Motor installations at hydrogen peroxide for small satellites. Conversations about rocket engines Maintaining orientation with hot gases

With the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide on the catalyst, a large amount of heat is released, and the water generated as a result of the reaction of hydrogen peroxide, water turns into steam, and in the mixture with atomic oxygen released during the reaction, forms the so-called "steamhouse". The temperature of the vapor, depending on the degree of initial concentration of hydrogen peroxide, can reach 700 C ° -800 s °.

Concentrated to about 80-85% of hydrogen peroxide in different German documents was called "Oxilin", "fuel T" (T-STOFF), "Aurol", "Pergero". The solution of the catalyst was named Z-STOFF.

The fuel for the walter engines, consisting of T-STOFF and Z-STOFF, was called one-component, since the catalyst is not a component.
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Walter engines in the USSR

After the war on the USSR, he expressed a desire to work one of the deputies of Helmut Walter a certain French Stattski. Stattski and a group of "technical intelligence" on the removal of military technologies under the guidance of Admiral L. A. Korshunova, found in Germany, the company "Brewer-Kanis-Rider", which was a selection in the manufacture of turbine walter installations.

To copy the German submarine with the power installation of the Walter, first in Germany, and then in the USSR under the guidance of A. A. Antipina, the "Bureau of Antipina" was created, an organization, from which by the efforts of the main designer of submarines (captain i rank) A. A. Antipina LPMB "Rubin" and SPMM "Malachite" were formed.

The task of the Bureau was to copy the achievements of the Germans on new submarines (diesel, electric, steam-bubbar), but the main task was to repeat the velocities of German submarines with a walter cycle.

As a result of the work carried out, it was possible to fully restore the documentation, to manufacture (partially from German, partly from newly manufactured nodes) and test the steam-bourgebar installation of the German boats of the XXVI series.

After that, it was decided to build a Soviet submarine with the Walter engine. The topic of developing a submarine with PGTU Walter got the name project 617.

Alexander Tyklin, describing the biography of the Antipina, wrote: ... It was the first submarine of the USSR, which crossed the 18-nodular value of the underwater velocity: for 6 hours, its underwater speed was more than 20 nodes! The case provided an increase in the depth of dive twice, that is, to a depth of 200 meters. But the main advantage of the new submarine was its energy setting, which was amazing at the time of innovation. And it was not by chance that the visit to this boat by academicians I. V. Kurchatov and A. P. Alexandrov - preparing for the creation of nuclear submarines, they could not not get acquainted with the first submarine in the USSR, which had a turbine plant. Subsequently, many constructive solutions were borrowed in the development of nuclear power plants ...

In 1951, the project boat 617, named C-99, was laid in Leningrad at the factory No. 196. On 21 April 1955, the boat was brought to government tests, completed on March 20, 1956. In the test results, it is indicated: ... on a submarine for the first time the speed of the underwater stroke of 20 nodes is reached within 6 hours ...

In 1956-1958, large boats were designed project 643 with surface displacement in 1865 tons and already with two PSTU Walter. However, due to the creation of the sketch project of the first Soviet submarines with atomic power plants The project was closed. But the studies of the PSTU boat C-99 did not stop, and were transferred to the direction of consideration of the possibility of using the Walter engine in the developed giant T-15 torpedo with atomic charge proposed by Sugar to destroy naval databases and US ports. The T-15 was supposed to have a length of 24 m, a dive range of up to 40-50 miles, and carry the armonuclear warhead that can cause artificial tsunami to destroy the coastal cities of the United States.

After the war in the USSR, torpedoes were delivered to Walter engines, and NII-400 began to develop a domestic donal non-traced speed torpedo. In 1957, government tests of Torped DBT were completed. Torpeda DBT was adopted in December 1957, under the sector 53-57. Torpeda 53-57 caliber 533 mm, had a weight of about 2000 kg, the speed of 45 nodes at a turn range up to 18 km. Torpedo warhead Weighing 306 kg.

In most devices that generate energy due to burning, the fuel combustion method is used. However, there are two circumstances when it may be desirable or necessary for the use of non-air, but another oxidizing agent: 1) if it is necessary to generate energy in such a place where the supply of air is limited, for example, under water or high above the ground surface; 2) When it is desirable to obtain a very large amount of energy from its compact sources for a short time, for example, in the gun throwing explosives, in installations for take-off aircraft (accelerators) or in rockets. In some such cases, in principle, air can be used, pre-compressed and stored in the appropriate pressure vessels; However, this method is often impractical, since the weight of cylinders (or other types of storage) is about 4 kg per 1 kg of air; The weight of the container for a liquid or solid product is 1 kg / kg or even less.

In the case when a small device is applied and the focus is on the simplicity of the design, for example, in the cartridges of firearms or in a small rocket, solid fuel, which contains closely mixed fuel and oxidizer. Liquid fuel systems are more complicated, but have two specific advantages compared to solid fuel systems:

1. Liquid can be stored in a vessel from a lightweight material and tighten into the combustion chamber, the dimensions of which must only be satisfied with the requirement to ensure the desired combustion rate (a solid technique into a high-pressure combustion chamber, generally speaking, unsatisfactory; therefore, all the loading of solid fuel from the very beginning Must be in the combustion chamber, which therefore should be big and durable).
2. The energy generation rate can be changed and adjustable by appropriately changing the flow rate of the fluid. For this reason, the combination of liquid oxidants and flammable is used for various relatively large rocket engines, for engines of submarines, torpedoes, etc.

