Caterpillar Oil & Gas has introduced the Cat G3520J as the first gas engine manufactured at Caterpillar China Tianjin Ltd. (CTL) for oil and gas applications. With ratings of 1104 and 1286 bkW (1480 and 1725 hp), the engine is targeted toward gas compression applications and Cat said the design is built on the reliability and durability of the Cat G3500 LE series.

Production of the G3520J at Caterpillar’s CTL facility is a major advancement, as it provides regional customers with the solutions and dealer support they need at a lower order-to-delivery time,” Caterpillar said.

“With the large opportunity for natural gas growth in China, and the Asia-Pacific region, providing an in-region product to support that growth is consistent with Caterpillar’s strategy to help our customers succeed,” said Michael Coppinger, Caterpillar Oil & Gas, product definition manager for gas compression.

Caterpillar Tianjin Ltd. represents a significant investment in the Asia-Pacific region, and the only facility that builds Cat G3500 series engines and generator sets in China. “By producing the G3520J at Caterpillar’s CTL facility customers benefit from the same manufacturing processes, built on over 30 years of experience from the Lafayette Engine Center in the U.S., while reducing the overall order-to-delivery time by eliminating the lead time for overseas freight,” said Coppinger.

Cat said the 20-cylinder G3520J, which has bore and stroke dimensions of 170 x 190 mm and a displacement of 86 L, can burn a wide range of fuels and a has broad operating speed range with improved altitude capabilities. The two-stage turbocharged and aftercooled engine also leverages Ultra Lean Burn technology (ULB). Additionally, the G3520J is capable of meeting 0.5g/bhp-hr NOx (not to exceed, NTE) under standard conditions, originally developed to meet U.S. EPA New Source Performance Standards (NSPS). The Advanced Digital Engine Management (ADEM) A3 system is used to efficiently integrates speed control, air/fuel ratio control, and ignition/detonation controls, the company said.

“Not only are we helping our customers win by providing an in-region product for growing natural gas prospects, but with many components manufactured in-country, locally sourced suppliers benefit as well,” said Caterpillar’s gas compression market consultant, Bill Mermoud.

Product support for the G3520J is available through Caterpillar’s dealer network that includes more than 2200 dealer outlets worldwide.