Abstract
Submarines, as a very expensive and sophisticated type of weaponry, are being intensively exploited by the armed forces of many countries. This means that submarines are sent ever longer patrols, sometimes to distant regions. To meet such requirements, submarine sub-systems and components must have high reliability and operational readiness indicators. Among the many machines and devices found on submarines, the ones that generate, store, and consume energy (mainly electricity) deserve special attention. The largest energy consumers on the submarine are the components of its propulsion system. One of the most complicated and loaded devices on board submarine is a power generator with a diesel engine driving it, on whose continuous and reliable work the safe performance of tasks depends. According to statistical research, despite its importance for the process of performing tasks by submarines, diesel engines are still the least reliable devices on submarines. Despite the constant technological development of piston engines, their work in very difficult conditions under heavy load and at high counter-pressure at the exhaust outlet promotes their malfunction and damage. From this point of view, the development of charge air systems for submarine diesel engines based on the construction experience of MTU Company is described in the paper. The classification of submarines, their propulsion systems, and the working conditions of engines on submarines are presented in the paper. Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems with their applications on chosen submarines are also described. The most significant change in submarine propulsion system observed in 2018, transition from lead-acid to lithium-ion batteries, is also presented.
Highlights
Submarines are an important element of the naval forces of many countries
The richest and largest countries operate submarines with nuclear propulsion and nuclear weapons. This is due to the very large construction / purchase and operation costs of such ships. Other countries such as Brazil and North Korea aspire to this group
The French DCNS Module Energie Sous-Marin Autonome (MESMA) system (Fig. 10) is an Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system whose operation is based on a closed steam Rankine cycle
Summary
Submarines are an important element of the naval forces of many countries. They can be classified, among other things, by their displacement, type of weapons carried, and type of propulsion system. The richest and largest countries (the USA, Russia, Great Britain, France, China, and India) operate submarines with nuclear propulsion and nuclear weapons. This is due to the very large construction / purchase and operation costs of such ships. SSBN submarines are carriers of ballistic missiles, SSGN submarines are equipped with missiles other than ballistic, and SSN submarines are carriers of conventional and nuclear torpedoes and mines These types of submarines equipped with nuclear propulsion may theoretically, because of the source of energy which is the nuclear reactor, stay under water for a very long time, limited only by the time of nuclear fuel burning, even up to several years. MTU used this concept in the 12V 493 AZ type engines intended for submarines, which have a power of 455 kW at a rotational speed of 1,500 rpm
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