Diesel/Electric Propulsion System Design - Have your say!

Discussion in 'Hybrid' started by CatBuilder, Sep 11, 2011.

  1. Jeremy Harris
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    Jeremy Harris Senior Member

    I'm sure its an interesting drive system, but I gave up after trying t get to look at it on their website for around ten minutes.

    It'd be good if companies realised that flashy, but wholly impractical and ineffective web sites like this just frustrate viewers intent on quickly seeing if a product may be of interest, defeating their purpose.
     
  2. pool
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    pool Junior Member

    If the folding prop does not fold (completely), as they sometimes do, you'll probably not be able to retract ...
     
  3. powerabout
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    powerabout Senior Member

    except they are only really designed to get you off the dock
    its not something you would motor a few hundred miles with
    most of the canters have them as they are hydraulic powered
     
  4. michael pierzga
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    michael pierzga Senior Member

    I fully agree...everytime I see a yacht fitted with retractable gear it is being serviced. Every yacht that Ive known over the years with hydraulic drives threw them out and replaced with conventional shafting.

    Last night I entered a harbour in 3 meter waves and driving rain...the buoys were invisible in the breakers...I was very happy to have conventional, 100 percent reliable drive gear powering the boat thru
     
  5. brian eiland
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    brian eiland Senior Member

    Why add in the complicated retraction system if you are going to make use of a folding prop?
     
  6. brian eiland
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    brian eiland Senior Member

    I'll get back to you on this subject, and his observations...just ran out of time to finish that other posting.
     
  7. brian eiland
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    brian eiland Senior Member

    Chain Drive Leg

    This PYI unit worked out pretty good, but it no longer in production for reasons more related to the economics of the situation.

    Basically it makes use of a 'silent chain' running in a bath of auto-transmission fluid to transfer power between two parallel shafts. Lots of potential uses, including higher power applications than existing outdrive legs that tansfer power thru 90 degree gears.
     

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  8. dinoa
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    dinoa Senior Member

    I’m interested in building a back up gasoline-electric propulsion system for a single engine deep V type boat planning hull, 25 ft overall, beam 8 ft, 3 tons displacement. The requirement of the auxiliary propulsion system will be to achieve 80% hull speed which I think should be possible with a DC PM brushed 3kW pod motor if the prop is adequately large (say 10") and slow turning. It will be supported by the cavitation plate of the Bravo One stern drive unit or on a pivoting leg (similar to the stern drive unit) or a swinging leg articulated from on off centerline position on the transom.

    Batteries will not be the primary energy source and only large enough for main engine starting and house loads plus any capacity if necessary to stabilize the power supplied by a motor generator. The motor generator will be built to power the pod motor unit if possible without batteries and without a motor controller just directly coupled to the pod by electric power lines. There will be no reverse, steering, regeneration, speed regulation or efficiency requirement. A small DC-DC converter or belt driven alternator may be used to top up the batteries.

    What would be the best way to do this? What motor generator - propulsion motor combination would be required to avoid controllers?

    Dino
     
  9. Mariner 31
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    Mariner 31 Junior Member

    Hi Dino

    This sounds interesting, I've a few questions.

    Why would you not buy an off the shelf generator?

    What sort of cruising speed and top speed do you think you can achieve?

    How big would the generator need to be?

    Do you mean there would be no FNR?
     
  10. Yvr Dan
    Joined: Oct 2011
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    Yvr Dan Junior Member

    Hi all,first post and maybe I'll get heat for seeming too glib but here goes.

    I've read all the posts and the builder seems to have quite a large challenge with these ideals.

    Post from post #35:

    He's says:

    I don't know if he's too busy building,but it is a simple/quick matter (especially with a Masters in Physics) to figure costs and weights especially when



    There is a simpler,cheaper, and more efficient solution to all the heat,power and A/C challenges but since

    I won't waste my time further,especially after reading


    Good luck with the project
     
  11. dinoa
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    dinoa Senior Member

    Mariner,

    1) An off the shelf generator would be fine but likely more expensive than 3)

    2) Cruising and top speed would be the same say around 5 knots. It would be used as an auxiliary, back up , limp home propulsion system in case the main drive fails or as a trolling motor or for going through extended no wake areas. It would also top up the batteries. No FNR. Start the gas engine and the prop turns.

    3) A 6.5 HP LIFAN ($100) driving a generator compatible with the drive pod motor-prop requirements would be nice.


    Dino
     
  12. brian eiland
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    brian eiland Senior Member

    Dino I might make the suggestion that you do a similar posting over on this other subject thread as well. There was a lot of input into diesel electric subject by a big number of contributors (this discussion was pretty hot item then):
    http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/hybrid/diesel-electric-propulsion-sailboats-9310.html

    I posted this there:
     
  13. CatBuilder

    CatBuilder Previous Member

    Yeah... actively in the boat shed 60 hours a week, so why don't you post up all this great information you claim to have?

    Oh, you have none?

    Maybe then you can go back under the bridge you just came out from under, Mr. Troll.

    Signing up for a single post on the forum really makes it look like you're an existing member trying to hassle me.

     
  14. brian eiland
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    brian eiland Senior Member


  15. WestVanHan
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    WestVanHan Not a Senior Member

    Hey cat...been gone a year. IIRC I recommended you build a greenhouse structure to build your cat in...16 months ago?
    Cat looking good BTW

    Anyways I see what you are trying to do,and maybe I missed it but do you get heat during the night by running inverters on your battery bank?

    It may not be what you are up to,but what I've done on 2 of the 3 boats I've had is install a single cylinder Kubota, properly soundproofed it is inaudible.

    -running as a DC boat,Kub can run at low speeds to be quiet.
    -electric clutches for AC,scuba compressor,DC gen etc. and one could put an AC gen on it as well.
    -heat exchanger off the Kub for heating the boat and hot water,and charging batts at the same time.
    -heat exchangers off main engines for heat while running.Why waste all that heat?

    Kub would run while at anchor,at low rpm for heat and gen would burn a gallon in 5 to 6 hours.Don't need AC where I am.

    I know you don't want hydronic heat,but the water's carrying capacity for heat is good and could be removed off season.

    And there are DC heaters out there but higher voltages are better afaik..check out DCthermal.

    Electric stoves are great,but with a propane BBQ and a side burner I very rarely cook indoors.

    Anyways must go.
    Hans.
     
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