GE Oil & Gas technologies to power French Navy's nuclear submarine fleet

Florence, Italy: GE Oil & Gas has been selected by DCNS to provide the turbo-generators and propulsion turbines for the French Navy's new fleet of six nuclear submarines, which are scheduled to enter service between 2016 and 2027.

DCNS, the European leader in naval defence systems, recently awarded Thermodyn, the Le Creusot-based turbo-machinery division of GE Oil & Gas, a contract to provide two turbo-generators and one propulsion turbine for the Suffren, the first of the six submarines ordered under an initial contract as well as for each of the other five ships ordered under optional contracts.

The turbo-generator-rectifiers will supply electric power to the propulsion and to the auxiliary systems. GE's propulsion turbine, which drives the propeller, will supply the required mechanical power to the submarine when at top speed. These condensing-type turbines are highly customized to address the French Navy's specific requirements, including very low noise and vibration levels, to provide the submarine with maximum speed and stealth capabilities.

GE's project partner, Jeumont Electric, is supplying the generator-rectifier equipment for the turbo-generators.

''We are extremely honored to provide DCNS with the turbo-generator and propulsion turbine equipment for this project, which is of vital importance to France's long-term national security,'' said Claudi Santiago, president and CEO of GE Oil & Gas. ''This order also represents a significant recognition of GE's leadership in the area of acoustic controls for power generation, including in military applications.''

GE's equipment is being manufactured at Thermodyn's Le Creusot facility, which operates a special anechoic chamber that tests the equipment's noise levels prior to delivery. GE also will provide assistance in the packaging of its equipment within the propulsion mainframe, as well as assistance for site tests until each ship is commissioned.

The first set of three turbines will be delivered by GE between October 2010 and February 2011.