But the most promising was the direction associated with the conversion of chemical energy directly into electrical energy, without the process of combustion or mechanical movement, in other words, with the generation electrical energy in a silent way. We are talking about electrochemical generators. In practice, this method has found application in modern German submarine U-212. The layout of the anaerobic power plant is shown in Figure 12.

The electromechanical generator is based on fuel cells. In fact, it is a rechargeable battery with constant recharging. The physics of its work is based on a process that is the reverse of the electrolysis of water, when electricity is released when hydrogen combines with oxygen. In this case, the energy conversion occurs silently, and the only by-product of the reaction is distilled water, which is quite easy to find use in a submarine.

According to the criteria of efficiency and safety, hydrogen is stored in a bound state in the form of a metal hydride (an alloy of metal in combination with hydrogen), and oxygen is stored in liquefied form in special containers between the light and durable submarine hulls. Between the hydrogen and oxygen cathodes are polymer electrolyte membranes of proton exchange, which act as an electrolyte.

The power of one element reaches 34 kW, and the efficiency of the power plant is up to 70 percent. Despite the obvious advantages of the developed fuel cell installation, it does not provide the required operational and tactical characteristics of an ocean-class submarine, primarily in terms of performing high-speed maneuvers when pursuing a target or evading an enemy torpedo attack. Therefore, Project 212 submarines are equipped with a combined propulsion system, in which batteries or fuel cells are used to move at high speeds under water, and a traditional diesel generator, which includes a 16-cylinder V-shaped diesel engine and synchronous alternator. Diesel generators also used for recharging batteries- a traditional element of non-nuclear submarines. The electrochemical generator, consisting of nine fuel cell modules, has a total capacity of 400 hp. With. and ensures the movement of the submarine in a submerged position at a speed of 3 knots for 20 days with noise levels below the level of natural sea noise.

Combined power plants

Recently, combined power plants have become popular. Initially, combined power plants gave rise to the desire to provide warships at the same time with high speed for combat and a large cruising range for operations in remote areas of the oceans. In particular, the combination of boiler-turbine and diesel power plants appeared on the German cruisers of the Second World War. In the 1960s, gas turbines appeared on ships, which, due to their efficiency and operating characteristics, could only be used for a short time and at high speeds. To compensate for this shortcoming, they began to be combined with a boiler-turbine (COSAG) or diesel (CODAG) power plant. Somewhat later, the so-called marching gas turbines appeared, which required afterburner turbines (COGAG). Only the appearance of all-mode gas turbines made it possible to move to a homogeneous gas turbine power plant.

There are even unique combinations of CODEAG power plants (diesel-gas turbine with full electric propulsion), which is found on the frigate " Duke» British Royal Navy. When it was created, the designers proceeded from the need to provide an ultra-low noise level at low speeds when using a towed sonar antenna, as well as a quick transition from low speed to high speed. The installation includes two gas turbines with a total capacity of 31,000 hp. s., two DC propulsion motors with a capacity of 2000 liters each. s., built into the propeller shaft lines and powered by four diesel generators with a total capacity of 8100 liters. With. Such a main power plant operates in four modes: low speed with a minimum noise level when the main gearboxes are turned off; high speed during operation of gas turbines on propellers through gearboxes together with propulsion motors; intermediate speed during operation of one gas turbine for one propeller and one propulsion motor for another propeller with the gearbox off; maneuvering when using only diesels. The propellers work in reverse only from the propeller motors.

April 5, 2014 This news has been read 18091 times

"Kalina" is a fifth-generation Russian submarine with an air-independent power (anaerobic) installation (VNEU)

March 19 Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Victor Chirkov said that the project to develop a fifth-generation non-nuclear submarine was named Kalina, and recalled that the new submarine will receive an air-independent power (anaerobic) installation. An increase in the combat capabilities of non-nuclear submarines, as well as multi-purpose ones, as Chirkov noted, is planned to be ensured by integrating advanced robotic systems into their weapons. In addition, "in the long term, it is planned to create a new generation of submarines based on unified underwater platforms," ​​the admiral added.

The basis of the Navy's submarine fleet is now made up of third-generation submarines. Submarines of the fourth generation of the type "Yury Dolgoruky"(project 955, Boreas) and "St. Petersburg"(project 677, "Lada") have just begun to enter service with the fleet. Since May 2010 "St. Petersburg" is under trial operation by the Navy. Project 885 ships also belong to the fourth generation of nuclear submarines "Ash". By 2021, the Navy plans to receive seven nuclear submarines "Ash".

The pioneers in the world development of VNEU were the Germans, who have a huge tradition of subfloating and created the project U-212/214 with anaerobic plant. Project development Kalina leads Central Design Bureau of Marine Engineering (TsKB MT) "Rubin" . On the development of fifth-generation submarines by the enterprise, the director general of the bureau Igor Vilnit reported last year. “The formation of the appearance of the next generation ship has begun and is taking into account the comments and suggestions that come in during the operation of the ships of the previous generation and the lead ships of new projects,” he said.

He talked about conducting research work in order to determine the appearance of the future ship. Along with the head design bureau, specialized institutes of the Ministry of Defense and the Navy, as well as contractors, are involved in this "Ruby"- the main developers of hydroacoustic systems, electronic equipment, missile and torpedo weapons.

The results of this work were the creation of a nuclear submarine project "Borey-A" and modernization of project 636 for the Russian Navy, an improved submarine project "Lada".

