“Two diesel-electric boats of Project 677 Lada will be handed over to the Russian fleet in 2018-2019. The next boats will be built according to the new Kalina project. The Kalina project, developed by the Rubin Central Design Bureau of MT, is already in place, but it has not yet been approved and agreed with the Ministry of Defense. The main features of this project will be a standard anaerobic (air-independent) power plant”(RIA Novosti).
“Not approved” and “not agreed” means that there is no deadline.
A long and fruitless epic with the creation of a domestic diesel-electric submarine with an air-independent installation (VNEU) suggests a simple thought: is it needed at all?
First, it doesn't work.
Secondly, what is the need for boats equipped with VNEU for the Russian fleet?
As for the first point, in Russia there is objectively a lack of a technological base for the production of anaerobic power plants (of course, in the presence of a mass of patents and ideas). Have you heard a lot about domestic fuel cells? Attempts have been made several times. In 2005, through the efforts of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Norilsk Nickel, the National Innovative Company New Energy Projects (NIK NEP) in the field of hydrogen energy and fuel cells was established. was quickly liquidated (within the framework of Norilsk Nickel's decision to get rid of unprofitable assets).
The power plant is the most complex element that determines the parameters of any system. The only competitive Russian product in the field of naval power plants is the nuclear reactor. But we'll talk about this a little later.
Today, the emergence of Russian-made electrochemical generators looks like science fiction. The Stirling engine, which is less complex in design, has its own problems (cooling, liquid oxygen), while objectively creating a noise level four times higher than the ECH.
There are also no domestic analogues of a closed cycle steam turbine unit (PTUZts) of the French MESMA type. Moreover, such an engine is not the best solution; PTUZts provides half the travel range compared to ECH.
Need?
Diesel-electric submarines float to the surface every 2-3 days to recharge the batteries. It is better to refuse the use of a snorkel (RDP, for operating a diesel engine at periscope depth) in combat conditions. The boat becomes helpless; because of the roar of diesels, she does not hear anything, but everyone can hear her.
The idea of equipping diesel-electric submarines with a hybrid power plant (diesel + auxiliary anaerobic power plant), which can prolong being submerged, was not born today. The first experimental samples (for example, the Soviet project A615, 12 boats were built) used a closed-cycle diesel power plant with liquefied oxygen and a carbon dioxide absorber. Practice has shown a high fire hazard of such a solution.
Modern non-nuclear submarines use much less powerful, but safer VNEU, examples of which were discussed above. Stirling, EHG or PTUZts.
With an economical consumption of chemical compositions and an oxidizing agent, they are able to continuously stay under water for 2-3 weeks. In this case, the boat does not lie on the ground, but can move continuously at 5 knots. From the point of view of specialists, this is quite enough for covert patrolling in the indicated square and "sneaking up" to enemy ships passing by the position.
The main issue is cost. A comparative analysis of foreign nuclear submarines shows that a modern submarine with VNEU costs the navy at a price of 500-600 million euros per unit.
As world practice shows, for about the same amount you can build a boat, able to stay under water not 2-3 weeks, but a couple of months. At the same time, she does not need to crawl in a 5-knot stroke, saving the oxidizer.
An operational speed of 20 knots for most of the trek. Covert deployment anywhere in the ocean. Unlimited maneuver and escort of ship strike teams.
This is Ruby. A series of six French nuclear submarines that have become the smallest nuclear submarines in the world. With a hull length of 74 meters, their surface displacement is only 2400 tons (underwater - 2600 tons).
According to official data, the baby “Rube” turned out to be six times cheaper than the American “Seawolf” (≈350 million dollars in prices of the 1980s). Even adjusted for inflation, the current cost of such a boat can be compared with the most “advanced” nuclear submarines in Europe and the Far East. German-Turkish contract - 3.5 billion euros for six submarines with ECH; Japan - $ 537 million for the Soryu submarine with a simpler and cheaper Stirling engine.
“Ruby”, this miniature nuclear-powered ship, is not a superhero capable of crushing anyone and reigning supreme in the depths of the sea. One of the many types of third-generation nuclear submarines with a modest set of characteristics. But even with their compromises "Rubin" is head and shoulders above any "diesel engine" with an auxiliary VNEU in terms of combat capabilities.
Just as surface ships with a heat engine (diesel - KTU - GTU) are absolutely superior to marine vehicles with alternative energy sources (wind, solar panels, etc.). Too weak and unreliable half measures, unable to provide a long-term and reliable production of the required amount of energy.
Diesel engines do not work under water. The only source capable of providing a comparable level of energy supply was and remains a nuclear reactor.
Stealth
Like any technical solution, VNEU has its advantages and disadvantages. One of the main "advantages" of movement under water using Stirling and ECH is called the increased stealth of the boat. The parameter on which everything depends.
Firstly, smaller dimensions, and, consequently, a smaller wetted surface area and less hydrodynamic noise when driving. Dictated by the smaller size of non-nuclear submarines.
But, as mentioned above, the Ryubi nuclear-powered ship differs little in size from the diesel-electric submarine. The length of the French nuclear submarine is identical to the Varshavyanka. Moreover, the width of the “Ryubi” hull is two meters less.
