SloopJohnB 322 Posted September 14, 2010 Share Posted September 14, 2010 WAGO 758 Series IPCs are managing solar energy for Tûranor PlanetSolar, the world's largest solar-powered boat. Conceived by Raphaël Domjan, a Swiss eco-adventurer and PlanetSolar founder, Tûranor is a catamaran research vessel for solar power utilization. Tûranor will embark on a solar-powered 2011 worldwide tour, with planned stops in San Francisco and New York City. According to PlanetSolar, the 2011 tour will be the first solar-powered circumnavigation by any means of transport. Gleaming with 500+ sq. meters of photovoltaic panels and packing 11 tons of batteries (with chassis), including the 388V lithium ion (NCA) battery, Tûranor is a showcase for solar power advancements and sustainable transport. To support the multi-hull ship's planned average speed of 7.5 knots over 31,069 miles and 140 days, WAGO supplied three 758 Series IPCs with control functionality and electrical components. WAGO IPCs control charging for three batteries and ten Drivetek Maximum Power Pick Trackers (MPPT) via 13 CAN buscouplers. These high-end DC/DC converters improve the PV panels' solar absorption — vital for the fixed, deck-mounted PV panels. This also helps ensure safety for the four-member crew as Tûranor has no gasoline backups for steering/propulsion. WAGO's electrical components feature vibration- and thermal cycling-resistant, gas-tight connections for reliability in harsh marine environments. WAGO is the leader in spring pressure connection technology that eliminates loose wires resulting from vibration and temperature cycling, while providing highly reliable, corrosion-resistant and maintenance-free connections. For additional information, visit http://www.wago.us. Contact WAGO at 1-800-DIN-RAIL or info.us@wago.com. Switzerland-based PlanetSolar SA is an international project, whose team includes physicists, engineers, boat builders and a number of environmental protection specialists. The record-making voyage will promote use of solar power and sustainable development. The €10 million Tûranor is financed by German investor and solar power leader, Immo Ströher; his goal is to advance practical usage of solar power for applications such as shipping. Derived from the J.R.R. Tolkien Lord of the Rings saga, the ship's name "Tûranor" translates into "the power of the sun." ### Link to post Share on other sites
Atom Ant 0 Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 Those white things at the bottom of the photo - are they people? If so that is one BIG boat! Link to post Share on other sites
ec12nz 1 Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 If you Google the name there are many more pics around that show it is 1 damn ugly boat - 33m long and 15m wide. The pic above is probably the one that is least ugly Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 Shes 33m long and yet can only average 7.5kts. That's rediculous. This flamin Eco business. These people are either idiots or con-artists. There is nothing "green" in any of this stuff and Solar, at least this kind of panel, is still way off the mark. There is some new designs on the bench at the mo that will change things dramaticaly, but these panels above are not even the latest in what is actually available. So I don't really know what these guys are playing at. Sure i am all for pusing envelopes etc which creates advancements, but they are hardly doing that either. They have off the shelf components that are all a "known". My thoughts are, this guy has just had a $30mill boat biult for him under the pretence it is a development project. Link to post Share on other sites
Atom Ant 0 Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 And if one panel is obscured by say someone sunbathing on deck the top speed will reduce by 50% Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 And if one panel is obscured by say someone sunbathing on deck the top speed will reduce by 50% Depends on who is sunbathing... Why not just get a sailboat??? Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 Maybe it should be wacko. If you are interested in Eco, Check out masdarcity.com Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 Why not just get a sailboat??? Because they can't see the woods for the tree's. Link to post Share on other sites
SloopJohnB 322 Posted September 15, 2010 Author Share Posted September 15, 2010 Now I can see why yachts with black sails are fast, the sails are made up of photovoltic material driving a small elctric motor turning the propellor. Link to post Share on other sites
SloopJohnB 322 Posted September 30, 2010 Author Share Posted September 30, 2010 Here we are guys on the water. http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?Nid ... =118&rid=6 The 31m solar powered, carbon fibre wavepiercer catamaran 'Turanor Planet Solar', designed by New Zealand's Auckland-based LOMOcean Design Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 And it can double as an Aircraft carrier for Solar powered Aricraft. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.