The power generation industry is comprised of a relatively tight circle of people with very specialized talent and focus.  On December 31, 2010, the industry, the Valley of the Sun in Arizona in particular, lost a legend in the industry with the passing of [Charles] Vern Taylor.   

[Charles] Vern Taylor

I would like to share some insight about Vern from the perspective of one of those upon whom Vern had a profound influence in his 39 years as a power generation field service technician.  I think all of us who knew Vern, knew him as being quite outspoken, to say the least.  On the other hand Vern was not at all outspoken about his accomplishments in his career, and the challenges he faced for all of his years in field service. 

While Vern's exposure to electronics and generators precedes my experience with him, the story I know begins in 1972 when Vern began his career as an on-site power generation service technician. I first met Vern 7 years later, in 1979.  At that time Vern was already a veteran power generation technician, and I was a blank sheet of paper.  Vern was 34 - I was 21 and just starting my first real job, not really knowing it would, guided a lot by Vern's influence, become my career.  I was the new kid who, as Vern might, and did, say, "Didn't know dick."  He was right, of course, but please bear with me as I attempt to paint a picture of an bygone era, and the work I viewed with amazement, that guided me, and many others, to learn from this master technician.

Some of you will remember the time as if it were yesterday.  Others will need to call on their imagination to understand the conditions.  There were no two way radios, pagers, cell phones, computers, Internet, or GPS.  The only method of communication was the pay phone.  Today I think the only pay phones are...

Question:  When my 100kW generator starts, white smoke comes from the stack.  I heard that a Diesel will do this when it's cold, but it does this when it's warm, too.  What could be causing this?

Answer:  White smoke usually occurs when there is not enough heat to burn the fuel. The unburned fuel particles go up the stack and typically produce a rich fuel smell. It is not normal to see white smoke coming from your exhaust during start up or any other time, cold weather or not.

As mentioned last month, a bad jacket water heater can cause white smoke on engine start up. If white smoke is still visible after the engine has been running a while, the engine may have one or more bad injectors or a worn injection pump. Low compression can also be a source of white smoke.

To solve this problem, you may want to call our service department and schedule a diagnostic.  Leaking injectors can wash the lubricating oil from the cylinder walls, creating friction and exacerbating the problem.  It would be best to correct the problem early to avoid a potentially expensive engine repair.

 

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