Chapter 445 Boilers suitable for aircraft carriers
A brand new boiler is undergoing testing.
The test site is completely enclosed. After all, if the test fails and the boiler explodes, then the high-temperature and high-pressure steam will be enough to steam everything around. When the Gorshkov's boiler exploded, the 28 sailors were
So dead.
Coal-burning boilers require someone to shovel coal. This kind of heavy oil boiler only needs a normal supply of fuel.
"Mr. Qin, you came at the right time. Last night, this prototype completed all the testing items. In the morning, we started igniting and preheating. Now, the water in the boiler is almost boiled." Wang
Yanwei said.
In the room next to it, there are several monitors. You can see the status of the test site through the monitors. The boiler sprayed with silver powder looks very ordinary. It stands on the test bench and passes through two pipes and
Connected to the outside world.
"This is also the weakness of the boiler power. A fire needs to be lit before starting." Qin Tao said: "However, for an aircraft carrier of tens of thousands of tons, the boiler is the only choice, and the power of the gas turbine is still not enough."
Even the British, who have the world's best gas turbine technology, still can't make the Queen-class aircraft carrier reach high speeds, so we don't have to worry about it for the time being. Whether it's oil-burning or uranium-burning, it's just boiling water.
Back then, the Beiyang Fleet was attacked by surprise and could not attack because the water in the boiler did not heat up and could not be driven out.
Back then, it took ten hours to heat water, which sounded like a long time.
"Yes, even if it is nuclear power, the time is not short. Fortunately, our boiler is a pressurized boiler, and the preheating time is already very short." Yu Changhong said, looking at the data displayed on the side: "Boiler
The water temperature inside has reached 250 degrees, and we can start testing the steam generation efficiency!"
Their kind of boiler is called a pressurized boiler. The so-called pressurized boiler does not refer to the pressurization of the water in the pipe, but refers to the air.
In ordinary boilers, air circulates naturally. The air flowing into a pressurized boiler is pressurized, which allows more air to enter the boiler, burn faster, and heat up faster.
Now after testing, it has risen to the predetermined operating temperature in 2.5 hours!
(The data was searched from the Internet. I don’t know whether it is true or not. Originally, the Hero of East China thought it would take ten hours to go to sea. If it takes two or three hours, it is acceptable. These data should be top secret, so
, just follow what the Hero of East China wrote, and please give me a thumbs up.)
If it is an ordinary ground-based boiler, then if the water in the boiler is boiled directly, it will turn into water vapor and be directly supplied to the steam turbine. However, the boiler on a warship does not work on this principle.
The water in the boiler is always maintained at about 250 degrees Celsius, flows through a special steam generator, and circulates continuously.
Doesn't water boil when it's 100 degrees? That's of course because of the pressure. On the plateau, eggs can't even be cooked because the air pressure is low, so water boils when it's 70 or 80 degrees.
As for today's boilers, the pressure inside far exceeds the standard atmospheric pressure, so the circulating water inside will also be maintained at a higher temperature.
What about water vapor?
Need to be formed by steam generator!
The relevant water pipes were opened, and after treatment, the soft water flowed into the fins of the steam generator. Upon contact, it immediately changed from liquid to gaseous state.
"The generated steam temperature is 500 degrees, which meets the design requirements!" Wang Yanwei also became excited: "The pressure is increasing rapidly!"
(This steam temperature is indeed higher than the water temperature in the boiler. The specific principle is not understood by East China Heroes.)
"The pressure has reached five megapascals!"
"It has already surpassed the 051 boiler we produced before." Yu Changhong is also very excited. This brand-new boiler is so excellent!
"The pressure has reached six megapascals!"
"The pressure reaches seven megapascals!"
"Eight MPa!"
"Attention, the pressure is about to reach a critical value!"
"The emergency protection system automatically activates!"
When he heard these words, Wang Yanwei finally relaxed: "Success!"
This emergency protection system was designed by him and is a new addition to the original product.
"The safety protection measures of Lao Maozi's boiler are seriously insufficient. According to your request, we paid special attention to increasing safety measures. Once the steam pressure in the pipeline exceeds 8.4 MPa, the emergency protection system will be activated to reduce the pipeline pressure." Wang Yanwei said.
Safety is the most important!
Lao Maozi's aircraft carrier boilers frequently have accidents. On the one hand, it is due to the brutal operations of the engineer. For example, when there is a shortage of water, he directly adds sea water, which causes internal scale to increase. After reaching a certain level, of course it will explode. On the other hand, it is also due to safety measures.
Did not do well.
One of the main ways Wang Yanwei leads the team to improve is to increase safety measures. It seems that the effect is still good.
