IEP provides fuel burn efficiency across a typical spectrum of a naval combatant’s mission speeds as it enables running of prime movers at their optimal operational parameters.Well, I know and that is why I am sceptical of the jump to CODAD myself. However, I think that 伏尔戈星图 based his conclusion on the size of the holes in the. Independently, some people believe it's CODAD because of the official designation 054B (Alex Luck among others).
In addition, there's now good evidence that 054B uses a brand new Diesel engine, and for the first time one that has been completely independently developed by China: The CS16V27 has been officially announced in a press release on May 20 2023, and it also looks like it has been confirmed to have been ordered to Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard.
Of course 054B could still use generators and electric motors for noise reduction instead of pure CODAD, but the need to independently develop a Diesel engine that is stronger and more energy-dense than 16PA6V-280STC (5.2MW) explains the delay in getting 054B construction started; after all 054A is at the maximum displacement possible for pure Diesel propulsion
One argument for IEP of some form is that 054B is much larger than 054A and yet the CS16v27 Diesel engine is slightly smaller than 16PA6V-280STC and weighs about the same (ca. 30 tons). Given that armament hasn't changed by much and neither the new rotating AESA nor the longer flightdeck take up excessive space, it stands to reason that some of the extra displacement would have gone towards propulsion; specifically to make it more quiet. Better rafting is a given, but if you do have electric motors that are apparently good enough to equip submarines, it makes imminent sense to go for some kind of IEP and the displacement is available.
In addition, 28-29MW is barely adequate to reach 26 knots in a CODAD configuration; however IEP is more efficient by about 16%, which would bring the propulsion power into the normal range for a fast surface combatant and allow reaching 28-30 knots - after all the inability to keep up with destroyers has been a major flaw of 054A.
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By the way, it has also been announced (back in December 2022) that there is a 6-cylinder version of the new engine which can generate 2-3MW and weighs about 11 tons; perhaps an alternative to the MTU 4000 series gensets that are most likely used on 052D? Would explain how that ship can now be offered for export given that MTU won't allow its gensets to be used for military exports:
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It does not provide an advantage by itself in achieving higher top speeds. On the contrary, it is less efficient in this respect. Which is part of the reason why you don’t typically see electric propulsion on nuclear powered carriers that place importance on top speed (which is well above that of cruisers and destroyers)