Wecboat : Wave Energy Converter Boat

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by WecBoat, Jul 4, 2014.

  1. Yobarnacle
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    Yobarnacle Senior Member holding true course

    WecBoat. Gonzo is well respected here. Look at his reputation points upper right hand corner. His advice is usually valuable. In his above post, I believe he was advising: stop a minute and rethink what you hope to accomplish.
     
  2. WecBoat
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    WecBoat Navy Blue

    Sorry. I know. I am not going fast. I sail my boat at the same speed. I don't know if I will finish there, but, usually, I know where I am going.
     
  3. gonzo
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    gonzo Senior Member

    It is easy to get sidetracked with projects. What is that you want the boat to do? Using wave energy is not far-fetched. However, the ratio of energy available to energy needed needs to be larger than one. Otherwise, you have a deficit and can't move. Downwind, there is no problem, the boat can drift. In any other direction, you need surplus energy of whatever form. Also, if you have a target speed, the energy necessary can be easily calculated. Something to consider is that when the waves are large and provide more energy, they also generate more resistance to movement against them.
     
  4. WecBoat
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    Thanks gonzo. I will try to bring one of my sketch next week. So, may be we could make some calculations. For now, I will give you another abstraction.

    With this one, you can imagine a mono hull sailboat, with a keel coming inside the boat. A very narrow fin keel, with a torpedo bulb and wings ( it is nicer;)).

    A swing keel, but swinging from port to starboard.

    One thing nice about pouting a generator on a keel is that the keel can serve also to sail because you can stop the keel the same way you stop a windmill.


    Abstract 2

    A method and apparatus for converting the waves energy into floating structure propulsion. The apparatus is a wave energy converter (WEC) for propulsion of floating structure that includes an arm pivotally positioned in the center of gravity of the floating structure on a support connected to the floating structure, a generator and an electric motor positioned in the boat. The arm has a weight thereon. The boat is rotate by the wave energy.

    The method involves employing use of an arm as a stator and a boat as a rotor to efficiently convert the wave energy into propulsion.
     
  5. gonzo
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    gonzo Senior Member

    When a wave hits a hull, it pushes it back. There is a vertical component too, but is only part of it. When the waves get larger and break, the horizontal force is larger in proportion. In those conditions is when you need a propulsion system the most. Brainstorming is OK to come up with a bunch of ideas. Then comes the hard part of honestly critiquing the merits of those ideas. You need to put aside your emotional attachment to your creation and try to find as many faults and weaknesses as possible. If the idea doesn't pass the test, then put it aside and look for something else. Otherwise, you can find that it could work on, for example, a stationary system.
     
  6. WecBoat
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    WecBoat Navy Blue

    Abstract 3

    A method and apparatus for converting the waves energy into floating structure propulsion. The apparatus is a wave energy converter (WEC) for propulsion of floating structure that includes an arm pivotally positioned in the center of gravity of the floating structure on a support connected to the floating structure, a generator and an electric motor positioned in the floating structure, an adjustable water tank positioned in the floating structure. The arm has a weight thereon. The positioned in the floating structure is rotate by the wave energy.

    The method involves employing use of an arm as a stator and a floating structure as a rotor to efficiently convert the wave energy into propulsion.
     
  7. WecBoat
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    WecBoat Navy Blue

    That is why I will like to have an hybrid system aboard. I see it with a fuel generator. So when you need a lot of power, you have it.
     
  8. gonzo
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    gonzo Senior Member

    So, instead of a motorsailor, a motorwaver?
     
  9. TANSL
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    TANSL Senior Member

    The more waves move the ship, more energy is produced and therefore improves the propulsion. To go fast you have to be vaccinated against seasickness.
     
  10. WecBoat
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    WecBoat Navy Blue

    Hello Tansl,
    I appreciate your input.
    Very interesting.
    Thank you.
     
  11. WecBoat
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    WecBoat Navy Blue

    Hello Gonzo,
    I appreciate your input.
    Very interesting.
    Thank you.
     
  12. groper
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    groper Senior Member

    There are 2 types of people in this world... Those that talk, and those that do.

    Wecboat, answer me some simple questions - why do you think you can go where no previous military engineers, naval architects, university ph.d scholars, and other maritime designers throughout the world have gone - do you honestly believe none of the above people have thought of this idea before? If it has been considered, why do you believe no useful system has been developed thus far? And if you have a good reason for that, what qualification, equipment or other advantage do you have above and beyond the above mentioned people, which will enable you to succeed where everyone else has failed?
     
  13. WecBoat
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    WecBoat Navy Blue

    I chose the last one.

    Because, I can go where I want, I don't need a permission. (Do you know that they have said the same thing to the Wright Brothers. ;)) thanks !

    No

    That is a good question. Many answers. One of the reasons, may be, is that until now, they had no (money) reason. Now, big companies are developing big WEC project.

    I don't think that I will succeed. I will be the first surprise. But it is fun to try, and more fun to try in a different way.
     
  14. Yobarnacle
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    Yobarnacle Senior Member holding true course

    Sometimes, not knowing that you CAN'T, because you were taught, you CAN'T, is an advantage.

    Check out a movie called 'Something the Lord Made."
    It's about Dr Alfred Blalock, the surgeon that performed the very first heart surgery, in 1944. Prior, all surgery students were taught "Do Not Touch The Heart!'
    The surgical procedures were not invented by Dr Blalock, but actually developed by his lab assistant, who never went to college, had no medical training other than reading, and was a former skilled carpenter. This brilliant lab and surgical technician, even after the world acclaimed Dr Blalock's success, could not walk through the front doors of John Hopkins. Had to go around back. If you guess he was black, you are correct.
    His name is Dr Vivien Thomas. Eventually, his contributions were recognized, and 30 years later, John Hopkins awarded him an honorary doctorate.
    Genius isn't restricted to people with degrees.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivien_Thomas

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3du3JcmUe4&list=PLMZw3Hb624io5lSpgRLtt328NfBfQq4W7
     

  15. rwatson
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    rwatson Senior Member


    No - sorry!!! Get your mind back inside the cockpit. You cant be a mental wandered like me :D
     
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