The ideal liquid oxidant must have many desirable properties, but the following three are most important from a practical point of view: 1) allocating a significant amount of energy during reaction, 2) comparative resistance to impact and elevated temperatures and 3) Low production cost. However, it is desirable that the oxidizing agent does not have corrosive or toxic properties to quickly react and possessed proper physical properties, such as a low freezing point, high boiling point, high density, low viscosity, etc. when used as an integral part of the rocket The fuel is particularly important and the reached flame temperature and the average molecular weight of combustion products. Obviously, no chemical compound can satisfy all the requirements for the ideal oxidizing agent. And very few substances that at all at least approximately have a desirable combination of properties, and only three of them found some application: liquid oxygen, concentrated nitric acid and concentrated hydrogen peroxide.

The hydrogen peroxide has the disadvantage that even at a 100% concentration contains only 47 wt.% Oxygen, which can be used to burn fuel, whereas in nitric acid, the content of active oxygen is 63.5%, and for pure oxygen it is possible Even 100% use. This disadvantage is compensated by significant heat release when decomposing hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. In fact, the power of these three oxidizing agents or thrust force developed by the weight of them, in any specific system, and with any form of fuel can vary by a maximum of 10-20%, and therefore the selection of a oxidizing agent for a two-component system is usually determined by other, considerations experimental research The hydrogen peroxide as a source of energy was supplied in Germany in 1934 in the search for new types of energy (independent air) for the movement of submarines, this potential military application stimulated the industrial development of the Electrochemische Werke method in Munich (E. W. M.) on the concentration of hydrogen peroxide to obtain aqueous solutions of high fortress, which could be transported and stored with an acceptable low decomposition rate. At first, 60% aqueous aqueous solution was produced for military needs, but later this concentration was raised and 85% peroxide began to receive. An increase in the availability of highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide at the end of the thirties of the current century led to its use in Germany during World War II as a source of energy for other military needs. Thus, hydrogen peroxide was first used in 1937 in Germany as auxiliary means in fuel for aircraft engines and rockets.

Highly concentrated solutions containing up to 90% of hydrogen peroxide were also made on an industrial scale by the end of World War II by Buffalo Electro-Chemical Co in the USA and "V. Laporte, Ltd. " In Great Britain. The embodiment of the idea of \u200b\u200bthe process of generating traction power from hydrogen peroxide in an earlier period is represented in the Lesholm scheme proposed by the energy generation procedure by thermal decomposition of hydrogen peroxide followed by combustion of fuel in the resulting oxygen. However, in practice, this scheme, apparently, did not find use.

The concentrated hydrogen peroxide can also be used as a single-component fuel (in this case, it is subjected to decomposition under pressure and forms a gaseous mixture of oxygen and superheated steam) and as an oxidizing agent for burning fuel. The mechanical one-componrate system is easier, but it gives less energy per unit weight of fuel. In a two-component system, it is possible to first decompose the hydrogen peroxide, and then burn fuel in hot decomposition products, or to introduce both fluids into the reaction directly without prior decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. The second method is easier to mechanically arrange, but it may be difficult to ensure ignition, as well as uniform and complete combustion. In any case, energy or thrust is created by expanding hot gases. Different kinds Rocket engines based on the action of hydrogen peroxide and used in Germany during World War II are very detailed by the Walter, which was directly related to the development of many types of martial use of hydrogen peroxide in Germany. The material published by them is also illustrated by a number of drawings and photographs.

the effect of a strong catalyst. One ten-thousand part of cyanide potassium almost completely destroys the catalytic action of platinum. Slowly slow down the decomposition of peroxide and other substances: serougerium, strikhnin, phosphoric acid, sodium phosphate, iodine.

Many properties of hydrogen peroxide are studied in detail, but there are also those that still remain a mystery. The disclosure of her secrets had direct practical importance. Before the peroxide is widely used, it was necessary to solve the old dispute: what is the peroxide - an explosive, ready to explode from the slightest shock, or innocuous liquid that does not require precautions in circulation?

Chemically pure hydrogen peroxide is a very stable substance. But when pollution, it starts to decompose violently. And chemists told engineers: you can carry this fluid to any distance, you only need one so that it is clean. But it can be contaminated on the road or when stored, what to do then? Chemists answered this question: add a small number of stabilizers, catalyst poisons into it.

Once, during the Second World War, such a case occurred. At the railway station stood a tank with hydrogen peroxide. From unknown reasons, the temperature of the fluid began to rise, and this meant that the chain reaction has already begun and threatens an explosion. The tank was watered with cold water, and the temperature of hydrogen peroxide was stubbornly raised. Then the tank was poured several liters of a weak aqueous solution of phosphoric acid. And the temperature quickly fell. The explosion was prevented.

Classified substance

Who did not see the steel cylinders painted in blue in which oxygen is transported? But few people know how much such transportation is unprofitable. The cylinder is placed a little more than eight kilograms of oxygen (6 cubic meters), and weighs one only a cylinder over seventy kilograms. Thus, you have to transport about 90 / about useless cargo.

