Chapter 1049 Price increase of 100 million
"Oh, it's a pity that the navy won't let me go out. Otherwise, I will make the French cry in front of me." Qin Tao sighed: "Send a few experts from our Tianjiao Airlines over, by the way. Make a video call with me in advance and I’ll teach them how to say it.”
The 40-megawatt gas turbine is Tianjiao Aviation's product. Although the quantity is not large, the profit is pretty good. There are experts from Lao Maozi and experts from the East. Among them, Lao Maozi's experts are mainly responsible for the mechanical part, and all the electronic control parts. They are all done by Eastern experts. After all, Lao Maozi is not familiar with these.
Engineer Ai Song is one of the best. He is only in his thirties, but he has been working in this field for more than ten years. When watching the video, Qin Tao felt a little distressed when he saw Ai Song's white hair. Our young designers in China are working so hard!
Ai Song was very excited to listen to Qin Tao's instructions. After listening, his eyes were filled with excitement. After accepting the task, he quickly set off for France.
Bust Shipyard is busy. After the last incident, the workers' demonstrations have lost momentum. They work seriously and are very efficient. The two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships were built in modular sections. With the previous experience, the construction of the hull was quickly completed and ready to be launched into the water and outfitted.
On the slipway, they hoisted the engine in and installed the main engine before launching into the water, which would greatly reduce the outfitting workload. It is also essential to start and debug once.
Dicaina stood on the slipway and looked at the two warships that had completed their main bodies and were just waiting to be launched into the water. He was very satisfied. As long as they were launched into the water, they would be able to ask customers for the final payment! Although this project went through twists and turns, it finally made money!
The shipyard has also survived, and with the successful construction of these two warships, more orders may be received in the future.
“Damn, the Oriental gas turbine is actually computer-controlled, and you have to enter a password before starting it for the first time. It’s really outrageous!” Lucas complained at the side.
"Computer control is also normal. The computer technology in the East is also very advanced. It is said that this kind of gas turbine is very fuel-efficient. The key is that the power output is sufficient, forty megawatts, which is enough to make this kind of warship run wildly. Have you heard of it? Britain Our 40-megawatt gas turbine encountered some accidents during the development process, and it is estimated that it will take a long time to troubleshoot."
“It doesn’t matter, there was an accident in their warship construction anyway, let’s get back to work together.”
“I heard that they are facing huge financial pressure. Many people think that it is foolish to spend huge sums of money to build two aircraft carriers. One is enough. It is more appropriate to save the money to purchase carrier-based aircraft.”
"Yeah, even if their aircraft carrier is built, they don't have suitable carrier-based aircraft. Hum, they might as well change it to a catapult aircraft carrier and use our Rafale fighter jets."
While the two were talking, a car drove into the shipyard and parked next to the slipway.
“Mr. Captain, guests from the East are here!”
coming?
Duquesne and Lucas came forward with smiles: "Gentlemen, welcome to the Brest Shipyard! We have built two warships and need to start the engine test. You..."
"Why two warships?" Ai Song's expression changed: "Aren't the two gas turbines we sold you used on the second ship of your Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, the Richelieu?"
The Richelieu? Has this ever happened?
Duquesne has been so busy recently that he had long forgotten about this matter. Lucas on the side remembered something, and his face suddenly became ugly.
“Everyone, it can be used on the Richelieu or on an amphibious assault ship like ours. Is there any difference?”
"I'm sorry, the task we received was to start the gas turbine for the Richelieu, not for this kind of amphibious assault ship. You didn't act in accordance with the contract and misappropriated the gas turbine. We refused to start the machine."
What?
DiCena was dumbfounded: "You can't do this!"
“We are just following the contract.”
“Our contract is to purchase two engines, and we paid the full price. Now, you don’t provide us with starting services. We are going to sue you in the international court!”
"The contract is not that simple. In the third paragraph of Article 3 of the contract, it is clearly stated that these two engines are used on the second ship of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier. In the fifth paragraph of Article 8, it is also clearly stated that if If you divert the use of this engine, then we have the right to refuse to start the engine for you."
Is it in the contract?
“Come here, bring me the contract!”
Diquena looked through the contract and found the corresponding payment. At the same time, the conversation when purchasing from the East also echoed in his mind.
“Mr. Qin, if we want to purchase it, what is the price? For example, your 40-megawatt gas turbine?”
“It’s not expensive. If you want to purchase one, it’ll cost US$200 million.”
“I’m sorry, we are so expensive for the engines installed on Lao Maozi’s amphibious assault ship…”
“Mr. Qin, what if it’s for our aircraft carrier?”
“If it is an aircraft carrier procurement... one unit will cost US$50 million, four units will cost US$200 million...”
If it is to be assembled for this kind of amphibious assault ship, it will sell for 200 million US dollars. If it is to be assembled for an aircraft carrier, it will be sold for 50 million US dollars. Therefore, Duquesne was smart and purchased according to the needs of the aircraft carrier, and then cut it in half. Just two units, costing $100 million.
