Liebherr enters the megawatt market

Following the strategy initiated in 2013 for the delivery of fully equipped gas engines, the Liebherr Components division now enters the megawatt market with its new gas engine development. The 20-cylinders gas engine G9620 features a displacement of 48.7 litres, 44% mechanical efficiency and the power output of over 1,000 kWm. It will be presented to the public at the EnergyDecentral in Hannover (Germany) from 15th to 18th of November 2016.

The G9620 will include integrated air filters, on-engine Liebherr ECUs with calibrated datasets and a new water-cooling concept. This will simplify the work of packagers and allow greater flexibility in applications. As its predecessors, the engine design follows the concept of a 'plug and play' solution. The number of connections, that is the water circuits and the electrical or electronic connections, are limited to a minimum. Combined with integrated filters, this greatly reduces the amount of time and efforts OEMs would have to spend integrating it into cogeneration units. Moreover, it will also guarantee OEMs the matching subcomponents. On developing the product, Liebherr puts special focus on an optimised lifecycle and operation costs to create the highest costumer advantage.

Gas engine available in two basic versions

"The new gas engine by Liebherr will be available in two basic versions - a 'high efficiency' and 'high response' version", explains Martial Suchet, Head of Sales Gas Engines at Liebherr. "With them, Liebherr will cover the most applications on a wide spectrum of different gases, for example, gases with different energy values as well as gases with different methane numbers. Applications both in net parallel work and island mode, as well as in 50 or 60 Hz applications are further planned for development", continues Martial Suchet. "This flexibility is possible thanks to only a few adjustments and some geometric aspects, but mainly thanks to our on-board electronics. The electronic control units are steering all essential engine functions, such as knocking control, ignition control, power control, lambda control, safety controls".

How Liebherr arrived at gas engines

Since 1985, Liebherr has developed and expanded its range of diesel engines. Diesel versions from 4 to 20 cylinders now cover a power range from 150 to 1,700 kW. Based on this experience and expertise, Liebherr started with the production of gas engines with the power output ranging between 100 and 1,000 kW.

"The stationary gas engines market is changing and requires flexible engines to meet the demands of diverse applications. Therefore, we are focusing on energetic overall efficiency of heat power coupling installations, emissions regulations and flexibility in application as essential points in our further developments", emphasises Martial Suchet. As a result, these products meet the highest demands in terms of emissions, as well. At its launch, the G9620 will comply with the 'TA Luft' emission standard (Raw Emission NOX): 500 mg/Nm3@5%O2.