Comment Re:Gas Turbines at Sea (Score 1) 455
Here in finland gas turbine ferries were planned in 70's to travel across the Baltic sea. Only one was made, though, due to the energy crisis I guess.
The Finnjet was built in 1977 and was the fastest and the biggest ferry at the time in the world. Finnjet has AFAIK three gas turbine engines connected to a screw vie complex gearbox. Gas turbines are driven at full power and when less power is needed, one engine is shut down. Or two engines. Point is to run all engines that are on at most fuel efficient rpm and only change number of running engines when different power level is needed.
I'm not sure if that technique can be applied practically to trains as well.
I guess idea using gas turbines in ferries had something to do with finnish navy having two Turunmaa-class corvettes built in late 60's that had Rolls-Royce gas turbines.
The Finnjet was built in 1977 and was the fastest and the biggest ferry at the time in the world. Finnjet has AFAIK three gas turbine engines connected to a screw vie complex gearbox. Gas turbines are driven at full power and when less power is needed, one engine is shut down. Or two engines. Point is to run all engines that are on at most fuel efficient rpm and only change number of running engines when different power level is needed.
I'm not sure if that technique can be applied practically to trains as well.
I guess idea using gas turbines in ferries had something to do with finnish navy having two Turunmaa-class corvettes built in late 60's that had Rolls-Royce gas turbines.
