GE to Power, Propel Indian Diesel-Electric Research Ship

India continues to grow as a global center of technological excellence, accounting for 10% of research and development and home to five of the top 10 science and technology schools in Asia. Govt of India, having a network of more than 50 laboratories deeply engaged in developing a range of technologies from electronic and computer sciences, through life sciences and materials, to marine research and development, will invest in a new scientific research platform vessel to be built by Bharati Shipyard, based in Mumbai.

The Class XII merchant vessel will host scientists from various Indian government scientific laboratories. It will be used to carry out multipurpose research along the coastal sea belt of India.

Bharati has chosen GE Power Conversion, with its extensive experience and understanding of the global marine industry, to supply the power and propulsion system for the ship. This will be the first diesel-electric ship built in India to incorporate medium-voltage equipment, an area in which GE already has a strong position globally. Delivery of the vessel is expected in the year 2015.

Bharati has signed two contracts with GE for the current project. The main one is with GE Power Conversion in France for design, production and supply of the power and propulsion equipment (generators, motors and drives). The supplementary contract is with GE Power Conversion in India, which will be responsible for technical services, design, documentation, installation checks, commissioning and sea trials.

The medium-voltage propulsion system is rated at 3.3 kV, with two propulsion motors of 5 MW. Each motor is fitted with one of GE’s MV7000 drives, which stand out from the pack with their high efficiency and control flexibility. MV7000 drive technology can be applied to a wide range of equipment: the drives can feed both induction and synchronous machines with high performance vector control across all speed ranges.

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