Reborn Technology Scholar

Chapter 325: The Impact of Lithium-Air Batteries

At the same time, the Chinese military has also begun to change its military industry layout for lithium-air batteries. After all, such a lithium-air battery is not only used in the civilian field, but also has a wide range of applications in the military field.

For example, in the field of conventionally powered submarines, it is simply a disruptive strategic equipment. Although AIP submarines have proliferated on a large scale in the world, and many medium-sized countries have equipped AIP submarines, compared with nuclear-powered submarines, AIP submarines have

There is a considerable gap between the energy storage limitations of batteries and nuclear submarines in terms of overall diving depth, power, sonar and the power of various electronic equipment.

The combat effectiveness between the two is naturally not the same.

This is also an important reason why the U.S. Navy gave up conventionally powered submarines and chose to maintain a fleet of fully nuclear-powered underwater submarines.

However, the emergence of lithium-air batteries has broken the combat effectiveness barrier between conventionally powered submarines and nuclear submarines.

Calculated based on the specific energy of the lithium-air battery reaching 3.5kwh/kg in large volume, if a conventional submarine with a displacement of 3,000 to 5,000 tons is equipped with all the battery packs, diesel units, generator units, oil storage tanks and other power systems inside,

If replaced by lithium-air batteries, it can carry at least 600 to 800 tons of lithium-air batteries.

In this way, relying solely on the power stored in the lithium-air battery, a conventionally powered submarine can submerge at full power for more than 20 days at a speed of more than 30 knots, and can completely travel around the world at a cruising speed of 10 to 15 knots.

Sailing.

If such a nuclear submarine is equipped with the same level of communication systems, command and control systems, weapon systems, electromechanical systems, sonar systems, etc. as those of nuclear submarines, its combat effectiveness will instantly be comparable to that of nuclear submarines.

Moreover, without the complex mechanical transmission devices in nuclear submarines, such as gearboxes, steam turbines, transmission shafts, etc., the noise level of lithium-air battery submarines can be significantly reduced to less than 90 decibels, making it a true ocean black hole.

Therefore, in order to prevent them from being used for military purposes by other countries, at least in the short term, the military requires the Great Wall of China and Narcissus Era to only produce standard lithium-air batteries and below, and not to produce large-scale lithium-air batteries.

Without a complete set of technologies, if foreign countries want to overcome technical difficulties, it will not take a year or two. Especially after Qin Yuanqing received a request from the military, he specially created a battery self-destruction device. Once someone uses external force to study lithium-air batteries,

Then the self-destruction device will be activated. Of course, the self-destruction device will not cause the lithium-air battery to explode. Instead, the thin film that separates oxygen will dissolve, and the lithium-air battery will fail instantly.

Although I don’t know how long it will be possible to delay developed countries from breaking through lithium-air battery technology, I think it can be delayed for a few years.

The military has begun to modify several submarines under construction to use lithium-air batteries. Other conventionally powered submarines under overhaul have also been modified to use lithium-air batteries as energy sources.

After all, using lithium-air batteries as the energy source for submarines can actually greatly reduce costs. Based on 330,000/ton calculation, the cost of 600-800 tons of lithium-air batteries is 200 million to 264 million, making a ship equipped with lithium-air batteries

The price of a submarine without a load is less than 10 billion yuan.

Compare the prices of the latest model submarines in the world.

America's next-generation Columbia-class strategic nuclear submarine is estimated to cost US$12 billion based on 2013 prices, which is equivalent to more than 70 billion yuan.

The unit price of the Britannia Successor-class strategic nuclear submarine is 12 billion pounds, which is equivalent to almost hundreds of billions of yuan.

Even Russia's Borei-class nuclear submarine costs as much as 60 billion yuan.

In comparison, although the price of domestic nuclear submarines is much lower, it has generally reached the level of 30 billion yuan.

If we compare it to a conventionally powered submarine, Deutsche's 218sg is a conventionally powered submarine equipped with a new generation of fuel cell system, with a displacement of 2,000 tons. The fuel cell system ensures that it can sail continuously underwater for more than three weeks at a speed of two to six knots. Deutsche

Thyssenkrupp Maritime Systems' offer is as high as US$900 million, which is more than 5 billion yuan.

The application of lithium-air batteries on submarines will significantly reduce the cost of submarines and greatly enhance the combat effectiveness of the Chinese Navy's submarine fleet.

Of course, in the military field, it is not only nuclear submarines, but also water ships. Many of the original batteries can now use lithium-air batteries. In terms of drones, the use of lithium-air batteries simply has the ability to cruise around the world and powerful strike capabilities.

, after all, a very important reason for the restrictions on drones is that the battery capacity is insufficient, which limits the range.

The military has also made a big move and began to transform previously retired aircraft into drones using lithium-air batteries to enhance the strength of the military.

On the islands and reefs in the South China Sea, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the military camps on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, places that were originally limited by electricity are beginning to be alleviated by lithium-air batteries, and even cold places can be heated.

