November 13, 2019

Further LIB Details for Italy's Future Type 212NFS Submarine

Anonymous provided further Lithium-ion Battery (LIB) details on November 11, 2019 concerning Italy’s 4 future Type 212NFS (Near Future Submarines). This follows Submarine Matters’ article "Type 212NFS Submarines with Lithium-ion Batteries planned by Italy" of October 29, 2019

 

Anonymous wrote (with some editing by Pete)

Based on the structure of the Type 212A and LIBs by FAAM total battery energy of the Type 212NFS was estimated to 8 MWh [1-3]. K. R. Energy (parent company of FAAM see page 5) sees LIBs for the Type 212NFS as an opening to broader defense use of LIBs. So FAAM presumably offered a discount price for Type 212NFS LIBs [4].

The amount of LIBs for Fuel Cell AIP submarines, such as those built by DSME in South Korea and TKMS in Germany, is relatively small. While Japanese Soryu Mark II (Mk II) submarines, which will no longer use their Stirling engine AIP, will be equipped with large amounts of LIBs.

Both the Type 212NFS and Type 212CD will have non-magnetic steel hulls and LIBS. The Type 212NFS will be different from the Type 212CD. The German and Norwegian navies have selected Type 212CD presumably, in part, to avoid Russian fixed undersea sensor networks in Russian waters in the Baltic and North Seas and Arctic Ocean [5].


[2] A battery module of 4 columns, 6 rows and 5 layers of cylindrical battery cells (diameter 63mm, length 225mm) was considered. Size and capacity of battery module is Depth 252mm (63mm x 4), Width 378mm(63mm x 6), Height  1225mm (225mm x 5) and 25.0kWh (65A x 3.2 V x 120 battery cells)

[3] Battery section (length ca. 10m) is under the weapons stowage and handling room in a Type 212A. 40 columns and 8 rows of battery modules (320 battery modules, 8 MWh) are assumed to be in the battery section.

[4] K. R. Energy’s (parent company of FAAM), Full Company Report (of June 4, 2018) indicated Lithium and defence are the key drivers of the investment case, see page 52:

“ 2) the reaching of a deal on the supply of battery packs for the new Italian Navy U-212 “NFS” submarines represent major triggers for the investment case, possibly materializing in the next 6 months."

Also see page 29:

“In the [K R Energy]  management’s expectations, each of the above segments may absorb ~10% of its Li-ion output; this stance appears to be rather cautious: consider that the battery pack of a single submarine can have a 70 MW capacity [!]: if KRE gets a contract for similar platforms, its 200 MW production capacity would be easily saturated.

[5] Rosoboronexport is the sole state intermediary agency for Russia's exports/imports of defense-related and dual use products, technologies and services. See http://roe.ru/eng/catalog/naval-systems/stationary-electronic-systems/komor/ on:

“The Komor electromagnetic stationary submarine detection system [more commonly known as magnetic anomaly detector] is designed to control the sea-situation to ASW border”

Anonymous (with some editing by Pete)

2 comments:

Lee McCurtayne said...

Are we witnessing the LIB acceptance almost overnight? Though somewhat premature, it does trumpet technological advancement as rapid as it is. Australia’s case is we will still need Naval’s version of AIP. It does look like technology beckons us to keep up.

Pete said...

Hi Lee

Probably better said that Japan is the first country to actually launch a sub with LIBs. That is the Oryu aka 27SS in 2018 see Table at https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2019/03/aip-libs-difference-on-japanese.html .

South Korea intends to launch the LIBs KSS-III Batch 2 in the 2020s.

European companies (including Naval Group) say they may use LIBs on subs in the 2020s - wait and see.

The standard long-range mission profile of Australian subs may make current AIP a heavy negative trade-off. LIBs may be a better longer full submergence technology for Australia's future Attack class.

Regards

Pete