Abstract
In order to obtain operating experience with a main propulsion gas turbine under service conditions at sea, the Diesel electric oil tanker Auris has been equipped with a gas-turbine set which replaces one of the four Diesel engines originally installed.
A description is given of the set which operates on the simple open cycle with a heat exchanger and independent (low pressure) power turbine. The set thus has one compressor and two turbines in series, the high-pressure turbine driving the compressor and the low-pressure turbine driving the alternator which supplies power to the propeller motor.
In the design the emphasis was laid on high component efficiencies which necessitated the use of multi-stage uncooled turbines. A moderately high initial gas-temperature was adopted in order to ensure adequate length of life.
The experience during test operation, which covered a running time of 680 hours, is fully recorded, and complete performance figures for all conditions are given.
The set was operated with some success on heavy (residual) fuel oil. The total running time on heavy fuel oil was 363 hours, which included a continuous run of 270 hours, mainly at full load.
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