It is much more profitable to carry liquid oxygen. The fact is that in the cylinder oxygen is stored under high pressure-150 atmospheres, so the walls are made quite durable, thick. Vessels for transporting liquid oxygen the wall thinner, and they weigh less. But when transporting liquid oxygen, it is continuously evaporated. In small vessels, 10 - 15% oxygen disappears per day.

Hydrogen peroxide connects the advantages of compressed and liquid oxygen. Almost half of the weight of the peroxide is oxygen. Losses of peroxide with proper storage are insignificant - 1% per year. There is a peroxide and one more advantage. Compressed oxygen has to be injected into cylinders with powerful compressors. Hydrogen peroxide is easy and simply poured into the vessels.

But oxygen obtained from peroxide is much more expensive than compressed or liquid oxygen. The use of hydrogen peroxide is justified only where Sobat

economic activity retreats to the background, where the main thing is compactness and low weight. First of all, this refers to reactive aviation.

During World War II, the name "hydrogen peroxide" disappeared from the lexicon of warring states. In official documents, this substance began to call: Ingolin, component T, Renal, aurol, heprol, subsidol, thymol, oxylin, neutraline. And only a few knew that

all these pseudonyms of hydrogen peroxide, its classified names.

What makes it take to classize hydrogen peroxide?

The fact is that it began to be used in liquid jet engines - EDD. Oxygen for these engines is in liquefied or in the form of chemical compounds. Due to this, the combustion chamber turns out to be possible to file a very large amount of oxygen per unit of time. And this means that you can increase the engine power.

First combat aircraft with liquid jet engines appeared in 1944. A chicken alcohol was used as a fuel in a mixture with hydrazine hydrate, 80 percent hydrogen peroxide was used as an oxidizing agent.

The peroxide has found the use of long-range reactive projectiles, which the Germans fired at London in the fall of 1944. These shell engines worked on ethyl alcohol and liquid oxygen. But in the projectile was also auxiliary engine, driving fuel and oxidative pumps. This engine is a small turbine - worked at hydrogen peroxide, more precisely, on a vapor-gas mixture formed during the decomposition of peroxide. Its power was 500 liters. from. - This is more than the power of 6 tractor engines.

Peroxide works per person

But truly widespread use of hydrogen peroxide found in the postwar years. It is difficult to name this branch of technology where hydrogen peroxide would not be used or its derivatives: sodium peroxide, potassium, barium (see 3 pp. Covers of this log number).

Chemists use peroxide as a catalyst when obtaining many plastics.

Builders with hydrogen peroxide receive a porous concrete, the so-called aerated concrete. For this, peroxide is added to the concrete mass. The oxygen formed during its decomposition permeates the concrete, and bubbles are obtained. The cubic meter of such concrete weighs about 500 kg, that is, twice the lighter of water. Porous concrete is an excellent insulating material.

In the confectionery industry, hydrogen peroxide perform the same functions. Only instead of the concrete mass, it extends the dough, well replacing the soda.

In medicine, hydrogen peroxide has long been used as a disinfectant. Even in the toothpaste you use, there is a peroxide: it neutralizes the oral cavity from microbes. And most recently, its derivatives are solid peroxide - found new application: one tablet from these substances, for example, abandoned in a bath with water, makes it "oxygen".

In the textile industry, with the help of peroxide, the fabrics are whiten, in food - fats and oils, in paper - wood and paper, in the oil refining, add peroxide to diesel fuel: it improves the quality of fuel and so on.

Solid peroxide are used in diving spaces from insulating gas masks. Absorbing carbon dioxide, peroxide separated oxygen required for breathing.

Every year hydrogen peroxide conquers all new and new applications. Recently, it was considered uneconomical to use hydrogen peroxide during welding. But in fact, in repair practice there are such cases when the volume of work is small, and the broken car is somewhere in a remote or hard-to-reach area. Then, instead of a bulky acetylene generator, the welder takes a small benzo-tank, and instead of a heavy oxygen cylinder - a portable ne] a recording device. Hydrogen peroxide, filled into this device, is automatically supplied to the camera with a silver mesh, decomposes, and the separated oxygen goes to welding. All installation is placed in a small suitcase. It is simple and convenient

New discoveries in chemistry are really made in the situation not very solemn. At the bottom of the test tube, in the eyepiece of a microscope or in a hot crucible, a small lump appears, maybe a drop, maybe a grain of a new substance! And only the chemist is able to see his wonderful properties. But it is in this that the real romance of chemistry is to predict the future of a newly open substance!

This study would like to devote to one known substance. Marylin Monroe and White Threads, Antiseptics and Penoids, Epoxy Glue and Reagent for Blood Determination and Even Aquarium Reagents and Equal Aquarium Reagents and Equal Aquarium Reagents. We are talking about hydrogen peroxide, more precisely, about one aspect of its application - about her military career.

But before proceeding with the main part, the author would like to clarify two points. The first is the title of the article. There were many options, but in the end it was decided to take advantage of the name of one of the publications written by the captain engineer of the second rank L.S. Shapiro, as the most clearly responsible not only content, but also circumstances accompanying the introduction of hydrogen peroxide into military practice.