A high-ranking representative of the Main Staff of the Navy said earlier that the fifth-generation submarine, the development of which is announced in the State Armaments Program (SAP) of the Russian Federation until 2020, will be unified for both ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. Also, these submarines will be distinguished by reduced noise, automation of control systems, a safe reactor and long-range weapons.

Submarine "St. Petersburg"(project 677, "Lada")

The development of VNEU is planned to be completed in 2015-2016. And in 2016-2017, according to Chirkova , the first new submarine will be built for the Navy. The experimental unit will be installed on the second submarine of project 677 "Lada". The first boat of this project "St. Petersburg" is now in trial operation and uses a conventional diesel power plant.

VNEU of Russian design is fundamentally different from foreign analogues hydrogen production method. In order not to carry high-purity hydrogen aboard the submarine, the unit provides for the production of hydrogen in the volume of consumption by reforming diesel fuel.

Tests of an air-independent power plant were to be held in June 2013 at a special stand "Ruby" in St. Petersburg. As a source in the main command said, in the fall of 2012, the installation was tested on an experimental submarine "Sarov" in the White Sea, and "certain problems were identified in the work of VNEU, the unreliability of some components and assemblies."

In addition to the current "St. Petersburg" laid down "Kronstadt" and "Sevastopol". VNEU should receive "Sevastopol" and "St. Petersburg"(subject to its successful sea ​​trials), a "Kronstadt" will remain with old batteries, since it is in a high degree of readiness, and it makes no sense to re-equip it with a VNEU that has not yet been adopted.

According to the chairman of the St. Petersburg club of submariners Igor Kurdin , in a number of countries, primarily in Germany and Sweden, projects of such boats with VNEU are “implemented in metal”. “All over the world, air-independent units are better known as the Stirling engine. This engine was patented over a hundred years ago. The first Russian non-nuclear submarine, on which it was planned to install an air independent installation, was "St. Petersburg". But, unfortunately, this project did not go. Therefore, they were forced to make a conventional diesel-electric submarine. Now it remains experimental and must pass deep-sea tests in the Northern Fleet, ”said Kurdin .

According to Kurdina , fifth generation submarines will be made on the basis "St. Petersburg", but the main thing will be the creation of an air-independent installation, and "there are great difficulties here." “The creation of air-independent installations is the only way to develop non-nuclear submarines. Diesel-electric a hundred years already! These are "diving" submarines because they have to surface frequently to recharge their batteries. And the air-independent installation will allow them to stay under water for as long as they can. nuclear submarines", - said the expert.

Compared to nuclear submarines, the main advantage of submarines with similar installations Kurdin considers their low noise and lower price.

“Nuclear boats are turbines, and there is no way to make such a system silent. Even such technologically advanced countries as Japan do not have nuclear submarines, because they believe that it is very expensive. Therefore, diesel-electric boats should be replaced by submarines with air-independent power plants,” he said.

Besides Kurdin recalled the existing restrictions. In the Baltic and Black Seas, according to international treaties, the location of nuclear submarines is prohibited (therefore, all nuclear submarines are based on the Northern and Pacific Fleets), and "the only way out is the creation of boats with an air-independent power plant." Now Russia has one diesel-electric submarine left in the Black Sea Alrosa. “Despite the fact that Turkey, a member of NATO, has 14 submarines. The ratio is far from in favor of Russia,” the expert emphasized, suggesting that it is on the Black Sea that next-generation submarines will be in demand first of all.

He recalled that at last year's International naval saloon a Dutch diesel-electric submarine was exhibited "Dolphin". “I was invited there. They showed me everything except the aft engine room. According to some reports, they have an air-independent power plant installed there, which is big secret, so they didn’t show it to us,” believes Igor Kurdin .

In turn, the director of the PIR Center program on conventional weapons Vadim Kozyulin I agree that this technology is “extremely necessary” for Russia. “Unfortunately, it is not yet available for Russia. The Germans are here first. The French have the same technology. But, of course, they will not share it with us, so you need to use your own mind. It is within our power to do, so the named Chirkov time and will be spent on acquiring this technology. The scientific potential of Russia is serious. Over the past 20 years, military technology has gone ahead, and all this time the fleet has been in the role of a stepdaughter, ”said Kozyulin .

According to him, the technology for creating such power plants for Russia is considered a priority, and for "this project - a key one." “This technology allows the submarine to stay under water for up to twenty or even more days,” he said, assuming that the submarines will be in demand in all Russian fleets.

Publication prepared by staff CompMechLab® based on site materials Military-industrial complex news .

Other news on this topic on the site:

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"Foreign military review» № 6. 2004 (p.59-63)

Captain 1st rank N. SERGEEV,

captain 1st rank I. YAKOVLEV,

captain 3rd rank S. IVANOV

Submarines with a traditional diesel-electric power plant (PP) are quite effective tool to solve the tasks defined by it and have a number of advantages over submarines, especially when operating in coastal and shallow water areas of the sea. These advantages include a low noise level, high maneuverability at low speeds, and striking power comparable to the PLA. In addition, the inclusion of non-nuclear submarines in the Navy is largely due to the low cost of their creation and operation. At the same time, they have a number of disadvantages, in particular, the limited time spent in a submerged position due to the small amount of energy in the storage battery (AB). To charge the AB, the submarine is forced to float to the surface or use the underwater diesel operation mode (RDP), as a result of which the probability of its detection by radar, infrared, optoelectronic and acoustic means increases. The ratio of the time of navigation under the RPD, necessary to charge the batteries, to the period of discharging the battery is called the "degree of negligence".

