China's 335 kg WB-LYP10000AHA Lithium-ion Battery (LIB) being developed for (or already in) China's 2nd batch of Yuan class submarines. China is also marketing this battery to Russia, presumably for Russian Kalina submarine use.
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The Yuan class (Type 039A or 41) diesel-electric submarine. The first Yuans probably have Stirling AIP (and standard lead-acid batteries).
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Following on from Submarine MattersChina into Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs) for Submarine - Can Russia Keep Up? of February 2, 2016, I’ve done further research on Chinese submarine propulsion and come up with:
Chinese marketing of LIBs at: "Winston Battery WB-LYP10000AHA in large submarines"
http://gwl-power.tumblr.com/post/106634862416/winston-battery-wb-lyp10000aha-in-large carries the highly significant wording ("Posted 1 year ago"):
"The technical information gives some ideas about the size of the battery pack for the Yuan-class of diesel-electric submarines to be equipped with an air-independent propulsion system (AIP) powered from large battery banks.
The battery pack consists of 960 pcs of the WB-LYP10000AHA cells making the total energy of 31 MWh. The lithium battery is saving some 260 tons of weight against the original lead-acid pack. With this pack the Yuan-class (B-class) diesel-electric submarine can drive 3,300 nautical miles or it can stay under water for 800 hours (33 days). This indicates the average onboard consumption of the submarine when not moving is some 38kW/h."
1. Does 31 MWh, 3,300 nm over 33 days look reasonable?
Comment - This compares with:
- 2,800 nm over 20 days for German Type 212A fuel cell AIP and
- 2,900 nm over a 30 day period for Soryu Mark 2s using LIBs.
PETEs COMMENT
The first batch of Yuans are widely thought to have standard lead-acid batteries and Stirling AIP. The "B-class" of the Yuans may mean the second batch/Mark 2 Yuans that have LIBs instead of (or as well as) the Stirling AIP. A December 2015 US report to Congress (page 91) states "The YUAN SSP is China’s most modern conventionally powered submarine. Eight are currently in service, with as many as 12 more anticipated." So the 12 may be the second batch - maybe with LIBs?
As can be seen below China is also marketing submarine capable WB-LYP10000AHA batteries to Russia.
The specific Lithium-ion in the battery is LiFeYPO4 (hence the "LYP"). China's near economically exclusive access to Yttrium (Y) means China has a major advantage in offering Yttrium in its manufactured products. For battery experts the advantage of LiFeYPO4 over plain LiFePO4 is"additional Yttrium at the cathode of the LiFeYPO4 cells speeds up electron transfer especially at cold temperatures". This would be advantageous for Chinese Yuans and Russian submarines starting their engines at sub-zero northern winter temperatures and then contuing through the cold saltwater of winter seas (down to minus 2 Celsius before the water ices up).
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For sale to Russia http://winston-battery.ru/products/cells/wb-lyp10000aha (explains in Russian) "This site [dated 2014] is a project of the company IP Corporation, the official partner of Winston Energy Group Limited in Russia.
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SPECIFICATIONS OF WB-LYP10000AHA SUBMARINE CAPABLE LIBs
“WB-LYP Series
Model: | WB-LYP10000AHA |
Operating Voltage: | 2.8-4.0V |
Nominal Voltage: | 3.2V |
Nominal capacity | 10000Ah |
Max Charge Current (Continuous): | << 1 CA |
Max Discharge Current (Continuous): | << 1 CA |
Max Discharge Current (pulse): | << 20CA |
Standard Charge/Discharge Current | 0.5CA |
Cycle Life: (80%DOD) | 5000 |
Cycle Life: (70%DOD) | 7000 |
Operating Temperature (Charging ): | -45-85 deg. C |
Operating Temperature (Discharging): | -45-85 deg. C |
Dimension (mm): | 687×367×756 |
Weight (Kg): | 333kg +/- 3000g |
Temperature Durability of Case | << 200 deg.C |
Self Discharge Rate: | << 3% monthly |
Specifications can be changed without notice (12.10.2011).
Documentations: [ User Manual ]
2. Do these specs look reasonable for submarines?
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THUNDER SKY DIAGRAMS DATED 2015
Thunder Sky Winston Energy Group Limited website
Diagram above is "SPECIFICATIONS FOR THUNDER SKY WINSTON RARE EARTH LITHIUM YTTRIUM POWER BATTERY" and below is "CHARGE AND DISCHARGE CHART[S]". Diagrams and Charts are much enlarged here.
Contact Address is: Thunder Sky Winston Energy Group Limited, Thunder Sky Winston Industrial Park, No.3 Industrial Zone, Lisonglang Village, Gongming Town, GuangMing Dist, Shenzhen [a huge city, dubbed China's "Silicon Valley" in southeastern China!], China, Tel: +86 755 86026789/36615068/36615069.
COMMENT
Submarine Matters will devote much more attention to Chinese submarines and surface vessels, and also Chinese jets.
Pete