On 11/6/2010 7:04 PM, sgallagher1969 wrote:
What a "unique idea" Have they reduced it to practice? Do they have a packaged system to sell?(Sorry this got wordy)
Greeting all first post. I'm getting a small inheritance and am looking a purchasing a used sailboat. During my research I (as some of you) have come to the conclusion that it's possible to basically run the boat off the grid and be self-sustainable if converted to electric.
As part of this I believe that it's possible using the self-regeneration of the electric drive, instant on capability of a fuel cell (w/o losing power to a starter battery on a diesel starting and stopping all the time),95% efficiency of a ultra-capacitor to be fuel free and off the grid. Electronic monitoring can used to instantly and automatically turn on the fuel cell to supplement loads or charge the capacitors/battery when necessary before they get too low.
The biggest issue is producing power over stretches of windless overcast days. Metal hydride hydrogen storage containers are safe, but very expensive to store enough to even run 1kW for 8hrs. Realistically 4 hours is about all before it starts to get cost prohibitive. A 900L stack runs about 14L/min pure H2 Solution? Produce on board using a commercial hydrogen electrolyzer for pure hydrogen (not HHO).
The electrolyzer will never keep up with full running of the cell but if a specific battery pack is filled by wind, solar, or regen you should be able to keep the unit running almost 24/7. Since the cell stack is typically only used to supplement heavy loads the electrolyzer should be able to keep the entire system near capacity.
Those of you who have already done the conversion what are your thoughts on how big of a stack would be necessary? I really think you could get away with 500w maybe even 300w if you added extra batteries.
Now that I've had my "brilliant" epiphany, I start looking and pricing out parts, and then I come to this:
http://www.hbmarine.com/media/download_gallery/HB%20Marine%20Overview%203Feb10b.pdf
the actual patent is here:
http://www.hbmarine.com/media/download_gallery/HBMarinePatent.pdf
Only difference is they are using a fuel cell 10x bigger than the one I thought was too big, and they don't include the efficiencies of using an ultra-capacitor. HOW CAN YOU PATENT THIS? They are not using any of their original parts. Not the fuel cell, switching is used with wind & solar all the time, plenty of companies are installing electric motors, water generators are already in most cruisers anyway,his only original idea was to connect the electrolyzer to the ships water supply.... well...duh.
So after all that is this a challenge-able patent, and how can you even patent it? To my knowledge no one has a patent on pv integration of your home or boat, so how can you patent what at least to me is common sense??? If they built a product that took in seawater, converted it to hydrogen, stored the hydrogen and then used it to produce electricity, and was in an all inclusive box..ok. But to take a bunch of parts from the consumer market and patent it??????
If you can patent "systems" like this they why can't Toyota, Ford or GM patent having a fuel cell in a car? I'm not looking to go into shipbuilding nor am I looking to get filthy rich, just wanted to take a boat convert it, and use it as proof of concept. Then possibly go into business actually doing the conversions as a way to pay for the "lifestyle"
I wonder how much of a "royalty" they want?? :(
Anyhow thanks to all in advance for any responses.
And just to cover my butt. Any thoughts or ideas expressed here are either properties of their prospective owners or I am laying claim!
:)
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