There are several ways to increase the cruising range under water, the main of which are scientific, technical and technological developments in order to improve the traditional power plant of non-nuclear submarines and its components. However, in modern conditions the implementation of this direction cannot fully ensure the solution of the main problem. The way out of this situation, according to foreign experts, is to use an air-independent power plant (VNEU) on the submarine, which can serve as an auxiliary one.

The successful results obtained in the course of work on this topic made it possible to equip newly built auxiliary VNEUs and retrofit diesel-electric submarines in operation. In the latter, an additional compartment crashes into the robust case, containing the power plant itself, tanks for storing fuel and oxidizer, tanks for replacing the mass of consumable reagents, auxiliary mechanisms and equipment, as well as control and management devices. In the future, VNEU is planned to be used on submarines as the main one.

Currently, there are four main types of air-independent power plants: a closed-cycle diesel engine (DZTs), a Stirling engine (DS), fuel cells or an electrochemical generator (ECG) and a closed-cycle steam turbine plant.

The main requirements for VNEU include the following: low noise level, low heat generation, acceptable weight and size characteristics, simplicity and safety of operation, long service life and low cost, the ability to use the existing coastal infrastructure. To the greatest extent, these requirements are met by auxiliary power plants with a Stirling engine, ECG and a closed-cycle steam turbine plant. Therefore, the navies of a number of countries are actively working on their practical application on non-nuclear submarines.

Power plant with Stirling engine. In 1982, the Swedish company Kokums Marine AV began its development by order of the government. Experts initially considered VNEU with a Stirling engine as an auxiliary one, working in conjunction with a traditional diesel-electric power plant (DEEU). Their studies have shown that a new installation, created as the main one (without the use of a traditional DEPU), will be too expensive to manufacture and technical requirements imposed on the power plant of a submarine will be difficult to satisfy.

The Royal Swedish Navy chose VNEU with a Stirling engine for several reasons: high power density, low noise level, well-developed technologies for the production of diesel engines, reliability and ease of operation.

The high specific power of DS is achieved by burning diesel fuel in combination with oxygen in the combustion chamber. On the submarine, the necessary supply of oxygen is stored in a liquid state, which is ensured by modern cryogenic technologies.

The Stirling engine is an external combustion engine. The principle of its operation involves the use of heat generated external source, and its supply to the working fluid located in closed circuit. DS converts the heat produced by an external source into mechanical energy, which is then converted by the generator into direct current. The regenerator, which is part of the closed working circuit of the engine, takes from the working fluid thermal energy, formed after its expansion, and returns it back to the cycle when the gas changes direction.

The DS uses double-acting pistons. The space above the piston is the expansion cavity and the space below the piston is the compression cavity. The compression cavity of each cylinder is connected by an external channel through the cooler, regenerator and heater to the expansion cavity of the adjacent cylinder. The necessary combination of expansion and contraction phases is achieved using a crank-based distribution mechanism. A schematic diagram of the Stirling engine is shown in the figure.

The thermal energy required for the operation of the DS is generated in the high-pressure combustion chamber by burning diesel fuel and liquid oxygen. Oxygen and diesel fuel in a ratio of 4:1 enter the combustion chamber, where they are burned.

In order to maintain the required temperature of the working process and ensure sufficient heat resistance of materials, a special gas recirculation system (GRC) is used in the design of the DS. This system is designed

to dilute pure oxygen entering the combustion chamber with gases generated during the combustion of the fuel mixture.

During the operation of the Stirling engine, some of the exhaust gases are vented overboard, which can lead to the formation of a trail of bubbles. This is due to the fact that the combustion process in the DS goes with a large excess of unused oxygen, which cannot be separated from the exhaust gases. To reduce the number of bubbles formed when exhaust gases dissolve in sea water, an absorber is used in which gases and water are mixed. In this case, the exhaust gases are pre-cooled in a special heat exchanger from 800 to 25 °C. The working pressure in the combustion chamber makes it possible to remove exhaust gases at different submersion depths of the submarine, up to the working one, which does not require the use of a special compressor for this purpose, which has increased noise.

Since the process of external heat supply is inevitably accompanied by additional heat losses, the efficiency of a diesel engine is less than that of a diesel engine. Increased corrosion does not allow the use of conventional diesel fuel in DS. Low sulfur fuel required.

For the Swedish program, a V4-275 type DS from United Sterling was adopted. It is a four-cylinder engine (the working volume of each cylinder is 275 cm3). The cylinders are arranged in a V-shape to reduce noise and vibration. The working pressure in the combustion chamber of the engine is 2 MPa, which ensures its use at submarine submersion depths of up to 200 m. For engine operation at great depths, exhaust gas compression is required, which will require additional power consumption for exhaust gas removal and will lead to an increase in noise level.

The first power plant based on the DS was equipped with a Necken-type submarine launched after modernization in 1988. The Stirling engine, storage tanks for diesel fuel, liquid oxygen and auxiliary equipment were placed in an additional section with zero buoyancy, embedded in the strong hull of the submarine. Due to this, the length of the boat increased by 10 percent, which slightly affected the change in its maneuverability.

Two V4-275R DS are powered by 75 kW DC generators. The motors are housed in noise-insulating modules on vibration-isolating structures with two-stage damping. As tests have shown, the DS is capable of generating a sufficient amount of electricity needed to power the on-board systems of the submarine, to ensure recharging of the battery and to move the boat at a speed of up to 4 knots. To achieve more high speeds running and power supply of the main propulsion motor, the use of the motor together with the AB is provided.

Thanks to the use of a combined power plant, the submerged navigation time increased from 3-5 to 14 days, and the patrol speed - from 3 to 6 knots. As a result, the stealth of submarines has increased.

