Air-Independent Propulsion For Last Two Scorpene Submarines Ready: DRDO

[Vasily Zaytsev]

Arming India

Air-Independent Propulsion For Last Two Scorpene Submarines Ready: DRDO



By Arming India Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEP.23, 2015: India's Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) today claimed it has successfully developed the Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology, which gives conventionally-powered submarines longer endurance to stay underwater.



This was announced by the DRDO chief Dr.S.Christopher at the annual DRDO Awards function presided over by Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar and the chiefs of the Indian Navy and the Air Force.

Dr.Christopher said the indigenously-developed AIP technology has been demonstrated on a land-based prototype. Talks are on with the French DCNS to examine the possibility of incorporating the AIP plug in the 5th and 6th Scorpene submarines being constructed at Mumbai's Mazagon Docks Limited under a technology transfer.



The technology demonstrator has been developed by the DRDO's Naval Material Research Laboratory (NMRL) at Ambernath in Maharashtra.



If the technology works, it'll rule out import of AIP plugs. AIP is being looked upon as a significant game changer in conventional diesel-electrical submarine operations. AIP-fitted submarines can stay underwater much longer than those without it.



Diesel-electrical submarines have the limitation of having to surface regularly to re-charge batteries. This makes these boats vulnerable to enemy attack.

 

[PARIKRAMA]

AIP is great but cost of staying under at slow speed is a big trade off.. As the subs are not lurking into deep depths (excess of 500 meters) is a bit difficult if we consider the india pak region of arabian sea.

Still the enabling of a domestic AIP tested in land based prototype is a big step forward. its massive shot in arm for indigenous efforts

Finally DRDO is making some right noises - AIP work progress, more R&D budget, etc etc... Need some more progress in other avenues to make DRDO performance turnaround story more believable. One avenue is need of quality manpower.. GOI needs to approve manpower headcount increase drastically as DRDO today is more top heavy with avg age of scientist around 40.

Good work and congrats DRDO...

 

[NKVD]

Arming India

Air-Independent Propulsion For Last Two Scorpene Submarines Ready: DRDO



By Arming India Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEP.23, 2015: India's Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) today claimed it has successfully developed the Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology, which gives conventionally-powered submarines longer endurance to stay underwater.



This was announced by the DRDO chief Dr.S.Christopher at the annual DRDO Awards function presided over by Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar and the chiefs of the Indian Navy and the Air Force.

Dr.Christopher said the indigenously-developed AIP technology has been demonstrated on a land-based prototype. Talks are on with the French DCNS to examine the possibility of incorporating the AIP plug in the 5th and 6th Scorpene submarines being constructed at Mumbai's Mazagon Docks Limited under a technology transfer.



The technology demonstrator has been developed by the DRDO's Naval Material Research Laboratory (NMRL) at Ambernath in Maharashtra.



If the technology works, it'll rule out import of AIP plugs. AIP is being looked upon as a significant game changer in conventional diesel-electrical submarine operations. AIP-fitted submarines can stay underwater much longer than those without it.



Diesel-electrical submarines have the limitation of having to surface regularly to re-charge batteries. This makes these boats vulnerable to enemy attack.

Well at least DRDO has some things on schedule

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

DRDO Fuel Cell AIP System ​

The DRDO AIP uses fuel cell technology. A fuel cell converts chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction of positively charged hydrogen ions with oxygen or another oxidizing agent.

There are many fuel cell types, but the principal ones include the alkaline fuel cell (AFC), proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell, direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC), phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC), and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC).

DRDO's AIP uses PAFC, which has some advantages over other fuel cell types. PAFCs offer a broader choice of fuel being more tolerant of fuel impurities. It can operate using reformed hydrocarbon fuels (Methanol) or biogas.

PAFC operating temperatures (150 to 200 °C) are higher and as a result they generate steam as byproduct, besides electric power for propulsion. The steam can be used to meet other heating requirements, pushing up operating efficiency to as high as 70%.

PAFC fuel cells were one of the earliest to be developed and are commercially available of the shelf (COTS).

