Look at Japan's Next Generation Submarine, LAB, LIB, Li-S/LSB Batteries

The latest Soryu, SS-508, "Sekiryu, Holy Dragon" being launched at KHI shipyard, Kobe, around  November 2, 2015 (Photo courtesy Sankei(dot)com sent by "Unknown" Thanks :)

---

Soryu Table

SS No.	Building No.	Pennant No.	Name/Namesake	LAB or LIB & AIP *	Laid Down	Laun -ched	Commi-ssioned	Built By
16SS	8116	SS-501	Sōryū (そうりゅう) / Blue Dragon	LAB + AIP	March 2005	Dec 2007	March 2009	MHI
17SS	8117	SS-502	Unryū (うんりゅう) / Cloud Dragon	LAB + AIP	March 2006	Oct 2008	March 2010	KHI
18SS	8118	SS-503	Hakuryū (はくりゅう) / White Dragon	LAB + AIP	Feb 2007	Oct 2009	March 2011	MHI
19SS	8119	SS-504	Kenryū (けんりゅう) / Sword Dragon	LAB + AIP	March 2008	Nov 2010	March 2012	KHI
20SS	8120	SS-505	Zuiryu (けんりゅう) / Sword Dragon	LAB + AIP	March 2009	Oct 2011	March 2013	MHI
22SS	8122	SS-506	Kokuryū (こくりゅう) / Black Dragon	LAB + AIP	January 2011	Oct 2013	March 2014	KHI
23SS	8123	SS-507	Jinryū (じんりゅう)/ Benevolent Dragon	LAB + AIP	Feb 2012	Nov 2014	March 2016?	MHI
24SS	8124	SS-508	Sekiryu  /Holy Dragon	LAB + AIP	2013	2 Nov 2015	2017	KHI
25SS	8125	SS-509	?	LAB + AIP	2014	2016?	2018	MHI
26SS	8126	SS-510	?	LAB? + AIP	2015	2017?	2019	KHI
27SS	8127	SS-511	Soryu Mark 2	LIB only	2016?	2018?	2020?	MHI
28SS	8128	SS-512	?	LIB only	2017?	2019?	2021?	KHI
29SS	8129	SS-513	Next-Generation Submarine	LIB only	2018?	2020?	2022?	MHI
1AU?			1st Australian class?		2023?	2026?	2029?

LOOK AT JAPAN'S NEXT GENERATION SUBMARINE

S commented here on November 14 and 15, 2015 about Japan’s Next Generation Submarine which may be 29SS (no LAB, no AIP, LIBs only). 29SS perhaps to be laid-down at MHI in 2018 for launch in 2020 (see 29SS in red in Soryu Table above). 

29SS is especially important for Australia because it will be the first new generation Japanese submarine that immediately precedes the submarine Japan is designing for Australia (“1AU” also in red on Soryu Table). This is if Australia chooses Japan.

Prior to the Next-Generation Japanese Submarine being built there are many standard planning and budgeting documents and procedure to be completed years beforehand. The following gives a glimpse of some of the procedures and issues with the next-generation 29SS. S’s specific comments with some English translation by Pete [S is invited to correct Pete’s translation if its meaning looks incorrect]:

"Changes of hull architecture as well as four major improvements (new torpedo, further reduction of vibration, new sonar system, and enhanced snorkel system) will be incorporated into the 29SS design.

[S has provided a summary of the 29SS project plan.] "It is expected.

- That 29SS will be nearly the same size as the Soryus [28SS and earlier – see Soryu Table] but 29SS will have longer compartments than current Soryus" 

[see diagram below - For first Australian sub if current AIP compartments (9 and 10) are deleted then that will allow all other compartments to be lengthened - including Crew's Accommodation (2) for longer bunks for the taller Australians, longer Torpedo Section (1) to take 2 or 3 UUVs as well as 20 HWTs. More space on lowest level for extra diesel fuel and Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs)] 

- "The performance of the 29SS design architecture including crushing [pressure hull yield] strength will be demonstrated and validated based on experiments on the prototype [does S mean 29SS is the prototype?]"

