Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: Current Ships now using Old Technology

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    East Coast of the United States
    Posts
    11,994

    Current Ships now using Old Technology

    New ships now use sails to increase fuel efficiency. A kite to be more exact.

    Huge kite fitted on container ship - Green Machines - MSNBC.com

    Discuss.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Sweden
    Posts
    842
    "current" ships?

    was that pun intended?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    New York City
    Posts
    2,056
    haha lol ^ good call
    Gone:
    09 Ducati Monster 696
    09 Audi Q5 3.2
    03 Infiniti G35 Sedan
    07 Honda Civic Coupe LX 5spd

    Current:
    10 BMW 335d
    12 Audi Q5 2.0t
    10 VW Jetta TDI
    11 Ducati Monster 796

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    East Coast of the United States
    Posts
    11,994
    Quote Originally Posted by aiasib View Post
    "current" ships?

    was that pun intended?
    No, I didn't notice that.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    GB
    Posts
    1,693
    Isn't that a bit like using a hand-held fan to make yourself more efficient on rollerskates?

    And wtf exactly is wrong with conventional sails, anyway?!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    True North
    Posts
    7,682
    They should put those on the battle ships....

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Stop looking at me! Look at me! Stop looking at me!
    Posts
    1,873
    That is _awesome_
    I dont if I'll make home tonight
    But I know I can swim
    under the Tahitian moon

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    East Coast of the United States
    Posts
    11,994
    Quote Originally Posted by VtecMini View Post
    Isn't that a bit like using a hand-held fan to make yourself more efficient on rollerskates?

    And wtf exactly is wrong with conventional sails, anyway?!
    Not really. The kite/sails are computer controlled, iirc.

    Wooden masts are hard to retrofit onto existing ships.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Western Sydney, Australia
    Posts
    11,112
    Kites can pull the ship in any direction, they dont get in the way of unloading/loading of the ship, and as mentioned, Retrofitting sails to ships that need that vertical space to hold its cargo is abit stupid

    I've been reading up on this kite guy.
    Weekly Quote -

    Dick

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    brisbane - sub-tropical land of mangoes
    Posts
    16,251
    strap one to a human.
    Andreas Preuninger, Manager of Porsche High Performance Cars: "Grandmas can use paddles. They aren't challenging."

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    nr Edinburgh, Whisky-soaked Scotland
    Posts
    27,775
    Why it makes sense .... On KiteTugs©
    "A woman without curves is like a road without bends, you might get to your destination quicker but the ride is boring as hell'

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    7,272
    Quote Originally Posted by VtecMini View Post
    And wtf exactly is wrong with conventional sails, anyway?!
    A big diesel engine is much easier, quicker and more reliable than sails.

    Air draft through Suez and Panama, as well as entrances into some harbours mean you cannot fit tall masts, so your maximum sail area is reduced.

    The hull shape is going to be a compromise - do you tailor it to work with sails and reduce volume, or increase volume and have an utterly hopeless sailing ship?

    What happens when there is no wind? You need an engine as an auxiliary power supply - so you already have an engine, transmission, fuel tanks...

    Even if there is wind - how do you get your 100,000 ton container ship to do 20kn in a 6kn headwind?

    As a prime mover, propellers have a huge number of advantages, but wind-assistance makes a lot of sense, and there have been no end of proposals for attaching appendages to cargo ships over the years - none of them ever seem to catch on.
    Thanks for all the fish

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Sweden
    Posts
    842
    these kite tugs are mainly for the open seas/international waters

    and their made to assist engines, not replace them

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Western Sydney, Australia
    Posts
    11,112
    exactly, They're designed (and proven) to reduce emmissions by up to 30% (on the test models) So the main voyage will be interesting to say the least.
    Weekly Quote -

    Dick

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Kyushu
    Posts
    6,039
    i dont see this as being likely to be installed on warships. we spend most of our time in busier areas near the coast. as such it would have several disadvantages. it would reduce visability, blocking out a big area of forward visibility. it would also not be affective if the wind was off your bow. seems like it would slow you down quite a bit, and actually reduce efficiency and speed. plus it also seems like it woudl be a big reflector of radar, and we like to be as invisible as possible.

    now, for the commercial world, who spend most of their time doing long open ocean transits, it could make perfect sense. as long as the wind worked with them. and if they stay operating in the major ocean currents, the wind will typically follow suit. unfortunately, the major ocean currents aren't the shortest distance between europe and the US. (i am not really familiar with Pacific routes, since i am an Atlantic sailor. but one of these days I hope to be stationed out there.)

    its a good idea, but i really don't see the benefits outweighing the costs.
    Honor. Courage. Commitment. Etcetera.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. F1 Technology Overrated?
    By What in forum Technical forums
    Replies: 54
    Last Post: 11-01-2008, 01:06 PM
  2. Best technology to replace current fossil-fuelled cars
    By Kooper in forum Car comparison
    Replies: 23
    Last Post: 03-10-2006, 07:22 PM
  3. Latest diesel technology for Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon
    By DarkPhenix in forum Multimedia
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 05-25-2004, 06:18 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •