A Chinese-developed 20 MW steam turbo generator (TG) for use in warships has successfully passed a technical appraisal, the Global Timesnewspaper reported on 25 December.
Developed by the 704 Institute of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), the compact unit can generate four times the electrical power of the most powerful TG currently in-service with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and will be a major component in developing the PLAN's first integrated electric-propulsion (IEP) warship.
Although the media report states that the new machine "is on a par with the most advanced generator units developed by the US and European countries", its power output is rather less than the 36 MW produced by each of the two main generators installed on the UK Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth-class carriers but will approach the output of the main generators in the Type 45 Daring-class destroyers.