Douglas A. Parsons

Test and Evaluation of a Gas Turbine Electric Starter System

The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, Philadelphia Site successfully completed test and evaluation of the first gas turbine electric starter targeted for Navy use at the Land Based Engineering Site (LBES) of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD). The Electric Start System (ESS) was developed and manufactured by Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation and installed on an LM2500 main propulsion engine. The ESS was successfully demonstrated to start an LM2500 marine gas turbine with the added benefits of reduced start system configuration (fewer components), ability to control engine acceleration during the early phase of the start cycle, functional transparency to the engine start logic, and speed synchronization between the ESS electric motor and the accessory gearbox of the LM2500 engine with no impact torque. To date it has accumulated over 30 successful starts on the engine. This paper will discuss the results of the aforementioned test, along with advantages and challenges of installing such a system aboard ship.Copyright