Cleveland Brothers Power Systems Division was recently certified by the Caterpillar^® Global Petroleum Division as one of only five current North American GCM Level 1 Product Support Dealerships for Cat’s^® GCM engine product. The GCM (Gas Caterpillar Motoren) product consists of two very large natural gas-driven engine sizes used by the gas compression, storage and transmission industry. The G12CM34 model is a 12-cylinder engine capable of 6,135 hp while the G16CM34 with 16 cylinders is capable of 8,180 hp at 750 RPM. To put things in perspective, the G16CM34 weighs approximately 90 tons, stands 12 feet tall, 26.5 feet long, and is classified as a 610-liter engine; not exactly your father’s Oldsmobile.

The GCM product has been developed from a long line of industry leading MAK diesel-driven marine engines capable of up to 20,000 hp. The MAK engine, used to propel sea-faring freighters and oil tankers, provided an excellent platform to build these high-horsepower GCMs. The MAK brand was purchased in 2002 by Caterpillar from the German MAK Engine Company.

High horsepower engines such as the GCM arose from the demand of an engine that can produce over 5,000 hp while running on natural gas for several reasons. Gas transmission and gas storage are ever increasing in capacity and size. Along with this, driver capacity needs to be increased to minimize the number of installed units and resulting capital expenditure. A GCM produces enough power to compress and transport gas over 120 miles unaided before having to add another compressor station.

Along with increased size and capacity, the GCM provides an alternative to gas turbines. In certain output ranges, the GCM has improved ambient temperature as well as altitude performance as compared to gas turbines. In these ranges the GCM can provide significant fuel savings and operational efficiency. In addition, the wide flexible operating range along with variable speed turndown of 40%, provides advantage in natural gas storage applications.

As the natural gas pipeline infrastructure continues to grow and more GCMs become operational along these developing routes, Caterpillar has taken steps to ensure their customers have the best parts and service available to them. Cat places stringent standards on who can be certified to service such a large investment for gas companies. Technicians and technical coordinators must already be first in class at their dealership and then must receive specialized training in Germany. An investment in special tooling and spare parts is also required in order to give GCM customers fast, top quality service.

As a GCM Level 1 Product Support Dealership, Cleveland Brothers is responsible for larger preventive maintenance items and major component repairs from heads, camshafts, main bearings and turbochargers to complete engine overhauls. Cleveland Brothers has inherited a territory of states from the Canadian border in the Northeast extending South to North Carolina.

Presently Cleveland Brothers will be supporting three units in our territory. Two G12CM34s and one G16CM34 are scheduled to be commissioned this November. These units are located in Eastern Ohio at the new end of the Rockies Express (REX) Pipeline. When this segment of the REX is completed the pipeline will be able to transport NG over 1,600 miles from Rio Blanco County, Colorado, to Monroe County, Ohio, at a rate of up to 1.8 billion cubic feet per day. Further plans are currently in development to continue the REX line in order to supply low-cost fuel rate gas to customers in the Northeast. In the continental United States, the GCM unit population will stand at 55 by mid 2009 and increase to 70 in 2010.

With the transmission of natural gas to homes throughout the country expanding to meet the demand of a cheaper alternative to foreign energy supplies, Caterpillar and Cleveland Brothers will be here to ensure that your natural gas appliances will have a constant supply.