Navy Putting $33 M Into Hybrid Destroyers

ddg51
It's not exactly your typical hybrid vehicle. The DDG 51 is a naval destroyer that's been in use for quite a while now. And though the US government has some newer, fancier ships, they cost a pretty penny. So the DDG 51's are getting some upgrades. Better sonar and radar, upgraded communications equipment and, yes, a hybrid-electric drive.

These destroyers have a top speed of 35 miles her hour, but, like most gas guzzlers, they generally go much slower than that. However, their engines aren't well suited to these slower speeds. So GE and General Atomics have joined together to put in an electric drive system that basically uses the ships electrical generators to move it along at low-speeds. The electric drive can also be used to perform low-speed maneuvering when the ship is anchored. The result is a 16% decrease in fuel use for the DDG 51 which translates into 12,000 BARRELS of oil per ship per year.

Yeah, that's more than what you'll save by switching to a hybrid. But it didn't cost you 33 million dollars did it?

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Already have that
written by Jimmy, July 17, 2009

I love the blog and read it daily, but I do have a few complaints about this particular post. First off, your picture on this is a frigate. Second off, frigates already use electric drives for low speed maneuvers when anchoring and they are called Auxiliary Propulsion Units. Thirdly, APUs (or whatever the Navy wants to call these electric drives) still uses oil...it might be a "hybrid" but how do you think the electricity is generated onboard a Naval vessel? It's through Gas Turbine Generators (DDGs) or Diesel Generators (FFGs). Finally, if this is only utilized for anchoring/docking maneuvers, it's really not going to save that much oil...I know the 12k number is what you quoted, but the amount of time a ship is anchoring is far less than you would imagine...this seems farfetched. Just a couple FYIs.

-1

Not a new idea
written by Shaun, July 17, 2009

I was a navigator on MSC (Navy) Oilers in the early 90's that had this ability. The two large props were usually driven by the medium speed turbo diesels which also drove PTO (power take-off) units that generated power. However, the main engines could be clutched-out and the PTO's could be used as electric motors by drawing power from the diesel generators.

Also, there are many ships that have electric only drives with power usually coming from diesel generators by really the generators could be any sort of engine.

Believe it or not the ship operators monitors operations closely to optimize fuel efficiency because the cost of fuel is a large part of the overall cost to run a ship. Of course most of them still need to clean up the emissions.

Better than nothing
written by Barney Sperlin, July 18, 2009

1) Saving 12000 barrels of oil per ship per year is a good thing. With luck, it lowers the operating cost and, as a taxpayer, such lower costs are a good thing.

2) The ship in the picture is an Arleigh Burke class Destroyer, the USS Paul Hamilton. A frigate has a different deckhouse structure:

http://www.davis.navy.mil/default.aspx

...
written by russ, July 18, 2009

Correct Barney - The picture is the Paul Hamilton DDG 60

...
written by Fred, July 20, 2009

the navy is making powerful moves

somewhat similar to. US Coast Guard's icebreakers
written by Richard Fletcher, July 28, 2009

this reminds me of the US Coast Guard's newest icebreakers, which combine gas turbines for maximum icebreaking power with diesel-electric drive for slow speed operation.

Erm,
written by Nick, July 30, 2009

why is there no commentary on the obvious ludicrousness of an environmentally friendly destroyer?
Hardly brains for the earth

-1

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