In a very ten days on Russian and Western diesels Anonymous has also provided two (here and here) posts on Russia's developing (non-nuclear (SSK)) Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) and Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs) for submarine technologies. Combining the two post produces:
Perhaps the most active Russian designer of SSKs and nuclear subs is the (short name) "Rubin Design Bureau" (long name Joint-Stock Company “Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering" of St Petersburg). Russia likely remains far behind the West in AIP development but Russia's LIBs' progress (perhaps working with China) is less clear.
Rubin, is developing, sponsoring or coodinating submarine drivetrain systems, which include:
- Diesels (next generation diesel 12ДМ-185 (ie. 12DM-185s) [1]
- AIP using Diesel Reforming (Hydrogen producing) Fuel Cells in a Russian technology called
"VNEU". VNEU (see Russian 2016 article) is being developed for the 5th generation "Kalina".
Rubin claimed, in 2015, that VNEU is a fundamentally different Russian development which
limits the quantity of hydrogen kept within the pressure hull.
oxidizer [is] in tanks...between the pressure hull and outer light hull. The gases [including
hydrogen] are piped through the pressure hull to the fuel cells as needed..."
- LIBs, likely of the Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) type. Comment - One of drawbacks of LIBs is
thermal run away at low temperature. But, LFP and LTO (Lithium Titanate) have excellent stability
at low temperatures (cold seas) AND longer time endurance improves under ice performance in
the Arctic Ocean (immediately above Russia, Northwestern Europe and the North American
continent).
= Rubin claimed in 2014 that "lithium batteries for submarines have been tested" and "The general
director of the enterprise, Igor Vilnit, said that a full cycle of tests of lithium-ion batteries for
non-nuclear submarines had been carried out." But demonstrable, proven, progress is slim.
- Propulsion motor. It is not clear whether Russia has mature permanent magnet synchronous motor
technology for submarine.
COMMENT
Russia hopes it has the SSK development budget to produce future Russian non-nuclear submarines (including or terminating the Ladas, Amur Project (see cutaway model) and/or moving to the Kalina Project). Russia intends they will be equipped with the above technologies. With these new SSKs Russia hopes to compete strategically and for foreign business orders against Western (including Japanese and South Korean) and now Chinese SSKs.
Russia may have an advantage, in pressure hull alloys for its new SSKs, if Russia reuses Titanium from old Soviet submarine hulls. This Titanium may be the basis for deeper diving, non-magnetic hulls. In the Baltic Sea, Russia aims to challenge the technical superiority of German Type 212As in AIP, diesel generators and non-magnetic hulls.
The “Ural diesel-engine plant (UDMZ) introduced a new generation diesel engine - DM-185”
DM-185 is alternatives of DM-210 [a problematic backup diesel for Yasen or Borey nuclear subs.]
The DM-185 range features:
- Total power: 0,7-4,9 MW [the high upper limit power seems to be for non-submarine];
- Rotational speed corresponding to the total power: 1500, 1800, 1900 rpm;
- Specific fuel consumption: not more than 204 g / kWh;
- Specific consumption of oil in fumes: 0.4 g / kWh;
- Specific gravity: 3.7-4.7 kg / kW Resource: 40000-70000 hours Cylinder power: 120-234 kW.
- Specific fuel consumption: not more than 204 g / kWh;
- Specific consumption of oil in fumes: 0.4 g / kWh;
- Specific gravity: 3.7-4.7 kg / kW Resource: 40000-70000 hours Cylinder power: 120-234 kW.
ANONYMOUSES COMMENT
The 12DM-185 seems to correspond to the MTU, but, where do the 12DM-185's turbochargers come from?
PETE COMMENT
Yet SSK-underfunded Russia may remain uncompetitive (strategically and in sales of SSKs) as the West is demonstrably more advanced. With the West working on third generation fuel cell-AIP, Japanese standard LIBs as well as KHI and MTU 4000 diesels. Even China, with a larger budget for SSKs, may be passing Russia in AIP and LIBs.
Mainly Anonymous