There was indeed such a clause when the contract was signed. However, how did Duquesne know that the Orientals were so ruthless that the imported engine could not be started directly and had to enter a password!
What should we do now?
Dismantle it and purchase gas turbines from the UK? The British one has not yet completed research and development!
Besides, what about not only the engine, but also the matching generator? The generators provided by Dongfang cost RMB 30 million each, with an inverter on the back, and can be integrated into the entire ship's power grid. If a British gas turbine is purchased, can it be matched with Dongfang's generators?
Definitely not, there must be a trap waiting for him!
These are all traps, one after another! It was a mistake from the start!
Diquena has completely regretted it! He would rather not be in this situation without these projects. If they are forced to make up the difference to Dongfang, then they will have to pay again!
what to do?
Lucas on the side said coldly: "Do you think that just a small startup password can restrict us? The worst we can do is modify the engine's electronic control system and replace it with our own system. This gas turbine can still Started successfully!"
"The starting of our engine is driven by the electric motor at the back, which is integrated. Of course, you can install an additional starter, but if you modify it in this way, the output power will not exceed 2 Ten megawatts." Ai Song said: "If you don't believe it, you can try it yourself. Moreover, as long as you modify it, the engine will lose all warranty conditions. If you want to increase the power, you have to repurchase."
This is a large warship of more than 20,000 tons, and the contract is clearly written in black and white. The speed must reach 30 knots, and the total power of the power system is 60 megawatts! Their original diesel engine only had a power output of 20 megawatts. Once it needed to accelerate, it relied entirely on the gas turbine.
The startup of a gas turbine is actually very simple. An external power device drives the rotor of the gas turbine to rotate. When it reaches a certain speed, the combustion chamber begins to ignite, and the main fuel nozzle begins to supply oil. This forms a stable combustion flame, and the high-temperature and high-pressure gas impacts the gas turbine. , the gas turbine will continue to accelerate until it reaches normal operation.
In the past, gas turbines relied on an external starter. However, when transitioning to a generator set, it doesn’t have to be so complicated. The generator can also be used as an electric motor. If you look at an electric car, you will know that it is an electric motor when driving normally. When you release the accelerator pedal or go downhill, , the electric motor will become a generator, which on the one hand slows down the car, and on the other hand converts the energy into electrical energy and passes it to the supercapacitor, and then releases it smoothly and stores it in the battery.
When this gas turbine was sold to the French, it did not come with a generator set. The customer later spent extra money to buy it. Now, Aisong said with certainty that the start-up of the gas turbine is driven by the generator at the back. ! This shows that the Orientals have already made these plans, and this is all a trap!
They will definitely not be able to figure out how to switch this Dongfang-made generator into an electric motor. If not, the generator may be burned. At that time, the loss will be even greater. They can only connect an external starter, which is enough. When starting a gas turbine, we don’t know how much oil is injected into the combustion chamber of the gas turbine, what the fuel pressure is, how the intake air flow is coordinated, etc. These are all unknown. Therefore, if a 40-megawatt gas turbine is not controlled by Dongfang’s program, Even if the French can start the machine, the output power will be greatly reduced. At this time, after hearing Ai Song's words, both of them looked gloomy. What should they do now?
“How can you start the machine for us?” Duquesne asked.
"As long as the gas turbine is on the Richelieu aircraft carrier, we can start it, and it is completely free." Ai Song said: "If it is on other warships, there will be an additional fee. If it is on the original and our Mingzhou For the warships that the group competes with, the price of each unit must be increased from 50 million to 200 million according to the original agreement. If you make up the difference to us, we can start the machine for you."
"Two hundred million? This is impossible. This is simply a money grab! All this was arranged by your Mingzhou Group. You are going too far! You are the most reputable group in the world. We will report this matter to Let everyone in the world know the ugly face of your Mingzhou Group!" Lucas couldn't help it.
Everything is done by the Easterners, cheating the French, this is too much, too much!
Lucas was very dissatisfied with this.
"Of course you can go to the whole world to promote it, and we can also promote it. At first you wanted to purchase engines from us and install them on warships that compete with us. We asked for 200 million. Later, you said you wanted to install them in Richelieu. Now, our engines have appeared on the amphibious assault ship. Who broke the contract? Who did not respect business credibility? They originally signed a contract with Da Mao, but after paying the deposit, Da Mao increased the price! Later, you fell into It was our Mingzhou Group that helped coordinate the lawsuit and asked you to sell the warship. Who deceived you again and again? "
Both Duquesne and Lucas said nothing.
Without Dongfang, they really would not be able to resolve the contract dispute with Damao. Now, if they publicize it, it is obvious that they have ignored it. After all, the conditions proposed by Dongfang are reasonable and reasonable. The two parties are in a competitive relationship and the purchased engine The price is very high, then I change the project, purchase it at a low price, and use it in the original project.
