Feature 5
heavily, causing equipment damage and the importance of controlling these waters. of design trade-off s must be fully explored
crew exhaustion, thereby increasing the A hybrid nuclear/fuel-cell submarine would before the exact characteristics of such a
risk of a potentially fatal incident. In rough be able to operate there with a substantially submarine can be fi nalised.
weather or confl ict it is far safer for the greater margin of safety than contemporary As a result it is recommended the
submarine to remain deep underwater in SSNs can achieve. In an emergency the following are investigated: the design
the environment for which she is optimised; compressed oxygen could also be used to trade-off s between liquid and compressed
however, current SSNs are either forced to replenish the air without the need to burn oxygen storage, in particular with
the surface or periscope depth if they have oxygen candles. Th e recent fatalities onboard regard to safety; the specifi c temperature
to run their auxiliary diesels. HMS Tireless - as well as the fi nal cause of requirements for cooling and heating metal
An AIP fuel-cell system would not death for Kursk survivors - demonstrate the hydrides during charging and discharging,
only allow the submarine to remain dived advantages this would bring. in particular with regard to worldwide
following reactor scrams, but would variations in seawater temperatures; the size,
also provide the confi dence to engage in Conclusion effi ciency and reliability trade-off s between
unfettered under-ice operations. Whilst Fuel cells off er such substantial economical, a reversible fuel-cell system or separate PEM
SSNs have been operating under the Arctic political, environmental and operational FCs and electrolysers; the eff ect of shock
ice cap since USS Nautilus fi rst did so in advantages that they will eventually achieve upon fuel-cells and their associated systems
1957, there is a caveat. The chance of a widespread usage. Whilst the automotive and (not discussed in this report due to lack
reactor scram has meant that such voyages stationary power-generation industries are of information but of critical importance
always come with the added degree of risk leading their development, the technology is to submarine designers); the reliability
that a suitable polynia (open area of water likely to be subsequently transferred to the and chance of failure of component parts
within the ice) might not be found within marine industry. Th e hybrid nuclear/fuel-cell of each fuel-cell system; and the balance
range of the submarine’s batteries. Th e recent submarine concept could be revolutionary, between fuel-cell and reactor powers would
interest expressed in the mineral resources with the possibility of potential dramatic require settling for each design depending
believed to be under the Arctic seabed has improvements in operational capability upon the operational profi le and concept of
led to a correspondingly increased interest in and submarine safety. However, a number operations. WT
Warship Technology October 2008 51
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