Second - Why is the author interested exactly this substance? Or rather - what exactly did it interest him? Oddly enough, with its completely paradoxical fate on a military field. The thing is that hydrogen peroxide has a whole set of qualities, which would seem to have referred to him a brilliant military career. And on the other hand, all these qualities turned out to be completely inapplicable to use it in the role of a military supplision. Well, not that call it absolutely unsuitable - on the contrary, it was used, and quite wide. But on the other hand, nothing extraordinary of these attempts turned out: hydrogen peroxide can not boast such an impressive track record as nitrates or hydrocarbons. It turned out to be faithful to everything ... however, we will not hurry. Let's just consider some of the most interesting and dramatic moments of military peroxide, and the conclusions each from readers will do it yourself. And since each story has its own principle, we will get acquainted with the circumstances of the birth of the narrative hero.

Opening Professor Tenar ...

Outside the window stood a clear frosty December day of 1818. A group of chemist students of the Paris Polytechnic School hurriedly filled the audience. Wishing to miss the lecture of the famous school professor and the famous Sorbonne (University of Paris) Lui Tenar was not: every his occupation was an unusual and exciting journey into the world of amazing science. And so, opening the door, a professor entered into the audience of a light spring gait (tribute to Gasconian ancestors).

According to the habit of naveling the audience, he quickly approached the long demonstration table and said something to the Preparator Starik Lesho. Then, having risen to the department, lies with students and gently began:

When with the front mast of the frigate, the sailor shouts "Earth!", And the captain first sees the unknown coast into the pylon tube, it is a great moment in the life of the navigator. But isn't it just a moment when the chemist first discovers the particles of a new one on the bottom of the flask, accounted for anyone who is not a well-known substance?

Tenar came across the department and approached the demonstration table, which Lesho had already managed to put a simple device.

Chemistry loves simplicity, - continued Tenar. - Remember this, gentlemen. There are only two glass vessels, external and internal. Between them Snow: a new substance prefers to appear at low temperatures. In the inner vessel, diluted six percent sulfuric acid is nanite. Now it is almost as cold as the snow. What happens if I broke into the acid pinch of barium oxide? Sulfuric acid and barium oxide will produce harmless water and white precipitate - sulfate barium. It all knows.

H. 2 SO4 + Bao \u003d Baso4 + H2 O

The audience was so quiet that the severe breathing of the cold lasho was clearly heard. Tenar, cautiously stirring a glass wand, slowly, in a grain, poured in a barium peroxide vessel.

The sediment, the usual sulfate barium, we filter, - said Professor, merging the water from the inner vessel to the flask.

H. 2 SO4 + BaO2 \u003d Baso4 + H2 O2

This is special water. It twice as many oxygen than in the usual. Water - hydrogen oxide, and this liquid is a hydrogen peroxide. But I like another name - "oxidized water". And on the right of the discoverer, I prefer this name.

When the navigator opens an unknown land, he already knows: someday the cities will grow on it, roads will be laid. We, chemists, can never be confident in the fate of their discoveries. What is waiting for a new substance through the century? Perhaps the same wide use as in sulfuric or hydrochloric acid. And maybe complete oblivion - as unnecessary ...

Audience Zarel.

But Tenar continued:

Nevertheless, I am confident in the great future of "oxidized water", because it contains a large number of "life-giving air" - oxygen. And most importantly, it is very easy to stand out from such water. Already one of this instills confidence in the future of "oxidized water". Agriculture and crafts, medicine and manufactory, and I do not even know yet, where the use of "oxidized water" will find! The fact that today still fits in the flask, tomorrow can be powerful to break into every house.

Professor Tenar slowly descended from the department.

Naive Parisian dreamer ... A convinced humanist, Tenar always believed that science should bring good to humanity, alleviating life and making it easier and happier. Even constantly having examples of the exactly opposite character before their eyes, he sacredly believed in a large and peaceful future of his discovery. Sometimes you begin to believe in the validity of the statements "Happiness - in ignorance" ...

However, the beginning of the career of hydrogen peroxide was quite peaceful. She worked fine on textile factories, whitening threads and canvas; In laboratories, oxidizing organic molecules and helping to receive new, non-existent substances in nature; He began to master the medical chambers, confidently proven himself as a local antiseptic.

But they soon turned out some negative sidesOne of which turned out to be low stability: it could only exist in solutions with respect to small concentration. And as usual, the concentration does not suit it, it must be enhanced. And here it started ...

... and find a walter engineer

1934 in European history turned out to be noted by quite many events. Some of them tremble hundreds of thousands of people, others passed quietly and unnoticed. To the first, of course, the appearance of the term "Aryan science" in Germany can be attributed. As for the second, it was a sudden disappearance of open printing of all references to hydrogen peroxide. The reasons for this strange loss have become clear only after the crushing defeat of the "Millennial Reich".

It all started with the idea that came to Helmut Walter - the owner of a small factory in Kiel for the production of accurate instruments, research equipment and reagents for German institutions. He was capable, erudite and, importantly, enterprising. He noticed that the concentrated hydrogen peroxide can remain for quite a long time in the presence of even small amounts of stabilizers, such as phosphoric acid or its salts. A particularly effective stabilizer was urinary acid: to stabilize 30 liters of high-concentrated peroxide, 1 g of uric acid was sufficient. But the introduction of other substances, decomposition catalysts leads to a rapid decomposition of the substance with the release of a large amount of oxygen. Thus, it was noticed by tempting the prospect of regulating the decomposition process with pretty inexpensive and simple chemicals.

