Present Day AIP Systems
It was only in the late 1980s that the leading european submarine manufacturers began to develop different safe and reliable aIp systems. The swedish navy was the first to operationalise an AIP system based on the stirling engine. developed by the Kockums shipyard in sweden, it is in use on board the gotland class submarines. The system uses liquid oxygen and diesel to run the generator which charges the submarineÕs batteries. each submarine has two 75 KW stirling cycle propulsion units. The singapore navyÕs two archer class submarines (former swedish navy Vostergotland class) have also been retrofitted with the Stirling AIP System. The Japanese Maritime self-defence Force has also fitted the Stirling AIP built by Kawasaki heavy Industries on their soryu class submarines. latest reports indicate that the royal australian navy which has projected a future force level of 12 submarines may look towards collaborating with Japan for their future submarine programme. These submarines may also be powered by a stirling engine aIp system. In 2012, a gotland class submarine, deployed off the Us east coast transited the atlantic ocean fully dived without snorting.
hdW, the german submarine manufacturer, has developed a fuel cell aIp system which combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce water, electricity and heat. This system offers tremendous potential for the future because of the widespread application of this technology in other sectors including the automotive industry. It is based on the polymer electrolyte Membrane fuel cells. safety is however an issue as the hydrogen on board can be dangerous thought. This challenge is being addressed as the system gains in acceptance and popularity. The german navy already has a fuel cell aIp on the Type 212 and 214 submarines and it will power their future ssK programmes, as well. The considerable export market for the hdW submarines will ensure that this system is adopted by other navies. south Korea already has the fuel cell aIp on its three son Wonil class (Type 214) submarines.
The third proven aIp system is the MesMa (ModuledÕenergie sous Marin autonome) developed by dcns of France and is deployed on the Scorpene and Agosta 90B submarines. It is a steam turbine system which burns ethanol and liquid oxygen at 60 atmospheres to generate heat which drives a turbo-electric generator. The expulsion of exhaust is also not limited by depth. since France does not operate any ssKs, this system is meant for export. It is currently fitted on the three Pakistan Navy Agosta 90 B submarines.
In addition to these systems, other major submarine manufacturers are also developing their own versions of the aIp. russia claims to have successfully developed a fuel cell aIp system called the Kristall 27-e which, according to russian sources is being fitted on the Amur class and would be proven latest by 2016. The peopleÕs liberation army (navy) has also developed a system for the modified Song class submarines. It is believed that this system may not be as efficient as the existing western models but is an aIp nonetheless.
spain is in the process of installing a modified and reportedly safer fuel cell sys-