Marine Turbine Engines

Bigshrimpin · #1 01-02-2006, 01:45 AM

http://www.marineturbine.com/technical.asp

These guys make a turbine outboard motor that produces 320hp, 425ft/lbs of torque, and weighs only 220lbs.

The nice thing about this motor is that "it'll run on diesel, kerosene, jet fuels, or any combustible gas or liquid".

http://www.marineturbine.com/press/t...oats022001.pdf

edloh · #2 01-02-2006, 05:19 AM

gas turbines are wonderful machines. they like to run at high speed and have limited turndown. they would be a good candidate for jet drives, etc. i doubt they have the low end torque to get some of prop boat on plane.

BigMike8o9 · #3 01-02-2006, 05:30 AM

I don't know about this turbine but I saw a guy out here use a Garret turbine not much bigger fly a real helocopter on it, so I think it might drive a prop.
It was noisier then I would want a fishing boat to be. I still want to here my clickers when the big one hits.
BigMike

yachtjim · #4 01-04-2006, 12:42 AM

A helicopter's blades (rotor) have time to spool up to speed before any collective pitch is applied which is what makes the helicopter go up. Turbines have no acceleration but they have plenty of power at high rpms. With most people so concerned about their boat's holeshot I don't see it working with conventional props.

Any engineer can step in here and correct me, but the way turbines work on ships is to have a turbine (A) that is running with another turbine (B) right behind it, essentially in it's jet blast. The second turbine (B) is spun by the jet blast of the first one (A). The ship's shaft is connected to turbine (B). Turbine (A) can always be spinning at a significant rpm, so power is readily available on demand. The shaft is engaged by releasing a brake on the shaft to make turbine (B) start spinning from the blast of turbine (A). Ships that use this also have variable pitch props.

Helicopters actually work off a similar concept but the whole turbine and transmission are essentially part of the same engine (no turbine A and B thing). I think it is called an aerodynamic coupling. Anyway, it is a lot to accomplish in a little outboard but technology gets smaller everyday.

Look at how long it takes a helo or a turbo prop to get the blades spinning and the are using the same technology as this MTT engine. I definitley think its neat and probably has a place somewhere, but I don't think it will become an option from builders in my lifetime.

nestorpr · #5 01-04-2006, 07:12 PM

I think most larger ships nowadays use their turbines to turn a large generator and the prop is actually turned by an electric motor.

edloh · #6 01-05-2006, 06:39 AM

Yatchjim,

you have described what is commonly known a 2 shaft gas turbine. part A is also known as the gas producer and part B is know as the power turbine. from what i was told, they are usually used with a jet drive. a variable pitch prop as suggseted above is an alternative. the main issue is that the power turbine have limited torque at low speed.