Great warships

Chapter 272 Edison Thinks So Too

Naval University of Engineering, Laboratory Building.

"Wait, we haven't done another test for our generator rectification system stabilizer project!" Zhang Fan, an old professor with gray hair, said.

"Yes, teacher, we are short of this one project." The young Ma Ming said: "We will make it immediately, and this device can be applied for a patent for invention."

Ma Ming said, and turned on the device.

On the test bench, it was busy again.

"No, there is a problem with our experimental data!" Ma Ming's partner Zhang Feng looked at the signal displayed on the oscilloscope and said, "There are irregular oscillation signals inside our rectification system!"

Ma Ming frowned: "Yes, this is sporadic, and the cause of the failure must be found out!"

"It seems to me that the quality of our primary coil is not up to standard."

"Is there something wrong with the secondary filter capacitor?"

Everyone said something, and I said something, analyzing the cause of the failure, Ma Ming, who was sweating profusely, faced the noisy voice coming from his ear, and finally became anxious: "Stop making noise, you all go away!"

The old professor Zhang Fan looked at his beloved apprentice in surprise. Just now, Zhang Fan was also analyzing the cause of the malfunction. What does this apprentice mean, because he thought he was noisy?
"Professor Zhang, it's getting late, you should go home first." Zhang Feng said quickly.

Zhang Fan glanced at Ma Ming, then left sullenly.

Time is still passing by little by little.

Ma Ming squatted in front of the equipment, holding a soldering iron, replaced the parts he thought were faulty, and restarted the test.

Finally, everything works.

Ma Ming wiped the sweat from his forehead, finished writing the recorded data on the test report, and let out a long breath.

"Okay, the problem has finally been solved. Our device is perfect, and it's time to apply for a patent. Hey, where's the teacher?"

"The teacher has already been driven away by you." Zhang Feng on the side was very speechless: "You are our technical director here. When you encounter problems and are under a lot of pressure, it is okay to get angry with us, but you don't care about the occasion. You yelled at Professor Zhang, and even drove Professor Zhang away, it seems wrong for you to do this?"

Ma Ming patted himself on the head: "That's right, I must have been confused at the time."

After finishing speaking, he ran out thumpingly, towards the family courtyard, the familiar small building.

It was getting dark a long time ago. It took five or six hours to troubleshoot this problem, and Professor Zhang was sulking for five or six hours.

Knocking on the door, sure enough, Professor Zhang was sitting on the sofa, smoking a cigarette, obviously sulking.

"Teacher, I'm sorry. I was too anxious just now. I shouldn't drive you away. Please forgive me."

Ma Ming was very disturbed, the mentor in front of him made him so angry!

In the college entrance examination in 1978, 18-year-old Ma Ming was admitted to the Naval University of Engineering. In fact, he did not intend to apply for the military academy. However, in order not to fail the exam, he chose to obey the adjustment. of a student.

After graduating from university, Ma Ming, who had excellent grades, was assigned to work as a counselor at the Naval Academy of Aeronautical Engineering. However, he didn't like it, so he applied for the postgraduate entrance examination of Professor Zhang Fan at his alma mater.

"The problem is solved?"

"Ah."

"Ma Ming, do you still remember that I asked you any questions during the interview?" Zhang Fan pinched out his cigarette and asked Ma Ming.

Ma Ming nodded: "Of course I remember. At that time, you asked me that there are three paths after graduation, becoming an official, making a fortune, and learning. Which one should I choose? At that time, I replied that I would like to be a scholar for life."

Zhang Fan nodded: "Yes, I recruited you because of your spirit, but you didn't disappoint me. In terms of learning, you really have such a stubborn ass." His temper shows that I have not misjudged the person."

"Teacher, do you forgive me?" Ma Ming said happily.

"Yeah, our dispute is for academic matters, and you have solved the problem, why should I be angry? The device we invented is in the leading position in the world, and we can apply for related patents, or Bring glory to our country."

"Yes."

"What a touching picture." At this moment, a voice came from the door.

Zhang Fan stood up and looked at the people at the door: "Leader Wu? What wind brought you here?"

Just now when Ma Ming knocked on the door and came in, the door was ajar. After he came in, he didn't close the door. After all, he was worried about the teacher's attitude. As a result, two people appeared at the door and watched all this. When he heard that it was Leader Wu , Ma Ming was also taken aback.

