GE completes gas turbine certification

GE – Marine reports that it has completed a major milestone in the three-year marine development and type-testing program on its LM2500+G4 aero-derivative 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 (ABS). 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.