RE-PAD: A Modular Renewable-Powered Auxiliary System for Decoupling Radiator Cooling Fans in Isolated Diesel Power Plants

Authors

  • Marzuirman Maizuirman Graduate School of Renewable Energy - Darma Persada University. Jl. Radin Inten 2. Pondok Kelapa. East Jakarta 13450, Indonesia
  • Agus Rendi Wijaya Graduate School of Renewable Energy - Darma Persada University. Jl. Radin Inten 2. Pondok Kelapa. East Jakarta 13450, Indonesia
  • Ahmad Fachrurrozi Graduate School of Renewable Energy - Darma Persada University. Jl. Radin Inten 2. Pondok Kelapa. East Jakarta 13450, Indonesia
  • Ramadhan Farhan Fadillah Graduate School of Renewable Energy - Darma Persada University. Jl. Radin Inten 2. Pondok Kelapa. East Jakarta 13450, Indonesia
  • Derry Pradana Nasrul Graduate School of Renewable Energy - Darma Persada University. Jl. Radin Inten 2. Pondok Kelapa. East Jakarta 13450, Indonesia
  • Erkata Yandri Graduate School of Renewable Energy - Darma Persada University. Jl. Radin Inten 2. Pondok Kelapa. East Jakarta 13450, Indonesia; Center of Renewable Energy Studies, Darma Persada University, Jl. Radin Inten 2, Pondok Kelapa, East Jakarta 13450, Indonesia
  • Ahmad Zulfikri Taning Graduate School of Renewable Energy - Darma Persada University. Jl. Radin Inten 2. Pondok Kelapa. East Jakarta 13450, Indonesia; Center of Renewable Energy Studies, Darma Persada University, Jl. Radin Inten 2, Pondok Kelapa, East Jakarta 13450, Indonesia
  • Aep Saepul Uyun Graduate School of Renewable Energy - Darma Persada University. Jl. Radin Inten 2. Pondok Kelapa. East Jakarta 13450, Indonesia; Center of Renewable Energy Studies, Darma Persada University, Jl. Radin Inten 2, Pondok Kelapa, East Jakarta 13450, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60084/hjas.v4i2.454

Keywords:

Pahl and Beitz methodology, Pugh matrix, Parasitic load, B40 biodiesel, Variable frequency drive, Requirement traceability

Abstract

Engine-driven radiator cooling fans in isolated diesel power plants impose a continuous mechanical parasitic load typically reported at 3–7% of rated engine power, a burden compounded by Indonesia's B40 biodiesel mandate, which increases cooling-system heat-rejection demand, yet no study identified in the authors' prior systematic review documents a formal, traceable engineering design process for addressing this problem through auxiliary-load decoupling. This study aims to systematically elicit design requirements, generate and evaluate alternative technical concepts, and specify a traceable modular architecture for parasitic-load decoupling in a B40-fuelled isolated diesel generator. A systematic engineering design methodology, following the Pahl & Beitz/VDI 2221–2223 framework, was applied to the Caterpillar 3512B LY800217 (1024 kW) unit operated by PLN Nusa Daya in Kepulauan Riau, comprising requirement elicitation, functional decomposition, morphological analysis, and Pugh-based concept selection, with requirement coverage examined through a traceability matrix and the robustness of the concept ranking examined through a weighting sensitivity check. Six functional requirements yielded four concept variants; Pugh scoring, supported by the sensitivity analysis, indicated that a fully renewable-decoupled configuration (net score +5) was preferred over a hybrid renewable-with-fallback alternative (net score +3) under equal criterion weighting, principally through complete satisfaction of the parasitic-load-elimination requirement, with the ranking reversing only where retrofit capital cost is weighted dominantly. The selected six-module Renewable-Powered Auxiliary Decoupling (RE-PAD) architecture was shown, through traceability analysis, to conceptually address all elicited requirements without gap, and preliminary literature-based screening indicated technical plausibility relative to comparable variable-frequency-drive and biodiesel-thermal studies; the parasitic-load magnitude (estimated at 41.0 kW, 4.0% of rated output) and the component ratings presented remain preliminary values whose thermal and techno-economic validation is reported in a companion simulation study (in preparation). The architecture supports a conceptually scalable, phased retrofit pathway for the approximately 80-unit PLN Nusa Daya isolated diesel fleet, subject to per-unit sizing confirmation.

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Published

2026-09-15

How to Cite

Maizuirman, M., Wijaya, A. R., Fachrurrozi, A., Fadillah, R. F., Nasrul, D. P., Yandri, E., Taning, A. Z. . and Uyun, A. S. (2026) “RE-PAD: A Modular Renewable-Powered Auxiliary System for Decoupling Radiator Cooling Fans in Isolated Diesel Power Plants”, Heca Journal of Applied Sciences, 4(2), pp. 105–120. doi: 10.60084/hjas.v4i2.454.

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Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026): September 2026 (In Press)

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Copyright (c) 2026 Marzuirman Maizuirman, Agus Rendi Wijaya, Ahmad Fachrurrozi, Ramadhan Farhan Fadillah, Derry Pradana Nasrul, Erkata Yandri, Ahmad Zulfikri Taning, Aep Saepul Uyun

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