As the amount of data being created increases, the number of worldwide data centers will grow to support that demand. With that comes the increased need for reliable backup power — and an increasingly acute demand for power solutions that reduce environmental impacts wherever possible. 

Kohler’s Tier 4 Final KD Series Generator provides a key advantage, resulting in minimal maintenance demands for optimized continuity and maximized ease for users — all while meeting strict EPA-controlled sustainability requirements. The KD exhaust aftertreatment technology eliminates the need for diesel particulate filters and diesel oxidation catalysts, leaving only harmless exhaust byproducts: nitrogen and steam. Meanwhile, the KD series engine control units and integrated sensors continually monitor and control all elements of the exhaust aftertreatment system, delivering exceptional emissions technology.

Data centers looking to achieve uninterrupted uptime and reliability for global data must rely on diesel generators. Yet, the pollutants associated with diesel engine exhaust are a challenge for this vital industry. As power demands grow, the need for robust generators is increasing, making their sustainability of the utmost importance. Today, the EPA focuses on reducing six common pollutants (ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and lead), implementing increasingly stringent emission level standards. In response, data centers are always seeking greener solutions for their power strategies. Currently, however, most diesel generator strategies utilized by data centers still require multiple aftertreatment devices to meet the requirements of a number of different individual air pollutant standards. Of the six U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pollutants, particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are often the most difficult to address.

To solve this challenge, Kohler’s innovative Tier 4 Final KD Series Generators reinvent the traditional system, allowing for minimal maintenance demands, optimized continuity, maximized ease for users, and greater sustainability results. 

Describe the research that went into the design of this product: EPA focus on reducing six common pollutants (ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and lead) has led to increasingly stringent emission level standards.

Pollutants associated with diesel engine exhaust are a challenge for mission critical generators. As power demands grow, demand for robust generators increases, making sustainability of the utmost importance. However, most diesel generator strategies require multiple aftertreatment devices to meet requirements of each individual air pollutant.

PM forms from the partial combustion of diesel fuel in cooler parts of the cylinder, while NOx is the result of high cylinder temperatures oxidizing nitrogen in the air. Unfortunately, this creates an inverse relationship when it comes to in-cylinder engine management for performance and emissions — typically, harmful pollutants are created no matter what changes are made.

To address this industry challenge, Kohler ran a recent study concluding that some of today’s diesel generators can be safely run at 30% of the rated capacity or higher as little as once per year as opposed to once per month while maintaining optimal performance and staying within emissions guidelines. In fact, the savings from switching from monthly to annual loaded testing were compelling – our tests showed an 82% reduction in total pollutants emitted.

As the EPA introduces increasingly stringent restrictions for emergency engines, engine manufacturers are challenged to rethink engine architecture to comply with the regulation. Meeting these guidelines has caused some hesitancy in the marketplace for Tier 4-certified systems due to added complexity, increased cost, and limited familiarity.

The KD Series Tier 4 Generators represent a huge step forward for the data center industry because they reimagine how generator maintenance and sustainability can be accomplished. An array of innovative solutions within these generators help overcome previous maintenance challenges and not only ensure the ease and longevity of the generator’s operation but also help data center operators easily meet increasingly stringent government-mandated sustainability metrics. 

The flexibility, simplicity, and durability of the KD Series Tier 4-certified generators ease many of these concerns, bringing down barriers to greener power solutions and enabling customers to create a more sustainable future even as they increase their power requirements. This will empower more users to meet increasingly strict emergency-use emissions standards.