In itself, all this was known for a long time, but, besides this, Walter drew attention to the other side of the process. Reaction decomposition of peroxide

2 H. 2 O2 \u003d 2 H2 O + O2

Kiel was the outpost of the German underwater shipbuilding, and the idea of \u200b\u200bthe underwater engine at the hydrogen peroxide captured the Walter. She attracted her novelty, and besides, the Walter engineer was far from beggar. He understood perfectly that in the conditions of the fascist dictatorship, the shortest way to prosperity - work for military departments.

Already in 1933, Walter independently made a study of the energy capabilities of solutions 2 O2.. It compiled a graph of the dependence of the main thermophysical characteristics from the concentration of the solution. And that's what I found out.

Solutions containing 40-65% n 2 O2., decomposing, are noticeably heated, but not enough to form gas high pressure. When decomposing more concentrated heat solutions is highlighted much more: all water evaporates without a residue, and the residual energy is completely spent on the heating of the steamas. And what is still very important; Each concentration corresponded to a strictly defined amount of heat released. And strictly defined amount of oxygen. And finally, the third - even stabilized hydrogen peroxide is almost instantly decomposed under the action of potassium permanganates KMNO 4 Or Calcium CA (MNO 4 )2 .

Walter managed to see absolutely new area Applications of a substance known for more than a hundred years. And he studied this substance from the point of view of the intended use. When he brought his considerations to the highest military circles, an immediate order was received: to classify everything that is somehow connected with hydrogen peroxide. From now on, the technical documentation and correspondence appeared "Aurol", "Oxilin", "fuel t", but not well-known hydrogen peroxide.

The schematic diagram of a vapor turbine plant operating on a "cold" cycle: 1 - rowing screw; 2 - gearbox; 3 - turbine; 4 - separator; 5 - chamber of decomposition; 6 - regulating valve; 7-electrical pump of peroxide solution; 8 - elastic containers of peroxide solution; 9 - non-refundable removal valve overboard peroxide decomposition products.

In 1936, Walter presented the first installation by the head of the underwater fleet, which worked on the specified principle, which, despite the fairly high temperature, was called "cold". Compact and light turbine developed at the stand capacity of 4000 hp, fully exchanging the expectation of the designer.

The products of the decomposition reaction of a highly concentrated solution of hydrogen peroxide were fed into the turbine, rotating through a sloping gear of the propeller, and then retracted overboard.

Despite the obvious simplicity of such a decision, there were passing problems (and where without them!). For example, it was found that dust, rust, alkali and other impurities are also catalysts and sharply (and what is much worse - unpredictable) accelerate the decomposition of the peroxide than the danger of the explosion. Therefore, elastic containers from synthetic material applied to storing the peroxide solution. Such capacities were planned to be placed outside the durable case, which made it possible to rationally use the free volumes of intercorroduction space and, in addition, to create a sub-solution of the peroxide solution before the installation pump by pressure of the intake water.

But another problem was much more complicated. The oxygen contained in the exhaust gas is quite poorly dissolved in water, and the treacherously issued the location of the boat, leaving the mark on the surface of the bubbles. And this is despite the fact that the "useless" gas is a vital substance for the ship, designed to be at a depth as much time as possible.

The idea of \u200b\u200busing oxygen, as a source of fuel oxidation, was so obvious that Walter took up the parallel engine design that worked on the "hot cycle". In this embodiment, organic fuel was supplied to the decomposition chamber, which burned in the previously unlike oxygen. The installation capacity increased dramatically and, moreover, the track decreased, since the combustion product - carbon dioxide - significantly better oxygen dissolves in water.

Walter gave himself a report in the disadvantages of the "cold" process, but resigned with them, as he understood that in constructive terms such an energy installation would be easier to be easier than with a "hot" cycle, which means that it is much faster to build a boat and demonstrate its advantages .

In 1937, Walter reported the results of his experiments to the leadership of the German Navy and assured everyone in the possibility of creating submarines with vapor-gas turbine plants with an unprecedented accumulating speed of the underwater stroke of more than 20 nodes. As a result of the meeting, it was decided to create an experienced submarine. In the process of its design, issues were solved not only with the use of an unusual energy installation.

Thus, the project speed of the underwater move made unacceptable previously used housing overs. Affiliates were helped here by the sailors: several body models were tested in the aerodynamic tube. In addition, dual wreeds were used to improve the handling of the handling of the "Junkers-52" steering wheel.

In 1938, in Kiel, the first experienced submarine was laid in the world with an energy installation at hydrogen peroxide with a displacement of 80 tons, which received the designation V-80. Conducted in 1940 tests literally stunned - relatively simple and light turbine with a capacity of 2000 hp allowed the submarine to develop a speed of 28.1 knot under water! True, it was necessary to pay for such an unprecedented speed: the reservoir of the hydrogen peroxide was enough for one and a half or two hours.

