> While old diesel submarines needed to surface in a matter of hours or a few days at best to recharge batteries, new AIP powered vessels only need to surface every two to four weeks depending on type.
> a Gotland class submarine is reduced to just 6 miles per hour if it wishes to remain submerged at maximum endurance
two to four weeks submerged while idling? hardly seems like an improvement over diesel boats. also, what is the limiting factor? are they literally out of fuel, since they cant just snorkel to recharge batteries? or do they carry some kind of liquid oxygen maker? if they can make LOX, why dont we compare how long before diesel refueling is required?
weird amount of detail in the article. too much to be clickbait, not enough to be an examination.
If you're carrying LOX to power the Sterling engine or the fuel cells, then you could equally use the LOX to power the diesels (although obviously the diesels would be noisier).
Becoming "Air independent" by just loading a lot of compressed air onto the boat doesn't seem particularly clever, to me. It smells like a crude hack.
I don't think any current AIP subs can generate their own LOX. It's possible in theory, but the fractional distillation machinery is bulky and power hungry. So that's why range and endurance are severely limited.
> a Gotland class submarine is reduced to just 6 miles per hour if it wishes to remain submerged at maximum endurance
two to four weeks submerged while idling? hardly seems like an improvement over diesel boats. also, what is the limiting factor? are they literally out of fuel, since they cant just snorkel to recharge batteries? or do they carry some kind of liquid oxygen maker? if they can make LOX, why dont we compare how long before diesel refueling is required?
weird amount of detail in the article. too much to be clickbait, not enough to be an examination.