00X/004 future nuclear CATOBAR carrier thread

[Tomboy]

You mean CGT-50? CGT-60F is a natural gas burning 70MW turbine, and technological pathfinder to the 300MW F-class heavy duty gas turbine.

50MW class GT is an interesting sweet spot since 4 of these can satisfy propulsion needs for a 100k ton CV. For reference Ford class has 208MW of propulsion power and a further 104MW of installed power. Currently the highest power diesel in use in PLAN is 054B's CS16V27, with 6.4 MW of power in generator mode. 104MW would require a pretty insane amount of diesel so an imaginary 4x50MW GT CV would probably require new diesels or small generator GTs.

Then there's the issue of propulsion. Either this notional system is mechanically driven (which would require a new gearbox), or electric motors drive which would also require 50MW motors or twin 25MW motors. Then still there's always the age old problem of air intake and exhaust for the GTs, range compared to a steam powered CV, operational costs, etc.

Certainly not saying all of this is impossible but that's a lot of hurdle to jump through. But hey, no one's ever done a 100k ton CV anyways. PLAN is already in uncharted waters and if switching CV to GT powered brings enough pros over its cons, I am sure they'll do it. None of the hurdles are actually technical difficulties either, its an engineering problem.

I don't think the point of a CV is to match USN's flagship, that's for 004 CVN to do. CV are supposed to be cheap number fillers with high readiness rate.

 

[Nx4eu]

Also, to note the island on this model has a total length of 42m. Does anyone know how long Fujian's island is?

Overall length of Fujian island I've measured is 40-42m and deck footprint length is 32-34m

 

[Cloud_Nine_]

I don't think the point of a CV is to match USN's flagship, that's for 004 CVN to do. CV are supposed to be cheap number fillers with high readiness rate.

For one, the notion that CVs are cheaper than CVNs does not mean they cannot grow to be the same weight class. Fujian is a "maximalist" design supercarrier and she is not an optimal design by any means esp with future growth in mind. I don't see why PLAN would not explore going larger.

Whether or not Fujian's size represents a sweet spot in CV design and operations we don't know. I don't even think PLAN knows for sure since Fujian has just entered service. I am simply trying to layout what a GT optimal CV looks like power generation wise. If PLAN wanted a budget CV, there's plenty of other options. It would be an entirely different topic altogether. If Fujian's design is the perfect sweet spot, then there's zero reason to convert them to GT powered.