Chapter 263 Differences in Thinking
After listening to the introductions of Lin Xiaolun and Nevsky, Li Qingye looked at Dr. Martin Don Quixote, the technical director of the last project.
Martin explained somewhat awkwardly: "Chairman, I haven't finished yet."
"Is it because metallic hydrogen cannot be passivated?"
Martin nodded. "Yes, that's the problem. I tried various methods, but I couldn't make the metallic hydrogen slow down the explosion."
Obviously Li Qingye had anticipated this problem.
After all, the semi-finished metallic hydrogen produced by the Sapiens Company has very poor stability. Even if other auxiliary materials are added, as long as the temperature is higher than minus 175 degrees Celsius, it will become a big bomb.
However, the specific impulse and thrust of metallic hydrogen are very attractive.
As long as the explosion speed of metallic hydrogen can be made similar to that of ordinary solid fuel, a launch vehicle using metallic hydrogen as fuel can easily send hundreds of tons of payload into outer space.
As for why we don't use the Longgrande cannon, it's because the Longgrande cannon cannot send astronauts into outer space, and it also has very large restrictions on various equipment.
After all, during the launch of the Longgrande cannon, a load of tens of thousands of Gs will be generated. Not to mention astronauts, even ordinary electronic components will be shattered under such pressure.
The biochips and biocomponents used by Sapiens inside the cannon shells are all manufactured through special processes.
Its core technology is a nutrient-rich liquid. When wrapped in this liquid, biochips and cell-type components can withstand instantaneous loads of tens of thousands of G.
This is also the reason why the internal components of a cannon shell can still be controlled after it is fired.
After all, liquids are incompressible, and biochips and cell components are filled with liquids inside and out, which can withstand such extremely high loads.
As for the engine inside the giant cannon shell, the missile version only has a specially made solid-fuel rocket engine.
As for the satellite version of the artillery warhead, the first stage is a solid-fuel rocket engine, and the second stage is a liquid oxygen-methane liquid engine.
Li Qingye stroked the stubble on his chin and said, "Since it cannot be blunted for the time being, what are your thoughts?"
Dr. Martin thought for a moment and said, "A large launch vehicle fueled by metal hydrogen is one of the few ways for us to catch up with the great powers in a short period of time. If we succeed, we will be able to overtake them very soon."
Of course, it is also possible to overturn on a bend.
"Do you want to continue researching this project?" Li Qingye already understood.
Martin also became nervous. After all, if Li Qingye did not agree to continue this project, the metal hydrogen launch vehicle project would definitely not be able to proceed.
He quickly said, "Chairman, I will work hard to make the metal hydrogen carrier rocket practical as soon as possible."
Li Qingye waved his hand: "How about this! Since we can't deactivate it for the time being, let's change the plan and use the explosion propulsion plan directly."
"Uh..." Dr. Martin looked confused.
Lin Xiaolun reminded quietly: "Chairman, isn't there a Longram cannon project in the explosive propulsion plan?"
"What are you thinking about?" Li Qingye raised his eyebrows slightly: "I mean to use metallic hydrogen in launch vehicles."
"But metallic hydrogen cannot be passivated, and the carrier rocket cannot withstand the shock wave generated by its explosion." Dr. Martin scratched his hair in embarrassment.
Li Qingye slapped his forehead and said, "Why do you only copy America's methods ? Can't you learn from our northern neighbors?"
What? Everyone was confused.
Li Qingye reminded them unhappily: "Since the material cannot be improved, why not try to make a breakthrough from the design solution?"
The reason why he said that Martin and others were trapped in America's thinking dead end.
This is because the American Navy originally ordered a batch of Independence-class and Freedom-class littoral combat ships, and these ships are "good things" made of aluminum alloy. In order to cope with the corrosion of sea water, each ship has an annual maintenance cost of more than 70 million US dollars.
The solution of a certain Eastern country is to build small aluminum alloy boats of several hundred tons. When the ships are not needed to work, they are directly lifted ashore, solving the problem of corrosion of the aluminum alloy of the hull due to immersion in sea water.
If the materials are not good, the engineering will make up for it.
This is actually an idea.
After hearing Li Qingye's reminder, everyone finally reacted.
Lin Xiaolun was the first to react: "Indeed, if the design is improved, metallic hydrogen may still be used in launch vehicles."
Nevsky also came back to his senses. He took out his tablet and projected a holographic image:
"We can design it this way. Isn't Aoba Aviation developing an explosive shock wave engine? We can cooperate with them directly and use the explosive shock wave engine. Then we can make the metal hydrogen into small fuel balls, design a launch device similar to a magazine, and design a liquid oxygen storage tank around it, which can also cool the metal hydrogen. When using it, we can spray liquid oxygen , so that we can continuously supply fuel and allow the carrier rocket to accelerate evenly into outer space."
Dr. Martin was embarrassed and looked at Nevsky with a somewhat aggrieved expression: "You have already said everything, what else can I say? It's so embarrassing..."
But Nevsky did not see his expression and continued to describe his plan.
After listening to Nevsky's plan, Li Qingye was quite satisfied with it. The only difficulty of this plan was the ultra-low temperature containment equipment of the metal hydrogen fuel ball.
In this regard, Nevsky adopted the "take-it-as-it-is" approach without any psychological burden. Since there were no patent issues in the aerospace field, he directly proposed using France's cryogenic enclosure technology.
As for design issues such as fuel balls, storage clips, and engines, Nevsky believed that Martin could solve them.
Although Martin's technical research and development capabilities are indeed mediocre, that is only poor in creativity; his other abilities are still acceptable.
Now that we have the design ideas, if Martin still can’t figure it out, then he might as well just go home and sell sweet potatoes!
Li Qingye looked at Martin: "Dr. Martin, according to Dr. Nevsky's ideas, can you complete this design?"
"Uh... OK, Chairman, don't worry, I can finish the design soon." Martin quickly said that he could complete the task.
After solving the problem of the last project, everyone finally felt a little relieved.
The technology for metal hydrogen launch vehicles has been solved and the research and development ideas will basically not cause any major problems in the subsequent research and development process.
The significance of metal hydrogen launch vehicles is absolutely extraordinary.
Everyone is fantasizing about the future of space travel. As long as the metal hydrogen launch vehicle is successful, it means that Sapiens will be able to overtake other companies in the field of space travel.
Although it is a bit regrettable that metallic hydrogen is difficult to apply in the military field due to the problems of storage and passivation.
But Li Qingye is already quite satisfied. After all, technological progress must be achieved step by step. His existence has accelerated the technological development of Sapiens, but also made the company's research in basic fields somewhat insufficient.
During his inspections in various places these days, he has discovered that the development of Sapiens Company in the field of basic science is not very good.
Li Qingye also feels helpless about this. Research in the field of basic science requires a lot of talent and resources, but research in this area is difficult to transform into applied technology.
He has made up his mind to set up a department within Sapiens specifically to invest in and manage basic scientific research to promote Sapiens' development in this area.
