Electric Start and Generation Systems for Gas Turbines: A Means to Self Sustainability

Following the design shift in Naval ship architecture from conventional mechanical through hybrid to Integrated Electric Propulsion (IEP), the starting philosophy of prime movers needs to be rationalised so as to interact and augment the propulsion configuration and electrical distribution whilst remaining cost effective. To fulfil this requirement the UK Ministry of Defence contracted Ultra Electronics (PMES) to work in partnership to develop and demonstrate a gas turbine Electric Start and Generation System (ESGS). The undertaken programme is to demonstrate full control over the gas turbine starting system and associated maintenance features together with generating sufficient electrical power that can be used to supply all the gas turbine alternator auxiliaries. This paper will give an overview of such requirements together with the design of the basic system and the challenges to ‘navalise’ such a product and install it on a marine gas turbine. The paper will continue by reviewing data obtained from factory acceptance testing and on-engine testing with the Marine Trent MT-30. It is hoped to further compare and analyse these results with future planned testing scheduled in late 2005. Conclusions will be drawn from the initial results, the design of the proposed ESGS system and comparisons with existing in-service gas turbine start systems.Copyright © 2006 by British Crown/MoD