After the lithium-air battery is exhausted, transport it back to the rear for recharging.

Armored vehicles, tanks, artillery vehicles, personnel carriers, etc., which originally used cars and diesel, began to switch to lithium-air batteries one by one.

Of course, the reform of the military and military industry does not happen overnight. It will take two or three years to complete these reforms.

All of this must be done step by step.

Qin Yuanqing had no time to supervise the military industry reform. At this time, he was attending a high-level meeting attended by the National Development and Reform Commission, China Nuclear Industry Group and major ministries. The theme of the meeting was about increasing power generation.

After all, China's electricity consumption will surge in the future, and the existing power generation capacity is estimated to be unable to meet the demand in two to three years.

Therefore, it is imperative to increase power generation. With the implementation of the carbon neutrality goal, energy conservation and emission reduction have become a general trend. Instead of increasing, thermal power will further decrease.

Under such circumstances, the only option is to increase hydropower stations, wind power, solar power, tidal power generation and nuclear power plants, of which nuclear power plants are the top priority.

For hydropower stations, the country has been advocating the gradual elimination of small hydropower stations with poor efficiency and backward production capacity. Tens of thousands of small hydropower stations will be eliminated. Basically, all places where large hydropower stations can be built have been built. The only one that can be considered is the Brahmaputra River. Where is the water source?

With abundant resources and a large river channel gap, at least 3 to 5 large-scale hydropower stations equivalent to the Three Gorges Project can be built, but it is more complicated and difficult to handle.

Therefore, the focus is still on wind power, solar power, tidal power generation and nuclear power plants.

"Comrades, according to relevant data, our country's power generation will exceed 6 trillion kilowatt-hours this year. Our goal is to reach 8 trillion kilowatt-hours by 2021 and 8 trillion kilowatt-hours by 2025 on the premise of energy conservation and emission reduction.

The power generation capacity reaches 10 trillion kilowatt hours." The leader said solemnly.

"Leader, should we increase the construction of nuclear power plants? Otherwise, this goal will be too arduous and difficult to achieve!" A director made a suggestion.

"Then speed up the construction of nuclear power plants. Hasn't your department been studying the possibility of building large hydropower stations on the Brahmaputra River? After studying it for so long, it's time to come to a conclusion. If it can be built, build it. Should we strive to eliminate some external factors?

Yes, why do you always have to look at other people’s faces when building water conservancy facilities at home?” the leader said angrily.

Several other leaders looked at each other and already knew what was going on.

Seeing this, Qin Yuanqing raised his hand to indicate that he had an opinion. The leader smiled and said: "Academician Qin, do you have any suggestions to add?"

Qin Yuanqing said into the microphone: "Dear leaders, my suggestion is about nuclear power plants. I suggest that when building new nuclear power plants, we must take into account the application of controllable nuclear fusion in the future and leave room for the transformation of nuclear power plants into controllable nuclear fusion in the future."

The leader suddenly became interested: "Academician Qin, regarding controllable nuclear fusion, as far as I know, it is still a long way from commercial application."

"Leader, you are right. my country's controllable nuclear fusion has just achieved a breakthrough of 100 million degrees burning for 30 seconds. The world's most advanced French superconducting tokamak has a plasma temperature of 120 seconds under the condition of a discharge time of 120 seconds. Twenty million tons. The progress of all major countries in the field of controllable nuclear fusion is similar, and there is still a long way to go before controllable nuclear fusion." said the leader of Huaxia Nuclear Industry Group.

Qin Yuanqing said calmly: "In fact, from a theoretical perspective, controllable nuclear fusion is no longer difficult. What limits controllable nuclear fusion now is materials and technicians. By 2030 at most, controllable nuclear fusion will definitely be realized.

.”

"So in order to save construction costs and avoid duplication of construction, I suggest that when designing and building nuclear power plants at this time, leave room for changing to nuclear fusion in the future. Even if the investment increases, it is acceptable." Qin Yuanqing said.

"Academician Qin, do you have any basis for what you said?" the leader of Huaxia Nuclear Industry Group asked.

"My words are the basis!" Qin Yuanqing said with confidence.

When the others heard Qin Yuanqing's words, they looked at each other. Science should present data, seek truth from facts, and be reasonable. Why is it like being slapped on the head now?

The leader was thoughtful, and then with a flash of determination in his eyes, he said: "Academician Qin's suggestion is very necessary. Temporarily increasing investment will help save future construction costs."

Leader, this is unscientific!

Everyone else wanted to complain, but the leader had already spoken. It was always a bad idea to refute now, so they had to think about reacting well to the leader after the meeting.

But after the meeting, the leader and Qin Yuanqing were together, discussing controllable nuclear fusion with great interest.

In fact, for leaders, since Qin Yuanqing is the greatest authority and has always performed outstandingly and achieved miraculous achievements again and again, isn't it the most normal and reasonable to choose to believe Qin Yuanqing's words?

Needless to say, this lithium-air battery alone will play an immeasurable role in the development of China.