For Germany during World War II, submarines were strategic, since only with their help it was possible to apply a tangible damage to the economy of England. Therefore, in 1941, the development begins, and then building a V-300 submarine with a vapor turbine operating in the "hot" cycle.

The schematic diagram of a vapor turbine plant operating in a "hot" cycle: 1 - propeller screw; 2 - gearbox; 3 - turbine; 4 - rowing electric motor; 5 - separator; 6 - combustion chamber; 7 - an outstanding device; 8 - valve of the cast pipeline; 9 - decomposition chamber; 10 - valve inclusion of nozzles; 11 - three-component switch; 12 - four-component regulator; 13 - hydrogen peroxide solution pump; 14 - fuel pump; 15 - water pump; 16 - condensate cooler; 17 - condensate pump; 18 - mixing condenser; 19 - gas collection; 20 - carbon dioxide compressor

Boat V-300 (or U-791 - it received such a letter and digital designation) had two motor installations (More precisely, three): Walter gas turbine, diesel engine and electric motors. Such an unusual hybrid appeared as a result of understanding that the turbine, in fact, is an forced engine. The high consumption of fuel components did it simply uneconomical to commit long "idle" transitions or a quiet "sneaking" to the vessels of the enemy. But it was simply indispensable for fast care from the position of attack, shifts of the place of attack or other situations when "smelled".

The U-791 was never completed, and immediately laid four pilot submarines of two episodes - WA-201 (WA - Walter) and WK-202 (WK - Walter-Krupp) of various shipbuilding firms. In its energy installations, they were identical, but was distinguished by a feed plumage and some elements of cutting and housing. Since 1943, their tests began, which were hard, but by the end of 1944. All major technical problems Were behind. In particular, the U-792 (WA-201 series) was tested for a full navigation range, when, having a stock of hydrogen peroxide 40 t, it was almost four and a half hours under the lesing turbine and four hours supported the speed of 19.5 node.

These figures were so struck by the leadership of Crymsmarine, which is not waiting for the end of testing experienced submarines, in January 1943 the industry issued an order to build 12 ships of two series - XVIIB and XVIIG. With a displacement of 236/259 t, they had a diesel-electrical installation with a capacity of 210/77 hp, allowed to move at a speed of 9/5 knots. In the event of a combat need, two PGTU with a total capacity of 5000 hp, which allowed to develop the speed of the submarine in 26 nodes.

The figure is conditionally, schematically, without compliance with the scale, the device of the submarine with PGTU is shown (one of these installations is depicted one). Some notation: 5 - combustion chamber; 6 - an outstanding device; 11 - peroxide decomposition chamber; 16 - three-component pump; 17 - fuel pump; 18 - Water pump (based on materials http://technicamolodezhi.ru/rubriki_tm/korabli_vmf_velikoy_otechestvennoy_voynyi_1972/v_nadejde_na_totalNuyu_NaYNU)

In short, the work of PGTU looks in this way. With the help of a triple pump a feed diesel fuel, hydrogen peroxide and clean water through a 4-position regulator of supplying the mixture into the combustion chamber; When the pump is operation of 24,000 rpm. The flow of the mixture reached the following volumes: fuel - 1,845 cubic meters / hour, hydrogen peroxide - 9.5 cubic meters / hour, water - 15.85 cubic meters / hour. The dosing of the three specified components of the mixture was performed using a 4-position regulator of the supply of the mixture in the weight ratio of 1: 9: 10, which also regulated the 4th component - sea water, compensating the difference in the weight of hydrogen peroxide and water in regulating chambers. Adjustable elements of the 4-position regulator were driven by an electric motor with a capacity of 0.5 hp And ensured the required consumption of the mixture.

After a 4-position regulator, hydrogen peroxide entered the catalytic decomposition chamber through the holes in the lid of this device; On the sieve of which there was a catalyst - ceramic cubes or tubular granules with a length of about 1 cm, impregnated with calcium permanganate solution. PARKAZ was heated to a temperature of 485 degrees Celsius; 1 kg of catalyst elements passed to 720 kg of hydrogen peroxide per hour at a pressure of 30 atmospheres.

After the decomposition chamber, it entered a high-pressure combustion chamber made of durable hardened steel. The input channels served six nozzles, the side openings of which were served to pass the steamer, and the central - for fuel. The temperature at the top of the chamber reached 2000 degrees Celsius, and at the bottom of the chamber decreased to 550-600 degrees due to the injection into the combustion chamber of pure water. The obtained gases were fed to the turbine, after which the spent the steamed mixture came to the condenser installed on the turbine housing. With the help of a water cooling system, the temperature of the outlet temperature dropped to 95 degrees Celsius, the condensate was collected in the condensate tank and with a pump for selection of condensate flowed into seawater refrigerators using flow marine water intake when the boat moves in the underwater position. As a result of the refrigerator passage, the temperature of the resulting water decreased from 95 to 35 degrees Celsius, and it returned through the pipeline as clean water for the combustion chamber. The remains of the vapor-gas mixture in the form of carbon dioxide and steam under pressure 6 The atmospheres were taken from the condensate tank with a gas separator and removed overboard. Carbon dioxide was relatively quickly dissolved in seawater, no leaving a noticeable track on the surface of the water.