"Professor Zhang, you have a good apprentice. It seems that we have found the right person." After Wu Shengli finished speaking, he glanced at the people around him again: "Come on, let me introduce, this is Mingzhou Shipbuilding Industry Group Mr. Qin, he insisted on coming to Ma Ming, and he has an important scientific research project that he wants to hand over to Ma Ming."

Mingzhou Shipbuilding Industry Group, Mr. Qin?
Ma Ming looked at the man who was younger than him in surprise: "Mingzhou Shipyard is very powerful, not to mention the 022 missile boat, the idea of ​​the 051C air defense ship is really an idea, and it has solved the big problem of our navy! I heard that The Hongqi 16 project is also promoted by you, and by the way, you are still building aircraft carriers for Siam!"

Qin Tao knew Ma Ming because of the experience of later generations, but now, Ma Ming knew Qin Tao, which made Qin Tao a little flattered.

"Professor Zhang, hello, Ma Gong, I've seen you for a long time." Qin Tao came up to shake hands.

"President Qin, just now Leader Wu said that you have a project that you want to hand over to me? What kind of project is it?" Sure enough, he is a technical person, and Ma Ming is very enthusiastic about it.

"Ma Gong, do you have any ideas about the power system of our warship?" Qin Tao did not explain the purpose of coming, but first asked the question.

Ma Ming is very powerful and far-sighted, so now, Qin Tao wants to hear whether Ma Ming in 92 can be forward-looking in technology.

"Now, in the field of warships, equipment similar to the Aegis system will become more and more common. The Americans already have a complete system, and we and Europe are studying it." Ma Ming said: "These systems The addition of the warship will greatly increase the power consumption of the warship, which is a huge challenge for the generator attached to the warship. If you want to distribute the energy of the warship more reasonably, I think that the electric drive system will be revitalized. "

Ma Ming's words made Qin Tao nod in satisfaction. This technician's vision is indeed broad enough, and his words are also very accurate.

Rejuvenate!

This is because the electric propulsion system is actually not an innovation at all, just like electric vehicles as new energy sources. In the era when these vehicles were just invented, electric propulsion had already appeared simultaneously.

The electric propulsion of the warship means that the engine on the warship does not directly drive the propeller, but drives the generator, and then drives the electric motor at the tail of the warship to drive the propeller.

From a modern point of view, this is called taking off your pants and farting. Generators and motors are all efficient parameters. Compared with directly driving the propeller with a drive shaft, this efficiency is at least 50.00% lower!
However, during the period from the beginning of the 40th century to the 200s, electric propulsion was still thriving. For example, at that time, more than [-] military ships in the United States were equipped with electric propulsion in which steam turbines drove alternators to supply power to asynchronous motors driving propellers. system. (The East China hero was also shocked by the information from Baidu, but there should be nothing wrong with the data.)
Why not drive the propeller directly?

Just like when Dr. Porsche was engaged in electric tanks, the biggest problem was that the transmission system was not strong enough. Until the end of the 20s, due to the progress of machining technology, especially the improvement of the processing capacity of gear transmissions, steam turbines and diesel engines The technology of directly driving the propeller shaft to drive the propeller has been widely used, and the bulky and backward electric drive has since been relegated to the sidelines.

But now, the electric drive solution has been brought up again by Ma Ming, because the current demand has changed a lot from the past!

"The four-sided phased array radar is a big power consumer, and other equipment also needs electricity to supply it. It is imperative to equip warships with high-power generators, but in many cases, the four-sided phased array radar does not need to be turned on. At this time, the load on the generator is too light, and the all-electric propulsion can not waste the electricity and use it to drive the warship.” Ma Ming said: “A few years ago, the American Lewis-Clark class ammunition supply ship began to use all-electric propulsion. The propulsion system, I think they're experimenting with shipping that system, and when it matures, it's going to be in full bloom."

"On the warship, all propulsion is by electricity?" Wu Shengli was a little curious: "Is this technology too risky? If the brakes are off, the warship will lose power?"

Now, in all kinds of buildings, due to circuit failure, it is a common phenomenon that the switch cannot be closed due to circuit failure, which has a certain impact on people's lives. On warships, once the switch cannot be closed, it will be troublesome. It's so big that I can't even move.

"Yes, so we must be cautious in choosing the technical route." Ma Ming said: "The all-electric propulsion system that the United States is currently experimenting with uses a medium-voltage AC solution. This kind of equipment has mature technology and low risk, but it also has many shortcomings. I think we should use the medium-voltage DC solution to achieve overtaking on curves.”

Zhang Fan's face became serious: "Ma Ming, isn't the way you said it a bit ahead of its time?"

