The Type 45 air defence destroyers are set to be replaced by Type 83 warships in the future. Credit: UK Ministry of Defence/Crown Copyright
A study commissioned by BAE Systems into waste heat recovery technology for use on naval vessels could hint at the technological direction taken by the future Type 83 air defence destroyer, which is due to replace the BAE-built Type 45 destroyers (pictured) from the late 2030s.
UK-based Reaction Engines, a company typically associated with space domain propulsion, has been selected by British defence giant BAE Systems to carry out research into the potential use of heat exchanger technology for waste heat recovery and exhaust cooling on naval vessels.
Reaction Engines announced the move on Aug. 22, saying its lightweight, low-volume heat exchangers can be used to increase the efficiency of Navy ships and can operate with existing diesel engine and gas turbine propulsion systems, as well as next-generation hydrogen and hybrid-electric alternatives.
Following on from its Type 45 destroyers, the UK has opted for a slightly more conventional power configuration for its Type 26 frigates. Credit: UK Ministry of Defence/Crown Copyright
According to the announcement, the study will investigate the environmental improvement potential of reaction engine heat exchangers and how their use could provide operational benefits.
Oliver Naylard, business development manager at Reaction Engines, said the research “aims to demonstrate significant energy efficiency improvements and reduced emissions, as well as delivering reduced thermal signatures as an operational benefit.”
Does the Type 83 tank have heat recovery technology?
BAE Systems' move to commission a study into the use of energy recovery technology in the naval sector appears to be forward-looking, not only in terms of expected naval propulsion configurations, but also in terms of the future warships that the company may be tasked with delivering.
At the center of this will likely be the future Type 83 destroyer, which is part of the broader Future Air Superiority System (FADS) program, which will deliver a range of technologies to provide a next-generation naval air defense capability.
The Type 83 destroyers are the natural successor to the warship-class Type 45 destroyers, which experienced issues early in their service, such as overheating of the intercooler system when operating in hot and humid environments such as the Middle East.
Type 45 and overheating issues
The Type 45 class was initially delivered with an innovative integrated electric propulsion system which generates the vessel’s power whilst underway, centred around two WR-21 Rolls-Royce gas turbines.
However, due to repeated problems with the Type 45 destroyers losing power whilst underway, the Ministry of Defence embarked on the Power Improvement Project (PIP) to fit the six Type 45 destroyers with new diesel engines and change their propulsion configuration to a more conventional combined diesel and gas (CODAG) system.
The Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon at sunset during a patrol in the Middle East in 2013. When the Type 45s first came into service they struggled with hot and humid conditions. Photo credit: UK Ministry of Defence/Crown copyright
The gas turbine is then used to generate additional “top-up” power generation for sprint speeds, thereby reducing wear on sensitive subsystems.
The Type 83 is still in the conceptual stage as part of the FADS program, so it will be several years before a decision is made on the propulsion system for this class.
But whatever the engine configuration powering the future Type 83 ships, exploration of techniques that can harness or more effectively dissipate the excess heat generated by those engines could point the way to potential technologies under consideration.
