LM2500 Gas Turbine
LM2500 Gas Turbine
The LM2500 is a marine version of commercial aircraft engines from General Electric. It isn’t particularly large in the scheme of things (2m high, 6.5m long, weighing 4.7 tonnes), but can generate 33000 Shaft Horsepower. On a ship such as the ANZAC with a CODOG engine arrangement (Combined Diesel or Gas (ie the ship is either propelled with its diesels or with the gas turbine)), this single engine is used to drive the ship along at its top speed (33+ knots downhill).
The first half of the motor (grey) is all about compressing and accelerating the air before blasting it (into the black area) through the combustion chamber and into the turbine. The yellow components are for storing the engine while out of the ship.
The compressor is such a delicate part of the engine (comparatively), every blade on the stator can be angled to different degrees of attack as the motor accelerates. It is interesting looking at the contrast between the two halves of the engine – one has all these control mechanisms, the other is covered in static pipes and tubes.
Give this thing some clean air, a decent fuel supply, ignition, and try to hang on!
Once upon a time, I used to know every operational parameter of this engine, from the acceptable temperatures, operating pressures through to allowable starting times and emergency procedures to protect the engine in case of a failure (which includes being able to diagnose a problem as, or even before it really occurs). Guess there is little use for my Gas Turbine certification these days 
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