The all-electric propulsion system has indeed begun to emerge. The Americans are researching it, and the British are also researching it. The route they are targeting is medium-voltage AC. Now, Ma Ming is actually here to say that he wants to engage in medium-voltage DC?

(Brief introduction, our power grid, that is, the inside of the socket, is alternating current, and a few hundred volts is considered medium voltage. Our batteries have positive and negative poles, and the output is direct current. The battle between AC and DC is in many fields. Yes, for example, electric vehicles, Tesla uses AC, and some domestic vehicles use DC.)
"Yeah, it's a bit ahead." Ma Ming sighed: "However, for decades, the development of my country's ship power system has basically been on the road of introduction, imitation, and improvement. It is impossible to surpass others by following others. At present, the overall technical level of my country's ship power system is obviously behind that of the West, and there is a road of overtaking on a curve. It has already started in foreign countries and has received unprecedented attention as a revolutionary technological idea. We cannot follow the path that others have traveled, which will make the gap continue to widen. We must choose advanced technological routes to achieve transcendence.”

Zhang Fan nodded, then looked at Qin Tao: "Boss Qin, what do you think?"

"I also think direct current is good. That's what Edison thought back then."

"Edison?" Wu Shengli is a complete layman. He doesn't understand these things. What he knows is that the warships used direct current. Later, under the leadership of Mr. Pan, they were changed to alternating current. a trend.

Now, how is direct current advanced?

"Back then, electricity was just beginning to be used, and the first person to be electrocuted appeared. Edison immediately thought that this was caused by alternating current." Qin Tao followed up with the introduction: "The competitor gave Edison such a A benefit, can Edison not accept it? So, he immediately invented the electric chair."

"electric chair?"

"That's right, it's the electric chair. When the electric chair is connected to direct current, the people on the electric chair can talk and laugh freely. When the electric chair is connected to alternating current, no one dares to try it. They just tied an unlucky animal to it. After a few rounds , and died.” Qin Tao said: “Edison originally planned to use this invention to explain the dangers of alternating current, but he did not expect that the invention of the electric chair would eventually become a tool for capital punishment.”

When he said this, Qin Tao shook his head helplessly. There are too many inventions that go wrong in the world, and the electric chair is one of them.

"Is the direct current okay?"

"Yes, in a dry state, the human body is equivalent to a capacitor. As long as the voltage is not particularly high, direct current is harmless to the human body, but alternating current is not." Medium voltage direct current, not for this reason.”

"On a warship, it is impossible to have only one generator. For alternating current, the grid connection of the generator is a huge problem. Moreover, if you want to achieve a certain frequency, the speed of the generator needs a certain value. For example, the current technology developed by the U.S. Navy requires the generator to stabilize at [-] revolutions per minute. However, the power system of a warship has thousands of revolutions per minute for diesel engines and tens of thousands of revolutions for gas turbines. Therefore, a reduction gear needs to be added in the middle. This is the main source of noise from warships."

"We use medium-voltage DC, and the power generation link is still AC, but it doesn't matter the frequency, even the higher the frequency, the better the effect of our rectification. The generator can completely rotate at the same speed as the power system, and no reduction gear is needed. Of course, considering the It is technically difficult, and it is best to start with a diesel engine with a few thousand revolutions."

DC generators require brushes and commutators, which are prone to wear and tear, and have long been eliminated. Even the generators on cars are also AC generators, which are then rectified into DC power through silicon diodes.

What Ma Ming and the others have just successfully researched is this kind of rectification device.

"Yes, there are many benefits, but there are too many technical problems." Zhang Fan said. As a professor of this major, he certainly knows how many problems there are. Power generation is only the first step, and there are still many problems waiting for him. with them.

"There are too many technical problems, so we will overcome them one by one!" Ma Ming said loudly: "Teacher, you also said that it is already remarkable for a person to complete an invention in a lifetime. Voltage DC technology, now our subject is to solve these problems, teacher, I have identified this path, and I want to go on!"

Zhang Fan smiled wryly, and looked at Wu Shengli: "However, this project requires a large amount of capital investment. Does the Navy have the funds to carry out this project?"

Engaging in scientific research requires not only perseverance, but also money!
Zhang Fan is aware of the current situation of the navy. It is said that he wants to buy two modern grades from Lao Maozi, but the country is reluctant. It is so easy to invest hundreds of millions.

Without money, nothing can be done.

