Containment systems for portable power modules

A containment system for use with a portable power module trailerable over public roads, the portable power module including a motor drivably connected to an electrical generator configured to produce at least approximately one megawatt of electrical power, the motor including a combustion chamber and a coolant jacket positioned adjacent to the combustion chamber to circulate liquid coolant, the portable power module further including a radiator and an exhaust gas silencer, the radiator connected in flow communication with the coolant jacket to receive the coolant from the coolant jacket and return the coolant to the coolant jacket, the exhaust gas silencer connected in flow communication with the combustion chamber to receive exhaust gases from the combustion chamber and discharge the exhaust gases, the portable power module further including a container having a first side portion spaced apart from an opposing second side portion and a bottom portion spaced apart from an opposing top portion, the bottom and top portions being at least partially interposed between the first and second side portions, wherein the portable power module has liquids on-board during normal operation including the liquid coolant, motor lubricants, and water, the containment system comprising:

• at least a first containment member positionable adjacent to the bottom portion of the container, wherein the motor, the generator, the radiator and the exhaust gas silencer are installed in the container when the portable power module is in a normal operating configuration, the first containment member including:
• a base portion;
• and
• a plurality of upstanding portions contiguously and sealably attached to the base portion around the perimeter of the base portion to avoid spillage of liquids from the container;
• and
• a drain outlet positioned on the base portion of the first containment member, the drain outlet being selectively configurable in a closed configuration in which the liquids are retained in the containment member or in an open configuration in which the liquids are allowed to drain out of the containment member.

A portable power module trailerable over public roads and capable of providing at least approximately one megawatt of electrical power in a normal operating configuration, the portable power module comprising:

• a shipping container defining a first interior portion toward a first direction and a second interior portion toward a second direction opposite to the first direction, the container including a first side portion spaced apart from an opposing second side portion and a bottom portion spaced apart from an opposing top portion, the bottom and top portions being at least partially interposed between the first and second side portions;
• a gaseous fuel motor positioned within the first interior portion, the motor having a combustion air intake in flow communication with a combustion chamber and a coolant jacket positioned adjacent to the combustion chamber to circulate liquid coolant;
• an electrical generator positioned within the first interior portion and drivably connected to the motor to produce at least one megawatt of electrical power when driven by the motor at a selected RPM, the generator including a generator air intake configured to receive cooling air;
• a radiator positioned within the second interior portion in flow communication with the coolant jacket, the radiator configured to receive the liquid coolant from the coolant jacket and return the coolant to the coolant jacket;
• an exhaust gas silencer positioned within the container and having an exhaust gas outlet positioned on the top portion of the container, the exhaust gas silencer connected in flow communication with the combustion chamber and configured to receive exhaust gases from the combustion chamber and vertically discharge the exhaust gases through the exhaust gas outlet;
• a containment member including a base portion positioned adjacent to the bottom portion of the container underneath the motor, the generator, the radiator and the exhaust gas silencer, the containment member further including a plurality of upstanding portions contiguously and sealably attached to the base portion around the perimeter of the base portion to avoid spillage of liquids from the container;
• onboard liquids including the liquid coolant, motor lubricants, and water that may reside in the portable power module during normal operation, wherein the plurality of upstanding portions of the containment member are contiguously and sealably attached to the base portion around the perimeter of the base portion to define a containment volume that can contain a portion of the onboard liquids;
• and
• a drain plug assembly including a drain hole and a mating drain plug, the mating drain plug being coupled with the drain hole to retain the portion of onboard liquids in the containment member, the mating drain plug being optionally decoupled from the drain hole to allow the portion of onboard liquids to drain out of the containment member.

A method for preventing liquids onboard a portable power module from spilling onto adjacent property, the portable power module being trailerable over public roads and including a motor drivably connected to an electrical generator configured to produce at least approximately one megawatt of electrical power, the motor including a combustion chamber and a coolant jacket positioned adjacent to the combustion chamber to circulate liquid coolant, the portable power module further including a radiator and an exhaust gas silencer, the radiator connected in flow communication with the coolant jacket to receive the coolant from the coolant jacket and return the coolant to the coolant jacket, the exhaust gas silencer connected in flow communication with the combustion chamber to receive exhaust gases from the combustion chamber and discharge the exhaust gases, the portable power module further including a container having a bottom portion, the method comprising:

• providing a containment member, the containment member including a base portion and a plurality of upstanding portions contiguously and sealably attached to the base portion around the perimeter of the base portion;
• positioning the containment member adjacent to the bottom portion of the container underneath the motor, the generator, the radiator and the exhaust gas silencer, wherein the motor, the generator, the radiator and the exhaust gas silencer are installed in the container when the portable power module is in a normal operating configuration;
• affixing the containment member to the container;
• providing a drain outlet adjacent to the base portion of the containment member, the drain outlet being selectively configurable in a closed configuration in which the onboard liquids can be retained in the containment member or in an open configuration in which the onboard liquids can be drained from the containment member;
• and
• configuring the drain outlet in the closed configuration.

A portable power module trailerable over public roads and capable of providing at least approximately one megawatt of electrical power in a normal operating configuration, the portable power module comprising:

• a shipping container defining a first interior portion toward a first direction and a second interior portion toward a second direction opposite to the first direction, the container including a first side portion spaced apart from an opposing second side portion and a bottom portion spaced apart from an opposing top portion, the bottom and top portions being at least partially interposed between the first and second side portions;
• a gaseous fuel motor positioned within the first interior portion, the motor having a combustion air intake in flow communication with a combustion chamber and a coolant jacket positioned adjacent to the combustion chamber to circulate liquid coolant;
• an electrical generator positioned within the first interior portion and drivably connected to the motor to produce at least one megawatt of electrical power when driven by the motor at a selected RPM, the generator including a generator air intake configured to receive cooling air;
• a radiator positioned within the second interior portion in flow communication with the coolant jacket, the radiator configured to receive the liquid coolant from the coolant jacket and return the coolant to the coolant jacket;
• an exhaust gas silencer positioned within the container and having an exhaust gas outlet positioned on the top portion of the container, the exhaust gas silencer connected in flow communication with the combustion chamber and configured to receive exhaust gases from the combustion chamber and vertically discharge the exhaust gases through the exhaust gas outlet;
• a containment member including a base portion positioned adjacent to the bottom portion of the container underneath the motor, the generator, the radiator and the exhaust gas silencer, the containment member further including a plurality of upstanding portions contiguously and sealably attached to the base portion around the perimeter of the base portion to avoid spillage of liquids from the container;
• and
• a drain outlet positioned on the base portion of the containment member, the drain outlet being selectively configurable in a closed configuration in which the liquids are retained in the containment member or in an open configuration in which the liquids are allowed to drain out of the containment member.