Posted on 04/19/2020 11:18:02 AM PDT by texas booster
The only way to fix the faulty engine is to lift it out of the hull and replace it with a new one, a work that will cause another year of delay for Russia’s new prestigious nuclear-powered icebreaker.
It was during sea trials in the Baltic Sea in February a short circuit caused serious damage to the winding in one of the three electro engines onboard the “Arktika” icebreaker.
Sea trials continued with only two of the engines working.
Newspaper Kommersant can now tell, with reference to the investigative commission’s work, that it is considered impossible to repair the broken engine on board. It needs to be replaced and that can’t happen before 2021.
The only way to replace the engine is to cut a hole in the superstructure, a comprehensive operation that can only be done while the vessel is docked. According to an article on Bellona’s portal, the weight of the 20 MW electro engine is 300 tons.
Meanwhile, the question is how to proceed with the sea trials. After three years delay, “Arktika” was finally supposed to sail from the Baltic Yard in St. Petersburg to Murmansk this May.
If she sails north around Scandinavia, that would be with power on only two of the three propellers. Anyhow, the “Arktika” would then have to return back to the yard in St. Petersburg next year.
“Would you buy a car with one missing wheel,” Andrey Zolotkov asks rhetorically in reply to Barents Observer’s question about the fate of the icebreaker if upholding the decision to sail north in May.
Zolotkov is director of Bellona in Murmansk, a group focusing on nuclear safety in the Russian north. He has previously worked as an engineer with Atomflot, the service base for the fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers.
“A new icebreaker from the Baltic Shipyard should be taken into operations by Rosatomflot only in good conditions, there are no other options,” Zolotkov states.
He believes it is possible to sail the vessel to Murmansk and continue sea trials, maybe even into the Northern Sea Route, but, as he puts it “what is the need and why?”
“It is difficult for me to assess the necessity of transferring the unfinished “Arktika” to the jurisdiction of Rosatomflot and call it “experimental operations.”
Zolotkov questions the maneuverability of a ship when one out of three propellers is not working.
“Other nuclear-powered icebreakers always have spare blades on board ready to replace damaged ones while sailing in the Arctic.”
“In order to reduce all risks, it is advisable to leave the “Arktika” icebreaker in St. Petersburg and wait for the repair of the engine,” Andrey Zolotkov concludes.
“Then it can sail north to Murmansk together with the second icebreaker in the class, the “Sibir”, supposed to be commissioned next summer,“ he adds.
A third icebreaker of the class, the “Ural” is scheduled to be delivered in 2022. A decision is taken to build icebreaker numbers 4 and 5 in a similar design, but construction work is yet to start.
Shipping along Russia’s Northern Sea Route is by President Vladimir Putin ordered to reach 80 million tons by 2025. That is an 8-fold increase compared with 2017 when 10,7 million tons were shipped through Russia’s Arctic waters.
Upgrading of the icebreaker fleet plays a key role in Putin’s plan.
“Changing engines? On a ship that size? I would sure love to see that.”
In the nonnuclear world it’s complicated but fairly normal to change out engines. Where I used to work we did a complete repower of a Corps of Engineers dredge. Cut out the side, take everything out, prep, put new stuff in. In some cases you might cut out the top. Wouldn’t know about nuclear.
With glowbull warpig, Russia’s arctic coasts should be ice-free soon. However, AOC says we only have ten years or so left before da Erf ends.
...caused serious damage to the winding in one of the three electro engines onboard the “Arktika” icebreaker...Sea trials continued with only two of the engines working...
Nuclear powered?
Would make sense why they are talking about losing one of the three propellers.
Needing to replace the entire generating unit? Ouch.
Better check the warranty fine print.
Or those truckers who supplied Leningrad during WWII driving across Lake Ladoga.
There’s been a massive engine swap-out on Great Lakes steamers.
The Obango ban on N6 fuel meant cutting a hole in the side and lifting out the steam engine, replacing it with a marine piston engine or engines..
Since I was a machinist in the 70s i have been interested in different engines, especially radial engines, the B-29 WASP engines. But those giant Diesel engines that are the size of an apartment building are incredible.
I have long been disappointed that the USN does not have any nuclear powered icebreakers. Ice is one of the few things that can seriously inhibit surface fleet operations, and having a ship tailor-made to break through thick ice, and also to bust up navigation hazard icebergs should be common sense.
Colt Pielstick engines fit your description. Several 1,000 footers have two 16 cylinder Pielstick engines, manufactured in France...
There are 35000 polar bears now, no one can leave their igloo for the bears and Wuhan Virus of course.
That’s my take on it too. It broke a winding. That’s not a reactor.
The russians like odd paint colors.
It does look like there is a plate separation or something below the bridge ...
And further translation does indicate that it is a steering motor (azimuth thruster) that was shorted out.
Will still require removing the entire generating unit for the repair.
“It’s more like typical Bolshevik junk wrapped up in propaganda but unable to deliver on any of its glorious promises.”
Just like Obamacare
These things are gorgeous if you have seen them in the open ice. I once witnessed one coming to lift a truck fallen into a hole in the Arctic Ocean. That’s an earthquake comings and then all the lights. One of the most impressive things you might ever see.
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