According to Swedish experts, the Stirling engine demonstrated high reliability and maintainability in shipboard conditions. Its noise emission does not exceed the noise of a propulsion motor and is 20-25 dB lower than that of a diesel engine of equivalent power.

The Swedish Navy is equipping this auxiliary VNEU submarine of the Gotland type. The contract for the construction of three submarines of this type was signed by the government of the country with Kokums in March 1990. The first submarine of this series - "Gotland" - was put into service in 1996, the next two: "Apland" and "Halland" - in 1997. During the modernization, it is planned to equip Västergotland-type submarines with auxiliary power plants of this type.

According to foreign sources, Swedish submarines equipped with DS propulsion systems have already shown good results in practice. In particular, during the exercises, the superiority of the Halland submarine over the Spanish Navy submarines with a traditional diesel-electric power plant was proved, and its improved performance characteristics were demonstrated during joint navigation with nuclear submarines of the US and French navies.

Power plant with ECG. An electrochemical generator is a plant in which the chemical energy of a fuel is directly converted into electrical energy. The basis of ECG is fuel cells (FC), in which the process of generating electricity occurs, arising from the interaction of fuel and oxidizer, continuously and separately supplied to the fuel cell. In principle, a fuel cell is a kind of galvanic cell. Unlike the latter, FC is not consumed, since active ingredients are supplied continuously (fuel and oxidizer).

During the research, various types of fuels and oxidizers were tested. The best results were achieved when using the reaction between oxygen and hydrogen, as a result of the interaction of which electrical energy and water are generated.

The generation of direct current by cold combustion of hydrogen and oxygen has been known for a long time and has been successfully used to generate electricity in underwater vehicles. This principle of generating electricity was used on submarines only in the 1980s. In PA, oxygen and hydrogen were stored separately in high-pressure, durable tanks. Although electrochemical generators are more efficient than storage batteries, their use on submarines was hampered by the fact that the supply of fuel reagents stored in a gaseous state did not allow for the required duration of diving.

The most optimal way to store oxygen is in a liquid state (in a cryogenic form - at a temperature of 180 ° C), hydrogen - in the form of a metal hydride.

By the mid-1980s, the German GSC (German Submarine Consortium), including IKL (Ingenieurkontor Lubeck), HDW (Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft AG) and FS (Ferrostaal), developed and built an experimental onshore ECG unit with Siemens fuel cells for check joint work its components - fuel cells, hydrogen and oxygen storage systems, pipelines, control systems, as well as the interaction of work with a traditional power plant

PL. The ECG prototype was structurally designed in such a way that, upon completion of the tests, it could be installed on the operating submarine without modifications. The results of coastal trials have shown that the PU with ECG can be effectively used on submarines.

In 1989, in the interests of the German Navy, a nine-month series of sea trials of the U-1 submarine of project 205, equipped with an auxiliary VNEU with ECG, was successfully completed at the HDW shipyard. As a result, the leadership of this type of aircraft abandoned the further construction of submarines only with a diesel-electric power plant and decided to use "hybrid" ones (DEEU as the main and auxiliary power plant with ECG). Further research is aimed at developing such installations with ECH as the main one.

Structurally, ECG is an electrochemical module with polymer membranes (REM). All modules are installed on a single frame and can be connected both in series and in parallel.

Auxiliary in the power plant with ECG are the cooling system using outboard water and the system of residual gases. The latter ensures the afterburning of residual hydrogen in the AB ventilation system and the use of residual oxygen for onboard needs. The power plant control system is integrated with the security control system, the monitors of which are located in the central post.

Energy conversion in fuel cells is silent. As part of the power plant, there are no nodes that perform rotational or oscillatory movements. It has a low heat release, as a result of which it does not have a significant effect on the formation of physical fields. The only auxiliary system with rotating parts is the cooling system, but it is not so noisy as to greatly affect the level of the acoustic field of the submarine.

The initial activation of reactions in fuel cells does not require a lot of electricity in order for the metal hydride stored in cylinders located in the double-side space to begin to release hydrogen and begin to evaporate oxygen stored in a liquid state in shock-proof cryogenic tanks made of low-magnetic steel.

This type of power plant is quite efficient, it has a high efficiency - up to 70 percent, and by this indicator it significantly outperforms other air-independent power plants. Comparative data on the dependence of the efficiency of different types of VNEU on the relative level of output power are shown in the graph. The energy conversion process takes place at low operating temperature(60-90 °C). A small amount of heat generated by the system during operation is required to maintain the initially initiated electrochemical process. Some of the heat generated by the ES can be used for domestic purposes such as heating. The amount of heat that needs to be removed from the installation is small, so the forced cooling of the power plant with outboard water does not require a long time (up to a day of its operation). The water produced during the reaction, after appropriate treatment, can be used for drinking.

The combination of compact fuel, series-connected cells allows you to get any required voltage. Voltage regulation is achieved by changing the number of plates in fuel cell assemblies. The highest power can be achieved with serial connection these elements.

The work of the ED with the ECG does not depend on the depth of the submersion. The electricity generated by such a power plant goes directly to the main switchboard of the boat. 65 percent it is spent on movement and ship needs, 30 percent. - for the cooling system and the system of residual gases of the power plant, 5 percent. - for additional power plant equipment. The auxiliary power plant can operate both in parallel with the battery, providing the electric propulsion of the submarine and powering other consumers, and for recharging the battery.

