Diesel/Electric Propulsion System Design - Have your say!

Discussion in 'Hybrid' started by CatBuilder, Sep 11, 2011.

  1. brian eiland
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    brian eiland Senior Member

    Cooking, NuWave Oven

    I have never liked electric ovens/cooktops myself....and on a boat where I would wish to cook without having to turn on a generator?

    I've often wondered how one of these units would work out?
    NuWave Oven

    Supposely more energy efficient....and I wouldn't think that would be difficult to outperform a conventional electric stove.

    http://www.mynuwaveoven.com/?ref_version=ppc-adwords&mkwid=skzFkGgrY&pcrid=8185502409&gclid=CL-V6_jC8asCFYHe4Aod9hZstQ
     
  2. CatBuilder

    CatBuilder Previous Member

    I agree, Brian.

    The primary reasons were to have no CO in the galley and to eliminate the moisture from cooking. I have decided that a large vent hood and fan will take care of those problems, allowing us to use propane cooking.
     
  3. brian eiland
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    brian eiland Senior Member

    I still might consider having one of these NuWave units on the counter if the inverter could handle the current?

    Wouldn't this unit also substitute nicely for a microwave oven that many of us have become accustomed to?
     
  4. FAST FRED
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    FAST FRED Senior Member

    Propane stoves are quite efficient , so unless you are running all 4 burners many many hours a day, with the boat all buttoned up, extra venting might never be used.
     
  5. michael pierzga
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    michael pierzga Senior Member

    If you will have a generator electric cooking is the logical choice. Propane bottle storage takes up precious space and refilling the tanks is a hassle.
     
  6. Yobarnacle
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    Yobarnacle Senior Member holding true course

    Howdy
    I'm new to the forumn and pleased to find it. To introduce myself, I am retired deep sea tug captain with 43 years experience towng all over the world. My wife and I own an electric powered 40 year old Albin 25 AK motorsailer. The electric drive is as simple as can be. Mounted in the original propeller aperture, attached to the keel, is a Minn Kota Riptide 160lb thrust trolling motor(2 motors and props). The small 2 blade plastic props have been replaced with 11 inch 5 bladed British Seagull Hydrofan props and propguard kort nozzles.The power cable runs up inside the former shaft log into the former engine box, now containing 10 12v batteries, Minn Kota speed control, and battery chargers.
    Under sail, the motors turn props at slow speed so there is zero drag and adds about 2 knots to our sail speed, up to about 8 knots. Never completely discharged batteries, but calculate at least 72 hours power motorsailing. We get about 5 knots without sails at full power, but don't use this mode often. Motors are water cooled and everything is off shelf.
     
  7. RayThackeray
    Joined: Apr 2011
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    RayThackeray Senior Member

    Electric cooking

    I would have never thought I would say this, but since I made the decision to install a dual diesel-electric hybrid drive, I'm going to have two efficient 25kW generators aboard where I would otherwise wouldn't have thought to have even one (with excellent wind and solar generation aboard!). Having a dual generator system means a very high level of confidence that power will always be available from just one fuel that's easy to keep topped up (propulsion diesel).

    That means from a holistic perspective, I'm forced to examine high-load electric appliances. I love cooking with gas and never really enjoyed electric ranges, but the thought of cutting out propane and the hassle of recharging tanks, running out at the most annoying times, eliminating the cost of the detection and alarm equipment etc., the idea starts to become attractive and more economical. Suddenly my large 4-tank propane locker becomes very useful for something else! Household electric cooktops are less than a quarter of the cost of any marine stove (I never bought into the idea of gimballed stoves anyway).

    Re-examining all my assumptions further, I find that I could even install a proven and cheap household < $250 continuous "tankless" instant-on hot water heating system, using energy far more efficiently than a more expensive calorifier/heater element tank and running the engine twice a day...

