Cat Launches B Series Of CG170 Gas Generator Set

Caterpillar Energy Solutions has introduced the B series of the CG 170 generator sets, which the company said offers increased power output from 1.3 to 2.3 MW along with higher reliability and improved return on investment.

Cat said the increased electrical efficiency – up to 45% natural gas (NG) / 43.6% biogas (BG) makes the generator set more economical for customers as it burns less gas to produce even more energy.

“At Caterpillar, we have a laser sharp focus on customer success,” said Mark Jenzer, product manager with Caterpillar Energy Solutions. “We’re dedicated to research and development, constantly looking to see how we can re-engineer our products to help them better serve our customers. We are thrilled to announce the B series of CG170 gas generator sets, as they will do just that – help our customers achieve more and be more profitable.” 

Caterpillar Energy Solutions said the 50 HZ 20-cylinder version is available now, with 12 and 16 cylinders coming out later in 2019. The engine has a bore and stroke of 170 X 195 mm.

Engineering improvements with the B series of the CG170 generator series include switching from aluminum to steel pistons allowing for higher efficiency, the company said. Additionally, the air filters have been redesigned, which supports the compactness of the generator set.

“With upgraded state-of-the-art technology, the B series of CG170 can provide up to 80 000 hours until major overhaul,” Jenzer said. “This results in higher reliability and lower total owning and operating cost for customers.”

The CG170B series offers different engine variants tailor-made for a variety of applications – running on natural gas, biogas, wellhead and propane gas.

“This offers greater flexibility to our customers allowing them to choose the type of fuel they want to use,” Jenzer said. “With the different engine variants, we can offer high-efficiency engines optimized for electrical efficiency at the lowest possible operating costs. We also offer a high response version which is optimized for total efficiency if a customer is interested in producing electrical energy, but also needs heat for internal efficiency by utilizing combined heat and power (CHP).” 

The series also offers a biogas version where the engine has been optimized for total efficiency with a variety of biogases, Jenzer said. In the future, the CG170B will offer a variant for high altitude and ambient temperatures for regions of the world where climates are challenging. 

The CG170B series features Caterpillar’s fully digitized Total Plant and Energy Management (TPEM) system. Responsible for controlling all power plant data within an advanced hardware and software solution, this new system eliminates the need for multiple controls. It also features a 15-in. touchscreen, which provides a wide range of data concerning the status of the power plant. The data is saved for up to one year, enabling shorter maintenance times through systematic planning. The TPEM system meets the latest ISO 27001 standards.

The CG170B also comes standard with Cat Connect capabilities, Cat Connect is a suite of services to collect and analyze data to help customers reduce owning and operating cost and increase profits.