After hearing what he said, Qin Tao nodded with satisfaction: "We must pay attention to safety measures and there must be no accidents!"
"Yes, if an accident occurs due to design risks, I am willing to bear the relevant responsibility!" At this time, Wang Yanwei's expression was the same as Yu Changhong's just now.
They all embody a noble spirit and always keep their responsibilities in mind.
"Now, test whether the steam volume can meet the needs." Yu Changhong said.
Just now, the generated steam was held in the steam generator, and the pressure would of course increase rapidly. Now, by opening the channel and letting the generated steam flow away, you can test the continuous generation capability of the steam.
"The pressure dropped to 7.5 MPa!"
"The pressure dropped to 7.3 MPa!"
"The steam pressure has stabilized!"
"Traffic data, two tons per minute!"
It stably produces two tons of steam per minute, which is 120 tons per hour, and has reached the design specifications!
"If this kind of boiler is installed on the 051, only one is enough!" Yu Changhong sighed.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "However, if it is installed on a larger warship, it will not be enough." Qin Tao said: "This is just the beginning, wait until this
After a batch of eight boilers are produced, we will continue to improve."
"Is it still improved? It is already a lot better than the prototype!" Wang Yanwei was a little surprised.
Its prototype could only produce 115 tons of steam per hour and the pressure was only 6.4 MPa. This kind of boiler has been improved by using a more advanced design, especially by laying better refractory bricks. Now,
Mr. Qin is still not satisfied?
"Now it can only drive 60,000-ton warships. If we have 80,000-ton warships in the future, what will we use to drive them?" Qin Tao said.
The boiler used on the Kitty Hawk has a production capacity of 120 tons per hour, but the pressure can be stabilized at 8 MPa and the temperature can reach a maximum of 580 degrees. There is still a gap in the performance of our current boilers.
.
"An 80,000-ton warship?" Obviously, both of them were shocked by Qin Tao's words. Isn't that a super aircraft carrier like the Kitty Hawk?
"Our power system not only needs to drive this warship to a speed of thirty knots, but also has excess steam to drive a stronger generator. In the future, the power supply demand of our warships will also increase.
In addition to the auxiliary engines, the main engine must also be powerful. In short, continue to increase the temperature and pressure, and keep working hard!"
Speaking of this, Qin Tao thought of something else: "Of course, safety comes first."
Not only is the displacement increasing, but the power required will also continue to increase. After all, electromagnetic ejections will be launched in the future. What can we do without sufficient power generation capacity?
"Mr. Qin is right, we will continue to research more advanced marine boilers in the future!" Yu Changhong said.
These eight boilers are not the end, but just a beginning. There will be more demand in the future! Yu Changhong was also quite excited at this time.
After watching the boiler test, Qin Tao went to the production workshop, where some equipment needed for the nuclear power plant was being assembled.
"When the country was developing nuclear submarines, there were a large number of factories across the country to provide supporting equipment, and our factory also produced a lot of parts." Yu Changhong was very happy: "Now, we have received new production tasks, and our factory attaches great importance to it.
We must maintain quality and quantity and successfully complete this production task.”
"Yes, your Bingcheng Boiler Factory, as a leader in the industry, really has a lot of skills. This time it is an eye-opener for us." Qin Tao was very satisfied: "After the boiler test is completed, your subsequent production will
We must also ensure quality and quantity, I will be waiting for your products in Mingzhou."
"Please rest assured, Mr. Qin!"
Even though the inspection of the boiler factory was over, when Qin Tao returned to Huating, he immediately came to the machinery factory.
The former Huating Second Water Pump Factory has now developed into the most advanced complex curved surface product processing factory in China. In terms of marine propellers, it has almost monopolized the production of all variable pitch propellers.
When Qin Tao walked in, factory director Zhao Changshui and others greeted him.
"Mr. Qin, please rest assured. After receiving the drawings, we immediately adjusted the machine and redesigned the program. At present, we have started processing the first propeller."
Large aircraft carriers are all four-axis propulsion, which means they need four propellers, and the size of the propellers also varies depending on the ship type and speed.
The diameter of the propeller of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is as high as 6.4 meters. The displacement of the Oriental Sea Castle is not that large, and the diameter does not need to be particularly large. About five meters is enough.
The machine that Qin Tao got back was still working, its cutting knife was flying constantly, and golden metal wires flew out along the knife.
If it is a fixed-pitch propeller, then the entire propeller is cut directly when cutting. For example, the propeller of a submarine is processed in this way. However, the variable-pitch propeller is different. Its propeller is originally installed on the propeller hoop.