The 2012 Financial Year planning and authorisation document “FY2012 Policy Report by Bureau of Finance and Equipment of Japanese Ministry of Defense” indicates:

"(5-1b) Needs of implementation in FY2013

Inhibition of enlargement due to the improvement of submarine performance is urgent issue in terms of target strength and reduction of ship price. Since the result of the study will be reflected in the newly designed submarine by conducting this study from the FY2013, the study is needed to start in this [2013?] fiscal year.

(5-1c) Reason for non-application of existing organization and equipment.

Although high density rigging [arrangement] of equipment [has been] carried out to inhibit [limit] enlargement in modern submarine [the Soryu?], the [arrangement has] already reached [the] limit. In the next generation submarine [29SS] with new equipment such as the new sonar, enlargement of hull is a concern. For this reason, the extension of length of compartments which contributes to the streamlining of the equipment of submarine is being considered. The solution of reinforcing the current pressure hull architecture with larger reinforced materials is expected to cause enlargement and increased price of the next generation submarine [29SS]. Adoption of new architecture is [therefore] needed.

(5-2) Efficiency

In this study, the system design required for the prototyping and evaluation of components and equipment will be conducted, various models (machined model, welded assembly model) will be prototyped, and their crushing [pressure hull yield] strength will be measured.

(5-3c) Confirmation of the effect

Prototyping and testing will be conducted from 2013 FY 2015 and from FY2014 to FY2015, respectively.

In it is planned to carry out the test.

(6) Timing of validation

Policy assessment (post-project evaluation) will be conducted in FY2016.

Soryu Diagram drawn by "wispywood2344".  A larger version of the diagram (with larger numbers) is at http://blog.livedoor.jp/wispywood2344/others/Soryu_cutaway.svg. 
---

LITHIUM SULFUR BATTERIES (LSBs or Li-S)

Energy density diagram comparing batteries including Lead-acid (LABs), Lithium-ion (LIBs) and Li-S or Lithium Sulfer (LSBs) in watt-hour per kilogram (Wh/kg) and watt-hour per litre (Wh/l). LSBs are projected to be superior. (Diagram courtesy Oxis Energy)

---

On November 15, 2015 at 2:25 PM S advised that:

"a few days ago, Japanese battery company GS YUASA announced (in Japanese language News Release http://www.gs-yuasa.com/jp/newsrelease/article.php?ucode=gs151114132202_191 ) that GS YUASA had succeeded in developing Lithium Sulfur Battery (LSB) with an excellent charge-discharge performance. 

This LSB with lithium anode and sulfur/porous carbon composite shows high energy density of 1000mAh/g (In the case of Japanese submarine with voltage of 450V, 1000mAh corresponds to 450kWh which is 10 times bigger than current LABs. ) and inhibits reduction of capacity with charge-discharge cycle. 

Submarines with LSB will show excellent performance from low to high speed regions. But, as metal Lithium is highly reactive to water, overcoming the safety issue will be a key element for practical application LSBs for submarine. Frankly speaking, it will be quite tough."

Pete Comment - So LIBs may be the new in-operation batteries for submarine from the 2020s while LSBs may be the next advance in batteries for use from the 2030s. Please connect with Submarine Matters http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/li-s-or-lithium-sulfer-batteries-lsbs.html of June 1, 2015.

PMB Defence [LABs and LIBs] 

A snippet - PBM Defence (Australia’s Collins current supplier of LABs) may be effected by the future submarine purchase because the CEP may well be requiring Lithium-ion Batteries [LIBs] only. Possibly all 3 contenders in the CEP have approached PMB. See PMB mention on page 12 in this well produced brochure http://www.defencesa.com/upload/media-centre/publications/fac/3295/Techport%20Australia%20Brochure%20June%202015.pdf .

Pete