News

ATEX-approved starters for mining vehicles

Non-Electric Engine Starting Systems – Top 5 Advantages

September 3^rd, 2019 in Engine Starting, News

You want one thing from your engine, for it to start every time you push the button. That normally requires an electric start motor. But what happens if the power is down and the starter battery has lost its charge? If the engine is critical (i.e a generator at a data centre or hospital) the results could be catastrophic. A non-electric engine starting system mitigates this risk by not suffering from the same problems. Electric batteries are one of the most common power sources for engine starting systems. They are simple, easy-to-use and are often the default starter provided by engine manufacturers. However, batteries have their drawbacks. There are also working environments that…

Custom engine starting packages engineered by IPU

August 28^th, 2019 in Engine Starting, News

Hydraulic and air starting systems offer unbeatable reliability when it comes to engine starting. Especially in extreme weather environments where the reliability of traditional electric start motors can suffer. But standard systems do come with a challenge, for example hydraulic engine starting systems often require large amounts of space for the accumulator tanks. That is why IPU offers custom engine starting packages engineered to fit almost any space. Oil platforms, drilling rigs or mining vehicles are not typically designed with an abundance of extra room. Few have enough extra space available to house a large engine starting system. The standard hydraulic starting configuration…

Webinar: The Impact of Emissions Legislation – September 2019 Update

August 7^th, 2019 in Emissions Solutions, News

A year on since our first hugely popular emissions webinar, legislation and deadlines have been adapted and updated. The legislation itself is complicated, so it may be unclear what you need to comply with and when by. IPU’s emissions experts are hosting a live webinar on Tuesday 10th September at 10:00 am to discuss: The latest legislation updates, including the MCPD, Environmental Permitting Regulations and Clean Air Zones The types of emissions that will need to be reduced in order to comply The different solutions that are available to you depending on your application. Solutions discussed in the webinar include: Selective Catalytic Reduction Diesel Particulate Filters…

Register your interest for a Fuel CPD course

July 31^st, 2019 in Fuel Conditioning, News

IPU Group is running a CPD1 course that educates facilities management professionals on the subject of fuel management. Here is your chance to register your interest. Free, fun and interactive, our course trains building services engineers on how to manage their stored fuel to ensure it is safe to use and able to support the building it serves. To register your interest, please click here to enter your details. We will let you know as soon as we have a course that matches your location and calendar. The course takes about one hour to complete. Its key learning objectives are: Learn about fuel contamination and the problems with biodiesel. Why fuel contamination is important to facilities…

Why aluminium starter motors struggle to obtain ATEX approval

July 30^th, 2019 in Engine Starting, News

Aluminium starter motors often struggle to obtain ATEX approval. But why are they not considered safe for use in hazardous environments? The reason is aluminium is one of the primary fuels for creating a thermite reaction. It’s a chemical process that gives off so much heat it is used to weld railway tracks. When aluminium is mixed with an oxidiser such as iron(III) oxide (known to you and me as rust) and is ignited (by heat or a spark) the reaction produces a molten metal at about 3000°c! Additionally, if water is used to try and extinguish the reaction, explosive hydrogen gas can be produced. Rust is a common factor in industrial areas, so introducing aluminium to a hazardous…

IPU in a Picture

July 2^nd, 2019 in Emissions Solutions, News

IPU has a wide range of expertise across Engine Starting, Fuel Conditioning and Emissions Solutions. Sometimes it can be difficult to explain all of the products that we sell! That’s why we’ve produced ‘IPU in a Picture’. It shows all the different elements of our business in the industries where we are most active.

Dirty fuel causes DRUPS failures

July 1^st, 2019 in Fuel Conditioning, News

How reliable is your DRUPS unit? Organisations such as data centres, hospitals, banks and military bases depend on reliable and consistent power. Typically these organisations count on secondary generators should the mains supply fail. However, organisations are often unaware how often these back-up generators are actually used. Voltage fluctuations from the mains supply are common and can trigger automatic reset responses in sensitive electronic equipment. To manage this fluctuation and avoid system downtime an organisation will use a series of cascading diesel rotary uninterruptible power supply (DRUPS) units. These diesel-fueled generators manage the variation of electricity to maintain…

The Essential Guide To Starting Caterpillar Engines

June 6^th, 2019 in Engine Starting, News

IPU have released an invaluable pocket guide that advises Caterpillar customers how to choose the best starting system for their engine. If your application has a Caterpillar engine installed and your business depends on reliable power, this is the handbook for you. To request a free copy, click here to fill out a short form. The Essential Guide to Starting Cat Engines shows our continued dedication to protecting businesses in numerous industries including marine, oil & gas and power generation. It includes the following: An easy reference guide for packagers and distributors of Caterpillar engines to select the best possible starter for their engine. It matches each Caterpillar engine…

New handbook: The Essential Guide To Fuel Polishing

March 25^th, 2019 in Fuel Conditioning, News

IPU are excited to release our first handbook dedicated entirely to the subject of fuel polishing. Our ever-growing library of free pocket guides spans all of our divisions. They are a great way for any organisation to absorb everything it needs to know about topics as diverse as fuel contamination and explosion protection. The Essential Guide to Fuel Polishing is the latest addition to our portfolio. “The Essential Guide to Fuel Polishing” answers a number of questions, including: Why is clean fuel important? What are the common causes of fuel contamination? What is fuel polishing and how does it prevent power outages? How does fuel polishing work? What are the main features…

IPU make history with largest ever Diesel Defence unit

March 14^th, 2019 in Fuel Conditioning, News

IPU’s fuel conditioning division enjoyed record-breaking success last month, delivering the largest Diesel Defence fuel polishing system in the company’s history. Built to the customer’s unique specifications, it will be used to safeguard the supply from an island-based power station. The remoteness of the location makes the generator critically important. The island is not connected to a mainland power supply. If the generator fails, the population loses electricity. Distance from the mainland also affects fuel supply. Unlike mainland sites, the island cannot call for a next-day tanker delivery if it discovers a problem. It needs to hold large stocks and it needs total…