This thread should be analogous to the engine thread at the Air Force section.
To start off, some clarifications about gas turbines. contains most of the information we need to clear up a few designations. Gongke101 and CD-中华神盾 are the two important people there.
Supplementary threads are , , and .
Main points:
I'm going to do more digging on diesels, steam, and IEP for further posts. Don't hold your breath, though, a few months wait should be expected.
To start off, some clarifications about gas turbines. contains most of the information we need to clear up a few designations. Gongke101 and CD-中华神盾 are the two important people there.
Supplementary threads are , , and .
Main points:
- QC280 probably doesn't exist
- QC280 was the name of a failed attempt by AVIC's 430 Factory (Xi'an Aeroengine Corp.) to manufacture the UGT 25000 (see below)
- The gas turbines currently used by the PLAN in the 052s and 055s are indigenised UGT 25000s, called GT25000
- They have a mass flow rate of 85kg/s
- They measure 6.4m x 2.4m x 2.7m and weighs 16 tonnes
- They have a MTBO of 20,000 hours and lifespan of 60,000 hours
- They are manufactured by CSIC's 703 Institute in Harbin with assistance from , and formerly 461 Factory (Wuhan Ship Machinery Ltd.) and 430 Factory
- 430 Factory, having gotten the full set of engineering drawings of the GT25000 and with assistance from AVIC, wanted to replace 703 as primary gas turbine supplier to the PLAN
- AVIC subsequently got sued by CSIC for corporate misconduct, lose the case, and got fined
- 703 Institute has the same IP rights to the GT25000 as the Ukrainians because Chinese money saved the project from cancellation in the 1990s
- In 1993, China signed a deal with Ukraine to produce the UGT 25000 and to purchase individual sets
- In 1994, the first test example began assembly
- In November 1995, the first test example began testing in Ukraine
- In September 2000, after 22,375 hours of testing, the test piece was taken in for its first major overhaul
- In June 2001, the refurbished turbine continued regular operation
- AVIC, after the QC280 debacle, is not giving up yet and has developed the QD185
- QD185 is based on the WS-10 core and has a flow rate of 58kg/s
- The QD185 measures 6.1m x 3m x 3m and weighs 8.8 tonnes, actually bigger in size than the GT25000
- The QD185 is not mature and needs a ton of refinement before it's fit for service
- As conveyed by the designation, the QD185 produces 18.5MW of power
- The near future of Chinese gas turbine development will be 40MW-class turbines developed from the current designs using intercooled recuperation technology
- The GT25000 has already achieved 33MW in its current form with assistance from Ukrainian engineers working for China
- With IC, the GT25000IC is aiming for a 25% increase in power to 40MW
- The general figures for IC is a 20% increase in power from a 100K decrease in compressor intake temp; for comparison, the UK's WR-21 boosted its power by 25% using IC
- AVIC's horse in this race is the QC400, an IC'd QD185
- The QC400, compared to the GT25000IC has a much more difficult task of boosting power by 116%(!!) from 18.5MW to 40MW -- lol good luck AVIC
- The IC section of the QC400 is also a lot bulkier than the GT25000IC's, plus the actual turbine set itself is bigger than the GT25000 and the PLAN prefers compact systems
- The 40MW competition was said to conclude at the end of 2018 with the winner granted state funding for further development and refinement, gongke hasn't updated on the current status
- The Ukrainians also assisted CSIC with designing the GT15; construction or testing of the prototype should be occurring now at the 461 Factory
- AVIC makes the QC70s so they've got that going for them at least
- However, QC70s have excessively hot exhaust which can damage the interior of the 071s' well-deck so more work is needed there
I'm going to do more digging on diesels, steam, and IEP for further posts. Don't hold your breath, though, a few months wait should be expected.