The current Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) program to design and develop an advanced, combined gas turbine and steam turbine (COGAS) power plant called RACER is discussed. RACER is an acronym for RAnkine Cycle Energy Recovery which describes the heat recovery steam cycle designed to recover energy from the exhaust of an LM2500 gas turbine and thus augment the main propulsion system of a surface combatant through a steam turbine. The main design objective of a COGAS power plant is to achieve fuel efficiency at both full power and part load conditions. However, even the most impressive fuel‐saving COGAS system is of little value unless system operability criteria are implemented in the design process as equal, if not more critical, design objectives. General design philosophy to improve COGAS plant reliability and maintainability (R&M) is discussed, and the primary RACER design approach of simplicity and modularity is described. Reliabilty and maintainability design criteria and techniques are presented as they relate to improved system operability. Components which require special R&M considerations are discussed and examples are presented of how R&M criteria have affected system design.
THE AUTHOR received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Western New England College in 1972. Following graduation, he attended Naval Officer Candidate School and was subsequently assigned as a project officer to COMOPTEVFOR, where he was responsible for technical and operational test plans, their execution and final equipment appraisal. Following a tour as Engineering Officer aboard the USS Nespelen (AOG 551, he was assigned as commissioning MPA aboard the USS Elliot (DD 967), the futh SPRUANCE class destroyer. In that capacity, he directed engineering training of the nucleus crew and coordinated the activation of the commissioning engineering department. For the past two years, he has been employed by Solar Turbines International as a project engineer in the advanced development department. He is currently assigned as project engineer for design and development of the RACER system. Mr. Mattson is a registered Professional Engineer in California and a member of ASNE, SNAME and ASME. ABSTRACTThe current NAVSEA program to design and develop a waste heat recovery gas turbine cruise propulsion plant called RACER is discussed. RACER is an acronym for RAnkine Cycle Energy Recovery which describes the steam bottoming cycle designed to recover waste exhaust heat from LM2500 gas turbines and augment the main propulsion system through a steam turbine.Such waste heat recovery systems, when used in naval applications, have been more commonly called combined gas and steam turbine (COGAS) propulsion plans. The acronym RACER, however, will be used throughout this paper in the place of the historic COGAS term in an attempt to distinguish the proposed system, which incorporates advanced technology and some unique design concepts, from traditional practice.The conceptual design philosophy followed by Solar as it applies to non-nuclear surface combatants is discussed and the major system components described. Installation and operational considerations are presented. Control and monitoring philosophy is discussed briefly as it relates to the system concept. System performance is presented including its relationship to fuel savings and increased military effectiveness .
THE AUTHORS Michael R. Donovan is a I974 graduate of the United States Naval Academy where he received his undergraduate degree in naval architecture. In 1975 he received a master of science degree in naval architecture and marine engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After completing the Navy's nuclear power training program, he served as machinery division officer in USS Bainbridge (CGN-25) and chemktry and radiological controls assistant in USS Long Beach (CGN-9). He successfully completed the Navy's surface warfare officer qualification and passed the nuclear engineer's examination administered by Naval Reactors. He was then assigned to the Ship Design and Engineering Directorate (SEA-OS), Naval Sea Systems Command, as head systems engineer on the DDG-51 ship design project, where he received the Navy Commendation Medal for outstanding performance. He is currently with Solar Turbines Incorporated as manager, ship integration and integrated logistic support for the Rankine cycle energy recovery (RACER) system. Mr. Donovan has lectured at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, teaching marine engineering, and has given presentations on ship design at various symposiums and section meetings for both ASNE and SNAME. He has been a member of ASNE and SNAME since 1972 and is registered as a professional engineer in California and Virginia. Wayne S. Mattson received his B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Western New England College in 1972. Follo wing graduation, he attended Naval Officer Candidate School and was subsequently assigned as a project officer to COMOPTEVFOR, where he was responsible for technical and operational test plans, their execution and final equipment appraisal. Following a tour as engineering officer aboard the USS Nespelen (AOG-SS), he was assigned as commksioning MPA aboard the USS Elliot (DD-967), the fgth Spruance class destroyer. For the past six years, he has been employed by Solar Turbines Incorporated in program management within the advanced development department. He is currently assigned in program management for design and devefopment of the RACER system. Mr. Mattson is a registered professional engineer in California and a member of ASNE, SNAME, ASME, and PMI, ABSTRACTThere is a great deal of emphasis currently in the Navy on the issues of reliability and maintainability. If a system or component is out of commission, it obviously cannot perform its mission. Thus, systems and components must be reliable, with low failure rates, and maintainable, with short repair times when the system does become inoperable. To be effective, these attributes must be incorporated into new ship systems early in the design stage.The Rankine cycle energy recovery (RACER) system is a heat recovery steam cycle designed to recover energy from the exhaust of an LM2500 gas turbine for augmentation of a ship's propulsion system. The RACER system provides several advantages to a gas turbine powered ship, one of which is improved fuel efficiency for significant annual fuel savings. This s...
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