Chapter 446: Boilers suitable for aircraft carriers

 A brand new boiler being tested.

The test site is fully 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, 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 next room, 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 option, and the power of the gas turbine is still not enough.”

Even the British, who have the world's best gas turbine technology, still cannot make the Queen-class aircraft carrier reach high speeds, so we don't need to consider it for the time being. Whether it's oil-burning or uranium-burning, it's just boiling water.

At that time, 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.

 In those days, it took ten hours to heat water, which sounds very long.

"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 pressurized 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 would be 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, this principle is not used for boilers on warships.

 The water in the boiler is always maintained at about 250 degrees Celsius, flows through a special steam generator, and circulates continuously.

Wasn’t it boiled when the water reaches 100 degrees? That's of course because of the pressure. On the plateau, eggs can't be cooked well because the air pressure is low and water boils at 70 or 80 degrees. As for the current boiler, 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?

 Needs to be formed by steam generator!

The relevant water pipes were opened, and after treatment, the soft water flowed towards 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. I don’t understand the specific principle.)

 “The pressure has reached five MPa!”

“It has now 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 MPa!”

 “The pressure reaches seven MPa!”

 “Eight megapascals!”

 “Attention, the pressure is about to reach a critical value!”

“Emergency protection system starts automatically!”

　　When hearing these words, Wang Yanwei finally relaxed: "Success!"

 This emergency protection system was designed by him and is a new addition to the original product.

“Laomaozi’s boilers have seriously insufficient safety protection measures. 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 thing!

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 lack of water, he directly adds sea water, which leads to an increase in internal scale. 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.

Wang Yanwei leads the team to improve and improve. One of the main ways 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 hazards, 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 lofty spirit and always keep their responsibilities in mind.

“Now, test whether the steam volume can meet the needs.” Yu Changhong said.

 At the beginning, 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 ability 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 steadily 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 051, only one boiler is enough!” Yu Changhong sighed.

"However, if it is installed on a larger warship, it will not be enough." Qin Tao said: "This is just the beginning. After this batch of eight boilers is produced, we will continue to improve. "

 “Is it still improved? It has already improved a lot compared to 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 a 60,000-ton warship. If we have an 80,000-ton warship in the future, what will we use to drive it?” 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 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 needs of our warships will also increase. In addition to the auxiliary machines, 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 catapults 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 the beginning. There will be more needs in the future! At this time, Yu Changhong was also quite excited.

 After watching the boiler test, Qin Tao went to the production workshop, where some equipment needed for the nuclear power plant was being assembled.

"At the beginning, 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’m waiting for your products in Mingzhou.”

 “Please don’t worry, Mr. Qin!”

Even if 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 came to greet 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. Moreover, the size of the propellers also varies depending on the ship type and speed.

The propeller of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier has a diameter of up to 6.4 meters. The displacement of the Oriental Sea City Wall 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. 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 paddles separately.

“The construction schedule may be advanced, so our processing speed must be faster.” Qin Tao said.

With those power tools, 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.”

 Channel 2?

 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 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 type of machinery 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 production here. Of course, I will continue to stay here to help deal with problems encountered in production." problem."

 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 Polustat?” Qin Tao asked.

　　When this machine tool first returned to China, Qin Taoshun brought this person here with him. Only with him can we maintain this 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 will 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 is using to play games 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 already 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, foreign software cannot be used in many professional fields. 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. Let our machine tool software 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 axes and five linkages, but the volume will also need to be larger to meet the needs of propellers with larger diameters. processing needs.”

 “We will work hard.” Luo Wenzhong expressed determination.

 Machine processing 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 has this kind of processing capability.

 One or two years have passed in the blink of an eye. How is the progress of their development?

Qin Tao became interested: "Of course you have time, let's go and have a look!"

 For this aircraft to be successful, it 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 doubts, 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 are 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 drive shaft. Now, we have been able to manufacture a qualified drive shaft 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 low-pressure turbine shaft of the engine used by the Su-27 fighter jet uses 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."

Qin Tao suddenly realized that there is also a drive shaft in the aircraft engine. It is absolutely no problem to take out the drive shaft material and use it! As long as the precision processing capabilities are achieved, this difficulty can be overcome.

 It’s no problem if it’s more expensive, but we’ll have to settle the issue of availability first.

 “Where are the friction plates and conical wheels?” Qin Tao continued to ask.

The drive shaft is one difficulty. 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. It can be understood as a simple aeroengine, which can be achieved with domestic technology.

“We are still researching these, and have found domestic manufacturers of vehicle clutches. The best clutch plates they produce can only withstand two thousand horsepower, and there has been no progress yet.” Wang Jinbao said.

 The transmission shaft has been solved, but the difficulties of the clutch and bevel gears are still ahead of us.

“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 quite unbelievable, 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 be used in a car? There is no clutch in an airplane!” 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 difficulty of the drive shaft because this thing is used in the aviation industry, but what about the clutch? I have never heard of any aircraft having a clutch.

 So, he tried to find a solution 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!

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 (End of this chapter)