Chapter 540 I will solve this problem

We did not specify what the structure is, but just told everyone that we have a way to solve it and to what extent we have solved it.

No one doubted that they were bragging. After all, it was unlikely that they would brag to such an extent.

"Well, but this machine consumes more fuel. How is this considered?"

"Due to the high power density, the saved weight and volume can be used for the layout of armor and part of the fuel. In general, the fuel consumption is higher, but the power is increased, the speed is faster, and the endurance is slightly increased. This depends on the choice of the armored comrades, but from a technical point of view, the two-stroke is better, after all, it is cheaper."

This is a trade-off between one-time purchase cost and usage cost, but the trade-off also includes other relevant conditions such as power, speed, improved protection, and improved battery life.

The comrades from the armored forces thought for a while and said: "If this is the case, we prefer the two-stroke, but we cannot stop improving the four-stroke as a backup power source."

The main reason why the troops complain about the high fuel consumption is not because it costs more, but because it affects the battery life. If there is a way to offset some of the unfavorable factors while bringing other benefits and not affecting the battery life, then they will still choose the one with more benefits.

"The torque of a two-stroke is relatively small, and the heat load is large. I've seen your preliminary test data, and the heat load is already so high that it affects the life of the engine. The degree to which the heat dissipation design can improve it is limited. In addition, although it can be controlled, the vibration will inevitably increase. I don't think the material itself can withstand it."

What the expert said is very true. This is the most troublesome part. The simple structure and high power density are not without cost.

"The torque of a two-stroke is small compared to a four-stroke with the same power. In the same volume, due to its high power density, the torque is actually sufficient. We have also conducted some experiments in the early stage. As for the engine material problem you mentioned..."

Oops, this is a big problem!
But before he could think of what to say, Gao Zhendong next to him raised his hand and said, "I'll solve this problem."

He had already digested the plan in the early stages and estimated the material performance requirements. What a coincidence, there was stock.

He has things in his hands that are decades ahead of the steel industry. Some materials that seem very advanced and difficult now may be ordinary in a few decades.

Some people who didn't know him were stunned. Who was this person? Why was he so arrogant?

But with just these few words from him, the worries of the Grassland Tractor Factory, the Defense Working Committee, and the Armored Corps were immediately put at ease. Well, this was no longer a problem.

They are the ones who know best what this deputy chief engineer does and how he rose to prominence.

Gao Zhendong has never returned empty-handed whenever he speaks, and sometimes he can even surprise you beyond your expectations.

Without even asking Gao Zhendong how to solve the problem or how long it would take, the comrades from the armored forces smiled and said, "Then we are relieved."

The chief engineer of the Defense Work Committee also laughed and said, "Well, this question has been passed."

While some comrades were confused, the matter was just passed. Only the comrades from the Grassland Tractor Factory were a little annoyed, wondering why they didn't ask Vice President Gao earlier.

Since it was decided to use two-stroke diesel engines as the main engine, the only things left were transmission and suspension. In the plan of the Grassland Tractor Factory, this part was basically inherited and improved from the 5DL, but quite a number of comrades wondered why not use hydraulic transmission and hydro-pneumatic suspension?
In response to this, the Grassland Tractor Factory gave a very direct answer.

“Hydraulic transmission is inefficient, expensive, difficult to maintain, difficult to manufacture, and has low reliability.”

Speaking of advantages, hydraulic transmission is really better than mechanical transmission. There is no need to list all the advantages. Simply put, it has great power, stable transmission, easy adjustment, low vibration, adaptability, overload protection, etc.

But when they heard about the low efficiency, the troops calmed down for a moment. If other problems could be solved through technical issues, then the efficiency problem would be difficult to solve and there was an upper limit.

We finally managed to squeeze out some power, but now we have to go back to the beginning?

"The two-stroke engine has already increased its power, so the small loss in efficiency due to hydraulic transmission is not a big problem, right?"

Comrades from the Grassland Tractor Factory were not able to answer this question. The low efficiency of hydraulic transmission was a theoretical analysis, but how low was it? We did not know, after all, we had never worked on hydraulic transmission with such a large torque.

Gao Zhendong added: "If the mechanical transmission is properly designed, the efficiency can reach more than 98%, and the clutch transmission can reach more than 95%. However, the maximum efficiency of the hydraulic coupling is 98%, and the hydraulic torque converter is basically below 90%. For hydraulic transmission, both the coupling and the torque converter are required. The combination of the two is still a bit large at this stage."

When they heard there was a 10% loss, even the armored comrades couldn't sit still. What the hell is this? 10%? Are you kidding me? We don't have enough power. With this loss, why don't I just pile up more armor?

The leader of the Defense Work Committee looked at Gao Zhendong and asked, "Have you calculated it?"

Gao Zhendong nodded: "Yes, I have calculated it."

Actually no, I found it.

However, the data from a few decades later will not be much higher than this. So in the current technological environment, it is still unclear whether the number he mentioned can be reached. But we should be more optimistic about machinery, after all, the technological generation gap is not that serious.

The hydraulic transmission of the second-generation tanks could not be developed. It was not necessarily that they could not make a product, but it was also possible that the indicators were too poor to be used after the product was made. The comrades of the Defense Work Committee and the Armored Forces looked at each other and said, "Let's leave it as it is for now. Let's work on mechanical transmission and hydraulic transmission until it is more mature."

In fact, there is a problem with hydraulic transmission that Gao Zhendong did not mention. That is, when the temperature of the transmission fluid reaches a certain level, its properties may change suddenly and the viscosity may drop sharply.

Early hydraulically coupled four-wheel drive SUVs would suddenly lose power while climbing a steep slope due to this problem.

However, Gao Zhendong was not sure whether the transmission fluid we can use now also has this problem, so he simply did not say anything. Anyway, the efficiency is enough to discourage people.

"Regarding the hydropneumatic suspension, fundamentally speaking, the structure is complex, and the manufacturing, maintenance, and cost issues it brings are similar to those of hydraulic transmission, but the biggest problem is that it is heavy! Under existing technical conditions, based on the planned weight of the second-generation tank, if you want to support it, the weight of the hydropneumatic suspension can be 1.5 to 2 tons heavier than that of the torsion bar."

The comrades in charge of power also learned a lot from Gao Zhendong. They realized that the troops were more eager to pile up armor and firepower than anything else. You can do anything, just don't affect my power and take up less weight. So they simply put the structure and weight issues in the most important position.

Sure enough, as soon as this was said, the comrades in the armored troops immediately started to wonder, isn’t this thing too cost-effective?
To be honest, the benefits of hydro-pneumatic suspension at this stage are just icing on the cake: more comfortable, more stable, and "potentially" higher speed. As for adjusting the body posture, these are not useless, but not worth paying a heavy price for.

Gao Zhendong also thinks that torsion bars are pretty good. Not to mention the second-generation tanks, even the third-generation tanks, which were significantly modified, also use torsion bars. There is no need to adopt high-tech just for the sake of being high-tech.

As for the latest new light tank, it was equipped with hydro-pneumatic suspension because of both technological improvements and the special combat environment and usage conditions of the tank.

It was expensive, troublesome and heavy, so the comrades from the armored forces and the Defense Work Committee discussed it and soon made up their minds to use the torsion bar. They could use the money, energy and weight to do something else.

Now that these major areas have been decided, the only things left are the subsystem issues at the next level.

In terms of the vehicle body, the armored comrades still insisted on the requirements of rear-mounted engine, three-person crew, and automatic loader. Gao Zhendong followed the crowd. Three or four people would do, it was not a big deal. What if the loader could be built under his influence?
We still have to trust our comrades. If it really doesn't work out, the worst that can happen is that we can just add people back.

As for the turret, there is a lot of controversy.

Regarding the question of whether to weld the turret or use a cast turret.

The comrades at the Grassland Tractor Factory wanted to use welding, but most of the comrades preferred casting.

In fact, the reason for using a cast turret has nothing to do with the small projection area of ​​the cast shape. A welded turret can also be very small.

The main reason is that the thick plate welding technology is not mature. When the tank base armor was thin, riveted and welded turrets were actually not uncommon. Later, cast turrets became popular for a period of time. There was no other reason, it was just that thick plate welding was difficult.

Most people prefer to use cast turrets for this reason. There is also another reason, which has something to do with Gao Zhendong.

593 cast armor steel is nickel-free, while 592 rolled armor steel contains nickel.

We have no nickel!
Everyone was arguing back and forth over this issue.

Gao Zhendong thought for a long time before raising his hand and speaking.

"Comrades, let me say a few words."

What is he going to say? Some people were happy, while others were very curious.

"What the comrades said just now is all correct."

Oh, you're trying to smooth things over right away.

"My opinion is that if the nickel raw material problem cannot be solved within a few years, then use casting, and if it can be solved, welding."

Gao Zhendong first put forward a hypothetical condition.

He raised this hypothetical condition because he knew that by the time the second-generation tank was developed and could be mass-produced, the nickel problem would probably be solved. Others might not know this, but the people in the National Defense Working Committee could not have been unaware of it. It's just that he knew it even though the people in the National Defense Working Committee didn't know.

The nickel mine in the northwest should be almost ready.

"Even if nickel ore can solve the problem, what about thick plate welding?" the leader of the Defense Work Committee laughed.

"I'll solve this problem."

Here we go again, here we go again!
(End of this chapter)