Back Havadan müstəqil hərəkət sistemi Azerbaijani Propulsió independent d'aire Catalan Außenluftunabhängige Antriebsanlage German Propulsión independiente de aire Spanish Sous-marin anaérobie French מערכות הנעה לצוללות ללא תלות באוויר חיצון HE Air-independent propulsion ID Air-Independent Propulsion Italian 非大気依存推進 Japanese 공기 불요 추진 Korean
Air-independent propulsion (AIP), or air-independent power, is any marine propulsion technology that allows a non-nuclear submarine to operate without access to atmospheric oxygen (by surfacing or using a snorkel). AIP can augment or replace the diesel-electric propulsion system of non-nuclear vessels.
Modern non-nuclear submarines are potentially stealthier than nuclear submarines; although some modern submarine reactors are designed to rely on natural circulation, most naval nuclear reactors use pumps to constantly circulate the reactor coolant, generating some amount of detectable noise.[1][2] Non-nuclear submarines running on battery power or AIP, on the other hand, can be virtually silent. While nuclear-powered designs still dominate in submergence times, speed, range and deep-ocean performance; small, high-tech non-nuclear attack submarines can be highly effective in coastal operations and pose a significant threat to less-stealthy and less-maneuverable nuclear submarines.[3]
AIP is usually implemented as an auxiliary source, with the traditional diesel engine handling surface propulsion. Most such systems generate electricity, which in turn drives an electric motor for propulsion or recharges the boat's batteries. The submarine's electrical system is also used for providing "hotel services"—ventilation, lighting, heating etc.—although this consumes a small amount of power compared to that required for propulsion.
AIP can be retrofitted into existing submarine hulls by inserting an additional hull section. AIP does not typically provide the endurance or power to replace atmospheric dependent propulsion, but allows for longer underwater endurance than a conventionally propelled submarine. A typical conventional power plant provides 3 megawatts maximum, and an AIP source around 10% of that.[citation needed] A nuclear submarine's propulsion plant is usually much greater than 20 megawatts.
The United States Navy uses the hull classification symbol "SSP" to designate boats powered by AIP, while retaining "SSK" for classic diesel-electric attack submarines.[a]
- ^ "S8G (Submarine, 8 for 8th generation and G for General Electric)". GlobalSecurity.org. Alexandria VA. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ Polmar, Norman (2004). "10: Second Generation Nuclear Submarines". Cold War submarines : the design and construction of U.S. and Soviet submarines (1st ed.). Washington, D.C.: Potomac Books. ISBN 1574885308.
- ^ "Tomorrow's Submarines: the Non-Nuclear Option". DefenseWatch. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
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