Wu Shengli was also a little embarrassed, um, it seems to have gone astray, right?Aren't we here to discuss electromagnetic ejection technology?How about the technology of the medium-voltage DC all-electric propulsion system?
"Taozi, what are we going to say here?" Wu Shengli reminded his son-in-law.

"Well, there are some other things, Ma Gong. After we have all-electric propulsion, it's not just to provide power for several phased array radars, right?"

Qin Tao is still heuristic.

Ma Ming nodded: "That's right, all-electric propulsion is a prerequisite. Only in this way can we get sufficient power supply. With this power, we can supply various systems. In addition to phased array radar, electromagnetic guns can also be used. But it’s a big power hog.”

"Electromagnetic gun? Isn't this thing from Star Wars? This seems to be a scam, right?" Wu Shengli said.

In the early 90s, when it comes to things like electromagnetic guns, isn't it a scam?Something in a sci-fi movie!
"If it weren't for World War II, who would believe that the energy in the nucleus could be used by humans? Who would have thought that people 200 years ago could fly freely like a bird? In the eyes of those people, our present The technology in the world is already unimaginable, so why do we have to question ten or twenty years from now?" Qin Tao said.

Ma Ming glanced at Qin Tao gratefully: "Boss Qin, you are right! Chemical energy cannons have no potential, while electromagnetic cannons have unlimited potential. Its range can easily exceed the limit of hundreds of kilometers. The potential for development is great, although it is in Star Wars, it is still possible to realize it, and I hope it can be realized under my hands."

After finishing speaking, Ma Ming smiled: "I just said that in my lifetime, it is already great to complete one project, but now, I am a little greedy, and I want to complete two projects, or even more."

"It's a lot of work for those who can." Qin Tao said: "Magong, what if the shells of the electromagnetic gun can be turned into airplanes?"

"Airplane? Mr. Qin, you mean an electromagnetic catapult?" Ma Ming felt his breathing start to quicken: "I think it is entirely possible!"

"Yes, it is possible to realize it. The key is the issue of funds." Professor Zhang Fan was very dissatisfied with Wu Shengli's change of topic, and brought the topic back again: "Leader Wu, since you came to us on behalf of the navy, Then plan to make these projects the key projects of the navy? How much does the navy plan to invest? The 8*91 project has invested 4000 million yuan, and our investment can’t be less than this, right?”

4000 million? Not even 400 million!Wu Shengli frowned, not knowing how to answer.

"This all-electric propulsion system can be built first. Our country still attaches great importance to the development of science and technology. If it can be included in the key projects during the Ninth Five-Year Plan, then it can get special funds from the country." Qin Tao said: " I suggest that we can start with the power system of the submarine, how about it?"

As far as all-electric propulsion is concerned, as long as it is mature, it can be used by any warship, but if there is an urgent need, submarines should be counted as one.

When the submarine is underwater, it uses a battery, and the propeller is driven by a motor. On the surface of the water or in the state of the snorkel, a diesel engine can be used. Difficult problem, but also to save the reducer, first of all, it can be used on diesel engines!
After this change, the diesel engine of the submarine does not need to directly drive the propeller, and all of them can be used to generate electricity.

"Well, yes, the navy will strongly recommend it to relevant departments." Wu Shengli began to express his opinion.

As long as you don't use the navy's account, but use the special account for key projects during the Ninth Five-Year Plan, then Wu Shengli has nothing to say, and of course you must fully support it!

"The project was approved during the Ninth Five-Year Plan? That's still too late!" Ma Ming was a little anxious: "It's better to start now. By the way, should the generator used in 051C be imported from abroad?"

Compared with other warships, 051C put phased array radar on a warship for the first time. Although it is a passive phased array, the power consumption of that thing is not low. There is also a vertical launch system, and other Data processing systems and the like all need to consume a lot of power.

Therefore, when the 051C warship was designed, it needed a high-power and high-efficiency generator, which had to be imported from abroad.

Qin Tao nodded: "Yes, according to our design, we need a twelve-phase rectifier generator. According to the current project plan...Leader Wu, do we have to purchase it from abroad?"

"Well, the Navy is raising funds, and it should be arranged in the near future."

"I want to go with you, and discuss technical issues with foreigners by the way. If you want to engage in all-electric propulsion, this kind of generator is the best choice."

The number of pairs of windings in a generator is the number of phases. The most commonly used is three-phase power. In the field of generators, the more phases, the higher the power generation efficiency. Warships that do not need large-scale grid-connected power generation, The more the better, the top level in the world is the twelve phases.

Qin Tao nodded and was about to say something when the big brother rang again.

(End of this chapter)