so why doesnt it work?

Discussion in 'Hybrid' started by jbehr, Sep 23, 2010.

  1. daiquiri
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    daiquiri Engineering and Design

    It is not necessary for a nut guy to go all the way to the weapon-grade purity of radioactive materials. Even a common medical radioactive waste can do a big mess in a densely populated area, should it be worked into dust and spread in air with, say, a dirty bomb. Guess that's why you'd get an FBI agent packed in the box if you tried to order a nuclear rector for personal use (at Ebay, perhaps? ;) :D ).
    Cheers
     
  2. PAR
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    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    By no means am I suggesting there isn't an inherent danger to these types of things. The level of difficulty, even considering the absolute destruction of the checks and balances that were in place before the break up of the USSR, at acquiring these materials gives one an idea of who well acknowledged the dangers are. Even as corrupt as several of the atomic capable governments seem to be, you'd think that by now, some one would have purchased enough radioactive material to put a dirty bomb in Tel Aviv, New York or Washington DC. Since this hasn't happened, it seems a fairly good bet that even Pakistan's worst isn't selling these materials to wealthy Arabs bent on the destruction of Zion or the west.
     
  3. WestVanHan
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    WestVanHan Not a Senior Member

  4. HughGWrecktion
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    HughGWrecktion Junior Member

    Yeah, I don't think nuclear is ever going to be solution for marine propulsion except military vessels, and a few icebreakers. Also, I'm sure you're well aware that they use a conventional nuclear reactor with a steam turbine to drive the propeller through reduction gear, skipping the electrical part all together. It's always good to have a hypothetical discussion though.
     
  5. CDK
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    CDK retired engineer

    Just saw on TV the German designed "PLANET SOLAR TURANOR" started its journey around the world on solar energy only. Somehow this forum missed the event completely.

    This is yesterday's log:
    ------------------
    28 September 2010

    18.00 hrs and the wind today was stronger than we expected; our speed has been between 25 and 30 knots and the oceans have been quite rough. We are now passing by Marseille; the batteries are loaded to 84 percent. Approximately one hour ago a French customs helicopter passed by, shortly saying hello by stopping next to us. On board everything is going well, although we are actually quite tired from the intensive days of preparation for our departure.

    Best
    Raphaël
    --------------------

    Is this really happening????
     
  6. apex1

    apex1 Guest

  7. mark775

    mark775 Guest

    What did I miss? It says that the speed is more than its maximum speed (14kts. vs 25 to 30 kts).
     
  8. apex1

    apex1 Guest

    You missed that they did not manage to cross the Bay of Biscaine on the trip to the Med. They had some clouds..........................
     
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  9. MikeJohns
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    MikeJohns Senior Member

    Interesting article on an installed fuel cell

    Page44 of July's Ship repair journal.

    Online here:
    http://shiprepairjournal.com/back_issues/srj-junejuly-2010.pdf

    Wärtsilä installs fuel cell
    unit on vessel
    Wärtsilä’s WFC20 fuel cell unit has been
    installed onboard the Undine, a car carrier,
    owned by Swedish Wallenius Lines and
    managed by Wallenius Marine. This unique
    power unit is the first of its kind in the world..........................
     
  10. MikeJohns
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    MikeJohns Senior Member

    Not the best in terms of safety. We'd dread those heavy black clouds and approaching front even more.
     
  11. powerabout
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    powerabout Senior Member

  12. powerabout
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    powerabout Senior Member

  13. apex1

    apex1 Guest

    Safety was not part of the SOR I guess. A ironing board gone wild, needs no safety. Just sun........

    On a solar sled around the North Pole in 2 minutes (optimal around the 21. of June) would have been a circumnavigation too.......................
     
  14. MatthewDS
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    MatthewDS Senior Member

    @Powerabout

    The questions isn't really about whether it works or not, but whether it is more efficient than a straight diesel system.

    It appears that in the example you linked to, that they are using wind power to charge up a small battery bank. If intermittent motoring is all that is required, then this system may work fine.

    However, if they find themselves running off the diesel generator, they will use far more fuel than if they had just gotten a standard powerplant in the first place.

    I will be the first person to jump on a hybrid system when they are comparable in cost to a standard setup, however, at present, they involve high costs and/or unacceptable compromises.
     

  15. powerabout
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    powerabout Senior Member

    It looks like it could work for a yacht but not for a powerboat until we find down hill water
     
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