LUBRICATION SYSTEM OF WORLD'S FIRST GAS TURBINE TANKER

Abstract

ORIGINALLY a motor ship, the Shell tanker Auris of 12,000 tons d.w. has since been fitted with gas turbine machinery and successfully completed sea trials last year, thus becoming the first tanker to be driven by a gas turbine. Though operating on the same principle as the gas turbines used in many air‐craft, that in the Auris has a different type of construction to make it more robust, to give it a longer life and to make possible the use of a less refined fuel. The Auris also has a new type hydraulic reversing gearbox designed by the Pametrada research organisation of the British shipbuilding industry for use with the gas turbine which provides for astern as well as ahead movement. In this system, a hydraulic coupling is used for ahead rotation of the propeller while a reversing torque converter is used for astern rotation. To eliminate the 6% slip in the ahead coupling, however, a hydraulically operated friction clutch has been fitted and is engaged under cruising conditions.

Citation

(1960), "LUBRICATION SYSTEM OF WORLD'S FIRST GAS TURBINE TANKER", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 12 No. 8, pp. 13-15. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb052638