Integrated Testing of the Full Authority Digital Control (FADC) for the U.S. Navy’s CG-47 Class Ship Service Gas Turbine Generator (SSGTG) Sets

Abstract

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division - Ship Systems Engineering Station (NSWCCD-SSES) successfully completed testing of a new Full Authority Digital Control (FADC) system for gas turbine control. This system will be back-fit onto Model 139 Ship Service Gas Turbine Generator Sets (SSGTGs) on the U.S. Navy’s Ticonderoga (CG-47) class cruisers. The FADC will be a direct replacement of the original Model 139 Local Operating Panel (LOCOP) and will control the Allison 501-K17 gas turbine. The new control system provides for standardized installation across a wide variety of existing configurations. The development program leveraged off of the design work done for the AG9140 FADC currently being installed on DDG 51 Class ships. The result was a state-of-the-art system ready for shipboard installation in a short period of time, providing commonality of look and feel across platforms. This paper describes the CG-47 FADC and details the development and testing conducted on a Model 139 SSGTG at the NSWCCD-SSES DDG 51 Gas Turbine Land Based Engineering Test Site (LBES). The test program included all modes of SSGTG operation, including starts, shutdowns, and generator operations under varying load conditions.