POWER/PROPULSION
complement of around 1450, including air crew, rigorous testing plan devised by GE is tailored in
and will support around 40 aircraft including the such a way that, once complete, the engine will
Joint Strike Fighter and airborne early warning be certified by three classification societies: ABS,
aircraft. Bureau Veritas, and RINa.
This is the latest of a series of highly significant The disassembly and inspection of the
contracts for Wärtsilä for equipment supply and LM2500+G4 was witnessed by representatives
support to the Royal Navy. Earlier contracts of the certification agencies and shipyards. Re-
include the main generator engines for the IEP assembly of the engine is currently underway.
system of the Albion class landing platform dock Introduced in October 2005, the LM2500+G4
vessels (LPD) and the diesel generating sets in the version offers 17% more power than its LM2500+
IEP installation on the Type 45 destroyers, which predecessor, and has a 6% increase in airflow over
will provide air defence for the carriers and their the current LM2500+ model. The LM2500+G4 is
task groups. expected to provide the same level of reliability as
earlier versions of the LM2500, and can be applied
Order in a variety of mechanical and electric drive
LM2500s for
configurations, such as CODAG, and COmbined
Gas turbine and steam turbine integrated Electric
Turkish corvettes
drive System (COGES) arrangements. WT
GE Marine is to supply MTU Friedrichshafen
GmbH, Friedrichshafen, Germany, with a LM2500
gas turbine. MTU will incorporate the LM2500 into
ITM to develop fuel
a COmbined Diesel And Gas turbine (CODAG)
machinery configuration to power the Turkish cell for UUVs
Navy’s new MILGEM multi-purpose corvette.
‘Eight LM2500s are currently in operation ITM Power has announced that it has
aboard the Turkish Navy’s Barbaros and Gaziantep signed a cooperative agreement with the
class frigates. We are glad to see the Turkish Navy Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division
select this gas turbine to power its next-generation Newport (NUWCDIVNPT) to collaborate
MILGEM corvette,’ said Brien Bolsinger, GE Marine in the development of advanced power
general manager. systems for UUVs.
The new MILGEM corvette will have an overall The cooperative research effort will
length of 99m with a displacement of approximately investigate dual liquid fuel cells for
2000tonnes. The corvette’s CODAG system will UUVs, including identification of critical
feature one LM2500 gas turbine and two MTU diesel operation parameters.
engines, providing a total power of 30,000MW. The The collaborative effort between ITM
ship’s maximum speed will be 29knots. Power and NUWCDIVNPT will include
Construction of the first MILGEM class corvette investigating the potential for ITM Power
is currently underway at Istanbul Naval Shipyard, designed fuel cells to meet the needs of
and the corvette is due to enter service in 2011. the operation parameters identified.
GE Marine has also recently announced that it Under the CRADA, NUWCDIVNPT and
will supply Avio, in Torino, Italy, with a third GE ITM Power will also identify and define
LM2500+G4 gas turbine for the FREMM frigate additional research and development
programme. The engine will be the basis for the to make ITM Power fuel cells meet the
COmbined Diesel And Gas turbine (CODAG) operational parameters defined and to
propulsion module that will power the French quantify those research and development
Navy’s second FREMM ship. efforts in terms of time and money.
The French and Italian Navies are expected The US Navy has an interest in fuel cell
to acquire a total of 27 FREMM frigates. GE technology and is investigating a number
has already contracted with Avio to supply two of options with which to advance its UUV
LM2500+G4 gas turbines for the initial two programme.
FREMM vessels. Avio is a GE Marine Systems Jim Heathcote, CEO, ITM Power, said:
Supplier, as well as the prime contractor for the ‘We are pleased to be working with the
FREMM gas turbine system. US Naval Undersea Warfare Center. We
The third FREMM LM2500+G4 gas turbine will believe electrolyser and fuel cell systems
be manufactured at GE’s Evendale, Ohio facility, have many military applications and
and will be delivered to Avio in 2009. we hope this agreement will open the
GE recently completed the 500-hour door to large potential markets for our
qualification test for the LM2500+G4. The technology.’
36 Warship Technology January 2008
WT Jan - p35+36.indd 36 08/01/2008 11:48:49
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