To answer the question, "What is the QE2 fuel comnsumption?":

[from http://www.qe2.org.uk/engine.html ]

QE2'S POWER PLANT IS DIESEL ELECTRIC, a system chosen for its inherent
reliability and flexibility. In 1986/87, in an operation costing
£100m, nine medium speed MAN L58/64 nine cylinder turbo charged diesel
engines were fitted, in place of the aging and fuel thirsty steam
plant. The diesel engines drive C.E.C. generators, and each develop
10.5 MW of electrical power at 10,000 volts. Each engine weighs
approximately 120 tons.

IN ADDITION TO SUPPLYING AUXILIARY SHIP'S SERVICE and hotel service
requirements via transformers, the electrical power generated is used
to drive the two main propulsion motors, one on each propeller shaft.
The maximum output of each motor is 44 MW giving QE2 a top speed in
excess of 32 knots. They are of synchronous salient pole construction,
are 9m diameter, and weigh over 400 tons each, representing the
largest marine motors ever built.

THE SERVICE SPEED of 28.5 knots, can be maintained using only seven
engines, thus allowing essential and routine maintenance to be carried
out whilst at sea and without affecting schedules. At this speed a 35%
fuel saving is made over the previous power plant, the fuel used being
of the same grade - IF 380 (Bunker "C"). This fuel is heated under
pressure to 140'C for injection, and is akin to road tar at room
temperature.
///
What is the total power output of QE2's engines?
95 MW: /// the power output of 3000 medium sized family cars.

What is the fuel consumption?
At the service speed of 28.5 knots, consumption is 380 tons per day:
this equates to 50 ft/gall.
************************************************** ***

Brian Whatcott Altus OK


On Fri, 20 Feb 2004 05:05:49 GMT, (Jim Hollenback)
wrote:

Larry W4CSC ) wrote:
: The cruise liner, QE2, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel
: that it burns.

I find that really, really hard to beleive. Lets see, 5280 feet per
mile, that is 10,560 gallons per mile. For a trip across the Atlantic
of, what ?, 3600 miles?, that is 38,016,000 gallons. At 6 pounds or
so per gallon, that is 114,048 *tons* of fuel. Another way to look
at it, for 38,000,000 gallons of fuel at, say $0.90 per gallon, that is
around $34,200,000 to fuel that beast. If you carry 2000 passenagers,
that is $17,000 per passenger just for the fuel. Naw, someone is
jerking your chain Larry.

: -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

: I didn't even know it was diesel powered......???

Who says you can't burn diesel in boilers?