When it comes to the power system of the Type 076 ship, we can analyze it from multiple angles. First of all, there is indeed a certain amount of controversy about the claims of 21 megawatt gas turbines. If we convert 21 megawatts to horsepower, we get about 28,000 horsepower, and the total power of the four gas turbines is 112,000 horsepower. Such a power level may seem sufficient for a Type 076 ship of 5-60,000 tons, but if you take into account the need for energy-intensive equipment such as electromagnetic catapults and phased array radars, such power may seem insufficient.
For the CGT25-M gas turbine, its power was higher, reaching 267 MW, or 36,000 horsepower. This kind of gas turbine has been widely used on the main ships of our army, and the technology is mature. So why didn't Type 076 ships adopt such higher-power gas turbines? One possible reason is that the CGT25-M gas turbine is based on the Ukrainian UGT25000 gas turbine, which may have certain technical difficulties when integrating with domestic generator sets.
In addition, we can also consider the QC185 gas turbine, which is an aeroderivative gas turbine developed based on the "Taihang" turbofan engine, which adopts a three-shaft, rear output, axial flow structure, and a rated power of 1778 MW with a maximum output power of 185 MW. If the Type 076 ships had used an improved version of the QC185 gas turbine, its power could have increased to 21 megawatts.
Another explanation is that the so-called 21 MW may not be the output of the gas turbine itself, but the output of the gas turbine generator set. In this way, if the Type 076 ships are using CGT25-M gas turbines, the actual output power may be limited to 21 megawatts due to the power limitations of the generators and propulsion motors.
When comparing the power system of the Queen-class aircraft carrier, we can see that its main power system consists of two 36 MW MT30 gas turbines, and the auxiliary power system includes diesel generator sets. This configuration allows the Queen-class aircraft carrier to achieve a maximum output of 108 megawatts, of which 80 megawatts are used to drive the motor to meet the propulsion needs of the carrier.
Finally, considering that the Type 076 ship may adopt the "J medium voltage DC" integrated power system, its efficiency can reach 90%, which is much higher than the 60% of the "Queen" class aircraft carrier's medium voltage AC integrated power system. This means that even with limited power, Type 076 ships are able to effectively meet their power needs.
In summary, there are many possibilities for the power system configuration of the Type 076 ship, and the final choice may depend on the maturity of the technology, the difficulty of integration, and the actual needs of the ship. Whether it's worth sacrificing speed for the benefits of an all-electric propulsion system is a question that needs to be considered. In the future development of the Navy, these technical and strategic choices will have a significant impact on the performance and combat capabilities of the ship.