WR-21 shows its capabilities in Japan

Monday, 31 March 2003

Rolls-Royce and Kawasaki Heavy Industries have celebrated the successful running of the groundbreaking WR-21 gas turbine in Japan.

The WR-21, selected to power the first six Royal Navy Type 45 destroyers, ran at the KHI test facility in Kobe in March. It enabled Japanese naval decision makers to see its power performance and low part-load fuel consumption at first hand, and allowed KHI to demonstrate its capability to install and run the gas turbine efficiently.

The 25MW WR-21 is based on the highly successful Rolls-Royce RB211 and Trent families of commercial aircraft engines, which have amassed more than 100 million flight hours.

One WR-21 engine is already running at the UK Ministry of Defence Electric Ship Technology Demonstrator (ESTD) at Whetstone, Leicestershire, to help prove the Type 45 destroyer propulsion system. A second engine was air transported, for the first time, to Kobe from DCN's facility at Indret, near Nantes, France. KHI then started installation of a WR-21 at the beginning of January and commissioned the gas turbine to 100 per cent power in just 11 days.

A ceremony to mark the engine's run was attended by members of the Japanese Defence Agency, Royal Navy, and shipbuilding companies as well as the British Ambassador Sir Stephen Gomersall, KHI Gas Turbine and Machinery Company President Kengo Yamashita and Rolls-Royce Naval Marine Managing Director Dr. David Price.

Dr. Price said: "KHI has provided us with a tremendous opportunity to show Japan's naval industry the benefits of WR-21 advanced technology. This project marks a new highlight in a continuing partnership with KHI, which began more than 30 years ago."

The WR-21 at the UK Ministry of Defence Electric Ship Technology Demonstrator is supporting the Type 45 development programme, where it is supporting the commissioning of the Alstom propulsion motor. WR-21 performance there has aligned with model predictions and exceeded Type 45 requirements.

The gas turbine has also previously run at an MOD research facility in the UK and at Philadelphia, USA. It has now achieved a total of 4,400 running hours to date.

KHI signed an Olympus gas turbine manufacturing license with Rolls-Royce in 1971 and has also signed licenses covering the Tyne and Spey. KHI has produced and supports Rolls-Royce gas turbines for 48 Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force vessels, covering seven classes.