50 meter carbon neutral research vessel

Designer for a 50 meter, alternative energy powered, catamaran research vessel. Sails obviously. Couple of small submersibles, diving, etc. Combo research and passenger (volunteer researchers). Don't be concerned with the alternative energy systems.

 

I should mention that I'm serious but in the formative stage. I've built a 65' already. I'm pretty sure I know what I'm doing and that it will happen.

 

what is this about? what are you exacly looking for?
cheers

 

I'm with GYD.....What?

First off "carbon neutral" is unlikely. Perhaps if you head into the bush with a stone axe, cut down some trees and lash them together with bark ropes. But your volunteer's may balk at such a primitive situation? Then again maybe not?

Large complex vessels require manufactured materials to be constructed and maintained, they are not carbon neutral. Any ship design is a complex interrelated system, to work well everything must be considered because it is interdependent. The propulsion is dependent on the operating envelope, voyage length, construction material, speed, classification, number of passengers, and budget. These things can not be chosen in isolation.

When considering a vessel as you allude to, I would expect a very preliminary design statement to run at least four written pages, and probably more. Things like a description of the research to be undertaken, size and handling of submersibles, number and makeup of crew, extent of voyages, etc.

To be taken seriously you need to put out some effort.

 

Thanks for the info Tad. "If the phone doesn't ring. . . "

 

heh...

 

Sorry about that Tad.

What I'm looking for is people who are interested and experienced with large cats first of all.

While it may be true that there are no carbon neutral RV's out there, I think it's possible and necessary for the future. Accepting and embracing the possibility would be a second desirable quality.

 

It may be hard to get people here to give you more info after the way you slammed Tad for telling you the simple truth just because you did not want to hear it.

 

Carbon neutral...forgive my ignorance, but what EXACTLY does this entail in your scenario? Does this only mean that they alternative energy supplied would be enough to power the vessel and support the systems aboard? That aspect might be attainable (in moderate weather and temperatures).

Does it also include the construction of the vessel? If that is the case I really don't see how it is possible. Just the energy expenditure in forming steel and welding it together would be a carbon load that would be very difficult to reclaim with alternative energy. I would imagine that other construction methods (Fiberglass, Aluminum, etc.) would have large energy expenditures to construct.

If the research vessel is to work in warm weather I would think that the carbon un-friendly necessity of air conditioning would be necessary. The biggest problem with the whole 'Carbon Neutral' concept is the lack of real estate. How many 'carbon neutral' airplanes do you expect to ever see flying?

It is easier to do a carbon offset to whatever project you wish to have 'carbon neutral' by buying some land and planting trees to offset whatever you would need to balance out the whole equation. This is what some airlines are doing:

http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/company/profile/offset.aspx

--Chuck

 

what?

My 5th grader grandchild can write better coherent English than this.

SAT WHAT DUDE?

are you asking or telling
i am also serious about your "formative stage" it didnt

 

Chuck-
Start here- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_neutral

First let me say that I'm not going to get into a discussion about anthropogenic global warming or net energy of biofuels.

Being a working boat, with some high energy needs at times, like HP air compressors, concentrated storage in the form of liquid fuel will be necessary for the near term (biodiesel or vegetable oil).

Outside of that, when the boat is underway, yes, AE would support the vessel and systems.

Yes, it does include construction and the supply chain. You are correct if you are saying that material choice will need to be researched.

Actually, the best approach is from both ends. Reduce releases by smart design, construction, and operation, and offset the rest. There is also the very new concept of banking and reverse banking- releasing CO2 now that we will sequester in a few years.

Carbon neutrality is not hard to understand. It's simply sequestering the same amount of CO2 you release. For me, the jury is still out on the long term effect of forestation.

 

wouldnt an "offset" equal the "amount" and "time"?,,,,if you release say 100 cubic tons of co2 in a week (these numbers are just for ease) wouldnt an offset have to both offset the 100 tons,,and do it within a week?