As can be seen, even in such a popular presentation, PGTU does not look simple devicethat required the involvement of highly qualified engineers and workers for its construction. The construction of submarines with PGTU was conducted in an alignment of absolute secrecy. The ships allowed a strictly limited circle of persons by lists agreed in the highest instances of the Wehrmacht. In checkpoints stood gendarmes, moved into the form of firefighters ... In parallel, production facilities were increasing. If in 1939, Germany produced 6800 tons of hydrogen peroxide (in terms of 80% solution), then in 1944 already 24,000 tons, and additional capacity was built by 90,000 tons per year.

Not having full-fledged military submarines with PGTU, without having experience of their combat use, Gross Admiral Denitz broadcast:

The day comes when I declare Churchill a new underwater war. The underwater fleet was not broken by blows of 1943. He became stronger than before. 1944 will be a hard year, but a year who will bring great progress.

I wonder if Karl Denitz recalled these loud promises for those 10 years that he had to stumble in Prison Shpandau at the sentence of the Nureberg Tribunal?

The final of these promising submarine was deplorable: for all the time only 5 (according to other data - 11) boats with PGTU Walter, of which only three were tested and were enrolled in the combat composition of the fleet. Not having a crew that have not committed a single combat exit, they were flooded after the surrender of Germany. Two of them, flooded in a shallow area in the British occupation zone, were later raised and shipped: U-1406 in the USA, and U-1407 to the UK. There, experts carefully studied these submarines, and the British even conducted torture tests.

Nazi heritage in England ...

The Walter boats transported to England did not go on scrap metal. On the contrary, the bitter experience of both past world wars on the sea instilled in the British conviction in the unconditional priority of anti-submarine forces. Among other admiralty, the issue of creating a special anti-submarine pl. It was assumed to deploy them at approaches to the databases of the enemy, where they had to attack the enemy submarines overlooking the sea. But for this, the anti-submarine submarines themselves should have two important qualities: the ability to be secretly under the nose at the opponent for a long time and at least briefly develop high speed speeds for rapid rapprochement with the enemy and sudden attack. And the Germans presented them with a good back: RAP and gas turbine. The greatest attention was focused on PGTU, as a fully autonomous system, which, moreover, provided truly fantastic underwater speeds for that time.

The German U-1407 was escorted into England by the German crew, which was warned of death in any sabotage. There also delivered Helmut Walter. Restored U-1407 was credited to the Navy under the name "Meteorite". She served until 1949, after which it was removed from the Fleet and in 1950 dismantled for metal.

Later, in 1954-55 The British were built two of the same type of experimental PL "Explorer" and "Eccalibur" of their own design. However, the changes concerned only the appearance and the inner layout, as for the PSTU, then it remained almost in pristine form.

Both boats did not become the progenitors of something new in the English Fleet. The only achievement - the 25 nodes of the underwater movement received on the tests of the "Explorer", which gave the British the reason denies the whole world about their priority on this world record. The price of this record was also a record: constant failures, problems, fires, the explosions led to the fact that most of the time they spent in the docks and workshops in repair than in hikes and tests. And this is not counting the purely financial side: one running hour of Explorer accounted for 5,000 pounds sterling, which at the rate of that time is 12.5 kg of gold. They were excluded from the fleet in 1962 (Explorer) and in 1965 ("Eccalibur") for years with a killing characteristic of one of the British submariners: "The best thing to do with hydrogen peroxide is to interest her potential opponents!"

... and in the USSR]
The Soviet Union, unlike the Allies, the boats of the XXVI series did not go, as did not get and technical documentation For these developments: "Allies" remained loyal to themselves, once again hidden a tidy piece. But the information, and quite extensive, about these failed novelties of Hitler in the USSR had. Since the Russians and Soviet chemists always walked in the forefront of world chemical science, the decision to study the possibilities of such an interesting engine on a purely chemical basis was made quickly. Intelligence authorities managed to find and collect a group of German specialists who previously worked in this area and expressed the desire to continue them on the former opponent. In particular, such a desire was expressed by one of the deputies of Helmut Walter, a certain French Stattski. Stattski and a group of "technical intelligence" on the export of military technologies from Germany under the direction of Admiral L.A. Korshunova, found in Germany, the Brunetra-Kanis Rider firm, which was a selection in the manufacture of turbine walter installations.

To copy the German submarine with the power installation of the Walter, first in Germany, and then in the USSR under the direction of A.A. Antipina was created by the Antipina Bureau, the organization, from which the efforts of the chief designer of submarines (Captain I Rank A.A. Antipina) were formed by LPM "Rubin" and SPMM "Malachite".

The task of the Bureau was to study and reproduce the achievements of Germans on new submarines (diesel, electric, steam-bubbin), but the main task was to repeat the velocities of German submarines with a walter cycle.

As a result of the work carried out, it was possible to fully restore the documentation, to manufacture (partially from German, partly from newly manufactured nodes) and test the steam-bourgebar installation of the German boats of the XXVI series.

After that, it was decided to build a Soviet submarine with the Walter engine. The topic of developing a submarine with PGTU Walter got the name project 617.