It is planned to equip four and two submarines of the 212A type, which are being built for the German and Italian navies, respectively, as well as an export version of the 214 boat for the Greek and Republic of Korea navies, with an auxiliary power plant with an ECG.

Two submarines from the first sub-series of boats of type 212A for the German Navy are equipped with an auxiliary power plant with an ECG with a rated power of about 300 kW with nine fuel cells of 34 kW. The boats of the second sub-series are planned to be equipped with two 120 kW fuel cells. They will have practically the same weight and size characteristics as fuel cells with a power of 34 kW, but at the same time their efficiency will increase by 4 times. Submarine type 212A will be able to stay submerged for about two weeks. The rated power of this installation will allow to develop a speed of up to 8 knots without the use of AB.

The modular design of power plants based on fuel cells not only facilitates their installation on submarines under construction, but also allows them to be equipped with previously built ones, even those that were built under licenses at the shipyards of countries importing German submarines.

In addition, such a power plant, according to German experts, is highly maintainable and has a longer service life.

Steam turbine plant (STU) of a closed cycle. Vocational school MESMA (Module d "Energie Sous-Marin Autonome), operating on a closed Rankine cycle, was developed by the shipbuilding department of the French Navy DCN for export sales. The French companies Teknikatom, Thermodyne, Air Liquide are involved in its production, "Bertin", as well as the shipyard "Empresa Nacional Bazan" (Spain).

MESMA is a two-circuit plant. In the primary circuit, as a result of the combustion of ethanol in oxygen, a heat carrier (steam gas) is formed, which passes through the steam generator path and gives off heat to the water circulating in the second circuit. The water is converted into high pressure steam, which drives a steam turbine connected to a generator. Oxygen is stored on board the submarine in special containers in a liquid state. The products of the combustion reaction are water and exhaust gases discharged overboard. This can lead to an increase in the visibility of submarines.

Combustion in the combustion chamber occurs at a pressure of 6 MPa, as a result of which the unit can operate at depths of up to 600 m, so a compressor is not required to remove combustion products overboard.

The efficiency of a power plant with a MESMA STP is 20 percent, which is due to large losses during multiple energy conversion - fuel combustion, superheated steam generation, three-phase current generation and its subsequent conversion to direct current.

The entire installation as a whole is quite compact and is mounted in a section of a pressure hull 10 m long and 7.8 m wide. Oxygen is stored in a liquefied state in cylinders mounted on special shock-absorbing mounts inside the pressure hull of the submarine in a vertical position.

In September 1998, bench tests of a prototype MESMA power plant were completed. In April 2000, at the shipyard in Cherbourg, the first ship power plant was manufactured, located in the pressure hull section. After completion of the acceptance tests, the module with the power plant was to be sent to Pakistan to equip the Ghazi submarine of the Agosta 90V type, which is being built there under a French license. This is the first submarine of this type, on which an auxiliary air-independent power plant will be installed during construction. Two other submarines, built earlier, are planned to be retrofitted with them later - in the process of modernization and repair.

The use of auxiliary air-independent power plants on non-nuclear submarines made it possible to improve their performance characteristics in terms of the duration of diving, which increased the stealth of boats and expanded their combat capabilities. In addition to submarines under construction, auxiliary VNEU can be equipped with existing diesel submarines in the process of their modernization. Further development of technologies and obtaining on this basis qualitatively new characteristics of VNEU, most likely, will allow non-nuclear submarines to solve problems inherent in nuclear ones.

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The article presents the options created and developed air-independent power plants (airindependentpower /AIP) submarines. The approximate limits of use and examples of the implementation of air-independent power plants of submarines based on heat engines (internal combustion engines, engines with external heat supply, steam turbine and gas turbine power plants), direct conversion of fuel chemical energy into electrical energy (Polymer Electrolyte (or Proton Exchange Membrane)) Fuel cells, Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, reforming hydrocarbon fuels to produce hydrogen), high capacity batteries, highly metallized fuels and "thermite blends". Examples of the implementation of various technologies in submarine shipbuilding and companies conducting research work to create these technologies are indicated. The main features of the operation of power plants, their advantages and disadvantages are given.

types of fuel

power plant

Submarine

air independent power plant (VNEU)

1. Vasiliev V.A., Chernyshov E.A., Romanov I.D., Romanova E.A., Romanov A.D. The history of the development of submarines with air-independent power plants in Russia and the USSR // Proceedings of the NNSTU im. R.E. Alekseev. - 2012. - No. 4. - S. 192-202.

2. Genkin A.L. Anaerobic heat source on gasless fuel for emergency heating of divers // Shipbuilding. 2010. - No. 2. - S. 36-38.

3. Dyadik A.N., Zamukov V.V., Dyadik V.A. Ship air-independent power plants. - St. Petersburg: Shipbuilding, 2006. - 424 p.

4. Zamukov V. V., Sidorenko D. V. Choice of an air-independent power plant for non-nuclear submarines // Shipbuilding. - 2012. - No. 4. - S. 29-33.

5. Zamukov V.V., Sidorenko D.V., Petrov S.A. State and prospects for the development of air-independent power plants for submarines // Shipbuilding. - 2007. - No. 5. - S. 39-42.

6. Zakharov I.G. Conceptual analysis in military shipbuilding. - St. Petersburg: Shipbuilding, 2001. - 264 p.

7. Nikiforov B.V. Lithium-ion batteries as the main sources of electricity for diesel-electric submarines // Shipbuilding. - 2010. - No. 2. - S. 25-28.

8. Chernyshov E.A., Romanov A.D. Highly metallized fuel based on aluminum and its application // Technical sciences - from theory to practice. - 2013. - No. 24. - S. 69-73.

