In some installations, multiple generator sets are supplied by a single bulk fuel tank, which is a bad idea.

In power generation, diesel is always prone to contaminants. When diesel is contaminated in one bulk fuel tank, all generator sets supplied by this tank could suffer from the damaging effects of contaminated fuel. Leaving the facility with no available generator set to use which could result in a combined costly repair. Also, maintenance or repair in a single tank or its pipeline will make all generator sets unavailable for use.

The best practice in design consideration is to dedicate one bulk fuel tank for each generator set to avoid the consequence of a common point of failure.

The National Fire Protection Association in its Paragraph 7.2.7 of the NFPA 110 publication also known as Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems states that –

“Design considerations shall minimize the effect of the failure of one energy converter on the continued operation of other units.”