Alexander Tyklin, describing the biography of Antipina, wrote:

"... it was the first submarine of the USSR, which crossed the 18-nodal value of the underwater velocity: for 6 hours, its underwater velocity was more than 20 nodes! The case provided an increase in the depth of dive twice, that is, to a depth of 200 meters. But the main advantage of the new submarine was its energy setting, which was amazing at the time of innovation. And it was not by chance that the visit to this boat by academicians I.V. Kurchatov and A.P. Alexandrov - preparing for the creation of nuclear submarines, they could not not get acquainted with the first submarine in the USSR, which had a turbine installation. Subsequently, many constructive solutions were borrowed in the development of atomic energy plants ... "

C-99 was considered an experienced from the very beginning. It worked out the solution of issues related to high underwater velocity: body shape, controllability, movement stability. The data accumulated during its operation allowed rationally to design the first generation atoms.

In 1956 - 1958, large boats were designed project 643 with surface displacement in 1865 tons and already with two PSTU, which were supposed to provide a boat underwater speed in 22 nodes. However, due to the creation of the sketch project of the first Soviet submarines with atomic power plants, the project was closed. But the studies of the PSTU boat C-99 did not stop, and were transferred to the direction of consideration of the possibility of using the Walter engine in the developed giant T-15 torpedo with atomic charge proposed by Sugar to destroy naval databases and US ports. The T-15 was supposed to have a length of 24 m, a dive range of up to 40-50 miles, and carry the armonuclear warhead that can cause artificial tsunami to destroy the coastal cities of the United States. Fortunately, and from this project also refused.

Danger of hydrogen peroxide did not fail to affect the Soviet Navy. On May 17, 1959, an accident occurred on it - an explosion in the engine room. The boat miraculously did not die, but her recovery was considered inappropriate. The boat was handed over for scrap metal.

In the future, PGTU did not get distribution in the underwater shipbuilding either in the USSR or abroad. The successes of nuclear power make it possible to more successfully solve the problem of powerful underwater engines that do not require oxygen.

To be continued…

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Hydrogen peroxide H 2 O 2 - transparent colorless liquid, noticeably more viscous than water, with characteristic, albeit weak odor. Anhydrous hydrogen peroxide is difficult to get and stored, and it is too expensive for use as rocket fuel. In general, high cost is one of the main drawbacks of hydrogen peroxide. But, compared to other oxidizing agents, it is more convenient and less dangerous in circulation.
The proposal of peroxide to spontaneous decomposition is traditionally exaggerated. Although we observed a decrease in concentration from 90% to 65% in two years of storage in liter polyethylene bottles at room temperature, but in large volumes and in a more suitable container (for example, in a 200-liter barrel of sufficiently pure aluminum) decomposition rate of 90% Packsi would be less than 0.1% per year.
The density of anhydrous hydrogen peroxide exceeds 1450 kg / m 3, which is significantly larger than in liquid oxygen, and a little less than that of nitric acid oxidants. Unfortunately, water impurities quickly reduce it, so that 90% solution has a density of 1380 kg / m 3 at room temperature, but it is still a very good indicator.
The peroxide in the EDD can also be used as unitary fuel, and as an oxidizing agent - for example, in a pair with kerosene or alcohol. Neither kerosene nor alcohol is self-proposal with peroxide, and to ensure ignition in fuel, it is necessary to add a catalyst for the decomposition of peroxide - then the released heat is sufficient for ignition. For alcohol, a suitable catalyst is acetate manganese (II). For kerosene, also there are appropriate additives, but their composition is kept secret.
The use of peroxide as unitary fuel is limited to its relatively low energy characteristics. Thus, the achieved specific impulse in vacuo for 85% peroxide is only about 1300 ... 1500 m / s (for different degrees of expansion), and for 98% - approximately 1600 ... 1800 m / s. However, the peroxide was applied first by the Americans for the orientation of the descent apparatus of the Mercury spacecraft, then, with the same purpose, the Soviet designers on the Savior Soyk QC. In addition, hydrogen peroxide is used as an auxiliary fuel for the TNA drive - for the first time on the V-2 rocket, and then on its "descendants", up to P-7. All modifications "Sexok", including the most modern, still use peroxide to drive TNA.
As an oxidizer, hydrogen peroxide is effective with various combustible. Although it gives a smaller specific impulse, rather than liquid oxygen, but when using a high concentration peroxide, the values \u200b\u200bof the UI exceed that for nitric acid oxidants with the same flammable. Of all space-carrier missiles, only one used peroxide (paired with kerosene) - English "Black Arrow". The parameters of its engines were modest - Ui of engine I steps, a little exceeded 2200 m / s at the Earth and 2500 m / s in vacuo, "since only 85% concentration was used in this rocket. This was done due to the fact that to ensure self-ignition peroxide decomposed on a silver catalyst. More concentrated peroxide would melt silver.
Despite the fact that interest in the peroxide from time to time is activated, the prospects remain foggy. So, although the Soviet EDR RD-502 ( fuel vapor - Peroxide plus pentabran) and demonstrated a specific impulse of 3680 m / s, it remained experimental.
In our projects, we focus on the peroxide also because the engines on it turn out to be more "cold" than similar engines With the same UI, but on other fuels. For example, the combustion products of "caramel" fuels have almost 800 ° with a larger temperature with the same UI. This is due to a large amount of water in peroxide reaction products and, as a result, with a low average molecular weight of the reaction products.