9. Yastrebov V.S. Systems and elements of deep-sea technology for underwater research. - L .: Shipbuilding.

10. Dr. Carlo Kopp. Air Independent Propulsion – now a necessity // Defense Today. – 12/2010.

The power plant of a non-nuclear submarine (submarine) is a heavy, up to 30% of the mass, and volumetric, up to 50% of the displacement, design. However, the classic diesel-electric installation does not work efficiently, the diesel installation and the supply of hydrocarbon fuel are not used in the submerged position, in the surface, if the full electric propulsion mode is not implemented, the batteries become “unnecessary”. Therefore, since the first appearance of submarines, various types of thermal “single engines” have been proposed, they have developed in the following areas:

• Heat storage (sodium acetic acid, liquid metal).
• Steam turbine plants of closed and open cycles: combustion of metals or hydrocarbon fuels using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizer (Walter cycle).
• Internal combustion engines: open cycle ("Y", "Postal", ED-VVD, Kreislauf), closed cycle (use of hydrogen and oxygen, REDO, ED-IVR, ED-KhPI), using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizer (X -1, PVC), using a solid source of oxygen (sodium superoxide).

On fig. 1 and 2 Approximate limits of applicability of power plants and examples of implementation with an indication of the submarine project are given.

Rice. 1. The range of application of various power plants on the submarine

* - Submarines without installed weapons.

** - experimental submarine laboratory.

Rice. 2. Diagrams of power and duration of operation of various current sources

The * sign marks the range considered separately.

From fig. 1 shows that in fact the largest submarines with batteries are larger than submarines equipped with a nuclear power plant. However, this does not prevent the development of submarines with other types of power plants. You can give an example of torpedoes, all of them, with comparable dimensions, are equipped with various types of power plants.

Currently, power plants are being developed and implemented based on:

• Thermal engines: engines with external heat input (Stirling), closed cycle diesel, closed cycle steam turbines, closed cycle gas turbine plants using various combinations of highly metallized fuel and oxidizer.
• Direct conversion of fuel chemical energy into electrical energy (fuel cells), including hydrocarbon fuel conversion/reforming and metal hydrothermal oxidation, to produce hydrogen used in ECG.
• High capacity batteries, without recharging at sea.
• Small-sized nuclear power plants, including auxiliary ones.

Practically for all power plants, a universal oxidizing agent, oxygen, has been adopted. This is due to the relative ease of obtaining it from the air, and the processing of its storage systems, in most cases - cryogenic storage.

Consider the features of various air-independent power plants.

1. EU based on heat engines

All these installations, fundamentally different in design, are united by the fuel used (liquid hydrocarbons) and the mechanical conversion of the chemical energy of the fuel into mechanical and then into electrical energy. In addition, liquid hydrocarbon fuel has the advantage of storage and transportation. The use of fuel-ballast tanks and the possibility of refueling at sea significantly increase the possible range. These designs can use atmospheric air as an oxidizing agent in the “engine operation under water” mode (RDP / Schnorchel).

1.1. Power plant based on closed-cycle diesel engines (CCD, closed-cyclediesel, CCD)

These systems are the most common, some DZTs are based on the experience of operating diesel engines. The first projects were the submarines of Bertin and Dzhevetsky, after the Second World War, submarines with DZTs (A615) were mass-produced in the USSR. Their technological advantage is the use of "standard" diesel engines, i.e. lower cost and easier crew training. However, the difficult to eliminate high noise of the diesel engine limits the development of this technology. Closed-cycle diesel-based power plants differ structurally, but the principle of operation is similar: CO2 is removed from the combustion products / exhaust gases, when 1 kg of diesel fuel is burned, 3.19 kg of CO2 is formed, which needs to be disposed of, for example: by dissolving in sea water ( Argo / ED-IVR), absorption of solid products (ED-CPI, sodium superoxide, sodium chloride) or freezing, then the gas mixture is enriched with oxygen and sent to the cylinders.

Currently, RDM (Holland) offers a SPECTRE (Submarine Power for Extended Continuous Trialand Range Enhancement) power plant based on a closed-cycle diesel engine. Similar work was carried out by COSMOS (Italy), CDSS (Great Britain) and TNSW (Germany). However, serial submarines with these power plants are not built, with the exception of small submarines.

1.2. EU based on an engine with external heat supply (Stirling)

From all known direct cycle energy converters that can be used as part of anaerobic plants, Stirling engines compare favorably with a number of qualities that determine the prospect of their use on non-nuclear submarines: low noise in operation due to the absence of explosive processes and a fairly smooth flow of the working cycle, which affects on the acoustic stealth of submarines; high efficiency, high pressure of combustion products, which makes it possible to remove combustion products overboard at depths up to 200 m without a compressor, the possibility of using various types of hydrocarbon fuel.

The disadvantages are: high cost; complexity, high technological capacity of the design; the lowest value of the aggregate power realized 75 kW, probably the most achieved 600 kW. Examples of the implementation of this EU are projects A-17, A-19, Imp. Oyashio, possibly Type 041 and 043.

1.3. Steam turbine power plants closed cycle

At present, MESMA (Moduled’EnergieSous-MarineAutonome) closed-cycle steam turbines are being implemented on Agosta90B and Scorpene project submarines. According to the DCN concern, the output power of the MESMA power plant is 200 kW. The plant produces heat energy by burning a gaseous mixture of ethyl alcohol and oxygen in the primary circuit of the heat exchanger. The secondary circuit is a steam turbine that drives a high speed turbo generator. Currently, in Brazil, in Itaguai, a shipyard for the production of submarines (MetalStructuresManufacturingUnit) is being built. This shipyard has everything necessary for the production of hull sections as part of the PROSUB shipbuilding program. The lead submarine should start testing in 2016.

