Powering up: GE, Rolls-Royce champion the merits of rival power-dense gas turbines

摘要

The aero-derivative marine gas turbine engine has been firmly established in naval propulsion for almost half a century. Its attractions as a prime mover include high power density, reduced onboard footprint, ease of change-out, quicker start/stop, and reduced maintenance requirement. Yet while the application of the technology is by no means new, the way in which naval ships are powered and propelled is changing. Key trends include a greater focus on platform efficiency and reducing through-life costs; progressively higher electrical demand (reflecting the needs of high-power sensors and, in the not-too-distant future, directed energy weapons); increasing adoption of full electric and hybrid 'partial electric' propulsion systems; and a move towards fewer installed prime movers but increased unitary power.