This is the same with some of the haul trucks in the mining industry,
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Feds plan to melt ICE
- Thread starter Mad Mike
- Start date
The diesel-electric bit of locomotives basically uses the generator and motors as a honkin' big continuously-variable transmission. A mechanical transmission with mechanical power delivery to multiple wheel trucks and axles would be insanely complex. The other thing is that in a locomotive application, weight basically doesn't matter. You want it to be heavy. So, you can build generators and motors with lots of iron and copper, which is the easiest way to get the highest possible efficiency out of them. And, you can do dynamic braking without relying solely on the friction brakes, even though current locomotive applications just throw that energy away.
For ships, there is one thing that can be done which is tough to do conventionally ... thrust (ed: typo fixed - thanks Mad Mike) vectoring. Instead of having a prop aimed straight backwards at the back of the ship and directing its thrust with a rudder, you can build the motor drive into a steerable prop assembly, and you can use multiple such units. I doubt if there's any efficiency benefit when crossing an ocean, but it would sure make maneuvering easier.
Interesting application First flying electric ferry completes passenger test flights, starts serial production
For ships, there is one thing that can be done which is tough to do conventionally ... thrust (ed: typo fixed - thanks Mad Mike) vectoring. Instead of having a prop aimed straight backwards at the back of the ship and directing its thrust with a rudder, you can build the motor drive into a steerable prop assembly, and you can use multiple such units. I doubt if there's any efficiency benefit when crossing an ocean, but it would sure make maneuvering easier.
Interesting application First flying electric ferry completes passenger test flights, starts serial production
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Thats been available for a long time. Tugboats and some recreational boats have pods that allow the prop to point in any direction. When desired, you can switch from steering wheel to joystick. Joystick allows easy translation and rotation of boat without captain knowing exactly how to control pods.
Mad Mike
Well-known member
That's thrust vectoring.
Torque vectoring is a little different, it's the division and/or redirection of torque to more than one outputs -- traction control systems are torque vectors.
Swedish company , who’s name escapes me , is a global leader in big ship diesel electric and solar / hybrid . They are making enormous gains quickly and there are several boats up and running now .
In smaller boats , at least 8 companies are offering refit kits , pull out your small diesel and in goes the E power. We have 4 in our harbour , 30-40 ft range now , couple talking about it . It’s becoming very common in new launch 80-100ft ers . The technology is literally jumping up a notch monthly .
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In smaller boats , at least 8 companies are offering refit kits , pull out your small diesel and in goes the E power. We have 4 in our harbour , 30-40 ft range now , couple talking about it . It’s becoming very common in new launch 80-100ft ers . The technology is literally jumping up a notch monthly .
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Mad Mike
Well-known member
It makes perfect sense for sailing vessels.
They need relatively little propulsion power, have plenty of space for batteries and solar panels, and while under wind power try can generate through their prop.
It’s surprising how many power boats are also going electric and hybrid setups . I just finished a reading on a custom built 40ft that did Seattle to Alaska , electric on her own power , mix of solar and wind generation. It’s getting traction at cottages where the pontoon cruises at relatively low speed and two or three hrs . We are looking at offshore opportunities again , wife and I, new boat has an generator leg , looks like the leg of an outboard with a generator in the bottom , prop driven . You slide it into the water once at speed and it’s clean power day and night. The tech is constantly evolving .
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Funny stat, non stat , a “cruising “ sailboat will spend half its life under power , you need to be somewhere, home for work , deadline for resevervation , out run a stormfront . A lot of folks think how romantic they just sail everywhere, reality is not so much . This is why diesel electric is popular in bigger sailboats and smaller boats are working on range improvements.
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How much fuel does it take for a Torontonian to get his non polluting canoe to the Kawarthas and back, just so he can enjoy the clean air?
I know some families that drive multiple v8's 4+ hours to get to peace in the country. They also bring up drums of fuel to burn in the toys. Take that nature.
Do they flood light their cottage lots?
Mostly architectural lighting. A few pole lights. Lights are on whether they are around or not.
Shaman
Well-known member
Personally, I use a solar panel and light multiple lights around my pool and rear yard with battery storage. Until the batteries die, they're quite pleasant and zero-maintenance. Are they carbon-neutral, though? Not a chance... made from plastic and whatever makes up the batteries... and quite unnecessary in the grand scheme of things. But they are pleasant.
I leave the lights off. The coons don't get a chance to trip over anything.
That's the you're-making-too-much-noise-go-back-inside look.
Already very common. Azipods. Most modern cruise ships use them now as do many other ships that come and leave port often and don't want to deal with the additional cost of tugs to aid in maneuvering.
If you've ever taken the Kingston Ferry over to Wolf Island, yep, azipods on that as well. I believe even the PEC ferry uses them.
They're insanely common now in ships. As someone else mentioned, even a lot of smaller private vessels are being equipped with them now if the budget doesn't matter.
They finally have the new ferries operating? Last generation were cable ferries. Great solution for that passage. The new ferries were purchased years ago but apparently required full captains licenses to operate so they couldn't afford to pay market rates and the new ferries sat unused.
Last I rode that ferry was a solid 3-4 years ago, and probably 2 years before that, and they were regular ferries then? I never remember anything else there for that matter. Are you thinking the same ferry?
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