caterpillar

Caterpillar (CAT) Marine has secured a deal with Brazilian operator Assessoria Transporte Aquaviaro to power fast ferries for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

CAT Marine will supply 28 generator sets for seven aluminum-hull fast ferries. The 14 Cat 3512 with dynamic gas blending (DGB) and 14 Cat 9 gensets are designed to ensure prime and auxiliary power. Each 3512 generator provides 550eKW at 60Hz of rated power.

The ferries will feature diesel electric propulsion with azimuth thrusters and identical engine rooms. One ferry will be equipped with the Cat Marine dual fuel solution and powered by compressed natural gas. The remaining six ferries will be built with the option to retrofit the engine room to include dynamic gas blending kits.

“We’re pleased to unveil our first Cat Marine 3500 dual fuel solutions with Dynamic Gas Blending for such a significant global event,” said Chris Chenette, CAT Marine product value manager.

According to CAT Marine, the 3512 DGB generator set features a low-pressure gas system with an approximately 70% maximum gas substitution rate across a wide load range.

“The new Cat Marine dual fuel solution leverages the proven durability of the 3500 diesel engine while offering customers enhanced fuel flexibility and power redundancy to run diesel or gas,” said Jason Spear, CAT Marine product definition engineer.

Caterpillar Rental Power has revealed two diesel power modules for international power providers (IPP) for short- and long-term demands.

Both sets, Cat XQC1600 and Cat XQC1200, are provided with CAT diesel engines that feature components for reconditioning and reuse at overhaul, which reduce the total cost of ownership, according to the manufacturer.

The XQC1600 has a continuous rating of 1515kW at 50Hz and 1705kW at 60Hz. The second module, the XQC1200, is rated for 1150kW at 50Hz and 1260kW at 60Hz.

“The XQC1600 and XQC1200 power modules utilize proven Cat engine platforms redesigned to provide improved fuel economy,” said Brian Kruse, general manager at Caterpillar.

The two modules incorporate a variable frequency drive and fans requiring up to 80% less power than traditional direct drive cooling fans, claimed the supplier. The engine should deliver up to 9% improvement in fuel economy at 100% load.

The control system provides site operation and monitoring from a local control room or from remote sites via Internet and is designed to reduce installation as well as startup time. The system is set to monitor the status of all service filters for remote notification of condition-based maintenance requirements.

The XQC1200 will be introduced later this year. The XQC1600 is available now.

Finning Power Systems has supplied seven Caterpillar generator sets for energy schemes in Leicester and Birmingham, UK.

The CAT gensets will support low carbon combined heat and power (CHP) and tri-generation technology across the two sites, covering thousands of homes and council-owned buildings.

One site, part of the Leicester District Energy scheme, is a £15m partnership between Cofely District Energy, Leicester City Council and the University of Leicester. It is expected to reduce Leicester’s carbon emissions by around 8,400 tonnes per annum.

Finning supplied two 1600kWe, G3516E generator sets, along with design support and commissioning for the new, gas-fired CHP installation at the University of Leicester. A G3516E unit was also supplied for the upgrade of the existing district heating scheme on a housing estate in the city.

In Birmingham under a similar scheme, four CAT gensets from Finning, including a G3516C with control panel and exhaust gas heat exchanger, along with a 2000kWe G3520E, 1600kWe G3516E and 725kWe G3512LE were supplied. Finning provided design support and commissioning for all four units.

Diesel Generator firm FG Wilson is changing its name to Caterpillar (NI) Limited to strengthen the link between the subsidiary and its parent company. The change is, according to the company, intended to create a “visible link between Caterpillar’s manufacturing facilities in Northern Ireland and the wider group." 

The firm based in Northern Ireland is currently making job cuts of 1300 and also announced the move of production to Tianjin in China. It claims the rebranding will not result in further job losses at this stage.

Caterpillar’s Robert Kennedy said: "Whilst the legal name of the company will change, the FG Wilson name will remain a key part of our history and heritage and indeed our future.

"That's because Caterpillar will continue to produce the range of leading products that carry the FG Wilson brand and those products will continue to be a key part of our global electric power strategy."

FG Wilson director Tony McAllister said the change was part of a larger initiative to "enhance and strengthen the FG Wilson brand and business in the global marketplace".

FG Wilson produces 50 000 diesel generator sets each year for export to 180 countries.