Hanwha and Baker Hughes developing ammonia turbine propulsion
Cross section of a Hanwha model gas turbine showing FlameSheet, a technology to reduce the risk of flashback in gas turbines (Source: Hanwha.com)
Hanwha Ocean shipyard is developing a new ammonia turbine propulsion system in partnership with American engineering company Baker Hughes, in the ‘small size’ 16-MW power range.
Smaller and lighter turbines show significant advantages in contexts where speed is important; steam turbines were famously used to achieve speeds of 38 knots on fast liner SS United States (although leaked documents claimed the vessel could reach 43 knots). HSC Francisco, the fastest passenger ship currently in service, reaches speeds of 58 knots using two GE LM2500 gas turbines.
Gas turbines are also used in combined-cycle power plants on land, where they have an advantage in responding quickly to changing power demand compared with diesel engines, which take longer to spin up. Gas turbines are one possible choice, as well, for replacing steam turbines on LNG carriers. Steam turbines are currently used on LNG carriers, though they are being phased out as they are regarded as uncompetitive and incapable of meeting environmental commitments compared with modern diesel engines. The question of how to retrofit these vessels is exercising the industry recently, as their other equipment may still have decades of service life left.
“The transition to low carbon fuels is a mission for everyone in the marine sector. We aim to play a key role in the decarbonisation of the sector, together with Baker Hughes, by supporting ammonia combustion and packaging systems,” said executive vice president and head of Hanwha Power Systems Ship Solution Division, Nuno Kim.
