CV-18 Fujian/003 CATOBAR carrier thread

[Equation]

Yes, EM is actually a much simpler technology than steam.

With EM, it is much easier to replace the components if required e.g. The electricity generators, the power cables can't break, the energy storage units and the launch rails.

With steam, you've mechanically complex conduits/components under high temps and high pressure buried deep inside the hull.

Also, look at the automotive industry. Chinese automakers would have to pour in vast resources to produce mechanically complex car engines on par with those from abroad.

So the government and industry decided to go with electric batteries and electric motors which is a far easier technology to master, and is the future anyway.

Electric car engines and with popularity of auto driving, the system is getting more complex, along with more rigid safety. China went this route because the timing and future of vehicle development are (as you've said) in electric cars and buses.

 

[KIENCHIN]

Yes, EM is actually a much simpler technology than steam.

With EM, it is much easier to replace the components if required e.g. The electricity generators, the power cables can't break, the energy storage units and the launch rails.

With steam, you've mechanically complex conduits/components under high temps and high pressure buried deep inside the hull.

Also, look at the automotive industry. Chinese automakers would have to pour in vast resources to produce mechanically complex car engines on par with those from abroad.

So the government and industry decided to go with electric batteries and electric motors which is a far easier technology to master, and is the future anyway.

I would agree with you steam catapult is mechanically more complex and most probably contain a heck lot of moving parts that can break or get worn out but EM is no less complicated. Talking from the perspective of a guy who works on both good old fashion mechanical and magnetic bearing commercial equipment driven by VSD's who rely on massive capacitors to store charge similiar to EM drive snd catapult, the cap's can go out with a big and very expensive bang and take the whole system even though the tech. has been around for ages.

 

[latenlazy]

I would agree with you steam catapult is mechanically more complex and most probably contain a heck lot of moving parts that can break or get worn out but EM is no less complicated. Talking from the perspective of a guy who works on both good old fashion mechanical and magnetic bearing commercial equipment driven by VSD's who rely on massive capacitors to store charge similiar to EM drive snd catapult, the cap's can go out with a big and very expensive bang and take the whole system even though the tech. has been around for ages.

Yes, but those aren't *mechanical* challenges. That's a matter of electrical system design.

 

[antiterror13]

I would agree with you steam catapult is mechanically more complex and most probably contain a heck lot of moving parts that can break or get worn out but EM is no less complicated. Talking from the perspective of a guy who works on both good old fashion mechanical and magnetic bearing commercial equipment driven by VSD's who rely on massive capacitors to store charge similiar to EM drive snd catapult, the cap's can go out with a big and very expensive bang and take the whole system even though the tech. has been around for ages.

well EM is much more complex system ... but agree less complex mechanically

is like modern PC is much much less complex mechanically than Enigma ... but none doubt that modern PC is much much more complex system

 

[longmarch]

All for EMALS!

Without 001A it would have made sense to have 002 quickly. Having a single carrier is never good with China's vast overseas interests.

With 001A added to the plan, China can afford to wait. Both steam and EM are new to China, and EM is the future. If EM win the competition, why not! Just like radar, go directly to APAR if capable enough.

Chinese planners are habitually over conservative, but sometimes they do break with tradition, usually with good result when doing so.

 

[KIENCHIN]

Yes, but those aren't *mechanical* challenges. That's a matter of electrical system design.

My point exactly it is all about electrical design, which in the commercial market it is still a work in progress. Personally when it comes to crictical infrastructure I will stick to a tried and tested product until the new tech. had been tested to death. But in China's case both system has not achieved operational maturity

 

[latenlazy]

My point exactly it is all about electrical design, which in the commercial market it is still a work in progress. Personally when it comes to crictical infrastructure I will stick to a tried and tested product until the new tech. had been tested to death. But in China's case both system has not achieved operational maturity

I would contend that in this day and age electrical system design is much more straightforward than a steam driven mechanical design. It's not like China has no experience with linear induction motors.

 

[KIENCHIN]

I would contend that in this day and age electrical system design is much more straightforward than a steam driven mechanical design. It's not like China has no experience with linear induction motors.

No offence, but the tech. in building linear induction motors is nowhere near close to what is involved in building a EM that is capable of hurling a fully laden fighter off an AC and what I am working on in the commercial sector is not even close but similiar and it can go pear shape in fractions of a second.

 

[latenlazy]

No offence, but the tech. in building linear induction motors is nowhere near close to what is involved in building a EM that is capable of hurling a fully laden fighter off an AC and what I am working on in the commercial sector is not even close but similiar and it can go pear shape in fractions of a second.

And what about a maglev train?

Edit: To be clear I'm not trying to trivialize the technical challenges.

 

[AndrewS]

I would agree with you steam catapult is mechanically more complex and most probably contain a heck lot of moving parts that can break or get worn out but EM is no less complicated. Talking from the perspective of a guy who works on both good old fashion mechanical and magnetic bearing commercial equipment driven by VSD's who rely on massive capacitors to store charge similiar to EM drive snd catapult, the cap's can go out with a big and very expensive bang and take the whole system even though the tech. has been around for ages.

Capacitors are solid state electronics, which are less complicated and prone to failure.

Plus my understanding is that EMALs uses spinning flywheels for energy storage rather than capacitors.