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Euronaval
2012 - Show Daily News |
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GE
Offers Gas Turbine Hybrid Electric Drive Arrangements:
Ideal for Noise Reduction, Redundancy, Improved Fuel Economy |
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PARIS,
France (October 25, 2012) – GE Marine reports today at Euronaval
2012 that its hybrid electric systems for military and commercial marine
customers based on its LM aeroderivative gas turbines, motors and drives.
These systems help reduce noise and improve fuel economy. By teaming
with a variety of industry players, GE can provide customers unmatched
gas turbine hybrid electric and all electric propulsion systems integration
experience.
Hybrid electric arrangements cross-connect the ship service power system
with the propulsion system by placing an electric motor and its associated
motor drive in the drive train. At lower speeds, the propulsion system,
such as engines are turned off and the electric motors provide cruising
power.
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GE Marine
stand at Euronaval 2012
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“Many
ship owners and builders are currently evaluating hybrid electric propulsion
designs for existing or new build ships. Thanks to many years in this
industry forming key partnerships, GE can now offer more comprehensive
hybrid electric propulsion solutions for military and commercial customers,”
said Brien Bolsinger, general manager, GE Marine, Evendale, Ohio. |
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GE LM2500+G4
gas turbine
(Picture:
GE Marine)
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In
fact, GE has provided components on seven gas turbine hybrid or electric
powered ship classes in service or under construction, including the
unique propulsion system on the United States Navy’s LHD 8 USS
Makin Island. GE offers a family of LM2500 gas turbines from 22 to 32
megawatts for twin or single gas turbine hybrid plants. In addition
to the LHD 8-class ships, GE LM2500s are used on a variety of hybrid
propulsion plants, including the German Navy’s F124 and F125 frigates,
and the Italian and French FREMM frigates.
Hybrid System Benefits
Hybrid electric propulsion provides navies with the following benefits
versus traditional propulsion systems:
• Improved fuel economy
• Fewer installed prime movers for reduced propulsion costs
• Reduced diesel maintenance costs
• Flexible, integrated power and propulsion systems to direct
power as needed
• Improved combat capability
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Figure 1
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Hybrid
Electric Propulsion
“In fact, in ships similar to the U.S. Navy’s DDG 51 class,
hybrid electric propulsion can improve fuel economy because the hybrid
propulsion motor load during low speed operation can be consolidated
with the ship service load. This allows the ship service generator set
to run at more efficient operating conditions and the larger propulsion
gas turbines to be shut down. Thus, fuel burn can be reduced by more
than 8% depending on the ship’s operating profile,” Bolsinger
added.
In new designs – particularly frigates from 3,000 to 7,000 tonnes
– a hybrid electric arrangement improves efficiency. The traditional
COmbined Diesel Or Gas turbine (CODOG) or COmbined Diesel And Gas turbine
(CODAG) frigates have two gas turbines and two diesels for propulsion
and typically four diesels for ship service power (see Figure 1). With
GE’s hybrid electric arrangement, the two propulsion diesels can
be eliminated and replaced by electric motors. This arrangement can
reduce ship construction, propulsion equipment, and maintenance costs
while helping reduce noise and improve combat capabilities.
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Figure 2
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Dual
Gas Turbine Hybrid Arrangement
GE’s LM2500 gas turbines, for instance, can be applied in a dual
gas turbine hybrid arrangement versus a single gas turbine configuration
to provide the lowest technical, cost, schedule and operational risk.
If incorporated into an existing LM2500 CODOG ship design, GE believes
a dual gas turbine configuration requires the fewest ship modifications
such as changes to bulkheads, uptakes, stability, the second platform
level, and the deckhouse.
GE’s dual gas turbine system configuration (see Figure 2) has
two completely independent shaft lines to provide significant redundancy
and survivability. With a dual gas turbine system, the crew is provided
greater operational flexibility and ship top-end speed. Comparatively,
if there is a failure, routine maintenance, or logistics delay related
to the gas turbine or combining gearbox in a single gas turbine configuration,
a loss of 80% to 90% of ship propulsion power would result.
Gas turbine hybrid electric systems may be designed for low noise when
cruising on the electric motors. Low noise, hybrid systems can use shaft-wound
motors, decoupling the gearbox from the drive train during low speed
operations. The motor also can be used for astern power, allowing for
quieter fixed-pitch propeller systems compared to the noisier and less
efficient controllable-pitch propellers of CODOG or CODAG arrangements.
Visit GE Marine at Euronaval 2012 on stand D43-C46
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