Propulsion facilities in MD
6 facilities
Diesel Engine Development Facility
West Bethesda, MD
The Diesel Engine Development Facility includes three major sites: the Diesel Engine Test Facility (DETF), the LSD-41/49 Propulsion Support Facility; and the FFG-7 Ship Service Diesel Generator (SSDG) Land Based Engineering Site. The DETF is designed to test two diesel engines up to the 4,000 HP range, and can also accommodate gasoline engines, smaller gas turbines, gearbox testing, and other propulsion and power generation prime mover or auxiliary type equipment. The LSD-41/49 Propulsion Support Facility simulates the complete LSD-41 Class ship starboard propulsion plant. This test and engineering site consists of two Colt Pielstick PC2.5 propulsion diesel engines, a shipboard reduction gear, and all associated engine, reduction gear, and controllable pitch propeller controls. The FFG-7 Class SSDG is a duplicate of the unit that is in service in the fleet. It consists of a Detroit Diesel 16V149 turbocharged, intercooled diesel engine, a Reliance Generator, and a Garrett Start-Air Compressor.
Gas Turbine Development Facility
West Bethesda, MD
The Gas Turbine Development Facility consists of the DDG-51 LBES and Intercooled Recuperated (ICR) Gas Turbine Facility. Prominent in usage is the DDG-51 LBES since the ICR site is planned (completed awaiting testing) for the Navy’s future marine gas turbine development. The DDG-51 site consists of two GE LM-2500 marine gas turbines and associated auxiliary equipment configured as engine room #2 in the AEGIS Arleigh Burke Destroyer Class. This site became operational in 1989 and is used in a variety of components and system oriented tests that include integration testing of propulsion machinery (reduction gears, lube oil systems, air systems, water systems) as well as machinery control and data acquisition and information systems.
Large Cavitation Channel (LCC)
West Bethesda, MD
The Large Cavitation Channel is a vertical plane, closed recirculating 1.4 million gallon, variable speed, variable pressure, channel with lower half submerged in 2.5 million gallon water filled trench, plus numerous other acoustic treatment features, 6:1 contraction ratio, aeration/deaeration system, filter system (5-micron), temperature control, stainless steel shell, models mounted on large removable test top, low turbulence (0.1%). High speed capability up to 50 ft/s. Large test chamber with 10 ft by 10 ft cross-section and a 13.1 m (43 ft) working length. Pressure in the LCC test section ranges from less than atmospheric to four times atmospheric pressure, the equivalent of water approximately 100 feet deep.
Small Gas Turbine Test Facility
West Bethesda, MD
The Small Gas Turbine Test Facility houses a broad range of equipment that support small to medium gas turbines up to 10,000 hp and gas turbine marine aerosol/separator intake systems. This facility is designed to accommodate rapid response testing for emergent Fleet problems as well as to test and validate design modifications (e.g., exhaust diffusers, foreign object damage screen, exhaust gas turbine limiter, carbon and ceramic seals, electronic sequencing unit, flexible fuel manifolds, air movement control, air conditioning, particulate monitoring).
Steam Propulsion Support Facility
West Bethesda, MD
The Steam Propulsion Support Facility supports Surface and Undersea Vehicle Propulsion, Auxiliary Systems and Components, T&E, Acquisition and ISE, and Logistics, Materials and Processing RDT&:E for numerous ship classes, which include over half the fleet. These facilities consist of condensate and feedwater systems, evaporators, seawater, fuel and water purification and storage systems, and a compressed air system for controls. Materials and components investigated at this facility include surface ship and submarine main propulsion equipment, auxiliary equipment, generator sets, and boilers.
Steam Propulsion Test Facility
West Bethesda, MD
The Steam Propulsion Test Facility was developed to be an integrated, cost effective alternative to shipboard testing. Systems evaluated at this facility include surface ship and submarine main propulsion, auxiliary equipment, generator sets and main boilers. The system is capable of supplying one million pounds/hour of superheated or saturated steam to major turbine or component test sites. This facility also has the capability to supply feedwater at 1500 psi, cooling water capability of 180,000 gpm flow and 500,000 hp heat rejection.