An analogue of this development in Russia can be called the research of JSC "SPMBM Malachite" and NSAID "Turbokon".

1.4. Closed-cycle power plant gas turbine plant

Various options for equipping submarines with a closed-cycle gas turbine plant are being developed. A gas turbine engine (GTE) is a balanced heat engine with lower vibration characteristics compared to an internal combustion engine, noise is a weak point of a gas turbine engine, however, acoustic disturbances have a high frequency, which can be reduced due to sound insulation. In Russia, NPO Saturn has a reserve for small-sized gas turbine engines for modern aircraft military purpose. To date, OJSC SPMBM "Malakhit", together with NPO "Saturn" and NPO "Geliymash", have carried out computational studies on the creation of VNEU with gas turbine engines.

2. EC based on fuel cells

A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts the chemical energy of a fuel and an oxidizer into electrical energy. Fuel cells can use fossil fuels (mainly natural gas or gasoline) or hydrogen directly (in the case of PEM fuel cells).

The main directions of fuel cell development are: Polymer Electrolyte (or Proton Exchange Membrane) Fuel cells PEM/PEMFC, Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells (PAFC), Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFC), Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC).

2.1. EI based on Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM)

Low-temperature ECGs have a specific power of about 65 W / kg, a resource of about 5000 hours. At the same time, the specific hydrogen consumption is from 0.045 - 0.048 kg / kWh, the oxygen consumption is 0.36 - 0.38 kg / kWh. Fuel cells BZM120 have a power of 120 kW each and weigh 900 kg with a volume of 500 liters. The fuel composition hydrogen + oxygen with reaction products water is theoretically the best composition in terms of energy release per 1 g of reaction products and ease of disposal of reaction products in submarines. However, the mass of hydrogen storage systems is significant, the reserve during cryogenic storage of hydrogen does not exceed 5% of the mass of storage systems, with gaseous hydrogen being about 3% in adsorbed form in intermetallic compounds. The high cost of creating a power plant and coastal infrastructure, technological problems with fuel storage, the impossibility of organizing the deployment of submarines in insufficiently equipped points significantly reduce mobility and combat stability, since the destruction of the base will actually make it impossible to use submarines. Therefore, alternative options for storing hydrogen-containing fuel (NH3, metal hydrides, hydroreactive fuel) and options for producing hydrogen from it are being developed.

2.1. ES based on methanol reformer and PEM

Methanol has a lower calorific value than diesel fuel and is more toxic, but its purity allows it to be used in reformers. HDW has developed a concept for a diesel-electric submarine designed to solve a wide range of tasks in remote oceanic (marine) areas, Project 216. A similar project has been developed by DCNS for Project S-80A. It is planned to achieve an increase in secrecy and an increase in the duration of autonomous actions of submarines through the use of a combined electric power plant, including four diesel generators, lithium-ion batteries and electrochemical generators of the company. In order to ensure the operation of the latter, it is planned to use an onboard hydrogen generator with a methanol-steam reformer. The principle of operation of the generator is as follows: methanol is mixed with water, evaporated and then fed into the reactor. The methanol-water mixture is converted into a hydrogen-saturated gas mixture, which enters the membrane purification unit. The main part of hydrogen passes through the membrane and further into the fuel cell. The scheme has advantages over PEM in terms of fuel used, providing greater range due to an auxiliary diesel generator and reducing the vulnerability of coastal infrastructure. However, it requires additional systems on board the submarine - reforming and utilization of CO2.

2.3. ES based on Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC)

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells belong to the group of high temperature fuel cells. They operate at temperatures up to 1000 °C and can use a variety of fuels: hydrogen gas or hydrocarbons (gasoline, diesel, kerosene), natural gas. Moreover, their feature is the possibility of using fuel with a lower degree of purification, in particular for sulfur, in contrast to low-temperature fuel cells where sulfur and CO poison the catalyst. Another advantage is that SOFC releases CO2 at high temperatures during operation. What allows to be used to increase the efficiency of a micro gas turbine, for the production of electrical energy or other auxiliary needs. These EDs are being developed by various companies such as Wärtsilä.

However, such a system also requires the utilization of CO2.

3. PP based on a storage battery without a recharging system at sea

Currently, one of the competitors to heat engines (PP) is equipping submarines with only high-capacity batteries. Similar designs are used on underwater vehicles. Theoretically, the simplest type of power plant, however, modern batteries have insufficient capacity to ensure that they stay under water for a long time (more than 14 days) with a relatively high energy consumption (more than 50 kWh). The traditional lead-acid battery (and others) does not meet the requirements for these purposes, however, with the advent of alternative technologies, such as Rolls-Royce Zebra batteries or a lithium-ion battery, this has become feasible, in addition, other types of batteries are being developed: sulfur- sodium, sodium-silver, sodium-nickel chloride, lithium-chlorine, lithium-silver, lithium-polymer, nickel-metal hydride, etc. . The estimated specific battery capacity is shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Specific mass energy of various types of batteries

Battery Type	Specific capacity, W*h/kg
Lead acid
Nickel-cadmium
Silver-zinc
Sodium Sulphide(NaS)

Moreover, the specific energy capacity of the battery depends on the discharge mode and may differ for lead-acid batteries from 22 W*h/kg in the hourly discharge mode to 55 W*h/kg in the 1000 hour mode.

