CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO SELECTS mtu SERIES 2000 ENGINES FROM ROLLS-ROYCE TO REPOWER AUXILIARY WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

• State-of-the-art mtu diesel engines to repower historic San Francisco emergency firefighting water supply system

NOVI, MICH., U.S.A. – San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) has chosen mtu, a Rolls-Royce Power Systems brand within the Land and Sea division of Rolls-Royce and leading manufacturer of diesel engines and propulsion systems, to repower the San Francisco Fire Department’s 102-year-old Auxiliary Water Supply System (AWSS).

Four mtu Series 2000 engines will power the AWSS emergency pump stations, which have a rated pumping capacity of 2,700 gallons per minute and are responsible for pumping water directly from San Francisco Bay specifically for fire protection.

The mtu 12V 2000 C12 engines, which will be installed this fall, will replace four Detroit Diesel Series 71 engines, which were installed in 1972 to replace the system’s original steam engines. mtu acquired the Detroit Diesel 2-Cycle product line in 2006 and the legendary reliability of the Series 71 lives on in these newer, more powerful four-stroke engines from mtu.

The AWSS network was constructed after San Francisco’s devastating 1906 earthquake, when the shaken city was unable to tap into the San Francisco Bay’s abundance of water to extinguish the earthquake’s subsequent building fires. Completed in 1913, the network is made up of a collection of water reservoirs, cisterns, suction connections, fireboats and two pump stations, one of which is in the basement of San Francisco Fire Department’s headquarters. Some of the building’s historical features include marble flooring, original windows and doors, as well as mechanical equipment such as process gauges and valves that date back to the building’s original construction in the early 1900s. The building also features the city’s Firefighters Memorial Wall that pays tribute to those who gave their lives to save the lives of others in fires, natural disasters and medical emergencies.

California-based mtu distributor, Valley Power Systems Inc., will provide local support following the installation of the engines. With more than 60 years of expertise, Valley will provide the AWSS with turnkey power engineering services, regulatory compliance assistance, and training and technical support, in addition to complete systems integration.

“We have worked closely with all parties involved, including the city of San Francisco and the San Francisco Fire Department to ensure great care is taken during the course of this project to protect the building’s many historical features,” said Tom Eastman, service manager, Valley Power Systems North, Inc. “In addition to meeting several local, state and federal requirements for air quality, noise compliance and seismic safety, the engines also have the ability to be controlled and monitored remotely.”

Built at mtu’s Aiken, S.C. production facility, the Series 2000 is a leader in economical operation and powerful performance with maximum availability and reliability and low life-cycle costs.

“It gives us great pride to provide the power that will help the firefighters who rely on this critical emergency water supply system as they protect the lives of area residents,” said Scott Woodruff, director of industrial engine sales, MTU America Inc. “Like the AWSS, mtu has a legacy of reliability. We are honoured to have the opportunity to continue that legacy as an important part of the San Francisco public safety infrastructure.”