Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] BBC E-mail: Torpedo fuel to blame for Kursk loss

[Guy Morin <xnet@videotron.ca>]

Ah ha!

At the risk of answering my own question here...

Producing a mix of hydrogen and oxygen is harder to manage, especially
since HTP is sensitive to pressure drops, and mild shock wave induced
by pipe bends. Sheesh.

Still, read on, it's fairly interesting.

Guy


Please read the following excerpt from:

http://www.withhonourinbattle.com/walter_turbine.html


"

The Walter Turbine

                   Walter achieved his remarkable results by using
Perhydrol, a nearly pure hydrogen-peroxide solution, as an oxydizer.
This
                   was run through a catalysing system, which broke down
the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into hydrogen and oxygen, in the
                   process producing high pressure steam and oxygen at a
very high temperature. The creation of the steam used up both of
                   the hydrogen atoms and one of the oxygen atoms,
leaving a free oxygen atom in the mixture. Since the temperature of the
                   gases was hot enough to sustain combustion, diesel
fuel was injected, which used the free oxygen atom. This increased
                   both the heat and pressure of the steam. The steam
was then used to power a turbine, which combined elements of both
                   gas and Parsons (steam) turbine technology.

                   Unfortunately for the Kriegsmarine's submarine
service -- but fortunately for the Allies -- the Walter system had
nearly as
                   many problems as benefits. The Perhydrol fuel was
extremely corrosive, requiring the use of special fuel lines. Another
                   problem, which was actually discovered by the
Japanese, who used essentially the same system to power some
                   torpedoes (including a prototype of the Kaiten "human
torpedo" variant) was that, unlike conventional fuels, the Perhydrol
                   required fuel lines without any right angle turns.
The Perhydrol would sometimes "pile up" in the bends of such lines and
                   spontaneously combust, with the obvious disastrous
results.

                   Another drawback was that the Walter system was
extremely thirsty. One reason for the larger hulls was simply that an
                   enormous amount of fuel would have to be carried if
the boats were to have sufficient range to be effective in combat.

"