STUDY OF GAS TURBINE ADVANCES AND POSSIBLE MARINE APPLICATIONS

The present status of marine gas turbine propulsion systems is reviewed with special emphasis on certain areas such as method of thrust reversal, environmental problems, fuel requirements and cost considerations. The future of marine gas turbine propulsion is considered by looking at the following: 1) Expected development of marine gas turbine engines. 2) Thrust reversal methods. 3) Suitability of gas turbine propulsion for different ship types. This is carried out by an extensive literature survey and personal interviews and/or correspondence with authorities in the gas turbine and marine engineering field. Among the conclusions reached concerning the future of marine gas turbine propulsion are the following: 1) Most non-nuclear warships built in the future are expected to be propelled entirely by aero-derivative gas turbines. 2) A significant increase in the use of gas turbines for merchant ship propulsion utilizing both aeroderivative simple cycle and heavy duty regenerative engines is expected. 3) Primary method of obtaining thrust reversal with gas turbine propulsion is expected to continue to be through use of controllable, reversible pitch propellers. CRP propellers up to 40 to 50,000 HP per shaft for destroyer type ships and to over 60,000 HP per shaft for larger vessels are expected to be available in the next few years. 4) Marine gas turbine propulsion plant thermal efficiencies are expected to reach approximately these levels in the next decade: Aero-derivative simple cycle gas turbine 38%; Heavy duty regenerative gas turbine 41%; Combined gas turbine and vapor engine 49%. Specific powers will also increase significantly.

• Corporate Authors:

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Department of Ocean Engineering, 77 Massachusetts Avenue
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02139
• Authors:
  • Brady, C O
• Publication Date: 1971-6

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Controllable pitch propellers; Gas turbine fuels; Gas turbines; Propulsion; Thrust reversers
• Old TRIS Terms: Thrust reversal
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00034675
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 29 1974 12:00AM