Yanmar Gas Turbine AT900 Admitted to the Japanese National Museum of Nature and Science

In 1983, Yanmar developed a purely-domestic, compact, single-shaft gas turbine, the AT900. In recognition of this achievement, the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo has registered the prototype of AT900 as one of Japan's "Essential Historical Materials for Science and Technology“.

The original prototype is stored for safe keeping at Yanmar’s Amagasaki Factory, Japan, and a replica is on display at the Yanmar Museum, located in Nagahama, Japan, the birthplace of our founder, Magokichi Yamaoka.

The AT900 was designed to power standby generators. Compact and light-weight, it does not utilize coolant and runs at low noise and vibration. Other benefits include the employment of rolling bearings placed in an improved alignment to facilitate startup and eliminate priming.

Utilizing a single-stage centrifugal compressor with an adiabatic efficiency of over 72.8%, the highest in its class at the time of development, and a 2-stage turbine, the AT900 delivered high rates of power and became an instant hit. Its high performance contributed substantially to the diffusion of gas turbines, and established gas turbines as reliable power sources for standby generators.

Since its development, Yanmar manufactured over 1,400 units, the majority of which are still hard at work in the market, delivering safe and efficient operation.