Turbo-electric transmission

A 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.

For turbo-electric transmissions driven by gas turbines, see Turbine-electric transmission.
The battleship USS New Mexico, launched in 1917, was the world's first turbo-electric battleship.

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 turbines to slow turning propellers or wheels without a heavy and complex gearbox. It 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. Other advantages for ships include greater watertight subdivision[1][2] and quieter operations and safety (via instant thrust reversal by changing engine direct current polarity) for submarines.[3]

Ships with turbo-electric drive
USS Langley, the US Navy's first aircraft carrier, was converted in 1920–22 from the collier USS Jupiter. Jupiter was the US Navy's first turbo-electric ship, commissioned in 1913.
USS Tullibee, launched in 1960, was the US Navy's first turbo-electric submarine.

Battleships

Aircraft carriers

Destroyer escorts

Troop ships

Submarines

Auxiliary ships

Coast Guard cutters

Aircraft Carriers

HMS Queen Elizabeth HMS Prince of Wales

Destroyers

HMS Daring HMS Dauntless HMS Diamond HMS Dragon HMS Duncan HMS Defender

Merchant ships
Uruguay. She was launched in 1927 as California, the world's first turbo-electric ocean liner.
Normandie, launched in 1932
Canberra, launched in 1960, was the first ship with alternating current (AC) turbo-electric transmission.
RMS Queen Mary 2, launched in 2003, has gas turbines and is the world's largest turbo-electric ship.
Arauca (shown here) and her sister ship Antilla were launched in 1939. Their propulsion systems suffered significant technical failures on their maiden voyages.

Ocean liners

Coastal liners

Ferries
  • TEV Wahine
  • TEV Rangatira – possibly the World's last steam-powered turbo-electric merchant ship; scrapped 2005
  • Union Rotorua and Union Rotoiti were both built as gas turbine ships with electric transmission. Rotoiti was subsequently re-engined to diesel.

Cruise ships

Banana boats

General cargo ships

Bulk carriers

Oil tankers


See also

References

Notes
  1. Friedman, Battleships, pp 125, 135, 189, 216
  2. Friedman, Cruisers, pp 86-87, 103
  3. Friedman, Submarines, pp 136, 147-149

Sources
  • Friedman, Norman (1984). U.S. Cruisers: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 0-87021-739-9.
  • Friedman, Norman (1985). U.S. Battleships: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 0-87021-715-1.
  • Friedman, Norman (1994). U.S. Submarines Since 1945: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 1-55750-260-9.
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