"My friend, please don't worry." Ducaina finally said: "We need to coordinate with Mr. Qin. I hope Mr. Qin can take into account our difficulties."
Duquesne ran back to the office, opened ICQ, and started the video connection, but there was no response from the other side.
Where is Mr. Qin? What has Mr. Qin been doing?
Unable to contact Mr. Qin!
Dickener could only connect to Mr. Qin’s secretary. Ten minutes later, Mr. Qin’s secretary finally appeared in the video.
“Secretary Xu, is Mr. Qin here?”
“Mr. Qin is in a meeting.”
“When will Mr. Qin finish the meeting?”
“I don’t know, the superior leader presided over it.”
So, Decena could only continue to wait and wait. After waiting for seven or eight hours, a response finally came from the other side, and a tired Qin Tao appeared in the video.
“Mr. Duquesne, what can I do for you?”
“Mr. Qin, we have been old friends for many years. More than ten years ago, when you wanted to learn the welding technology of natural gas ships, you received the training at our Brest Shipyard.”
“Mr. Duquesne, please speak more clearly, I am very tired.”
Duquesne planned to publicize the friendship first, and then talk about it, but Qin Tao didn't give him this opportunity at all. After hesitating for a moment, Duquesne could only tell the truth: "Mr. Qin, we purchased from you The UGT-40000 gas turbine is used on the Mistral-class amphibious assault ship we built. Now, your personnel will not start the engine for us, and we..."
"What? Mr. Duquesne, how could you do this? I clearly said at the beginning that this kind of gas turbine was installed on the Richelieu!"
Duquesne felt bitter in his heart. He was not a fool. Of course he knew that all this was a trap. After all, the Easterners knew very well what they were building on the slipway. Now they have jumped into the opponent's trap. , unable to climb up at all, can only wait to be slaughtered.
Depressed, frustrated.
“Mr. Qin, we hope that you can start the engine for us. We can pay an additional US$10 million as service fee.” Duquesne said.
When things have reached this level, there is no other way. I can only hope that the Easterners will accept it as soon as it is good. Giving me an extra ten million US dollars is already the bottom line.
"No, no, we said at the beginning that there will be no service fee." Qin Tao shook his head: "You just need to make up the difference. Since it is installed on an amphibious assault ship, it should be sold for 200 million. Each of your units Give us another US$150 million, and as soon as the money arrives, we will start it for you immediately.”
Two units will cost US$300 million!
Diquena felt that his eyes were being deceived and he was about to faint.
“Mr. Qin, we have been old friends for many years. You can’t do this to us.”
"It's obvious that you broke the contract first." Qin Tao said: "Friends are friends and business is business. This is a rule that is accepted all over the world. However, since you mentioned friends, we will make it cheaper and only charge you for each unit. One hundred million U.S. dollars, two units equals two hundred million U.S. dollars. As long as the money arrives, we will start the engine for you immediately. If not, I'm sorry, you violated the agreement first. I can only express my regret. By the way, I suggest you Let’s start building the Richelieu and put our engines in it, and then our agreement will still be valid.”
What is the start of construction? Do the French have that money? The Charles de Gaulle's serious cost overruns have already made them miserable. By 2020, the No. 2 ship is still in the PPT stage, and they can't build it at all.
So, they could only give money, 100 million for one unit, which was also carefully calculated by Qin Tao.
The price of the British MT30 gas turbine is US$50 million, and when coupled with a generator and the like, the price is about US$100 million.
However, now the Mistral-class has been built according to our own gas turbines, and the internal dimensions are also our own. If we replace it with the MT30 gas turbine, we will have to make major changes. What's more terrible is that this gas turbine is still in production, and its installation on the ship is far away. , at this time, do the French have any choice?
Moreover, this kind of gas turbine has serious design flaws and cannot work properly in tropical areas. If it is really installed, it will destroy the French brand, and their weapons will no longer be sold in the future.
The video was turned off, and Duquesne slumped weakly in the chair.
After they changed customers, they asked for an extra sum of money. They originally thought it would be used as profit for the shipyard, but they didn't expect that the money would have to be sent out again. This Mr. Qin is so cruel!
However, everything depends on the contract. Even if they make a fuss, they will ignore it.
At this moment, Lucas came over.
“I have contacted the British side, and their export price of MT30 gas turbine is US$70 million.”
When the British heard that someone was coming to purchase, of course they opened their mouths. After all, they could no longer bear the soaring prices, and they also wanted to rip off people.
The price of the gas turbine is 70 million, and the supporting generator is 30 million. In other words, purchasing from the UK is more than the 100 million proposed by Qin Tao, and the British one is not necessarily reliable. After all, it is still The research and development has not been completed yet.
(End of this chapter)