Us Navy's Next Engine Starts Up
The WR-21 gas turbine engine started up for the first time this summer. The start-up, known as a "light off", took place at the Royal Navy's Pyestock test centre, which has been made available to the US Navy for the development programme.
Within the $356 million contract, placed with Westinghouse in 1991, Rolls-Royce Industrial & Marine Gas Turbines Limited is responsible for gas turbine design and development.
The WR-21 used components from the Rolls-Royce RB211 aero engine family to form the core of an advance cycle, intercooled-recuperated marine gas turbine. The engine offers the UN Navy a 30 per cent annual fuel saving against current marine simple cycle gas turbines, improved reliability and enables compliance with future US and European air emission requirements.
The "light off” was witnessed by: Rear AdMiral Millard S Firebaugh, Chief Engineer of the United States Naval Sea Systems Command; Michael Bell, British Deputy Under Secretary of State for Defence Procurement; and Rear Admiral Robin Shiffner, the Royal Navy's director General Support (Equipment and Systems).
The US and UK governments have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding covering the WR-21 test and development phase, signed by the Hon R Noel Longuem are, Under Secretary of Defence (Acquisition and Technology) and Dr Malcolm McIntosh, the UK Chief of Defence Procurement, in June.
WR-21 is currently being studied for the main propulsion system for Project Horizon, the joint UK, French and Italian new generation frigate. A Memorandum of Understanding between the governments of the three countries to fund the design of the vessel was signed on 11 July 1994.
