An evaluation of marine propulsion engines for several Navy ships

Abstract

The design of naval ships is a complex and iterative process. The propulsion system is selected early in the design cycle and it has significant impact on the ship design. A complete understanding the marine propulsion engine alternatives is necessary to facilitate the design. Five types of marine propulsion engines have been examined and compared. They include an LM-2500 marine gas turbine, an Intercooled Recuperative (ICR) marine gas turbine, a series of Colt-Pielstick PC4.2V medium speed diesels, a series of Colt-Pielstick PC2.6V medium speed diesels, and an Allison 571-KF marine gas turbine module power pak. To facilitate an integrated propulsion systems study, an engine's computer model has been written that calculates the engine weight, volume, fuel consumption, and acquisition cost. Given user input for propulsor and transmission performance, the engine code will also calculate the required endurance fuel load in accordance with Navy standards. The Engine's computer code allows the user to employ different engine types for cruise and boost operating regimes. The model ensures that the engines are operated within their horsepower and RPM ratings and splits the propulsion load evenly when multiple engines are in use