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Model of the “Frigate of the Future”
The future at sea belongs to electrification
Siemens is leading the field in the research and development of alternative ship propulsion systems. The “green ship” of the future, which will be much more economical, safe and environmentally compatible, will be – what else – electric.
Frigate of the future
In the visionary project entitled “Frigate of the Future”, according to the developers, the many possibilities of computer-aided holistic design and simulation of the ship as a whole system are to be implemented. The concept developed by an industrial consortium headed by Siemens incorporates numerous technical solutions: stealth systems based on special materials and a special design for the drive units, a high degree of automation for reducing the number of crew members, equipment flexibility thanks to a modern design and, finally, the latest propulsion technologies.
Electricity from fuel cells
Whether for military or civilian purposes, fuel-cell technology is extremely important for the fully electrified ship of tomorrow.
Hydrogen and water are chemically combined to produce nothing other than simply energy and water; no waste gases, no noise. The efficiency of fuel cells is far superior to all combustion processes.
The energy which is released is directly converted into electric current, thus again automatically endowing the electric motor with a role in the technical plans being drawn up for the ships of the future.
Model drawing U31, 2004:
Submarine Class 212, the first submarine worldwide with hybrid drive: diesel-electric propulsion and air-independent propulsion using fuel cells.
U-31 during trials
37 Extra light
Extra economical Superconductors
Apart from fuel cells, high-temperature superconductor technology (HTS) will also play an important and complementary role in the ship-building of tomorrow.
Certain materials called superconductors have no measurable electric resistance below a specific temperature. HTS conductors therefore have a current density which is fifty times higher than conventional conductors. This enables the construction of very compact and efficient machines. Siemens has already accumulated a great deal of experience in this field.
In ship-building, Siemens sees three main tasks for HTS:
쐽 Small generators with a high power density for supplying on-board power systems
쐽 Light, compact motors in pods and water jets for propelling large surface craft.
쐽 Current limiters in order to improve the stability of these on-board power systems
U-31 is already diving with current generated by fuel cells In the latest generation of submarines for the German navy, fuel-cell technology is already being used and is ready for series production. The Permasyn motor of the U-31 obtains its propulsion energy under water from fuel cells. The Siemens engineers are certain that the principle will soon be of interest for surface vessels.
Initially, the aim will be to replace the on-board power supply generators, whose use in ports and fjords is increasingly regarded as unacceptable because of the emissions and the noise and will soon be subjected to stricter legal restrictions.
Siemens is therefore working on a fuel-cell generator that can supply the on-board systems. In contrast to the fuel cells in the submarine, this type of generator will not run on oxygen from tanks but will ”breathe” the surrounding air. High-output air-breathing fuel-cells are being included in the considerations for new ship concepts as a clean source of energy for the propulsion motors of large surface craft.
Siemens engineers already developed a 400 kW motor in superconductor technology, here in the system test room in Nuremberg.
Green ship technology includes measures to substantially reduce operationally based emissions, measures to increase safety at sea in nautical and technical marine navigation, supply and disposal measures that do not harm the environ-ment and finally preventive and corrective maintenance.
1877 The Siemens cable-laying ship, the Faraday, is the first ship in the world to be equipped with an electrical system with generator and arc lamp.
1879 Siemens sells the first electrical installations for ship lighting. The history of Siemens ship-building officially begins 125 year ago with ships equipped with the new systems: the Hannover, the Theben and the Holsatia.
1886 Werner von Siemens builds the Elektra, the world’s first ship with an electrically powered propeller.
1890 First use of the Siemens telegraph with a “six-roller motor”.
1893 Siemens supplies the first filament lamps for the Elbe, a steamship.
1895 The German navy ship, the Aegir, is the first to be fully equipped with electric auxiliary machines from Siemens.
1904 Diving under the surface: Siemens supplies all the electrical machines for three submarines of the Russian navy. Submarine construction is and will remain the pace-setter in the development of electric propulsion systems and Siemens is playing a leading role.
1906 First German submarine for the imperial navy.
1912 The proud German passenger ship, the Imperator, is illuminated by 14,000 filament lamps supplied by Siemens.
1929 Siemens presents electric leak pumps that start working automatically.
1930 The Europa, an elegant, fast German steamship, is fitted with a complete electrical installation from Siemens.
1934 Siemens launches the “Proschmann switch” on the ship-building market.
1935 The Potsdam is the first large German ship with an electric propeller propulsion system. From Siemens of course.
1954 Siemens introduces three-phase technology on ships.
In the following years, this technology conquers the world market.
1960 Siemens supplies huge propeller motors for the Soviet icebreakers:
the Moscow, the Lenin and the Kiev.
1964 Siemens produces system for ship automation, the first system for the automation of power generation, auxiliary machines and remote control of the main machine.
1967 Siemens supplies the first thyristor shaft generator system for three-phase on-board power systems.
1987 Siemens uses the Permasyn motor to optimize the propulsion of submarines.
It is considerably quieter, smaller and lighter.
1992 Siemens develops fuel-cell technology so that it is ready for series production.
1998 Siemens builds the POD drive developed with Schottel into a tanker for the first time.
2002 With HTS technology, Siemens again lends impetus to the creation of ship concepts for the future.
2004 World's first submarine with a fuel-cell propulsion system from Siemens set into service.
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Timetable
For further information, please contact:
Siemens AG
Industrial Solutions and Services Marine Solutions
P.O. Box 10 56 09
D-20099 Hamburg, Germany Tel.: +49 (0) 40 -28 89 27 00 Fax: +49 (0) 40 - 28 89 36 80 marine@siemens.com www.siemens.com/marine
Siemens AG
© Siemens AG 2007. All Rights Reserved
Order No. E10001-P19-A36-V1-7600 Printed in Germany Dispo No. 16600 K-No. 33900 Subject to change without prior notice The information provided in this brochure contains merely general descriptions or characteristics of performance which in actual case of use do not always apply as described or which may change as a result of further development of the products.
An obligation to provide the respective characteristics shall only exist if expressly agreed in the terms of contract.
11/7712 C-OMSM5208M03 WS 10071.