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Anyone ever used windmills to generate propulsion?
Just an off-the-wall question, and couldn't think of anywhere else to
send it to I was thinking a while ago that one or several windmills could harness the energy of the wind as much as sails, and also be made to continue providing power to a drive shaft and propellor even when the wind is blowing in any direction, by turning the face of the windmill(s) into the wind. Possibly more expensive, but much simpler to operate, because a ships's pilot would just allow the windmill's sails to turn, and then decide how much torque to accept, and then steer it with the rudder as per normal. Is this a feasible idea? slvrspun :-) -- A place for everything, and everything in it's place. Samuel Smiles - Thrift, Ch 5, 1875 |
Anyone ever used windmills to generate propulsion?
On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 05:35:33 GMT, Scott Sexton wrote:
The Cousteau vessel the Alcyone uses similar propulsion. http://www.cousteau.org/en/cousteau_...ne.php?sPlug=1 Also they are planning a second Calypso that will use the Turbosail propulson system: http://www.cousteau.org/en/heritage/...il.php?sPlug=1 and http://www.cousteau.org/en/cousteau_...o2.php?sPlug=1 Thanking you kindly :-) slvrspun -- A place for everything, and everything in it's place. Samuel Smiles - Thrift, Ch 5, 1875 |
Anyone ever used windmills to generate propulsion?
I believe sails are more efficient than an equivalent sized windmill, if you
are considering "lift to drag" ratios. This is irrelevant when the windmill is bolted to the ground, but important for a boat (unless it's at anchor). For instance, if you are generating electricity on a long cruise it's more efficient to have the sails push the boat and generate electricity from dragging a prop in the water than generate the same electricity from a windmill. There are additional engineering problems, such as centre of gravity, gyroscopic effects and "reefing" issues. Years ago I saw a Popular Science picture of a windmill cat with a long inclined shaft that ended in a prop in the water. It's best (and likely only) point of sail was straight into the wind. I have seen large vertical axis "egg beater" windmills in New Zealand. These would have many advantages over horizontal axis Propeller windmills for this application, but I've never seen them used on a boat, even for generators. I may be wrong, but I don't believe Cousteau's Turbosail captures and mechanical energy for the prop. I think it generates a net cyclonic flow around the mast/sail to increase "lift", the way the backspin on a golf ball creates lift. Apparently the broad, flat light "monocat" hull has such a high roll frequency that it incapacitates the crew with seasickness in snotty weather. I think there is a reason boats look like boats... at least boats that work like boats are supposed to... Bruce "slvrspun" wrote in message ... Just an off-the-wall question, and couldn't think of anywhere else to send it to I was thinking a while ago that one or several windmills could harness the energy of the wind as much as sails, and also be made to continue providing power to a drive shaft and propellor even when the wind is blowing in any direction, by turning the face of the windmill(s) into the wind. Possibly more expensive, but much simpler to operate, because a ships's pilot would just allow the windmill's sails to turn, and then decide how much torque to accept, and then steer it with the rudder as per normal. Is this a feasible idea? slvrspun :-) -- A place for everything, and everything in it's place. Samuel Smiles - Thrift, Ch 5, 1875 |
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