consume per hour and per day?
Roughly 115-130 L/h at 75% load (480 kW) and 154-173 L/h at full load. A continuous 24 hour run at 75% load needs about 2.8-3.1 cubic metres, which normally means a bulk tank rather than a belly tank.
Should 800 kVA be one set or two 400 kVA sets?
For a critical bus, two 400 kVA sets give redundancy and easier handling but need a paralleling panel and more floor space. One 800 kVA set is simpler and cheaper to install, with no redundancy. Sites that cannot accept an outage usually choose two sets at the next rating up.
Does it fit in a 20 ft container?
An 800 kVA set is normally supplied either in a 20 ft container with the tank inside, or on an open skid with a canopy. The container version is longer and heavier, but it protects the machine, carries the fuel and keeps the controls secure.
Can an 800 kVA set run continuously?
Only at the prime power or continuous power rating, which for this class is 800 kVA / 640 kW with a 10% overload for one hour in every twelve. Running a standby-rated machine continuously is not permitted by the rating definition, and the fuel and maintenance schedule change with continuous duty.
Related
Other pages in this range
Building an 800 kVA installation?
Send the load schedule, the redundancy requirement and the site conditions. You will get a rating, the parallel arrangement and the fuel and cooling package that go with it.