GE gas turbines for new Japanese warship
GE’s LM500 gas turbine
GE Marine is to provide IHI of Tokyo with LM2500 and LM500 gas turbines for the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force’s new 22DDH destroyer. The LM2500 gas turbines will feature integrated electronic controls.
“We are partnering with IHI whereby they will design and package the propulsion modules and electrical generator sets powered by GE’s LM2500 and LM500 gas turbines, respectively,” said Brien Bolsinger, GE Marine general manager. “This is a unique project as the LM2500s will provide main propulsion power while the LM500s will supply onboard ship service electrical power. This project also marks two important milestones: it will be the first LM500 generator set application for military ships, and the initial use of LM2500s with IECs in a main power plant on a JMSDF ship.”
The LM2500 remains GE’s most popular gas turbine, used by 31 navies worldwide, logging more than 13 million operating hours. The current worldwide LM2500 fleet totals more than 2,500 engines operating in diverse marine and industrial applications. Including the 22DDH, the JMSDF fleet features 66 LM2500s for its Kongou-, Murasame-, Atago- and Hyuga-class destroyers.
The LM500 is derived from GE’s TF34 turbofan aircraft engine, and has 90% commonality with the CF34 engine that powers the popular CRJ100/200 regional jet. Currently there are over 100 LM500 gas turbines delivered or on order, accumulating more than 2 million operating hours. The JMSDF has 22 LM500s in its fleet powering the Hayabusa- and Ichi-gou-class boats.
The LM2500 and LM500 gas turbines will be manufactured under license by IHI and will be placed into propulsion or generator set modules. IHI will deliver the LM500s modules to the shipyard in late 2012, and the LM2500 modules to JMSDF in early 2013.
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