, when producing now, we only need to produce the blades separately.
"The construction schedule may be advanced, so our processing speed should be faster." Qin Tao said.
When those power tools are used, it may take three months to complete the rust removal and other tasks. The next step is to install the power system. The propeller cannot delay the progress.
"Well, we will install a second multi-axis CNC machine tool next month." Zhao Changshui said: "After that machine is installed in place, our processing speed will continue to increase."
Second station?
Qin Tao looked at Zhao Changshui with some suspicion.
"Let's ask Lao Luo to talk about this."
Lao Luo?
Qin Tao looked at another person in surprise: Luo Wenzhong.
Luo Wenzhong is not from their Mingzhou Group, he is from a machine tool factory. When it was manufacturing water jet propellers, the water pump factory purchased an experimental multi-axis linkage CNC machine tool from China. Luo Wenzhong, as a technical expert of the machine tool factory
The personnel are stationed in the water pump factory and can be regarded as old acquaintances.
The purpose of his coming here is to improve their CNC machine tools through continuous use, and finally make the products mature and move from experiments to the market.
A few years have passed, especially the Toshiba machine tool obtained from Lao Maozi, which must have given Luo Wenzhong and the others more inspiration, so they may have matured these technologies!
"Mr. Qin, thanks to the equipment you got, we have helped maintain it in the past few years and have understood the principles of this machine. Now, our machine tool factory has begun to copy the same machine and equipment.
." Luo Wenzhong said: "What you ordered is the first imitation product from our factory. We are looking forward to its arrival and speeding up the production here. Of course, I will continue to stay here to help with the production.
problems encountered.”
Qin Tao nodded.
It's not easy. Multi-axis CNC machine tools are high-tech products and are embargoed abroad. It is really not easy for us to get to where we are today.
"By the way, where is Porlustat?" Qin Tao asked.
When this machine tool first returned to China, Qin Taoshun hired this person to come over. With him, he could maintain the machine well, otherwise no one would use it.
Now, why don't you see this old friend?
"I'm still playing games." Zhao Changshui said: "When we were processing this kind of propeller, he came here for a while, and after the program was written, he left."
"Still playing games? Isn't he tired of it?" Qin Tao was also surprised.
"How could it be? He's like that, and he should never get tired of playing for a lifetime." Zhao Changshui said: "Our factory also tries its best to meet all his conditions. The computer he uses to play games now is still last year's new model."
Qin Tao nodded, and then thought of something: "Do we still need to write complex programs now?"
"Yes, this machine is still needed. However, the machines produced by our machine tool factory have been improved and adopted our domestic control system. Its biggest feature is that it can recognize CAD drawings and then automatically generate processing programs."
Luo Wenzhong said: "This can greatly simplify our processing work and truly realize digital processing."
The charm of digitalization has been reflected. In the aviation field, it is already a trend to draw directly on the computer, and then transfer the design drawing to the CNC machine tool to directly process it into parts. There is no need for paper drawings in the whole process.
Nowadays, domestic CNC machine tools are also being improved. They can recognize drawings and write processing programs, which greatly simplifies operations.
Qin Tao nodded: "Yes, but in order to develop our industry in the future, we must have our own drawing software. We cannot be controlled by others in these fields."
CAD will be famous all over the world, but in China, in many professional fields, foreign software cannot be used. In this regard, we must also develop ourselves.
Luo Wenzhong nodded: "Yes, we cannot be controlled by others. However, our machine tool factory does not have this ability. If there is similar software in China, we can provide supporting equipment so that our machine tool software can read the relevant drawings."
Qin Tao nodded.
"For us, this is just the beginning. If we want to better complete propeller processing tasks in the future, the number of machine tool axes will have to increase. We are already studying the principle of seven-axis five-linkage CNC machine tools. In the future, our CNC machine tools will
Technology will not be worse than foreign countries, it will only be better." Luo Wenzhong continued.
"Yes, imitation is just the beginning. We need to improve on the basis of imitation." Qin Tao nodded: "In the future, not only will there be seven-axis five-linkage, but the volume will also be larger to meet the needs of larger diameters.
propeller processing needs.”
"We will work hard." Luo Wenzhong expressed determination.
The processing of the machine continues.
The needs of aircraft carrier propellers are different from those of submarines. Only a five-blade propeller is enough, but it is very wide. One processed blade weighs several tons or even dozens of tons. After assembly, the entire propeller weighs dozens or even hundreds of tons.
.(It is said that one propeller of the Fanimitz weighs four to five hundred tons? I personally think it is unlikely.)
