Feature 1 | SUBMARINE PROPULSION


Series 4000 to form basis of new submarine diesel


Te next-generation of submarine diesel engines from MTU will be derived from the company’s highly successful Series 4000, according to a paper presented at RINA’s 2014 Warship conference


Centre Marine, Submarine and MCMV Applications at MTU described the ongoing development of a new submarine engines based on the Series 4000, which will succeed the well-known Series 396 submarine engine in MTU’s product line up. As von Drathen noted, since the Series


S


396 was developed, submarine design has evolved significantly, as have the requirements for diesel-powered battery charging units. Conventional submarines have grown significantly in size, need to be capable of increased transit distances and accommodate various air independent propulsion (AIP) technologies. Despite hydrodynamic improvements in hull shapes, greater displacement has led to higher power demands, a trend which is likely to be continued with the introduction into service of a new generation of Li-Ion batteries, which will increase underwater endurance and performance significantly. Given all of the above, he said, diesel engine-driven charging unit technology needs to adapt to new requirements: to the need for more electrical power and fully utilise the advantages of Li-Ion batteries. Since it was introduced, the Series


4000 has been used in a wide range of applications including above-water naval and commercial vessels, yachts, locomotives, trucks and as generators. To-date, more than 21,300 Series 4000 engines have been delivered, around 3,100 of which are used in marine applications. Von Drathen explained that, due to


the great number of 16V 396SE engines used in existing submarine designs, one of MTU’s design objectives was that the new unit should have similar dimensions, weight and volume. This would allow installation of the new diesel in existing


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peaking at the RINA conference earlier this year, Arndt von Drathen, Senior Manager, Application


MTU’s new submarine diesel set is based on MTU Series 4000 engines and will be more powerful, consume less fuel and comply with emissions legislation


submarine designs with a minimal number of changes to the submarine. A charging unit based on the 12V 4000


submarine engine would have smaller dimensions than a 16V 396SE design, and greater output: 1,300kW at 1,800rpm. Te volume flows of intake air and exhaust gas are slightly higher but almost match those of the 396 SE84 L. Another major design objective was the


reduction of specific fuel consumption in combination with greater operating flexibility, an objective that a common rail system and modern combustion processes and engine electronics was able to satisfy. One completely new feature of the 4000


submarine engine is the ability to operate in different modes. Te standard operational mode is ‘acoustically optimised’ mode. In this mode of operation, the engine has the lowest air- and structure-borne noise emissions with a specific fuel consumption


improvement of at least 5g/kWh. For long operational periods in transit to a theatre of operations, the engine can be switched to a ‘fuel consumption optimised mode’ with slightly increased acoustic signature. “This will allow reduced specific fuel consumption of at least 10g/kWh,” von Drathen explained. Finally, for surface operation, an ‘emission optimised’ mode is selectable. The emission optimised mode operates under IMO 2 compliant conditions without increasing the specific fuel consumption. With the Series 4000, MTU is also


integrating the charging unit to a greater extent. Te unit has a single interface to the ship’s automation system as the generator and exhaust system can be monitored and controlled from the local operating panel. All power generating system information will be available to the operator at a single location. Operation of the charging unit


Warship Technology October 2014


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