The only downside of PAFCs is the use of phosphoric acid as electrolyte. However, use of modern materials makes PAFC safe enough for commercial use at hospitals, schools, office buildings, and grocery stores.

It's likely that the DRDO plug uses commercially available PAFCs.

DRDO Fuel Cell AIP has an endurance of 25 days - DRDO has demonstrated its AIP technology on a land based prototype.

 

[Echo_419]

Well at least DRDO has some things on schedule

 

[kaykay]

Great development.

 

[Hindustani78]

March 25, 2014 14:08 IST

V. Bhujanga Rao, DRDO director general (naval systems and materials)

On the air independent propulsion (AIP) system, which will considerably enhance the underwater endurance of conventional diesel-electric submarines, Mr. Rao said talks are under way with French firm DCNS to install the DRDO-developed AIP based on hydrogen fuel cell on the last Scorpene submarine built at Mazagaon Dock under the Navy’s Project 75.

“Our technology is proven on a land-based prototype. A submarine-based prototype plug weighing nearly 300 tonnes is now being worked on. The French MESMA AIP being offered for the Scorpenes is an old system with a steam turbine,” he said. The DRDO AIP can be reconfigured for the second line of future conventional submarines under P75 I as well, he added.

 

[manojb]

Good development. Indian navy s indigenous efforts are going well. Iaf and ia need to follow.

 

[Ind4Ever]

Good we must try to install AIP in our old SSK as well. Now that would be something to celebrate...

 

[sathya]

Good we must try to install AIP in our old SSK as well. Now that would be something to celebrate...

Adding AIP To kilo class subs with be something !

 

[Ind4Ever]

Adding AIP To kilo class subs with be something !

A game changer

 

[kaykay]

Adding AIP To kilo class subs with be something !

That would be awesome but I think it won't happen as Kilos won't serve more than 10-15 years now except may be 2-3 newer ones.

 

[Kinetic]

With little budget they have developed AIP to ICBM, UCAV to sophistacated AESA radars, AWACS to EW systems, Lasers. Now even Lockheed and Boeing have so many failures but these losers want every project to be a successful like Pakistan. We don't have such advanced technology like them. They are well ahead of everyone with first test things get ready for induction.

 

[fsayed]

Arming India

Air-Independent Propulsion For Last Two Scorpene Submarines Ready: DRDO



By Arming India Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEP.23, 2015: India's Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) today claimed it has successfully developed the Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology, which gives conventionally-powered submarines longer endurance to stay underwater.



This was announced by the DRDO chief Dr.S.Christopher at the annual DRDO Awards function presided over by Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar and the chiefs of the Indian Navy and the Air Force.

Dr.Christopher said the indigenously-developed AIP technology has been demonstrated on a land-based prototype. Talks are on with the French DCNS to examine the possibility of incorporating the AIP plug in the 5th and 6th Scorpene submarines being constructed at Mumbai's Mazagon Docks Limited under a technology transfer.



The technology demonstrator has been developed by the DRDO's Naval Material Research Laboratory (NMRL) at Ambernath in Maharashtra.



If the technology works, it'll rule out import of AIP plugs. AIP is being looked upon as a significant game changer in conventional diesel-electrical submarine operations. AIP-fitted submarines can stay underwater much longer than those without it.



Diesel-electrical submarines have the limitation of having to surface regularly to re-charge batteries. This makes these boats vulnerable to enemy attack.

Its awesome news no wonder by 2020 DRDO many products will inducted in arm forces like tejas lch luh clgm astra helina Excalibur rifles and on and on jai ho DRDO kalam and scientists who served their entire life on scientific research and development for India growth

 

[Skull and Bones]

With little budget they have developed AIP to ICBM, UCAV to sophistacated AESA radars, AWACS to EW systems, Lasers. Now even Lockheed and Boeing have so many failures but these losers want every project to be a successful like Pakistan. We don't have such advanced technology like them. They are well ahead of everyone with first test things get ready for induction.

Most of the work on AIP has been done by IIT Delhi and IIT Chennai, I did my research internship in one of its allied project in 2011.

I'm a strong proponent of involving Universities in research, and let the universities pitch in their ideas for government funding. Then we can see real scientific growth in the nation.