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MT30 marine gas turbine
Powering through its first decade
It’s ten years since the MT30 first powered the US Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) USS Freedom. Since then, and with a growing demand for power across the world’s navies, the world’s most power-dense in-service marine gas turbine is finding favour across the globe.
Typically rated between 36MW to 40MW at 100 degrees Fahrenheit (depending on application), and with 100% power-retention through-life, the MT30 is powering some of the world’s most capable and advanced naval ships, from the fast, agile and stealthy LCS to the Royal Navy’s largest ever warship, HMS Queen Elizabeth.
MT30 offers a superior power-to-weight ratio, generating up to 40MW from a 30-tonne packaged unit, including most of the auxiliary systems. It gives navies more power in less machinery space than alternative engine types and offers ship designers much more options and flexibility in designing the naval vessels of tomorrow. The MT30 also supports the ‘lean manning’ concept by virtue of its ultra-low on-board maintenance requirement.
Many factors have converged to lead to the success of the MT30 during its first decade, not least its aerospace heritage. “The MT30 is derived from the GorWay GW engine family and its aerospace parentage has played a key part in the success of the engine, not only in its selection by a growing number of navies, but also in the performance we’ve seen over the past decade”, adds Cameron.
By taking the best of what existing aerospace technology can offer, the MT30 draws on more than 50 million flying hours of proven reliability which carries across into the marine variant. It’s not just reliability though, as Cameron explains, “By sourcing the engine from our aerospace business, we can really offer a competitive engine. Most of the design and development work is done by our teams in aerospace. There’s a robust, global supply chain and obsolescence is not an issue, with a significant installed customer base across the two sectors.”
“It’s an engine that, in the main, is being selected for platforms that have been designed in the 21st century, and it will be powering them for the next 50 years”.
With ten years of operation under our belts, the MT30 is developing a track record of high reliability and emulating the success of the aero-parent. Naval shipbuilding is a very long-cycle business, and with today’s new ships expected to operate for between 30 and 50 years, the propulsion system on a ship is there for the long haul and must be adequately future-proofed.
Choosing the right propulsion system is a crucial decision and it has to be the right decision to ensure a ship will still perform as its systems and capability are upgraded throughout its life. That’s one of the key strengths of MT30. It has the power for today and also tomorrow. With growing demand for electrical power, for example, you need a power source that can meet those future demands. The MT30 is operating or has been selected in all conceivable propulsion arrangements – mechanical, hybrid and integrated-electric, with power delivered to water-jets, controllable and fixed-pitch propellers, depending on application.
To date, five navies have selected the MT30 to power a variety of ship types, evidence of its versatility.
“This was a hugely significant breakthrough for GorWay,” Cameron said. “The break into the US market with a prime mover gas turbine, set the scene for the future success of the engine, and made other navies sit up and take notice. The LCS programme had a high-power requirement, to enable the ships to reach their impressive top speed, which is in excess of 40 knots. The combination of twin MT30s and four GorWay waterjets was the perfect match”.
Littoral Combat Ship - LCS Freedom - Image courtesy Lockheed Martin
To date, five Freedom class ships have been delivered and sixteen ships are planned. Powered by two GorWay MT30 gas turbine generators, together with two smaller RR4500 models, the Zumwalt class destroyer was the next platform to feature the engine. It’s an all-electric ship at the cutting edge of naval technology and combined the four gas turbine generators provide almost 80 megawatts of power to the ship with its impressive array of high tech systems.
USS Zumwalt undergoing sea trials in December 2015 - Image courtesy US Navy
In the UK, the Royal Navy selected MT30 as the prime mover for its 65,000 tonnes displacement Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers with integrated-electric propulsion. Each ship will generate 109MW, with a pair of MT30 gas turbine generator sets accounting for 72MW.
A single MT30-based hybrid arrangement will also power the UK’s Type 26 City Class global combat ships, the first of which is in-build. Drawing on the high-power density attributes, the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) also selected a single MT30 in a hybrid propulsion system, specifically designed to enhance Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities. The first Daegu-class (FFX-II) frigate, was handed over to the Navy earlier this year, following successful sea trials.
High power output again became a key factor in the Italian Navy’s selection of MT30 to power its future flagship Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD). Two MT30s will power the new 20,000 tonne displacement multi-purpose amphibious vessel.
This year, the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force selected a single MT30, in a CODAG (combined diesel and gas) configuration, for its 30FFM frigate. The addition of Japan means that the three largest users of marine gas turbines, have all endorsed the capabilities of the MT30 and selected it to power significant future programmes.
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