EVENDALE, Ohio -- GE - Marine reports that it has completed a major milestone in the three-year marine development and type-testing program on its LM2500+G4 aeroderivative gas turbine. The engine performed flawlessly during high-power demonstration testing recently completed in late 2006.
GE is seeking simultaneous marine type approval for the LM2500+G4 with Bureau Veritas (BV), Registro Italiano Navale (RINA) and the American Bureau of Shipping. The testing program included high power demonstration to 110% of rated power, and will feature a 500-hour endurance test at simulated rating point conditions. The launch marine application for this gas turbine will be on the joint French and Italian Navy Frigate European Multi-Mission (FREMM) program.
"The LM2500+G4 configuration began testing in November 2005, with a highly-instrumented engine test. Instrumented power turbine tests continued later in 2006. To date, the LM2500+G4 program has accumulated nearly 400 factory test hours in both power generation and mechanical drive operation. Seven production LM2500+G4 engines are complete and tested - six for industrial and one for marine service - and all demonstrated power and heat rate margins above performance quote levels," said Brien Bolsinger, general manager of GE - Marine, Evendale, Ohio.
During the most recent completed testing phase, the LM2500+G4 demonstrated 35.7 megawatts, which is 112% of the FREMM rated power of 32 megawatts. GE was one month ahead of its testing schedule when the engine performed flawlessly during the successful high-power demonstration point testing.
Avio, Torino, Italy, will supply the LM2500+G4 gas turbine modules for FREMM. Avio, a long-term strategic partner of GE and a GE Marine Systems Supplier, is the prime propulsion system contractor for the FREMM program. Marine surveyors from BV and RINA as well as representatives from the Italian and French navies, DCN Shipyard and Avio witnessed the high-power demonstration at GE's Evendale test cell.
GE will complete the type approval-testing regimen with a 500-hour endurance test beginning in early 2007. GE remains on schedule to deliver the first two production LM2500+G4 gas turbines to Avio in December 2007 for the FREMM program.
LM2500+G4
The LM2500+G4 is the latest version in GE's LM2500 gas turbine family, used by 29 navies worldwide. The gas turbine is rated to provide a 17% increase in power over its LM2500+ predecessor at ISO conditions. Currently the Italian Navy has 52 LM2500 gas turbines in service or slated for operation aboard several frigate classes, two aircraft carriers and one destroyer class. The French Navy will place LM2500 gas turbines into service aboard two Horizon frigates in 2007.
Globally, there are 28 LM2500+ gas turbines operating or slated for service aboard commercial fast ferries and cruise ships, as well as 183 operating or slated for service in industrial power generation applications. The LM2500+ was initially developed and certified for commercial service within the oil, gas and industrial power generation markets. Total field experience of the LM2500+ currently exceeds 2,000,000 hours.
GE - Marine is one of the world's leading manufacturers of marine products and services, including gas turbines ranging from 6,000 to 57,300 shaft horsepower, and marine main reduction gearing.