Caterpillar offers the G3516C 50Hz high efficiency natural gas generator set, available now with optional air and fuel system controls specifically designed for island mode applications.
The G3516C 50Hz generator set, equipped with the island mode control system, generates power independently from the power grid with a high efficiency, natural gas-fueled engine for commercial and institutional customers who require exceptionally reliable, high-quality electric power.
“An increasing number of customers – especially those in critical manufacturing or remote locations – have evaluated their overall energy needs and determined that island mode operation should be an essential element of their on-site power generation capabilities,” said John A. Fisher, electric power sales development manager at Caterpillar. “On-site generator sets must be able to withstand load fluctuations with relatively small frequency and voltage deviations, and the new G3516C 50Hz gas generator set with enhanced air and fuel system controls provides superior island mode operation capability.”
Cat® natural gas generator sets with the island mode feature tackle the major barriers for distributed generation in stand-alone applications where a utility grid connection is unavailable or the utility grid is not stable. The improved transient capability also supports the use of low-emission gas generator sets in standby power applications, providing customers with more clean energy options for their electric power supply solutions.
Driven by an electronically controlled, lean-burn gaseous-fueled reciprocating Cat engine, the G3516C generator set was designed to offer a high power density and excellent fuel efficiency while maintaining tight NOx control. It provides the flexibility to operate on pipeline natural gas with the same methane number range as Caterpillar’s current natural gas packages and delivers an ISO electrical efficiency of up to 40.4% at 50Hz – even with the use of two engine-driven water pumps.
The Cat G3516C generator set operates at 50Hz/1,500rpm with a continuous rating of 1,944kVA (1,555ekW). It has a standard NOx emissions rating of 500mg/NM3 at 50Hz, with performance of 250mg/NM3 at 50Hz available through a 54°C separate circuit aftercooler (SCAC) system that can be used with a conventional cooling system arrangement in almost all geographic locations. The G3516C is built on a heavy-duty, diesel-based, bottom-end platform for superior durability with a unique top-end design for gas application optimization. It also features an open combustion chamber design capable of operating at pressures as low as 1.5psi (10.3kPa).
Standard on the G3516C generator set is a digital microprocessor gas engine control module, which automatically and precisely regulates ignition, engine governing and air-to-fuel ratio for optimum fuel economy. Its technologically advanced air-to-fuel ratio control monitors charge air density and maintain stringent NOx control under a variety of ambient and load conditions. The G3516C features an individual-cylinder detonation sensing and timing control, with a prechamber-type spark plug design for extended service life without adjustment.
For more than 80 years, Caterpillar has been making progress possible and driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2008 sales and revenues of $51.324 billion, Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines.