regeneration of energy reducing max speed
 

I believe Doug said something about regeneration reducing boat speed
by 1.5 to 2 kts. Actually, according to the solomon technologies
website, it's more like 0.5 to 1 knts.

"Regeneration does reduce maximum speed under sail since the energy
produced results in drag. We estimate the decrease to be anywhere from
one-half knot to a full knot. But average speed over time can be
maximized by taking advantage of throttle power to (1) increase
apparent wind through increased boat speed and (2) to work the large
diameter prop that keeps the boat powering through the lulls."

Jonathan

--
Capt. JG @@
www.sailnow.com

regeneration of energy reducing max speed
 

Jonathan Ganz wrote:
I believe Doug said something about regeneration reducing boat speed
by 1.5 to 2 kts.

Yes, I believe I did...

... Actually, according to the solomon technologies
website, it's more like 0.5 to 1 knts.

"Regeneration does reduce maximum speed under sail since the energy
produced results in drag. We estimate the decrease to be anywhere from
one-half knot to a full knot. But average speed over time can be
maximized by taking advantage of throttle power to (1) increase
apparent wind through increased boat speed and (2) to work the large
diameter prop that keeps the boat powering through the lulls."


Remember the rest of what I said? How fast would the same
amount of power drive the yacht forward if it were being
applied *to* the prop instead of being extracted from the
water going past the prop?

They might be right, I don't know for sure. But it's also in
their interest to understate the speed lost.

The best way to quantify the speed lost would be as a
percent of top potential speed in a given wind condition,
but it would take pretty extensive trials to get these numbers.

A way to make this process more efficient would be to have a
prop that couold have variable pitch. Bettr yet would be two
props, one for motoring & one for charging.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King