Re: [Electric Boats] Re: Torqeedo regen

 

Matti,

Thats really interesting and probably explains why it works at all.  But it seems fairly random whether it works or not. I had not even been looking to see regen from it so perhaps it has been working more than I've ever noticed.

Most of the time after leaving the mooring I would raise the motor to reduce drag and pretty much not ever had the opportunity to even be noticed.  It was only the need to motor sail in confined quarters that I left it on ticking over gently while sailing.

I have enquired of Torqeedo about this question so it will be interesting to see what they have to say.

Thinking about whether the electronics or gearing would be up to it...  the highest current I've seen is around a quarter of what the motor is designed for when under power, so I would hope that overheating would not be a problem.  But hey, perhaps the gearbox is not designed to be driven.

Anyway, thanks for the info.

Cheers

Chris

On 13/03/2010, at 7:47 PM, MattiB wrote:

 

Hi Chris

The torqeedo engine has been used as a generator during the optimization process. This is stated in the 2006 catalogue:
"In order to optimise the motor control, Torqeedo has taken a
leaf out of the book of aeronautical electronics engineers and
assumed the principle of the reproduction of the generator
characteristics. In this process, the motor designed as a current
consumer is operated as a power-generating generator. The
resulting performance characteristics enable an electronic
control coordinated precisely with the relevant motor. This
coordination enables an additionally improved efficiency and
stable, high, long-term performance."
(http://www.torqeedo.com/uploads/media/TQ_katalog_2006_e.pdf)
Companies don't like to waste resources, they might have implemented this feature already in the original controller design (or it was implemented in the design they simply bought somewhere, like the torcman electric engines usually used in model planes). Anyway, I suspect that it would not be a big deal to implement a regeneration function (though it might be inefficient on monohulls...).
I am not an engineer and have very little experience with electricity and mechanics in general, but I asked myself why they have not implemented even if they have been contacted many times by maney different people (I have talked to) to implement this feature. My hypothesis is that the engine is simply not designed for continuous duty. Why should it, when driven by batteries there is not the problem that the engine would be excessively used. Batteries today are just a long way from providing enough energy. That's why i think it is interesting to hear about your friends from "school's out" who with help of their generator are able power the torqeedo's in a more continuous manner. And why should companies "waste" money on a design for long term continuous duty if there is very little chance for the engine being used continuously. Howver, once it would provide regeneration functions it would probably hang in the water indefinitely as long as a boat is moving and both the engine, gearing and electronics might not be up to it.
Actually I have sent torqeedo emails twice asking about a statement if there are plans to implement regeneration and about the continuous use. They did not care to reply and I don't have an own engine yet to disprove my hypothesis, anyway I hope I am wrong because I am going to buy one if yours survives this season :-).
By the way, the solar catamaran on www.solarwave.at is also carrying two torqeedo 4.0Rs in addition to 2x10 kW Aquawatt inboard engines. So even more data is eventually going to be produced (though I am always a little suspicious when reading data from projects sponsored by companies).

Matti

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