MHI Launches "8MACH-30G" 8-Cylinder Gas Engine To Achieve Comprehensive Line-up

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January 20, 2004 No.0976

MHI Launches "8MACH-30G" 8-Cylinder Gas Engine
To Achieve Comprehensive Line-up

Tokyo, January 20, 2004 - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has started marketing the 8MACH-30G, a newly developed 8-cylinder inline engine now part of its highly popular MACH-30G series of gas engines. The new 8MACH-30G features 2,550 kW (kilowatts) rated output at 50 Hz or 2,450 kW at 60Hz, and boasts 45% power-generator efficiency, the highest among gas engines of this class.

MHI launched the first four models in the MACH-30G series in 2001; they feature 12, 14, 16 and 18 cylinders and rated outputs ranging from 3,650 kW to 5,750 kW. To date, they have generated sales of more than 60 units. To cope with this strong demand, in the summer of 2003 MHI increased the gas-engine production capacity at the Kanazawa plant of its Yokohama Dockyard & Machinery Works, from 36 units per year to 50.

With the addition of the new 8MACH-30G in the medium-size 2,500 kW class, MHI's MACH-30G series can now accommodate customer needs for gas engines across a full spectrum from 280 kW to 5,750 kW. The new model especially complements the earlier introduced GSR series gas engines, which offer power outputs between 280 kW and 845 kW.

Development of the 8MACH-30G was undertaken with two main objectives: 1) to reduce CO2 and NOx emissions to contribute environmental protection; and 2) to provide a wide output range of engines in the midst of increasing needs for distributed power sources in line with accelerated adoption of the ESCO (energy service company) business format. MHI intends to pursue vigorous marketing activities for the new engines both at home and abroad.

The newly introduced 8MACH-G incorporates many of MHI's comprehensive engine technologies. These include its Miller cycle* thin-combustion technology already adopted in the GSR and pre-existing MACH-30G gas engines. Other standard features of the MACH-30G series are also included, for example: 1) a micro-pilot fuel-injection system, requiring an extremely small amount of liquid fuel for ignition; 2) an electronically controlled common rail, enabling flexible control of fuel injection; and 3) a knock monitoring function (M-RICS) using today's most advanced sensors. A round-the-clock remote monitoring service will also be provided by the KU Customer Assistance Center located within the Kanazawa plant.

Note:

Miller cycle was invented by R. H. Miller of the U.S.A. In the case of conventional cycle engines, expansion ratio and compression ratio are almost same; however, Miller cycle provides higher expansion ratio than compression ratio. Due to the lesser amount of energy used for compression process, higher power generation efficiency is achieved. The Miller cycle engine has a demerit to have lesser amount of fuel-mixed air in the cylinder; however, this demerit can be complemented by the use of a high-efficiency turbocharger.

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About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading global heavy machinery manufacturers, with consolidated sales of 2,593 billion yen (US$21.6 billion) in fiscal 2002 (year ended March 31, 2003). MHI's diverse lineup of products and services encompasses shipbuilding, steel structures, power plants, chemical plants, steel plants, environmental equipment, industrial and general machinery, aircraft, space rocketry and air-conditioning systems.
For more information, please visit the MHI website (http://www.mhi.co.jp).

PRESS CONTACT:
Hideo Ikuno: h.ikuno@daiya-pr.co.jp
Tel: +813-6716-5277, Fax: +813-6716-5929
Daiya PR (in charge of public relations for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries)