Three Vericor Power Systems' TFT50 marine aeroderivative gas turbines have been selected to power the 118 Wallypower high-speed yacht being built by Intermarine Shipyard, Sarzana, Italy for Wally Yacht.
This is Wally Yacht's first foray into high-speed power yachts, and the company's initial application of gas turbines. Wally Yacht, based in Monte Carlo, Monaco, is a world-renowned designer of high-speed sailing and power yachts.
The 118-foot yacht will feature three TF50 gas turbines in a Combined Diesel Or Gas (CODOG) turbine configuration. Two TF50s will be used as side or "wing" engines, with one small auxiliary diesel engine connected to each wing engine. The diesels will provide for very slow maneuvering only. The wing engines will drive steerable waterjets while the center boost TF50 will drive a fixed waterjet. Total propulsion system output will be 16,800 horsepower/ 12,533 kilowatts (see attached line drawing of the propulsion system configuration).
Cruising speed will be 60 knots, with a maximum speed of 70 knots. Table 1 shows the technical specifications for the 118 Wallypower yacht.
| table 1 — 118 Wallypower Yacht Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Length | 36 00 m (118' ) |
| Beam | 7.45 m (5' 24") |
| Draught | 1.18 m (3' 9") |
| Displacement (half load) | 81 tons (187,574 lbs) |
| Propulsion | 3 x TF50 gas turbines |
| Power max | 3 x 5,600 hp |
| Waterjets | KaMeWa |
| Transmission | 3 x Maag Gear |
| Speed | Max 70 knots, 9 knots diesels |
| Fuel capacity | 22,000 l (5,812 gal) |
| Range | 1,500 mm @ 9 knots |
| Generators | 2 x 33 kW (380 V-50 Hz) |
| Bow thruster | Max power |
Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) packaged the CODOG system for the 118 Wallypower yacht. DDC, a Vericor Power Systems marine systems distributor, is part of MTU-Friedrichshafen, a division of DaimlerChrysler Powersystems. DaimlerChrysler is one of the world's leading manufacturers of marine propulsion engines and systems.
The integrated system includes three TF50 gas turbines, controls, Maag gears, as well as fuel, lube, cooling and exhaust components. Table 2 illustrates the commercial marine specifications for the TF50 gas turbine.
| table 2 — TF50 Commercial Marine Gas Turbine Specifications* | |
|---|---|
| Power Output - Commercial | 5,100 shp (3,805 kW) |
| High performance power rating** | 5,600 shp (4,178 kW) |
| Length | 55 in. (1,397 mm) |
| Width | 35 in. (889 mm) |
| Height | 41 in. (1,041 mm) |
| Weight | 1,565 lbs. (710 kg) |
| Fuel type |
Marine diesel
|
| * Weight is for gas turbine, complete with lube, fuel and control system.
** Average gas turbine performance at sea level ISO conditions and 15°C. No inlet, exhaust or gear losses are included. |
|
A team comprised of Vericor Power Systems and DDC field service engineers will install and conduct sea trials for the high-speed yacht. Installation of the CODOG system on the Wally Yacht is scheduled for March 2002. Sea trials are to follow in April/ May 2002.
Yacht Experience
Other commercial applications of Vericor's TF engines include the high-speed yacht Detroit Eagle. The vessel uses a TF50 aeroderivative marine gas turbine, marking the first such engine to begin operation. The megayacht, which can reach a comfortable cruising speed of approximately 35 knots, completed sea trials in the spring of 2001 and is now in operation.
The yacht was built at the Feadship de Vries shipyard in The Netherlands. This is the second Feadship yacht fitted with TF gas turbines. The 161-foot Sussurro yacht launched in 1998 features a TF80 (2xTF40) gas turbine system.
The "Mangusta" series yachts, being built by Overmarine Shipyard, in Viareggio, Italy, use TF40 and TF50 gas turbines. Five yachts use a total of five TF40 and two TF50 gas turbines in a variety of configurations. Four Mangusta yachts are now in full operation, with the fifth yacht in the series under construction.
The TF engines for all of the above applications were provided by Vericor Power Systems.
