Need feedback for my boat design

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by Collegekid, Jan 12, 2015.

  1. Collegekid
    Joined: Jan 2015
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    Location: United States

    Collegekid New Member

    Thank you for your help.
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2015
  2. John Perry
    Joined: Nov 2003
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    Location: South West UK

    John Perry Senior Member

    Do the rules of your competition allow the solar panels to be mounted at any orientation?

    Many years ago I saw a calculation that showed that under 'average' UK weather conditions a given area of solar panel could provide far more propulsive power to a boat if it were mounted vertically to act as a crude sail than it ever could if it were used to generate electricity and drive a water propeller. Of course there have been projects where solar panels have been been mounted on sails to work both ways.
     
  3. Collegekid
    Joined: Jan 2015
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    Location: United States

    Collegekid New Member

    The rules of this competition state that the boat should not exceed 5 feet in height, and we cannot have a sail. By placing the panels vertically, we will break both those rules. Our basic idea was that by positioning the panels horizontally, we will be able to catch more sunlight, and thus have more power for the motor to propel the boat.
     
  4. philSweet
    Joined: May 2008
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    Location: Beaufort, SC and H'ville, NC

    philSweet Senior Member


  5. Pericles
    Joined: Sep 2006
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    Location: Heights of High Wycombe, not far from River Thames

    Pericles Senior Member

    The inexpensive, thin, silvered emergency blankets that can be purchased at outdoors stores have a warning against using them whilst sunbathing as severe burns may be the result. Using that fact, by judiciously rigging them all around the solar panels to reflect & concentrate the sun's rays, they should enhance the generation of electricity. The fact that they also act as downwind sails is just an unforeseen & serendipitous coincidence. They'll be an upwind liability of course, so it's swings & roundabouts! It's how sun tunnels work.

    http://www.thesuntunnelcompany.co.uk/

    Against the rules? Nah! C'mon,,,,,,,,,,,,, c'mon,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,c'mon.

    Wear sunglasses, the sun tunnel interior is blinding as it bounces the light around inside itself.
     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2015
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