Turbosail

Developed on the basis of an original idea of Prof. Lucien Malavard, the "wings" of Alcyone known as Cousteau-Pechiney Turbosails are a real revolution in the field of maritim transportation.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Cousteau
• Alcyone
• Ship
• Wind
• propulsion
• Sail

[pyramonitor]

Wing is also a windpower machine

[PaleHearse]

@frithwks

Yeah, it's time to start thinking outside the box for the next viable amazing ideas. These are always great to keep us thinking in that direction.

I did see where kites were being used to assist dogsleds..so there are lots of very practical applications hidden in the cracks when we apply what we already know in new directions.

I saw a very cool demonstration of uphill skiing using a parachute about 15 years ago. Brilliant when people think outside the box. Take care and thanks also.

[PaleHearse]

@frithwks

Na.. I think we're on the same "boat" as it were. Being an engineer myself I'm a bit jaded to those kinds of concepts. They are look good on a napkin but when you actually start to figure out how big or numerous they would have to be on a freighter or tanker reality sets in pretty quick. The concept, for example, wouldn't be all that different then seeing masts with solid sail wings all over one. When you look at videos of them in rough seas you see pretty quick why they don't do it.

[PaleHearse]

@frithwks

Tankers don't have sails. (grin)

There is.. I believe.. a reason for that. Sails and the more modern rigid wings have proven their efficiency but that efficiency has it's limits when applied to commercial vessels. That was what I meant by "speed". Now that said, there are a few larger applications of these types of sails. Alcyone was fairly sizable and brings us back to a true comparison. If you look at the specs for Alcyone she's not as fast as if she had sails and she uses fuel.

[PaleHearse]

@frithwks

That all depends on the cost of fuel compared to speed. So it all boils down to the same thing really.. is it worth the bother. All comes down to fuel cost and time of passage eventually.

I do hope they continue with the research into things like this and the solid wing sails though. It's important we continue to examine options.

[PaleHearse]

@frithwks

People want speed and it's still an engine. So as an engineering exercise it was great but the bottom line is that if you want a power vessel it's too slow and if you want a sailing vessel it needs fuel and a motor.

[clymbonboard]

No, it's not a rotor. The towers don't rotate. Instead, they have a fan at the top of the tower that draws air into the tower through holes.

[aaronlovespot]

wow aliens are real

[leviterande]

wtf is this turbosail I never find anything about it