To power navigation aids, batteries have been created that have a long discharge period, for example, an alkaline manganese-zinc electrochemical system, but they have low power.

4. PP based on highly metallized fuel

Basically, only research work is carried out in this area. The advantages of this scheme are: high caloric content of products, explosion / fire safety, the possibility of joint or separate storage of products without changing them physical and chemical properties, combustion products are in a solid state, which facilitates the disposal system. There are projects with different options for fuel and oxidizer: Al + O2, Mg + CO2, Al + CrO3/S/Fe2O3, Li + CrO3, Li + SF6, and the fuel and oxidizer can be in both solid and liquid / gaseous states . The designs are very different. Combustion chambers can be: direct-flow, cyclone, layered, bubbling / submersible, surface combustion. The conversion of thermal energy can be carried out in GTP ZTs, PTU ZTs, based on an engine with external heat supply.

The paper points out that a power plant based on gasless fuel can be placed in the dimensions of the compartment of existing submarines, and comparative estimates have shown superiority over the basic version of a diesel submarine. However practical implementation only small power plants passed, for example, in the Advanced Lightweight Torpedo, this power plant is equipped with an engine with a Rankine cycle and sea water as a coolant, the fuel is metallic lithium, the oxidizer is gaseous sulfur hexafluoride.

5. EC based on "thermite mixtures"

Basically, small and ultra-small power plants are being developed, some of which are used only for heat generation. These power plants can be equipped with heat accumulators, that is, the operating time of the power plant significantly exceeds the burning time of the thermite charge. The charges use "oxidizers of the second kind", these compounds require so much heat to release oxygen from them that their mixtures with organic substances are not capable of burning. It should be noted that it is not the total amount of oxygen contained in the oxidizer that is of interest, but the amount that is consumed for the oxidation of the fuel. The amount of oxygen given off by the solid oxidizing agents used is no more than 52% of the weight of the compound.

Comparative analysis is carried out on the basis of a system of quality indicators and performance criteria. Evaluation of the efficiency of ES is a multicriteria problem with non-linear objective functions and constraints, solved by non-linear programming methods. In general, the assessment of the effectiveness of the introduction of a particular technology can only be done on the basis of correct initial data. In addition to choosing comparison criteria, it is necessary to choose the weight characteristics of the criteria. Moreover, in addition to the characteristics of the power plant itself (energy, reliability, economic, field levels, for example, the intensity of noise emission, the strength of the electromagnetic field, the concentration of waste substances released into the atmosphere during work, the maintainability of the installation. It is also important to take into account the cost of creating and operating coastal infrastructure.

Reviewers:

Loskutov A.B., Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University them. R.E. Alekseev, Nizhny Novgorod.

Gushchin V.N., Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University. R.E. Alekseev, Nizhny Novgorod.

Bibliographic link

Romanov A.D., Chernyshov E.A., Romanova E.A. COMPARATIVE REVIEW AND EVALUATION OF THE EFFICIENCY OF AIR-INDEPENDENT POWER PLANTS OF VARIOUS DESIGNS // Contemporary Issues science and education. - 2013. - No. 6.;
URL: http://science-education.ru/ru/article/view?id=10994 (date of access: 07/29/2019). We bring to your attention the journals published by the publishing house "Academy of Natural History"

Project 677 "Lada" - diesel-electric submarine of the type "St. Petersburg" / Photo: upload.wikimedia.org

A prototype air-independent power plant (VNEU) for Russian non-nuclear submarines has been created and is already operating, Igor Vilnit, general director of the Rubin Central Design Bureau, told reporters on Friday.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Viktor Chirkov, told reporters in August that in 2017 Russia would start building a new generation of non-nuclear submarines with an anaerobic installation.

The main advantage of VNEU is an increase in the stealth of a submarine. The submarine gets the opportunity to be under water without surfacing to charge the batteries. It is planned that in 2015 the first VNEU will be installed on the Project 677 Lada submarine, RIA Novosti reports.

Technical reference

Anaerobic power plants based on Stirling engines

Modern tendencies The development of the submarine fleet indicates the need to equip non-nuclear submarines (NANS) with air-independent (anaerobic) auxiliary power plants.

The most promising direction in the field of creating anaerobic power plants is the use of Stirling engines in them. Noiseless operation, high efficiency (up to 40%), multi-fuel capacity and a significant motor resource of modern Stirling engines (about 60 thousand hours), allow us to recommend it as a universal engine for all types of non-nuclear submarines - small, medium and large displacement, as well as for most types of underwater vehicles, the use of which is possible in the interests of geological exploration, development of the continental shelf, environmental monitoring, elimination of the consequences of accidents at sea, etc.

Existing types of anaerobic installations for submarines

The Stirling Technologies Innovation and Research Center is the only company in Russia whose specialists have many years of experience in designing anaerobic plants with Stirling engines for special objects of various functional purposes: space objects, underwater technical means and others. Technical solutions are protected by more than 40 patents of the Russian Federation.

The company's specialists have developed an anaerobic power plant for a promising submarine of the 21st century based on a Stirling engine and liquefied natural gas as fuel.

A promising non-nuclear submarine with an anaerobic installation based on a Stirling engine and cryogenic fuel components (liquid methane, liquid oxygen)

Anaerobic power plants based on Stirling engines, created by the specialists of Stirling Technologies Research and Development Center, are protected by Russian patents. EIC Stirling Technologies LLC owns the exclusive rights to use these technical solutions on the territory of the Russian Federation.