Page 13: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 1993)

Russia's Reversible Marine

Gas Turbine-A Step Forward

According to Victor Romanov, an engineer with Russia's

Mashproekt Scientific and Produc- tion Association, Nikolayev,

Ukraine, Russia has developed the world's only reversible gas turbines for marine applications. These units provide a high degree of maneuver- ability for ships in a relatively com- pact system.

Mr. Romanov noted that the re- versible gas turbine is not Russia's first innovation in the field. In fact,

Russia reportedly developed the world's first gas turbine unit for marine application in the 1950's. As a result of Cold War tensions thaw- ing, many of Russia's various tech- nical programs have come to light, including the reversible gas turbine.

Mr. Romanov presented a history of Mashproekt's success with ma- rine gas turbines at the American

Society of Mechanical Engineers' (ASME) 38th International Gas

Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exposition, held May 24-27 in

Cincinnati. ASME is a Washington,

D.C.-based association.

Mashproekt's reversing turbine system utilizes and improves the advanced technology of many of its earlier models. Normally, a revers- ing mechanism utilizes reduction gears using friction or hydraulic cou-

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Phone: (619) 426-2179 • Fax: (619) 426-2196 plings. In the Russian unit, how- ever, the free power turbine has two-circle blading. The guide vanes and rotor blades for reversing are located in the upper circle. For a vessel to reverse direction, its oper- ating power must be slightly re- duced. Then gas blow-off from the inner circle to the outer circle (for reversing) occurs, taking only five seconds. Thus, a few seconds after the command is given to reverse, astern (reverse) torque starts to op- erate in the ship shaft line, provid- ing rapid deceleration of the ship.

However, the system is not with- out drawbacks. Power output for reverse is only 20 percent of that of forward. Additionally, power loss for forward movement is reduced by about five percent making the mechanism reversible.

Kvaerner Rosenberg

Awarded $85 Million

Offshore Order

Kvaerner Rosenberg AS, a unit of

Kvaerner AS, was awarded an $85 million contract by Norsk Hydro AS, an active Norwegian oil producer.

The contract is for the fabrication of a 9,000-metric-ton module sup- port frame for the Troll oil field plat- form in the North Sea, about 62 miles off the coast of Norway. The project is expected to be the largest subsea development on the Norwe- gian continental shelf to date.

The module support frame will be delivered in the spring of 1995 and connected to the platform's substruc- ture. Production at the Troll oil field is planned to begin in January 1996.

Statoil Awards $353

Million In North

Sea Contracts

Statoil, a Norwegian state-owned oil and gas company, awarded three major contracts totalling $353 mil- lion for detailed engineering and drilling related to the Sleipner West development in the Norwegian sec- tor of the North Sea.

The largest share of the contracts, worth approximately $181 million, was awarded to Smedvig A/S for the drilling of 18 wells, with an option for six additional wells.

Kvaerner Engineering's share of the contract is valued at approxi- mately $151 million. Kvaerner will have overall responsibility for veri- fication of the complete offshore development's order, and will also be expected to detail engineering, procurement and construction site follow-up for the Sleipner gas treat- ment platform.

The last contract, worth approxi- mately $19 million, was awarded to

Norwegian Rig Consultants for de- tailed engineering of the Sleipner B wellhead platform, including pro- curement and construction follow- up. 14 Circle 297 on Reader Service Card Maritime Reporter/Engineering News