The posters were talking about the TRACKS and they’re right.
Noisy, no matter what we’ve tried (except band tracks, which are much less noisy).
And, A fuel cell IS a powerplant.
It (traditionally) converts hydrocarbons to electricity, which is then used to drive electric motors. The hydrogen is the fuel that’s stored in a separate fuel tank.
“And, A fuel cell IS a powerplant.
It (traditionally) converts hydrocarbons to electricity, which is then used to drive electric motors. The hydrogen is the fuel that’s stored in a separate fuel tank.”
Ya mean by some sort of combustion engine?
“The posters were talking about the TRACKS and they’re right.”
They were? Funny....If it were tracks they were talking about the powerplant type would not be relevant to noise generation discussed in the article.....either powerplant type would have similiar “tracks” with similiar noise factors.
From the article.....
“This is a particularly helpful feature since enemy combatants can hear the current model’s 1,000+hp multi fuel turbine engine from miles away, and with a silent engine, the tank can sneak into certain territory relatively unheard. “
I don’t see where TRACKs are the issue.......The issue is Turbine v Fuel cell and their relative noise factors......
There’s a bit of embelishing going on as the turbine engine used in the Abrams Tank is considered stealthy by MBT standards......To say that the turbine engine can be heard from miles away is just not true.
The fuel cell, which uses a combustion engine to generate electricity to power wheel driving/ancillary systems electric motors. These fuel burning engines may or may not be quietier..... I think that those engines would be still be rather large in order to generate the necessary amounts of electricity needed by the electric motors....which would need to be 1000+ horsepower or better to equal the turbine in performance.
the central issue seems to me to be one of fuel consumption with the fuel cell being touted as being better, though I question wheather it can generate the same or better power, and worry about downtime for maintainance, especially during critical battlefield usage......
The purpose of a tank is to win Battles, not provide the best EPA rated MPG....
Yep....A blind man could feel a platoon of tanks coming his way....Engine or no engine.