U31
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Germany Launches Submarine Fuel Cell Era With “U31”
Author: Alton Parrish, Fuel Cell Technology News
Germany Launches Submarine Fuel Cell Era With “U31”
Description: In March 2002 a new era dawned for fuel cell submarines with the launch of "U31", built by German shipbuilders Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW).

The first of four 212A class submarines under construction, the U31 has an air-independent propulsion system using a silent hydrogen/oxygen fuel cell system which not only makes the submarine more difficult to detect, but also increases the time it can stay submerged.

The new submarine class 212 developed by HDW is characterized by an air-independent propulsion system using the hydrogen fuel cell. HDW is thus the first shipyard in the world to offer a fuel cell propulsion system ready for series production. The Siemens proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell plant, which produces electrical energy from oxygen and hydrogen, permits the new class of submarines to cruise under water for weeks without surfacing.


Conventional diesel-electric submarines have used up their battery power after about two days cruising under water. In addition, the fuel cell makes no noise and produces no give-away exhaust heat. The factors help to make the submarine virtually undetectable.


At HDW's shipyard in Kiel, Ms. Bärbel Kaempf christened the most modern non-nuclear submarine in the world "U31" on 22 March 2002. The class 212A submarine is destined for the German Navy and is the first of four submarines of this class currently under construction at the yards of HDW in Kiel and Thyssen Nordseewerke (TNSW) in Emden. After comprehensive tests and trials, "U31" is scheduled for commissioning on 30 March 2004.