Caterpillar to Supply 17 Diesel Generator Sets for Port of Savannah Repowering Project
Georgia Ports Authority to upgrade rubber-tired gantry cranes with new emissions reduction technology meeting Tier 4 Interim standards.
Caterpillar Inc. has announced that the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has signed an agreement to purchase 17 generator sets powered by Tier 4 Interim certified Cat® C15 ACERT™ engines as part of an ongoing effort at the Port of Savannah to upgrade older rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTG) with cleaner technology.
Atlanta-based Cat dealer Yancey Bros. Co. will adapt the diesel generator sets with customized enclosures and mounts for installation into 17 RTGs. The project will start in the first quarter of 2011, with staged upgrades scheduled for completion within 12 months.
The repower project will replace the non-regulated and Tier 1 diesel generator sets originally installed on the RTGs with advanced power generation equipment featuring cleaner, more efficient Tier 4 Interim certified Cat C15 engines. To further reduce fuel consumption and emissions, the RTGs will be outfitted with new controls that will automatically shift the engines between idle and higher operating speeds to optimise efficiency and meet variable load demands.
“A key part of the Georgia Ports Authority’s mission is to maintain the natural quality of the environment, and this repowering project will significantly reduce emissions and our fuel consumption,” said Curtis Foltz, GPA’s executive director. “It is critical for us to demonstrate global excellence in all aspects of our operations as we look to nearly double port capacity within the next ten years, and these diesel generator sets from Caterpillar will help us fulfill our commitment to environmental leadership while increasing our productivity.”
The use of the new Cat generator sets in the 17 cranes is expected to reduce emissions of NOx by more than 60 per cent and emissions of particulate matter by more than 80 per cent. Once complete, GPA expects the RTG repower project will reduce total annual diesel fuel consumption by 129,200 gallons.
“As one of the leading port facilities in North America, the Georgia Ports Authority has a well-deserved reputation for making quantum leaps in productivity while maintaining the highest standards for sustainability and environmental responsibility,” said Eric Arnold, vice president for the Power Systems division of Yancey Bros. Co. “By leveraging Caterpillar’s advanced technologies and Yancey’s considerable hands-on expertise, this repower project will substantially extend the lifetime of the Port of Savannah’s busy fleet of RTGs through state-of-the-art generator sets that will increase efficiency and dramatically reduce emissions.”
Designed for standby, prime and load management applications, the diesel generator set powered by the Cat C15 engine offers highly competitive service intervals, fuel consumption rates and power density. With ratings of 500 ekW (standby) and 455 ekW (prime), this is the first mid-range generator set from Caterpillar available with Tier 4 Interim certification. Utilizing an electronically controlled air management system, the advanced emissions control on the engine lowers combustion temperature and decreases NOx output, meeting EPA-regulated levels without the need for aftertreatment.
“With millions of dollars in research and development validated by nearly one million hours of testing, Caterpillar has demonstrated its leadership in Tier 4 Interim//Stage IIIB technology,” said Robert Koval, global product director of Caterpillar Electric Power Division. “The repowering project at the Port of Savannah illustrates the economic and environmental benefits customers can achieve as a result of Caterpillar’s investment in cleaner engines and integrated emissions reduction techniques.”
Caterpillar is a leader in the power generation marketplace with power systems engineered to deliver unmatched durability, reliability and value. The company offers worldwide product support, with parts and service available globally through the Caterpillar authorised service and dealer network. In addition, dealer service technicians are trained to service every aspect of Cat equipment.
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