Small Vessel with Inboard Engine Retrofitting Concepts; Real Boat Tests, Laboratory Hybrid Drive Tests and Theoretical Studies

Abstract

The development of modern technologies and their increasing availability, as well as the falling costs of highly efficient propulsion systems and power sources, have resulted in electric or hybrid propulsions systems’ growing popularity for use on watercraft. Presented in the paper are design and lab tests of a prototype parallel hybrid propulsion system. It describes a concept of retrofitting a conventionally powered nine meter-long vessel with the system, and includes results of power and efficiency measurements, as well as calculations of the vessel’s operating range under the propulsion of its electric motor. The concept of adding of a solar panels array was studied.

50’ Sail Catamaran with Hybrid Propulsion, Design, Theoretical and Experimental Studies

“…The work carried out at the Gdańsk University of Technology has for years focused on low-emission propulsion systems, especially for smaller vessels [16] [17]. In later years, various designs of hybrid drive systems were developed, which were subjected to laboratory tests [18][19] [20][21]An extraordinary challenge was to design a new ferry with a plug-in hybrid [22][23], based on the example of which research was undertaken on the energy management of a vessel operating in undetermined states -on a short route [24].…”