Fuel Cell Submarine â Å“U 33â ? Launched at HDW
(Source: HDW; issued Sept.13, 2004)
By the name of â Å“U 33â ?, today Jutta Doenitz christened one of the most modern non-nuclear submarines in the world from Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG (HDW) in Kiel. The Class 212 A submarine is intended for service in the German Navy, and is the third of four submarines, which are currently being built at HDW and at the Nordseewerke in Emden. After an extensive period of sea trials, it is expected that â Å“U 33â ? will enter service on 31 January 2006.
The characteristic feature of the new submarine Class 212, which has been developed by HDW, is an atmospheric air-independent propulsion system based on the hydrogen fuel cell. HDW is thus the first company in the world to produce a production-ready fuel-cell propulsion system. The fuel cell, which produces electricity from hydrogen and oxygen, enables the new class of submarine to cruise submerged for weeks at a time. Conventional diesel-electric submarines have exhausted their batteries after about two days' submerged cruising. In addition, the fuel cell generates no noise and no exhaust heat. It is thus virtually impossible to fix the submarine's position.
The further development of position-finding technology and the increasing number of submarine-hunting methods, together with the extended field of deployment, necessitated the development of the new Class A generation of submarines. The extremely favorable signatures, the fuel-cell propulsion system and the position-finding and weapons technology will ensure that the new type of submarines will be successful in every conceivable field of operations. At the same time, the design of the vessel is characterized by a high degree of availability and low maintenance costs.
In the speech he made at the christening, HDW Board member Walter Freitag pointed out that the very early decision to use the fuel cell in submarine construction had laid the foundations for HDW's technological market leadership.
The development of the fuel cell propulsion system has produced a series of subsequent orders for HDW. Thus, HDW has received orders for seven submarines of the export version Class 214 submarine, of which four vessels are for the Greek Navy and three other vessels for the Korean Navy. The Italian Navy has also followed the example of the German Navy with two Class 212 A submarines, which are being built at Fincantieri. The Portuguese Navy has signed a contract to have three of its Class 209 submarines modernized with a fuel-cell propulsion system. Eventually, the Greek Navy will have 3 of its Class 209 submarines modernized with a fuel cell propulsion system. Thus, the German technology of the atmospheric air-independent submarine propulsion system is meanwhile being used by five Navies.
Thus, the German technology of the atmospheric air-independent submarine propulsion system is meanwhile being used by five Navies.
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/cgi-bin/client/modele.pl?session=dae.4308111.1089903978.QPadasOa9dUAAESlMZk&modele=jdc_34
Thought this might be interesting grist for the mill.
IIRC, between the time the Nukes were backburnered permanently and the time the Vics were purchased there was some talk of converting them to the type of vessels described above using Ballard fuel cell technology. At the time Ballard had already done some work on submerged systems for the Navy.
Now I don't know if the technology was bad, if it needed refining or if there just wasn't the money available for the development but if it was either of the latter two cases it appears that we
may have done it to ourselves again. Just llike the Arrow, the Bras d'Or and a number of other projects.
IMHO there would have been a good application for Federal research and development funds outside of the DND envelope. End state could have been Canada leading the world in a technology.
Instead it appears that we may have gone from leading the field to running along in the rear of the pack trying to decide whether or not to buy German instead or generate a "Me-Too" system either by allying with the Germans to try to learn from their mistakes. Alternately we might end up ignoring the Germans and try to do the "All-Canadian" solution, spend more time and money, make our own mistakes.
The question then becomes do we have the patience and the will-power to create a viable product that can compete on the world stage by out-performing the competition. And would the Canadian government allow us to sell them overseas anyway?
In any event the AIP Fuel Cell sub would give us the opportunity to finally contest our claim over the Northwest Passage.
Incidentally, consider Fuel Cell UUVs - autonomous mine/torpedo/detectors, communicating with VLF radios, lying quietly on the bottom of the Passage, relocating autonomously or on command, investigating and reporting on movement and noise, capable of "direct action" operating under the control of one of three National control centres (Esquimalt, Halifax, Ottawa) or OPConned to a Manned AIP sub.
And now to sleep, perchance to dream..................
