Air flow arrangement for two diesel generator sets in shipping container

Abstract

A system includes a shipping container having air inlets at each end and an air outlet at a top and approximate center. The system includes two engines positioned one on each side of a center region, with two generators—each positioned between one of the engines and an end of the container. The center region includes a fuel tank and an air director. An air flow path on each side flows air in the air inlet, over the generator, over the engine, through an engine radiator, mixes the air with exhaust from the engine, and flows out the air outlet. The system maximizes an exhaust flow path length back to the air inlet to prevent exhaust gas recirculation. The system further configures the exhaust air to be heated and released at a higher location than the inlet to minimize potential exhaust gas recirculation.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a shipping container having air inlets at a first end, air inlets at a second end, and at least one air outlet at a top of the shipping container;   a first engine positioned between a center of the shipping container and the first end, a second engine positioned between the center of the shipping container and the second end;   a first generator positioned between the first engine and the first end, and a second generator positioned between the second engine and the second end; and   an air director structured to contribute a vertical component to each of a first exhaust stream and a second exhaust stream, and further structured to direct the first exhaust stream and the second exhaust stream through the at least one air outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one air outlet is positioned at an approximate center of the shipping container. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first air path comprising a portion in thermal communication with the first generator, and a portion in thermal communication with a first engine radiator, wherein the first exhaust stream flows in the first air path; and   a second air path comprising a portion in thermal communication with the second generator, and a portion in thermal communication with a second engine radiator, wherein the second exhaust stream flows in the second air path.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first air path further comprises a portion receiving at least a portion of a first engine exhaust and wherein the second air path further comprises a portion receiving at least a portion of a second engine exhaust. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a first air movement device that forces air through the first radiator and a second air movement device that forces air through the second radiator. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first heat transfer means that transfers thermal energy from the first generator to the first air path; and   a second heat transfer means that transfers thermal energy from the second generator to the second air path.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first air path further comprises a portion receiving at least a portion of a first engine exhaust and wherein the second air path further comprises a portion receiving at least a portion of a second engine exhaust. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a first air movement device that forces air through the first radiator and a second air movement device that forces air through the second radiator. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the air director comprises a fuel tank. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the air director comprises a diagonal portion and a vertical portion. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the vertical portion includes a portion of a fuel tank. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shipping container is an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard shipping container. 
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising:
 providing a shipping container having air inlets at each end and at least one air outlet at a top and approximate center of the shipping container;   flowing a first air stream through the shipping container, wherein the flowing the first air stream includes, in order: contacting the first air stream with a first generator, flowing the first air stream through a first radiator thermally coupled to a first engine, impacting the first air stream against an air director, and flowing the first air stream vertically through the at least one air outlet; and   flowing a second air stream through the shipping container, wherein the flowing the second air stream includes, in order: contacting the second air stream with a second generator, flowing the second air stream through a second radiator thermally coupled to a second engine, impacting the second air stream against an air director, and flowing the second air stream vertically through the at least one air outlet.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising mixing the first air stream with a first engine exhaust stream before the flowing the first air stream vertically, and mixing the second air stream with a second engine exhaust stream before the flowing the second air stream vertically. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising pressurizing the first air stream before flowing the first air stream through the first radiator and pressurizing the second air stream before flowing the second air stream through the second radiator. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the providing a shipping container having air inlets at each end and at least one air outlet at a top and approximate center of the shipping container includes providing the air inlets vertically lower than the at least one air outlet. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the providing a shipping container having air inlets at each end and at least one air outlet at a top and approximate center of the shipping container includes providing the air inlets and the at least one air outlet such that a smallest distance between the at least one air outlet and a closest one of the air inlets is maximized. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the providing a shipping container having air inlets at each end and at least one air outlet at a top and approximate center of the shipping container includes providing the air inlets and the at least one air outlet such that a distance between the at least one air outlet and a closest one of the air inlets is approximately equal. 
     
     
         19 . A system, comprising:
 a standard International Organization for Standardization (ISO) shipping container having air inlets at a first end, air inlets at a second end, and an air outlet at a top and approximate center of the shipping container;   a first engine, having a rating below 1200 horsepower (hp), positioned between a center of the shipping container and the first end, a second engine, having a rating below 1200 hp, positioned between the center of the shipping container and the second end;   a first generator positioned between the first engine and the first end, and a second generator positioned between the second engine and the second end; and   an air director structured to contribute a vertical component to each of a first exhaust stream and a second exhaust stream, and further structured to direct the first exhaust stream and the second exhaust stream through the air outlet.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one of the air inlets includes at least a portion on a side wall of the standard ISO shipping container. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a first air path comprising a portion in thermal communication with the first generator, and a portion in thermal communication with a first engine radiator, wherein the first exhaust stream flows in the first air path; and   a second air path comprising a portion in thermal communication with the second generator, and a portion in thermal communication with a second engine radiator, wherein the second exhaust stream flows in the second air path.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first air path further comprises a portion receiving at least a portion of a first engine exhaust and wherein the second air path further comprises a portion receiving at least a portion of a second engine exhaust. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a first air movement device that forces air through the first radiator and a second air movement device that forces air through the second radiator. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a first heat transfer means that transfers thermal energy from the first generator to the first air path; and   a second heat transfer means that transfers thermal energy from the second generator to the second air path.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first air path further comprises a portion receiving at least a portion of a first engine exhaust and wherein the second air path further comprises a portion receiving at least a portion of a second engine exhaust. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a first air movement device that forces air through the first radiator and a second air movement device that forces air through the second radiator.