4 Gas Compression Products That Take Down Emissions, Not Power

If your operation is working proactively to stay ahead of emissions standards, you’re not alone. Even though there have been no changes at the federal level since 2010, state and site-specific regulations — particularly in non-attainment areas — are tightening. Plus, many organizations have made their internal targets more restrictive than federal standards to meet environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals. Here are four Cat® gas compression solutions designed to help you achieve your sustainability targets without sacrificing power or performance.

1. G3600 A4 Engines. Introduced in 2015, this lean-burn engine platform was the first on the market to meet NOx emissions levels as low as 0.3 g/bhp-hr. Overall, G3600 A4 engines produce 40% less NOx, 20% less CO and 60% less VOC than the previous model, the G3600 A3, giving you fewer emissions and more horsepower per location. And they deliver full power at an expanded altitude range and in a wider fuel band, reducing or eliminating the need for gas treatment.

2. G3516 TA Engine. Built on the proven G3500 gas engine platform, this stoichiometric engine with wet exhaust manifolds provides high fuel efficiency and low emissions. How low? When configured with the Caterpillar ADEM A4 control system and air/fuel ratio control, plus a customer-supplied three-way catalyst, NOx emissions stay at or below 0.15 g/bhp-hr. One customer reports even better results — levels less than 0.1 g/bhp-hr for both NOx and CO.

3.  Electric Motors. Working in a highly regulated region? Consider our full line of electric motors for gas compression, which produce zero emissions on site. There are trade-offs, as you have to consider the price of electricity versus natural gas and the potential need for infrastructure to bring power to your site. But if eliminating onsite emissions is the goal, our electric motors — which range from 1,000 to 10,000 horsepower — offer the reliable performance you need while requiring virtually no maintenance.

4. Upgrade/Retrofit Kits. If your fleet includes older G3500 engines that have plenty of life remaining but don’t meet today’s emissions standards, we have an answer. Low-emission upgrade kits take NOx levels down to 0.5 g/bhp-hr to keep your older engines working productively. We also offer retrofit kits that not only lower NOx emissions but also improve horsepower ratings, elevation performance and more. Both are more sustainable, cost-effective solutions than writing off old models as idle or stranded assets.

We’re here to help you stay on top of the push to lower emissions, whether that’s driven by government regulations or your stakeholders’ expectations. Talk to your local Cat dealer about all the gas compression solutions available to help you work more sustainably — from both an environmental and economic perspective.