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Turbo electric transmission

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Turbo-electric transmission

Turbo-electric transmission uses electric generators to convert the mechanical energy of a turbine (steam or gas) into electric energy and electric motors to convert it back into mechanical energy to power the driveshafts.

Contents

Turbo-electric drives are used in some rail locomotives (gas turbines, e.g. with the first TGV) and ships (steam and more recently gas turbines). An advantage of turbo-electric transmission is that it allows the adaptation of high-speed turning turbines to the slowly turning propellers or wheels without the need of a heavy and complex gearbox. It also has the advantage of being able to provide electricity for the ship or train's other electrical systems, such as lighting, computers, radar, and communications equipment.

Battleships

  • Colorado-class
  • USS New Mexico
  • Tennessee-class

    • Aircraft carriers

  • USS Langley (as re-engined in 1922)
  • Lexington-class

    • Destroyer escorts

  • Buckley-class

    • Troop ships

  • Admiral W. S. Benson-class transports
  • Gilliam-class attack transports

    • Submarines

  • USS Glenard P. Lipscomb
  • USS Tullibee
  • Columbia-class submarines

    • Auxiliary ships

  • Suamico-class oilers

    • Coast Guard cutters

  • Tampa-class cutters USCGC Haida, USCGC Modoc, USCGC Mojave and USCGC Tampa

    • Ocean liners

  • California (later Uruguay), Pennsylvania (later Argentina) and Virginia (later Brazil)
  • Canberra – the most powerful steam turbo-electric units in a passenger ship, 42,500 shp (31,700 kW) per shaft, 2 shafts
  • RMS Mooltan (as re-engined in 1929)
  • Morro Castle and Oriente (later USAT Thomas H. Barry)
  • Normandie – most powerful steam turbo-electric passenger ship ever, 40,000 shp (30,000 kW) per shaft (50,000 shp at max power), 4 shafts
  • Potsdam and Scharnhorst (later Japanese aircraft carrier Shinyo)
  • President Cleveland and President Wilson (originally planned as Admiral W. S. Benson-class transports)
  • President Hoover and President Coolidge
  • RMS Queen Mary 2 – powered by General Electric gas turbines as well as her diesel generators to generate the current for her four Rolls-Royce electric podded azimuth thrusters
  • Santa Clara (later USS Susan B. Anthony)
  • Strath-class ocean liners RMS Strathnaver and RMS Strathaird
  • RMS Viceroy of India

    • Coastal liners

  • Cuba (formerly Powhatan), converted to turbo-electric transmission in 1920
  • Princess Marguerite (II) and Princess Patricia

    • Ferries

  • TEV Wahine
  • TEV Rangatira – possibly the World's last steam-powered turbo-electric ship; scrapped 2005

    • Cruise ships

  • Millennium-class cruise ships Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Millennium and Celebrity Summit

    • Banana boats

  • Darien (as re-engined in about 1930)
  • Cargo and passenger liners (later Mizar-class stores ships) Antigua, USS Ariel, USS Merak, USS Mizar, USS Talamanca and USS Tarazed
  • Musa and Platano
  • San Benito, later USS Taurus

    • General cargo ships

  • Arauca (later USS Saturn), Antilla and Orizaba
  • Union Rotorua and Union Rotoiti (both built as gas turbine, but Rotoiti was subsequently re-engined to diesel)

    • Oil tankers

  • T2 tankers

    • References

    Turbo-electric transmission Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA