Cat G3600 Gas Compression Engine to Launch at GMRC

Caterpillar Oil & Gas said it will launch the Cat G3600 series with the ADEM A4  Engine Control Module at the GMRC Show, held October 5-8 in Nashville, Tennessee. The natural gas fuelled G3600 engine family is the company’s flagship series for gas compression applications, having logged over 140 million operating hours around the world. The new G3600 gas engine platform offers customers expanded fuel flexibility, a 5.6% power increase and greater altitude and ambient temperature capabilities. Additionally, the new G3600 engines will incorporate the advanced ADEM A4 engine control unit, enabling the Cat power solutions to work harder and smarter. Engines included in the new design include the G3606, G3608, G3612 and G3616.

“The key driver for our new G3600 product enhancements was to offer greater fuel flexibility to our customers,” Bill Mermoud, Caterpillar (CAT) Oil & Gas marketing program NPI manager noted. “The new G3600 engines have performed exceptionally in customer testing, accumulating significant hours in the field at an optimum performance level.”

Originally introduced to the market in 1984, the Cat G3600 series is built using the proven Cat diesel platform, delivering rugged performance in the most demanding natural gas applications. The new Cat G3600 engine platforms will be available in power ratings ranging from 1,398 bkW (1,875 bhp) at 1,000 rpm to 3,990 bkW (5,350 bhp) at 1,000 rpm and 0.5 g/bhp-hr (NTE) NOx emissions. The new G3600 engines offer improved power at both altitude and elevated ambient temperatures and ambient-based ratings at 43 C (110 F) & 32 C (90 F). The expanded fuel flexibility allows operation with more power with fuels rich in heavy hydro carbons as well as those with a high inert gas content.

Numerous design improvements have been configured into the new platform to improve fuel flexibility and increase power including a lower compression ratio, two stage aftercooler and new turbocharger. A new control strategy increases the load acceptance and robustness to fuel variation.

Packaging of the engines has been simplified to include standard compressor oil cooler ports, standard JW heater ports, standard coolant and oil sample ports as well as engine mounted thermostats. The new exhaust insulation system features a stainless steel sheet metal structure with an inner insulation layer, minimized fasteners and grab handles, creating a long lasting and easy to service product.

The new engine control system, centered on the ADEM A4 engine control module (ECM) is also easier to configure, tune governor settings, and troubleshoot, providing operators with improved serviceability. Operator interface options include the OCP 4.3 and Cat HMI; used together, the ADEM A4 with OCP 4.3 or Cat HMI creates the optimum engine interface.  The OCP 4.3 has a 5.5-inch monochrome display that provides a robust interface to engine controls, access to ADEM A4 ECM parameters and Modbus and Ethernet interface capabilities.   In addition, the OCP 4.3 comes with configurable analog and digital I/O.

The Cat HMI system is based on a 15-inch color touch screen.  The Cat HMI system interfaces with engine controls, provides access to ADEM A4 ECM parameters and Modbus and Ethernet capabilities. The Cat HMI meets CSA Class 1 Div. 2 Group A, B, C, D standards.  When the Cat HMI system is integrated into the package control system, via the development software, it can be the operator’s single point of interface for the entire compressor package.

Mermoud commented, “By engineering the ADEM A4 into the engine design, the G3600 platform will provide customers with expanded engine monitoring and diagnostic capabilities, especially in conjunction with the Cat Connect suite of technology enabled solutions.”