Asia/Pacific News
Chinese Shipyard Develops Electric Propulsion Systems
China Shipbuilding Industry Corp. has developed in-house electric propulsion technology that will help the country reduce its dependence on foreign parts for shipbuilding, China Daily reports.
The shipbuilder said its Wuhan Institute of Marine Electric Propulsion finalised the integrated electric propulsion technology in mid-July, a development that will help China shift from mechanical transmission technology.
"Chinese ships usually use steam engines, multiple-stroke diesel engines or gas turbine engines," said Wang Dan, deputy editor-in-chief of Modern Ships magazine.
"Chinese navy ships that need to reach fast speeds would have 'combined diesel or gas' propulsion systems."
The technology could help China in building vessels for long-distance voyages and in making more attractive ships.
"Compared with other drive methods, integrated electric propulsion has many advantages," Wang said.
"It can save more space and is easier to control. It helps reduce a ship's weight and noise. It also enables ships to cruise at a faster speed and for a longer time."
He added that the technology could help China catch up to Western naval powers, which are constructing electric-propulsion vessels including the British Navy's HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier and the U.S. Navy's Zumwalt-class destroyers.
China has been pushing to improve its shipping and shipbuilding industries by focusing on more technology-intensive and fuel-saving strategies.