However, the most noticeable source of noise (especially at low speeds) is the propulsion system. Non-nuclear submarines are devoid of buzzing pumps that ensure the circulation of the coolant in the reactor. They do not have turbo-gear units and powerful refrigerating machines - only silent batteries. The air-independent installation does not create noticeable noise and vibrations during operation.
All this, of course, is true: a diesel-electric submarine creeping in the depths is quieter than the quietest nuclear-powered ship. With one amendment: this is a different technique for solving different problems. What is the use of the high secrecy of the nuclear submarine, if it is simply unable to cross the ocean in a submerged position? Just as unable to accompany a squadron (AUG or KUG) cruising at 18-20 knots.
Two different types of equipment.
The choice depends on the concept of using the Navy. Despite the obvious advantages of diesel-electric submarines (increased secrecy of "black holes", relatively low cost), the United States stopped building diesel-powered submarines 60 years ago. In their opinion, they have no one to defend the coast. All hostilities are being conducted in remote maritime theaters in European waters, Asia and the Far East. There, where only nuclear submarines can reach on time (without losing stealth and never rising to the surface).
Great Britain has a similar opinion, where the last diesel-electric submarines were decommissioned in 1994. Currently, the British submarine fleet consists entirely of nuclear-powered ships (11 units in service).
Noise is one of the unmasking factors in submarine warfare.
Another promising detection method involves the submarine's heat trail. A submarine with a reactor with a thermal power of 190 MW gives seawater 45 million calories per second. This increases the temperature of the water in the immediate vicinity of the submarine by 0.2 ° C. Temperature difference sufficient for the attention of sensitive thermal imagers.
The Swedish submarine of the "Gotland" type operates with capacities of a different order. Two "Stirling" machines generate a useful power of 150 kW under water, taking into account the efficiency, the thermal power of the machines will be 230 … 250 kW.
190 and 0.25 megawatts. Do you still have doubts?
That's right, the comparison is incorrect. The launch of the boat's reactor at full power is only possible under exceptional circumstances. At low speeds (5 knots), nuclear submarines use a few percent of the reactor's rated power. So, the strategic 667BDR suffices 20% of the reactor power, and only one side (18% - automatic limitation of the control and protection system of the Brig-M reactor). The reactor on the other side is kept in a “cold” state.
Total: of the two nuclear reactors, only one is used (90 MW), at the minimum power (about 20%).
In the future, the bulk of these megawatts is “lost” on the turbine. Joules of heat are converted to joules of useful work. A submarine missile carrier with a height of a 7-storey building is set in motion. Superheated steam (300 °) at the outlet of the turbine turns into 100-degree "boiling water", which is sent to the condenser. There it cools, but not to absolute zero, but only to 50 ° C. It is this temperature difference that needs to be “dispersed” in the outboard space.
In practice, the thermal effect of the submarine is determined not by the thermal emissions of the engine, but by the mixing of water layers during the passage of the submarine. In this sense, nuclear submarines even have advantages over non-nuclear submarines. The shape of their hull is ideally matched to the underwater movement, while the majority of "diesel engines" are forced to have pronounced "surface" outlines (where they spend half of their time).
conclusions
Among the operating countries of submarines with an air-independent engine are Israel (type "Dolphin"), Sweden ("Gotland" and Project A26), Greece, Italy, Turkey, South Korea and Portugal (German submarine type 214), Japan (type "Soryu”), Brazil, Malaysia, Chile (French“Scorpen”). It is noteworthy that the French themselves, who are building excellent non-nuclear submarines for other countries, completely abandoned non-nuclear submarines in favor of nuclear-powered ships (10 units).
The high demand for submarines with anaerobic propulsion is formed by countries that want to have a modern and efficient fleet, but do not have the ability to build and operate nuclear submarines.
A nuclear boat is not only a ship. This is a related nuclear industry, technologies for recharging nuclear reactors, unloading and disposing of spent fuel. Base infrastructure with special security and control measures.
Russia, the USA, China, France and Great Britain have accumulated these technologies for decades. The rest would have to start all over again. Therefore, for Greece, Malaysia and Turkey, the illusion of choosing between a nuclear submarine and a diesel engine with an auxiliary VNEU (at the price of a nuclear-powered ship) has the only solution. Non-nuclear submarine fleet.
In Russia, everything is different.
As of 2017, the navy has 48 nuclear submarines and 24 diesel-electric submarines, incl. six new “Varshavyankas” with an updated sonar system and “Caliber” cruise missiles.
Atomic “sharks” are designed to operate anywhere in the oceans. Diesel-electric "Varshavyanka" is a rational solution for the near sea zone. For operations in the areas for which these submarines are intended, the presence of VNEU does not matter much. Moving under water at the slowest, 3-5 nodal speed, “Varshavyanka” will crawl over the Black Sea (from Crimea to the coast of Turkey) in just one day. And he will do it as quietly as possible, unlike Stirling. The batteries do not generate any noise.
The choice between an expensive submarine with anaerobic propulsion and a miniature nuclear-powered submarine (like the French "Rube") is of little importance to Russia. In the existing realities and the current concept of the use of the Navy, there is simply no place for them.