    Because I'm going to have a large house battery bank that will be propulsion-capable (an hour at half cruising speed 25kW!) then a lot of my incidental demand can come from the batteries, which hopefully will be recharged from renewable sources a lot of the time, just turning on a generator when the most efficient load is available including deep battery bank charging time.
     
    Last edited: Nov 13, 2011
  8. CatBuilder

    CatBuilder Previous Member

    Some good advantages, Ray. I really wish I could have gone with diesel electric, but the weight was too much for a performance catamaran. So many advantages...
     
  9. Mick@itc
    Joined: Jan 2011
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    Mick@itc Junior Member

    i keep hearing about this cat that has two 4.0rs on it, is there any info on this cat available?
     
  10. Mick@itc
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    Mick@itc Junior Member

    share

    So would you like to share the facts on weight with us...???:confused:

    Thanks
    Mick
     
  11. brian eiland
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    brian eiland Senior Member

    Electric & Hybrid Marine World Expo 2014

    Electric & Hybrid Marine World Expo 2014 - 24, 25, 26 June 2014 - Amsterdam, Netherlands

    From the publisher of Electric & Hybrid Marine Technology International

    Discover the future of marine propulsion!

    The conference of the year!

    Featuring more than 50 of the world's leading experts on the very latest and next-generation electric and hybrid marine propulsion technologies, components and solutions

    Conference programme and content put together by Electric & Hybrid Marine World Expo consultants Oskar Levander - Rolls-Royce Marine, Professor John Carlton - City University, Michael Maughan - General Atomics, Dirk Spiers - ATC New Technologies, and Graeme Hawksley - Hybrid Marine Ltd!

    Technical presentations and open discussions will explore the latest technologies and opportunities for expanding electric and hybrid propulsion technology and other onboard systems. Perspectives on economic drivers, case studies of specialised vessels, developments in batteries and energy storage, onboard integration and vessel design as well as the impact of alternative fuels will be discussed!

    PLUS: Entrance to the exhibition is free!
    More than 100 exhibitors are expected at Electric & Hybrid Marine World Expo, showcasing the latest battery technology, electric motors, hybrid and electric propulsion systems, fuel cell technology, LNG/hybrid systems and electrical systems.
     
  12. powerabout
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    powerabout Senior Member

    I think it works if you have a high performance cat that can regen or you need to find some downhill water...
     
  13. waikikin
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    waikikin Senior Member

    Sounds great Brian,
    wish it was closer to home(for me).
    I wonder if Catbuilder will be presenting at the conference?:rolleyes:
    Jeff.
     
  14. AndySGray
    Joined: Jun 2014
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    AndySGray Senior Member

    Fixed Speed Motor and Controlable pitch props

    Although CatBuilder has made his decision. I've just found, and really enjoyed reading this thread and I'm sure it has and will continue to inspire others.

    I like the concept of the single power source for multiple 'devices' and while CatBuilder was pretty adamant about it having to be removeable for his set of circumstances, for those with more leeway on that issue it could be a possible to achieve using an off the shelf fixed speed motors with suitable reduction gears to standard shaft arrangements with controllable pitch props. (for each hull).

    In perfect sailing conditions the prop is feathered / motors off, and though there will be some minimal drag in those circumstances, the net simplicity and benefits over the remainder of the range of 'normal' operating conditions would outweigh that.

    When sailing in Diesel electric mode the motors are running at their set speed and the prop pitch is tuned to optimise speed vs. Genny load.

    plus you have individually controlled, infinitely variable twin props for docking.


    "'the better idea', by definition, can only exist once you already have some good and bad ideas on the table - the hard part is working out which is which"
     

  15. Yobarnacle
    Joined: Nov 2011
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    Yobarnacle Senior Member holding true course

    Glad you are resurrecting this thread. My Minnkota experiment posted November 2011 above, the controller fried, long before expected. I have a different diesel/electric arrangement now. I'll post about it later in fall when I pull boats out of storage again.
     
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