On Nov 22, 9:40*am, Wayne.B wrote:
On Mon, 22 Nov 2010 07:21:00 -0800 (PST), Joe

wrote:
Now directly couple a motor/generator that consists of a stator
winding employing a high pole count configuration, which allows for
high copper utilization (minimizing energy loss and cost), and a
hollow rotor upon which powerful rare earth permanent magnets are
mounted on the outer circumference coupled to a variable pitch prop
system and you can pump out some serious energy. The city buses that
are using these moters claim they capture 97% of the kinetic energy
developed while stopping.

Regardless of the capture mechanism, even at 100% efficiency, there is
only so much energy in a moving column of water and it is not a big
number when you are moving at sailing speeds. *Now if you could get
that same column of water rolling down the side of a 1,000 ft
mountain, that's a whole different story. * :-)

I'm going to have to disagree with you Wayne. The amount of energy
coming off a shaft at sailing speed can be huge. The drag can be
offset by canvas with ease on a non-planing hull. If you capture 1 rpm
of energy for every 4 rmp's generated by sail, and can store that
energy you have a system that can work.

Now if a bus can capture 97% of the kinetic energy by stopping then
why can't a prop do the same ?
About the smallest CVP system available is in the high 30's low 40"
diameter.
You ever chain down a shaft to a 40" prop? You better have some strong
chain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KSnH6DFA94 Not quite a 1000 ft drop
but plenty of power to harness.

Joe