![]() ![]() So it may be a while before you clamber into a submarine for a quick trip to Shanghai, but the idea isn't too far fetched, either. Arndt says Iran and Russia are among the many countries doing research, along with the American crew at the University of Minnesota. Whatever the Chinese team does have in pocket, it's not the only one working on the idea of underwater supersonic travel. The Triton DeepView 24, built by Florida-based luxury submersible company Triton Submarines, finally launched at the Vinpearl complex in Hon Tre Island, Vietnam, last month, two years after it was. ![]() "What they're showing doesn't give an inkling of what technology they've got." "It's a quantum leap to making a supersonic submarine," says Arndt. "By combining liquid-membrane technology with supercavitation, we can significantly reduce the launch challenges and make cruising control easier," Professor Li Fengchen says.ĭetails on the new developments are scarce, however. The membrane could allow various amounts of friction to be applied to different sides of the ship, creating a steering effect. The Seawolf-class nuclear attack submarine USS Connecticut (SSN-22) suffered an underwater collision while operating in international waters on Oct. Continuously sprayed on, it would reduce drag and help get the vessel up to speed. The Chinese researchers told the South China Morning Post they have developed a liquid membrane that tackles both issues. Cavitation and Bubbly Flows Research Group, University of Minnesota Note the partial cavity forming from the leading edge of the fin. Building a small torpedo is one thing, building a submarine capable of crossing the Pacific is quite another.Ī wedge-shaped fin partially piercing a supercavity. An underwater rocket capable of giving a supercavitating vessel long range doesn't exist yet. A look at the complex search effort underway to find missing submarine 01:30. So even if the Chinese researchers, at Harbin Institute of Technology's Complex Flow and Heat Transfer Lab, have made a breakthrough in supercavitation, the limits of standard underwater propulsion will hold them back-especially if they want to make a real submarine. Coast Guard, a Canadian P-3 aircraft detected underwater noises in the search area on Tuesday. It's tricky just to reach a speed where a bubble can be created in the first place. These planes also would be under tremendous force and pressure at speed, and would need to be extraordinarily strong.Īnother challenge: High speeds (for underwater travel) are required to maintain the bubble, perhaps around 45mph, though it would depend greatly on the size and design of the ship. Steering a supercavitating vessel requires having control planes pierce the bubble, producing great drag. A traditional submarine is controlled by a rudder, much like a conventional boat. ![]() One of the stickiest wickets is steering a submerged craft that has little in the way of control surfaces in the water. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |