Chapter 876 The progress of the aircraft carrier Fahd
Mingzhou Shipyard.
Regardless of whether Mr. Qin is here or not, the place can operate step by step and operate normally. Although the old factory director Qin Baoshan still comes here to inspect every day, he just walks around and has a look. He is not responsible for specific projects. Each ship has a dedicated person. Responsible, no matter whether the customer sends a representative or not, we can absolutely guarantee the quality.
The 075 aircraft carrier was built in the dock. Compared with the huge dock, this giant ship looks a bit small and exquisite.
The first section is built in the dock, and the second section is built on the slipway beside it, and then it can be closed and welded by lifting it. This method greatly speeds up the construction of the ship, but it places high demands on the shipyard. .
The overhead gantry crane has a lifting capacity of more than 10,000 tons, which is necessary for segmented construction. At the same time, it also tests the skills of the welders. If there is a deviation between the front and rear sections, it will not be possible to close them.
Originally, the clients in Guinea planned to leave a few people to supervise the construction, but when they heard that several people fell to death every year, they immediately gave up and left the construction work completely to the Easterners.
Although the construction started less than half a year ago, the first and second sections have been almost completed. It seems that they will be closed soon, and the front part of 075 will take shape.
Looking at the busy construction scene, a group of French people were filled with emotion.
“Your dock is too big,” Cadina said.
"Didn't I suggest it? Your Brest Shipyard also needs to expand or build a new dock. The displacement of your next aircraft carrier may increase. The existing dock is not enough. If you don't have a suitable dock, it is estimated that The construction work will have to be left to others.”
Kedina's expression changed slightly. Yes, the trend of aircraft carriers becoming larger is becoming more and more obvious. Their next aircraft carrier will definitely need a larger displacement. The existing dock is not enough anyway.
"Of course, you can also let us build it. We guarantee that the quality and quantity are guaranteed and it is cheap." Qin Tao said.
Of course not. If you build it, what will we earn?
Kedina rolled her eyes.
“Mr. Qin, your 075 has just built the first half. Where is your gas turbine? Has it not been shipped yet?”
Everyone came here to see the 075 under construction, but looking at the progress of this construction, it seems that the installation of gas turbines has not been done at all.
“Of course there is, it’s in our warehouse. After you guys finish looking at this place, you can go to the warehouse and take a look at our gas turbines.”
Warehouse?
We let you see the Charles de Gaulle, and you only saw the warships that have been built, and the warships that are about to be decommissioned. We came all the way, and what we saw were the warships that are still under construction in your dock, and the gas turbines in the warehouse?
"Mr. Qin, we all heard that the East is very hospitable. Now that we are here, we find that we don't seem to see anything." Kaidina shook his head: "I went to the warehouse to look at the gas turbine. I'm afraid it hasn't been unpacked yet. What's the point? ?”
"Yes, Mr. Qin, out of the principle of reciprocity, can you let us board the 002 aircraft carrier to have a look?" Philip looked at the outfitting dock in the distance, where a huge aircraft carrier was being outfitted. During the installation stage, if they could go to that aircraft carrier and have a look, their trip would be perfect.
“You can unbox it now and experience it.” Qin Tao said.
Demolition now?
“What’s the use of taking it apart? It can’t be installed.”
“Why not? Since it has been dismantled, it must be installed. Is it okay for us to let you experience the entire installation process?”
“But...your aircraft carrier has clearly not yet reached the stage of installing engines.”
“We have other ships to install.”
Other ships?
Everyone’s eyes turned to the slipway. What other ships over there are worthy of installing a 40-megawatt gas turbine?
Civilian ships are impossible, they can only be warships, or warships above 10,000 tons! However, it seems that the Orientals don’t have 10,000-ton warships anymore, right? Is it the aircraft carrier built for big dogs?
The Fahd aircraft carrier built for Goudahu started construction in 1999. It has been a year and a half now. The efficiency of the Easterners is quite high. The hull of this aircraft carrier has been roughly completed, and only the ship is left. The island is still being built nearby and it looks like it will be launched in a few months.
The 002 aircraft carrier in the East is absolutely not allowed to be seen, but as for the Fahd, it doesn't matter if the French can see it. At least it is okay to stand on the slipway. This aircraft carrier is just in time to install the engine and dismantle it. The engine box can also be handed over to them.
“Is it the Fahd?” asked Philip.
“Yes, that’s the aircraft carrier.”
“You actually installed the engine during the hull construction stage?” Cadina was a little curious: “Shouldn’t that be installed during the outfitting stage?”
“It would be a waste of time to install it again during outfitting, so we usually complete the installation before launching into the water, so as not to cut the steel plates for installation and then weld the steel plates together.” Qin Tao said: “Everyone, let’s go to the warehouse now?”
“Okay.” The Frenchman swallowed.
The progress of the Easterners makes them envious. They are also 30,000 to 40,000-ton aircraft carriers. The Charles de Gaulle has been working on it for more than ten years and is not yet in service. The Fahd has been working on it for a year or two and will soon be launched. This efficiency, It's definitely different.
Philip is very interested in the Fahd: "The Fahd uses two gas turbines. Can it meet the power demand?"
"Of course there is no problem. After all, it only has a displacement of 30,000 to 40,000 tons, and its power output of 80 megawatts is enough. Moreover, it uses a ski-jump take-off scheme and does not require the aircraft carrier to provide ejection energy." Qin Tao introduced.
At the beginning, Qin Tao fooled Goudahu's aircraft carrier design plan. Ski jump takeoff and vertical landing became the safest plan in Qin Tao's mouth. At the same time, the design of the aircraft carrier was also different from the conventional one. There was no angled deck. , but takes off and lands on the left side and releases the aircraft on the right side, which is very similar to the Queen class.
I don’t know if the British will be embarrassed. Their Queen is not original, but a copy of the Mingzhou Group’s design!
After the Fahd project was established, Dongfang's 40-megawatt gas turbine was successfully developed. Therefore, Qin Tao went to Goudahu again to promote the gas turbine. Everyone was happy with the result. It was not only used on aircraft carriers, but also on land. The oil pipeline will also be used!
Now, this gas turbine has been used for a lot of time, but it has not been used on ships yet. The Fahd is the first ship equipped with this kind of gas turbine!
Like Guinea, the big dog owners trusted Dongfang very much, so they did not send anyone to supervise them. They just waited for Dongfang to train them, and then went to find them when they got into the water.
The two gas turbines were transported a week ago and placed in the warehouse. Now, it’s time to install them!
Just like when you pick up a new car, you need to tear off the film yourself. Generally speaking, customers should dismantle the packaging of marine engines. Now the French are dismantling it, which seems to be a bit overstepping.
However, the French did not have this awareness. They came to the warehouse excitedly and looked at the huge rectangular wooden box.
On its outside, the words UGT-40000 are spray-painted with black paint, representing its identity: a 40-megawatt gas turbine.
DaMao’s previous gas turbines were specially developed and followed a different path from those in the West, but this gas turbine was improved with an aero engine. However, its appearance is not the cylinder of an aeroengine, but a cube. This is of course because it is surrounded by a shell.
“Mr. Philip, Mr. Duquesne, give each of you a crowbar.” Qin Tao said, passing the crowbar: “Experience the pleasure of unpacking.”
The two picked up the crowbar and pried up the outer wooden packaging. With a creaking sound, the wooden packaging was pried open, and then the metal shell inside was revealed.
“Okay, next, transfer it to the car, send it to the dock, and hoist it into the ship!”
Marine engines are all big, and the same goes for this UGT40000 gas turbine. After removing the outer packaging, its length is six to seven meters, its height is nearly three meters, and its weight is more than seven or eight tons.
The outer packaging box has been removed, but the bottom is still retained. The overhead crane hoisted the engine to the chassis of an incoming trailer and slowly drove to the slipway.
DiCena held the crowbar and looked in the direction of the vehicle.
Wait, is this done? When we came to the East, this is all we saw?
“Everyone has seen it, right? If it is guaranteed to be replaced, this will be our 40-megawatt gas turbine!” Qin Tao said with a smile: “Being able to unpack the engine with your own hands is already a worthwhile trip, right?”
“Mr. Qin, we came all the way to the East just to unpack a package?”
"of course not."
“Then what other projects do we have?”
“You can also disassemble the second one, which uses two engines.”
The French were completely speechless.
“Mr. Qin, we have to go up and take a look. Now that we are here, we must take a look at your aircraft carrier!”
"This..." Qin Tao thought for a moment with some embarrassment, and then said: "Everyone, if you must see it, then let's go to the Fahd to see it. However, in order to avoid being discovered and protested by the big dog, everyone needs to Change into our shipyard work clothes.”
“Okay.” Cadena nodded.
Half an hour later, everyone appeared on the deck of the Fahd. Looking at the jump deck in front and the parking area on the right, they had a feeling of déjà vu: "I heard that the British do not plan to use ejection." We are ready to use this deck layout plan.”
"Then you have to work hard. You can promote our Fahd when you go back. If the British do that, they will copy our aircraft carrier design plan." Qin Tao said.
As long as the British use catapults, their aircraft carrier will not be built as soon as possible. Qin Tao cannot directly fool the British, so he can only use this indirect method.
In fact, when it comes to plagiarism, this deck can also be regarded as an enlarged invincible deck. I don’t know what the British will think.
However, due to the amplification, the operation of this kind of deck is indeed much easier. These are all innovations of Mingzhou Group.
Just standing on the deck and watching for a while became boring. At this time, watching the crane start to lift the first engine, Cadina couldn't help but ask: "Can we go to the engine room and have a look?"
Have a look at the engine room?
Qin Tao thought for a moment and then said: "Yes, but only two people can go in. If there are too many people, it may affect the installation of the gas turbine."
"Okay." Of course, Cadina knew that Qin Tao was referring to the fact that everyone on the Charles de Gaulle was not allowed to see the power cabin. However, there were fewer people, so they were given two places. However, this time they came Among the people, he and Phillip only needed to go and have a look, and it didn’t require too many people.
“Let’s go down from the opening of the ship island.” Qin Tao pointed to the starboard side.
Jiandao opened his mouth?
The ship island has not been installed yet. There is a large hole underneath and scaffolding is erected. After all, this is an aircraft carrier under construction, but it is precisely because of the scaffolding that it is convenient to get down.
From here, you can go down directly to the hangar. The two climbed to the height of the hangar, and then said, "Should we go backward from the hangar?"
“No, keep going down to the lower level.”
Still downward?
After going down two more floors, the two of them saw some people standing there waiting. Judging from their posture, they looked like they were welcoming the hoisted engine.
"You have reserved a passage on this deck? This can reduce several layers of openings, which is good." Kedina said.
The engine is a big thing, and it is not easy to install it on the tail of the aircraft carrier. Except for the flight deck, which does not need to be opened and can be directly accessed by the elevator, the lower decks have to be opened. Now the Orientals do this, obviously to facilitate the installation of the engine, leaving a channel from this layer to the rear.
“No, we don’t have a reserved channel.”
“Then you still receive the engine directly from here?” Both of them were confused.
“Because the engine is installed here.”
Install the engine? Right below the ship island?
Kedina suddenly reacted: "This aircraft carrier uses electric propulsion?"
“Yes, electric pusher.”
All technologies must be verified before they can be used. The nuclear power system was specially built for a Xuelong 2 nuclear-powered icebreaker, and the all-electric propulsion of the aircraft carrier was verified on Goudahu’s aircraft carrier. Since it is electric propulsion, what about the engine? Of course it can be placed directly under the ship island!
Orientals have conquered all kinds of technologies without realizing it?
The two of them were shocked in their hearts.
“Mr. Qin, if we purchase your gas turbine, can it also be placed under the ship island?”
“Of course, you can, as long as you have your own electric propulsion plan.”
“What if, what if I purchase yours?”
“It’s okay, but it’s a little expensive.” Qin Tao said: “The combination of generator and motor costs almost 200 million US dollars.”
"Didn't we agree that the price of purchasing your advanced equipment is only half that of the UK?" Cadina was speechless. Isn't this too much of a trap for you?
"Yes, we said that, but we were talking about the price of gas turbines. It is very cheap to purchase gas turbines alone. However, this does not include the combination of generators and electric motors. We develop and produce high-power generators and high-power electric motors ourselves. , the cost is very high. You should also know that when it reaches a certain level, quantitative changes will lead to qualitative changes."
Gas turbines are cheap, but generators and electric motors are expensive!
“I also think the price is too expensive, so I suggest you develop it yourself. Your Alstom company is a well-known motor company, so you can do it yourself,” Qin Tao said.
In later generations, the Queen-class aircraft carrier used an all-electric propulsion solution, and the motors used were produced by the French company Corvod Mechanical and Electrical. However, this company was separated from Alstom in 2005, and it is still Alstom. One family.
If the French want to develop all-electric propulsion, they do have a suitable motor production department. However, it depends on whether the motor uses DC or AC, permanent magnet or excitation. Therefore, everything is left to the French to figure out. Qin Tao will not teach them the correct technical route.
“Yes, we are not bad in this field. We can do it ourselves.” Philip nodded.
The gas turbine in the engine room was still being installed, and the progress was not very fast. After watching it for a while, the two of them felt that it was no longer interesting, so they asked to continue wandering inside the aircraft carrier.
In any case, this is just a shell. It has not been outfitted yet. Even if you walk around and look around, you can't see anything.
This day of inspection was spent on the aircraft carrier Fahd. That night, the guests and hosts had a great time at the Mingzhou Group Guest House.
"Come, let's raise a glass together to welcome friends from afar." Qin Tao raised his glass: "In our oriental terms, how wonderful is it to have friends come from afar? Come on, cheers!"
“Mr. Qin, the scale of your shipyard is very large, beyond our imagination. We admire your rapid development over the years.” Kaidina’s words are sincere.
Qin Tao smiled: "Actually, we are developing very fast, relying on our low labor costs. In your Western world, workers' wages are too high, and there are various trade union restrictions. Even overtime is not enough. Look, Look at us in the East, workers voluntarily work overtime and contribute selflessly, so we can develop."
Qin Tao's words are very modest. After all, Mingzhou Group's development to this point is definitely not based on labor costs, but the outside world doesn't know this, and this will give them a false impression.
“However, our labor costs have also begun to increase, so there is insufficient potential for continued development in the future. We believe that the next country with low labor costs is Asan, which will rise and become a strong competitor for us.”
Asan?
The French people thought of something, and their eyes were full of expectation: "Mr. Qin, can our aircraft carrier Foch really be sold to Asan?"
“Of course, as long as you show sincerity, Ah San will definitely purchase it. After all, they are in urgent need of aircraft carriers.”
“Okay, let’s go next!”
Hearing what Duquesne said, Philip became anxious and patted him on the shoulder: "Brother, there is no need to worry about this. We have just come to the East. Tomorrow, we will continue to visit the Mingzhou Group. Mr. Qin, we can go tomorrow. Looking elsewhere?"
“Sure, where do you want to go?”
“We hope to visit the Mingzhou Group Nuclear Power Plant. You should know that France is a major nuclear power country and has rich experience in building nuclear power plants. We will inspect your nuclear power progress and perhaps there will be opportunities for cooperation in the future.”
"Of course." Qin Tao nodded: "Then I wish you all a smooth inspection tomorrow."
The next day, a group of special guests were welcomed to Dalieshan. They originally planned to inspect the nuclear power plant. However, when they saw the nuclear reactor assembly factory at the foot of the mountain, they couldn't help but ask to go in. Qin Tao was also very generous and took them with him. These people went in to visit.
"Currently, the reactor we are assembling is Linglong 1." A staff member on site introduced to everyone: "It has been used in floating nuclear power plants on the sea. This is our second nuclear reactor of the same type. It is planned to give us Snow Dragon 2 nuclear-powered icebreaker equipment.”
“How powerful is it?” Philip asked.
“One hundred and twenty megawatts.”
Hearing this answer, Philip breathed a sigh of relief: "It's only such a small amount of power. The nuclear reactor used on our Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is 150 megawatts. Your nuclear reactor technology has yet to be developed. If you need it, we can Export this nuclear reactor technology to you."
K15 nuclear reactor is used by nuclear submarines and cannot be exported at all. Philip said this just to say it.
“Mr. Philip, when we talk about the output power of a nuclear reactor, we generally refer to the power generation.”
"What?" It was Philip's turn to be shocked: "The power generation is one hundred and twenty megawatts? Doesn't the thermal power of the nuclear reactor have to be five or six hundred megawatts?"
“Yes, about five hundred and fifty megawatts.”
Seeing Philip's surprised look, Qin Tao felt very funny: "Mr. Philip, I heard that the nuclear reactor on your Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is not powerful enough. Your nuclear reactor technology still needs to be developed. When you build the next aircraft carrier, , if necessary, you can also consider our nuclear reactors, one can drive a 40,000-ton aircraft carrier, and two can drive a 70,000-80,000-ton aircraft carrier."
“Are you preparing to build the next nuclear-powered aircraft carrier?” Philip’s eyes widened.
"No, we are using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. You have also heard that our first nuclear reactor is a floating nuclear power plant at sea, and our second nuclear reactor is a nuclear-powered icebreaker at sea. Our 002 aircraft carrier is still being outfitted, and the next aircraft carrier is What it will look like has not yet been determined.”
During the next inspection, Philip became mute and said nothing, looking very worried.
Obviously, his self-esteem was shaken.
The technological development in the East is so fast that they cannot accept it at all. France’s marine nuclear reactor is only 150 megawatts. In later generations, when the French built a 70,000-ton aircraft carrier, they only launched the K22 nuclear reactor. According to According to their naming rules, the thermal power of this nuclear reactor is 220 megawatts. To propel a 70,000-ton aircraft carrier, four nuclear reactors may be needed.
And now? There is such a big nuclear reactor in the East!
There is no need to keep these secrets. After all, floating nuclear power plants are open to the public, and the technical details are all available. The West only looks at the East through colored glasses and is unwilling to believe in the progress of the East.
(End of this chapter)