Professor Wang Dong of Hubei Provincial Naval Engineering University was awarded the First Class Citation of Merit, the country's highest scientific award, for his work on propulsion integral electric combat ships. According to the scientist, this approach, based on the use of direct currents distributed to all of the building's systems, including propulsion, makes it possible to very significantly increase the electrical energy available at every moment on board, a crucial advance when We anticipate the arrival of directed energy weapon systems on combat ships.
According to Professor Wang Dong, the traditional construction of combat ships is based on compartmentalized approaches, propulsion on one side, electrical production on the other. However, very often, buildings do not use all of the systems at their maximum power simultaneously, which creates significant energy loss. The technology developed at the University of Naval Engineering makes it possible to produce the energy necessary for propulsion and on-board systems, so as to benefit from optimum energy optimization and a greater power reserve for the systems. such as directed energy weapons, than that produced by dedicated generators. In addition, it would simplify maintenance and improve the reliability of buildings, although the design would be more complex.
This approach, developed since 2003 by Wang Dong and his team, is very probably at the heart of the propulsion which will equip the new Type 054B frigates, construction of which has begun, and which will enter service from 2021 in the Chinese Navy.
Western shipyards, particularly European ones, are not left behind with this type of propulsion, but favor hybrid approaches, so as to maintain direct propulsion when necessary. This is particularly the case for the British Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers, and despite some malfunctions in warm waters, this hybrid approach is also used for the Type 26 frigates currently under construction. On the other hand, France seems to favor more traditional systems, such as CODAD propulsion based on 4 8/10 Mw diesel engines of the FDI frigates. But it is true that, for the moment, the French Navy is not working on any directed energy weapon system, laser or Rail Gun, unlike the Royal Navy, the US Navy or the Chinese Navy…