MHI Develops “MEGASEG,” Industry’s First Portable Generator in the 2kVA Class Fueled by Propane Gas (LPG)

The MEGASEG measures 547 millimeters (mm) in width, 480 mm in depth and 618 mm in height, and weighs 56 kg. MHI's Meiki GB180, a gasoline engine widely used to drive various types of handheld garden machineries, is retrofitted to drive the generator on LPG.

The adoption of LPG fuel has eliminated problems conventionally associated with engines fueled by gasoline – in particular, hard engine starting and unstable operation attributable to deterioration of the fuel stored over long periods – and significantly reduced maintenance workload. Furthermore, as the LPG tank can be changed to a unit of larger size, the generator can easily accommodate long hours of continuous operation. In addition, usage can begin simply by connecting the LPG tank to the dedicated hose provided. The adoption of an inverter has resulted in stable output permitting usage for information systems and a fully covered sound-insulating structure provides quieter operation enabling the use even in urban environments. Also, the adoption of an electronically controlled throttle valve saves fuel by controlling the engine speed in precise response to the load.

In the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake, it became widely recognized how important it is to secure emergency power sources for critical systems including information systems as a BCP measure. Sales of portable generators that are convenient and easy to use have grown robustly, and demand has risen for generators that can operate on alternate fuels that are safer than gasoline as well.

MHI has responded to these calls by developing the MEGASEG, the new generator with 2.2kVA output for which great demand had been expressed, based on its knowhow accumulated through its industry-leading 0.85kVA LPG-fueled generator launched into the market in 2002. The MEGASEG will be manufactured and marketed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engine Systems Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary based in Tokyo that currently markets MHI's large gas-engine generators for emergency and continuous use. Its addition to the lineup will enable MHI to respond to a broader range of equipment needs going forward.