On 7/10/2010 1:05 AM, james4078 wrote:
> Hello again
>
> some of you may have been following my progress on my electric speed
> boat project and converting a larger cabin cruiser to electricity ideas.
> Well we are moving forward to an even larger project. We are going to
> convert a fleet of boats, from 20' up to our new flagship a 110' mega
> yacht to run on solar with hybrid generators and other non-petro based
> fuel sources.
> Any and all feedback from those that may have ideas and thoughts are
> being encouraged.
> As far as my knowledge goes there are plenty of companies making
> electric boat but not many re-manufacturing older boats.
> I'll do my best to keep you all informed on the new project.
G'day James, another James here.
I didn't notice any responses to this post, so I thought I'd chime in a
little. I don't think I'm breaking any commercial-in-confidence
discussions here, as much of the information came from another speaker
at a conference I spoke at at the Australian Maritime College a couple
of years ago.
There is a concept floating around for a solar/diesel electric hybrid
methodology (you could substitute bio-diesel, CNG or whatever is seen as
being appropriate). It revolves around several smaller diesel gensets
that when running together can produce the maximum continuous that the
vessel requires but usually are not needed. The solar array is designed
to produce the nominal daily average demand or some managed
sub-circumstance where running burning diesel is acceptable (such as
delivery passage making). The battery system only allows for 24 or 48
hours' autonomy (if the sun doesn't shine the time before diesel is
needed) or that autonomy is for 'casual cruising' where the propulsion
demand is low in comparison to passage making so can provide autonomy
under typical circumstances but specifically not for all circumstances.
The point of this is that when full sun is available, the solar/battery
system is capable of meeting the 24 hour energy demand. When the battery
pack reaches a certain discharge level, a diesel genset can fire up, and
run at its' peak efficiency point, as the battery level falls further,
more gensets fire up, until the discharge level is held at some
nominated value that is not detrimental to the battery. Once the load
comes off, the gensets are cycled out on a load vs time of day decision
process (if its' 6AM then the battery can be left low, anticipating a
decent solar charge during the day, if its' 6PM then the pack needs to
be brought up to a reasonable level first).
The circumstances where such a system is useful vary, it could be for a
disaster-response vessel, that can burn diesel to make a quick passage
to a disaster zone, then sit on-station for an extended time using solar
power (and possibly a demountable wind turbine) to provide desalinated
potable water, operate a hospital/clinic/etc. Alternatively it could be
for eco-cruising in luxury (I know there isn't really such a thing) on a
schedule that (for example) wind power would not be able to reliably keep.
It is pretty much necessary for the batteries to be something other than
lead-acid, due to the extended times that the batteries are left at some
level of discharge. I don't know about other countries, but here in
Australia the only battery chemistry approved for vessels in survey
(licensed for commercial activities) is lead-acid.
Keep us posted as to your progress.
Regards
[Technik] James
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