"Mr. Qin, do you have time to take a look at the lift fan project?" Zhao Changshui continued to ask.
Among the J-31A research and development projects, Mingzhou Group undertook the most difficult lift fan project. After all, only their Mingzhou Group had this kind of processing capability.
In the blink of an eye, one or two years have passed. How is the progress of their development?
Qin Tao became interested: "Of course you have time, let's go and have a look!"
If you want this aircraft to succeed, you must overcome the difficulties of the lift fan project, which is definitely a major challenge for domestic technology.
How is this project going so far?
With such questions, Qin Tao and others entered the R&D workshop.
Since the Huating Second Water Pump Factory got back on track, it has also begun to pay attention to research and development. They transformed a large warehouse into a research and development workshop. The windows are bright and clean. At the same time, the staff inside are all wearing white coats, and they look a bit...
High-tech corporate feel.
There were rows of computers, as well as various test benches and other equipment. When Qin Tao walked over, Wang Jinbao greeted him.
"Mr. Qin, you came at the right time, and we finally have good news to report to you."
good news?
Qin Tao felt happy when he heard it: "What's the good news?"
"Through our hard work, we have finally overcome the difficulty of the transmission shaft. Now, we have been able to manufacture qualified transmission shafts for use in lift fans."
The requirements for this transmission shaft are not simple. It needs to have a speed of several thousand revolutions per minute, and at the same time, it must transmit tens of thousands of horsepower. Specifically, it is similar to the power output of the four diesel engines of the 054. However, it absolutely cannot
Use a 054 drive shaft.
Things used on airplanes must be extremely light!
"Really? What materials did you use to make it?" Qin Tao asked curiously.
"Titanium alloy."
This answer was somewhat beyond Qin Tao's expectations.
In the aerospace field, a large amount of titanium alloy is indeed used. After all, this kind of thing is light in weight and high in strength, and it is an excellent substitute for aluminum alloy materials.
However, its high yield strength does not necessarily mean that its torsional strength is also high.
"We use the transmission shaft material of the aero engine." Wang Jinbao said: "We learned that the engine and low-pressure turbine shaft used by the Su-27 fighter jet use titanium alloy, so we contacted Lao Maozi and introduced this material.
After our precision processing, the blank has really met the requirements. Although the cost is high, you also said that you should tinker with it first and put aside the price issue."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Qin Tao suddenly realized that there is also a transmission shaft in the aircraft engine. It is absolutely no problem to take out this transmission shaft material and use it! As long as the precision machining ability is reached, this difficulty will be solved
It can be conquered.
It’s no problem if it’s more expensive. We’ll have to solve the issue of availability first.
"Where are the friction plates and conical wheels?" Qin Tao continued to ask.
The transmission shaft is a difficulty, but there are many other difficulties. The clutch must be durable. After all, the lift fan must be able to cut off power at any time and will not work all the time. The power transmission route is different, and bevel gears are also needed to change direction.
As for the main structure of the lift fan, it is not difficult at all. It can be understood as a simple aeroengine, which can be achieved with domestic technology.
"We are still researching these, and have already found a domestic manufacturer of automotive clutches. The best clutch plates they produce can only withstand 2,000 horsepower, and there has been no progress yet." Wang Jinbao said.
The transmission shaft has been solved, but the problems with the clutch and bevel gears still lie ahead.
"We heard that Porsche's PDK gearbox uses a very special friction plate material, so we have contacted them and want to experiment with their friction plates."
Qin Tao quickly shook his head: "We build airplanes, we can't use cars."
A car engine with over a thousand horsepower is extremely powerful, and a car engine with two thousand horsepower will be exhausted. What we need to transmit is tens of thousands of horsepower, and the clutch plate of the car cannot be strong no matter how strong it is.
"Can't it work in cars? There's no clutch in airplanes either!" Wang Jinbao was very embarrassed.
"There is no clutch on the aircraft, but there are brake pads on the aircraft. Contact our domestic unit that develops composite brake pads and study with them!" Qin Tao said.
This cannot be blamed on Wang Jinbao's lack of knowledge. After all, he was a technician at the water pump factory. Later, with Qin Tao's encouragement, he began to take on leading roles and had the courage to take on various research and development tasks. He was already very good. He knew nothing about the aviation industry.
Know.
Qin Tao gave the project to Wang Jinbao, and Wang Jinbao worked hard and was able to overcome the problem of the drive shaft because it was used in the aviation industry. But what about the clutch? I have never heard of any aircraft having a clutch.
So, he looked for solutions from the car.
He would never think about the brake pads of an airplane.
Brake pads and clutch plates have one thing in common, that is, they both work by friction!