UNESCO joins Energy Observer, the first hydrogen ship

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by schakel, Feb 23, 2017.

  1. JosephT
    Joined: Jun 2009
    Posts: 859
    Likes: 107, Points: 43, Legacy Rep: 218
    Location: Roaring Forties

    JosephT Senior Member

    Thanks for the links schakel! That hydrogen plant project is very ambitious. Very glad to see the Netherlands forging ahead in this area. Many will be monitoring its progress.

    I recall the city of Denver, Colorado did a feasibility study several years ago. They discovered they gave enough wind blowing through that city that:
    1. The wind generators will generate excess hydrogen.

    2. The amount of hydrogen will power a hydrogen car for every family in the city.

    Wind power can play a key role.
     
    schakel and Doug Lord like this.
  2. upchurchmr
    Joined: Feb 2011
    Posts: 3,287
    Likes: 259, Points: 83, Legacy Rep: 579
    Location: Ft. Worth, Tx, USA

    upchurchmr Senior Member

    That is not enough of a wing to be effective.
    More an eyecatcher rather than an honest effort to improve efficiency.

    You might as well fly hydrogen filled balloons to decrease hydrodynamic resistance.
     
  3. schakel
    Joined: Jul 2008
    Posts: 386
    Likes: 16, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 48
    Location: the netherlands

    schakel environmental project Msc

    It's just a concept. The real wing is on the drawing board at Van Peteghem Laurent Prevoist.
    And I like your fairy tale imagination.
    santa.jpg
     
  4. dreamingbarrierreef
    Joined: Oct 2018
    Posts: 49
    Likes: 2, Points: 8
    Location: Colorado

    dreamingbarrierreef dreamingbarreef

    H2 fuel-cell for propulsion don't seem to be practical. H2 may have energy, but fuel cell is the bottleneck, can't convert that energy fast enough for meaningful power. Not to mention all the more weights to add the more power to output. Sail & wind power must be much more green than fuel-cells so far as propulsion is concerned. But it should be good tech to replace batteries. A green boat to me would be a sailboat with solar and hydro-gen; and the surplus electric power will be stored up as H2, no more batteries. H2 fuel-cell can supply electricity when needed. Which means the boat will still need an engine & burn fossil fuel when no wind or too much wind. But that's probably as low carbon as can practically be there. Or actually, propulsion by H2 combustion might be a more plausible alternative. I wonder if this can be done with rotary engine design? Be something I'd test if have that kind of money.

    How It Works | LiquidPiston http://liquidpiston.com/technology/how-it-works/

    This design is so simple I reckon if the chambers be made with ceramic (or may not be necessary) might just work.
     
    Last edited: Dec 28, 2018
  5. schakel
    Joined: Jul 2008
    Posts: 386
    Likes: 16, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 48
    Location: the netherlands

    schakel environmental project Msc

  6. upchurchmr
    Joined: Feb 2011
    Posts: 3,287
    Likes: 259, Points: 83, Legacy Rep: 579
    Location: Ft. Worth, Tx, USA

    upchurchmr Senior Member

    Won't that shadow the solar cells?
     
  7. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
    Posts: 7,598
    Likes: 1,674, Points: 123, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: usa

    fallguy Senior Member

    Yes, but like all things, there are tradeoffs. That boat is considered a power plant. If you can generate more propulsion with the wind, then you do so. If your solar production is not keeping its minimum; you'd be forced to reef the sails.

    It is really no different than having a few days of lousy solar production on a power boat and needing to run the engines, but sort of the opposite. If they have good solar production, then they can hoist the sails.

    Pretty interesting.
     
  8. schakel
    Joined: Jul 2008
    Posts: 386
    Likes: 16, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 48
    Location: the netherlands

    schakel environmental project Msc

    True, it's a matter of choice, in windy conditions, sailing prevails.
    How do you feel about the wing sail configuration;
    Isn't it the hoistable version of the hard wings during AC 35?
     
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2019
  9. schakel
    Joined: Jul 2008
    Posts: 386
    Likes: 16, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 48
    Location: the netherlands

    schakel environmental project Msc

    Ilan Voyager and bajansailor like this.
  10. schakel
    Joined: Jul 2008
    Posts: 386
    Likes: 16, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 48
    Location: the netherlands

    schakel environmental project Msc


  11. Dolfiman
    Joined: Aug 2017
    Posts: 1,515
    Likes: 667, Points: 113
    Location: France

    Dolfiman Senior Member

Forum posts represent the experience, opinion, and view of individual users. Boat Design Net does not necessarily endorse nor share the view of each individual post.
When making potentially dangerous or financial decisions, always employ and consult appropriate professionals. Your circumstances or experience may be different.