Lister-Petter Inc. (LPI), has expanded its Western Hemisphere engine program with the launch of a new line of natural gas and propane-fueled engines. The new LPWG engines are gaseous-fueled versions of Lister-Petter's Alpha series diesel engines.
New to the Lister-Petter line are the LPWG2, LPWG3 and LPWG4 two-, three-, and four-cylinder, water-cooled engines based on the LPW2, LPW3 and LPW4 diesels. The three new models were launched in February and are being targeted at a variety of stationary uses, as well as some mobile applications.
According to Phil Cantrill, president of LPI, Olathe, Kan., the gaseous-fueled Alpha engines give the company the option of approaching customers with both diesel and gas-fueled products of comparable size and weight. The new gas Alpha models join a number of Iveco gaseous-fueled engines in LPI's engine portfolio. Lister-Petter Inc., is the U.S. distributor for Iveco/Aifo engines. Lister-Petter had previously packaged gas versions of its old HR diesels in Olathe through the early 1990s.
Power generation applications are seen as the major market for the new gas engines, for both standby and prime power gen-sets. In fact, the first orders for the engines were from a major U.S. gen-set manufacturer for a new line of standby generator sets.
"We feel that remote telecom sites, particularly where EPA restrictions or other site considerations prohibit diesel fuel storage, will be excellent markets for these new engines," Cantrill said. He also listed oilfield pump jacks, gen-sets used on utility-type vehicles, material handling and possibly aviation ground support as market possibilities for the gasified Alpha engines. Cantrill also said Latin America, with its plentiful availability of gas, is expected to be a key geographic market for the engines.
While more complete specifications accompany this article, the intermittent outputs of the gasified Alpha engines range from 7.8 to 24.2 hp with natural gas, and 9.1 to 27.5 hp with propane, all electronically governed to 1500 or 1800 rpm.
The engineering and manufacturing responsibility for converting the Alpha diesels into gas engines is split between Lister-Petter Ltd.'s Dursley, England, headquarters and Olathe.
At Dursley, the gas engines are fitted with different pistons than the diesels and the cylinder head is reconfigured to use spark plugs instead of a fuel injector. Further, the keymarks on the flywheel are different and the gas engines use a special, hardened Stellite valve seat material.
The gas fuel system is added in Olathe, said Bruce Hampel, engineering manager. The system starts with an Impco CA55-B carburetor. Currently, LPI is using two carburetors, one for natural gas use and one for propane. However, Impco and LPI are working to develop a single carburetor that is able to use both fuels. The gas regulator is from Maxitrol, again different versions for natural gas and propane use.
Lister-Petter's New Gasified Alpha Engines
Natural Gas Propane
Model Cyl. Output(*) Speed Output(*)
LPWG2 2 7.8 hp 1500 0.1 hp
LPWG2 2 10.0 hp 1800 11.7 hp
LPWG3 3 14.6 hp 1500 16.6 hp
LPWG3 3 18.2 hp 1800 20.6 hp
LPWG4 4 19.5 hp 1500 22.1 hp
LPWG4 4 24.2 hp 1800 27.5 hp
* Intermittent bhp output; nominal 1037 btu/ft3, 0.601 specific
gravity
** Intermittent, using HD-5 propane gas; nominal 2588 btu/ft3,
1.552 specific gravity.
The governor, control and regulator are from Barber-Colman. The governor/control module is a DYNI system, while the actuator is a DYNC unit. The ignition coils for the two- and four-cylinder engines are from Sanko, while a Pertronics coil is used on the three-cylinder model. Pertronics also supplies other ignition system parts including the Hall Effect sensor.
Hampel said the gas engines have a faster pulley ratio for increased cooling and that in certain uses, the gas engines use a 15 in. fan versus the 13 in. fan that is standard on the diesel. Other than that, the gas engines are identical to the diesels.
RELATED ARTICLE: Lister-Petter's New Delta Diesel Also Being Launched
Also coming to the Lister-Petter Inc., engine range in 1998 is the Delta diesel that came to LPI as part of its 1996 agreement with Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (MHI).
The agreement, announced in February 1996, calls for the engine to be built at Lister-Petter Ltd.'s Dursley, England, headquarters. A $13 million-plus expansion has been completed and the engine began production in Dursley late last year. The engines are now being launched to Lister-Petter engine customers.
Mitsubishi, which will continue to make the engine in Japan, will use the engine, known as the S4S, largely for its own equipment, primarily lift trucks.
Other versions will be built as the Delta diesel for sales by Lister-Petter worldwide. The water-cooled, indirect-injection diesel carries an intermittent rating of 63 hp at 2500 hp, with a 78 hp turbocharged version due shortly. This fits directly on top of Lister-Petter's Alpha diesel range with outputs to 55 hp. Target markets are primarily mobile equipment, especially material handling, as well as compressors and construction equipment. The engine will also be used in Lister-Petter Hawkpower generator sets.
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