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In the final design steps, I noticed that I never really decided how the Shadow Destroyer was meant to be propelled. It was just a waterline model, what happens below the hood was not that interesting. But now, that the ship gets into an add-on, the question became important: How should the ship be propelled?
That is not just a pure engineering question, but also political. It is meant to drive at the same era as the Delta-Glider, so nuclear shouldn't be as feared as it is today, but still, it could face economic and political restrictions.
I have grouped the four leading candidates into this drawing as example:
All versions have a pair of bow thrusters in each float,
Diesel-Electric means the electricity on-board the ship is produced by multiple diesel generator units, and the ship thrust is produced by an electrical engine, in this case housed into two Azipod™ units with two counter-rotating propellers each. That is the current state of the art technology for civilian ships, especially ferries make use of it.
CODLAG or Common Diesel-Electric and Gas Turbine is a combination of the diesel-electric propulsion concept with a gas turbine and electric motors acting on a common propeller joined by a gear box. This is the latest development for military ships.
Nuclear-electric replaces the diesel engines of the diesel-electric approach by two nuclear reactors (there is even room for two more in the hull design). The propulsion is still achieved by Azipod™ units.
Nuclear-direct drive is essentially the state-of-the art for nuclear submarines. each propeller is without gearbox connected to a turbine. Electricity is produced by smaller turbines with directly connected generators. This design offers the highest maximal speed, but also a lot of noise at maximum speed.
Both pod propelled vehicles only have a very high agility even at low speeds, and can even accurately keep station at a location. The classic drive versions rely on rudder and bow thrusters.
In summary:
Option
|
Fuel
|
Range
|
Cruise speed
|
Max. Speed
|
Agility
|
Noise level
Diesel-Electric|Diesel|Low|Low|Medium|High|Very low
CODLAG|Diesel|Low|Low|High|Low|Medium
Nuclear-Electric|Nuclear|Unlimited|Medium|High|High|Low
Nuclear-Direct|Nuclear|Unlimited|Medium|Very high|Low|Medium
Since this is a SWATH, it requires 80% more power for high speeds as a catamaran, so don't expect it to travel in excess of 35 knots in any case, but has the advantage that it is a stable platform even at rough sea and high speeds, which makes especially radar operations easier. The nuclear versions could still cruise well at 25 knots, the diesel versions would be limited to 10 knots for maximum range, a pretty slow speed for a military vessel. (The [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Fighter"]Sea Fighter[/ame] ship reaches 55 knots, but is less than half as big as this one, and more power means more noise)
The nuclear versions on the other hand would, aside of the Greenpeace protesters in every civilian port, also have the disadvantage of a lower number of ships in the class, because of the higher costs of nuclear technology.
Because of the best option being essentially a political decision, I thought its best to make a vote on it. What do the citizens of this simulated planet think?
That is not just a pure engineering question, but also political. It is meant to drive at the same era as the Delta-Glider, so nuclear shouldn't be as feared as it is today, but still, it could face economic and political restrictions.
I have grouped the four leading candidates into this drawing as example:
All versions have a pair of bow thrusters in each float,
Diesel-Electric means the electricity on-board the ship is produced by multiple diesel generator units, and the ship thrust is produced by an electrical engine, in this case housed into two Azipod™ units with two counter-rotating propellers each. That is the current state of the art technology for civilian ships, especially ferries make use of it.
CODLAG or Common Diesel-Electric and Gas Turbine is a combination of the diesel-electric propulsion concept with a gas turbine and electric motors acting on a common propeller joined by a gear box. This is the latest development for military ships.
Nuclear-electric replaces the diesel engines of the diesel-electric approach by two nuclear reactors (there is even room for two more in the hull design). The propulsion is still achieved by Azipod™ units.
Nuclear-direct drive is essentially the state-of-the art for nuclear submarines. each propeller is without gearbox connected to a turbine. Electricity is produced by smaller turbines with directly connected generators. This design offers the highest maximal speed, but also a lot of noise at maximum speed.
Both pod propelled vehicles only have a very high agility even at low speeds, and can even accurately keep station at a location. The classic drive versions rely on rudder and bow thrusters.
In summary:
Diesel-Electric|Diesel|Low|Low|Medium|High|Very low
CODLAG|Diesel|Low|Low|High|Low|Medium
Nuclear-Electric|Nuclear|Unlimited|Medium|High|High|Low
Nuclear-Direct|Nuclear|Unlimited|Medium|Very high|Low|Medium
The nuclear versions on the other hand would, aside of the Greenpeace protesters in every civilian port, also have the disadvantage of a lower number of ships in the class, because of the higher costs of nuclear technology.
Because of the best option being essentially a political decision, I thought its best to make a vote on it. What do the citizens of this simulated planet think?
Last edited: