Abstract: The accelerated melting Arctic Sea ice has increased the availability of the Arctic shipping lane. As a major maritime and trading country, China can make full use of the Arctic shipping lane to alleviate the “Malacca dilemma” of the maritime transportation and ensure the transportation safety of Chinese strategic materials. The Arctic shipping lane cannot be opened without the support of polar icebreakers. The pod propulsion system that is the key equipment of modern polar icebreakers can give full play to the ice-breaking ability of icebreakers. Under the current international situation, the construction of polar icebreakers in China demands independent development of the ice-class pod propulsion system for the polar icebreakers. The current study introduces the development and current situation of the pod propulsion. It analyzes the characteristics of the ice-class pod propulsion system, summarizes the key technologies for the development of the ice-class pod propulsion system, and presents the development trend of the ice-class pod propulsion system. It is found that the ice-class pod propulsion system has higher technical threshold than the non-ice pods due to the characteristics of complex operating conditions, variable ice loads, high torque overloads, and fast dynamic response of revolution speed. Throughout the development of the pods, it is suggested to be led by professional electric companies, combine the advanced resources in the industry to break through the key technologies, and launch products with demonstration and verification as soon as possible, in order to support the opening of China’s Arctic shipping lane.

Key words: Arctic shipping lane, icebreaker, ice area, pod propulsion system, ice load

摘要： 随着北极海冰的加速融化,北极航道的可利用程度不断增加。我国作为海洋大国及贸易大国,充分利用北极航道可以缓解我国海上运输的“马六甲困局”,保证我国战略物资的运输安全。开辟北极航道离不开极地破冰船的支持,吊舱推进系统是现代极地破冰船的关键装备,可充分发挥破冰船的破冰能力。在现有国际形势下,我国要建造极地破冰船,必须自主研制极地破冰船用的冰区吊舱推进系统。该文研究了吊舱推进器的发展历史及现状,重点分析了冰区吊舱推进系统的特点,总结了冰区吊舱推进系统研制的关键技术,阐述了冰区吊舱推进系统的发展趋势。研究发现冰区吊舱推进系统具有运行工况复杂、冰载荷多变、转矩过载倍数高和转速动态响应快等特点,相比于非冰区吊舱具有更高的技术门槛。纵观吊舱发展过程,我国应由专业的电气公司牵头,联合业内优势资源,突破关键技术,尽快推出产品并开展示范验证,从而支撑我国北极航道的开辟。

关键词: 北极航道, 破冰船, 冰区, 吊舱推进系统, 冰载荷