Propulsion Systems
$begingroup$
In my world, 500 years in the future; my population fit anti-gravity engines to salvaged boats as a form of transport. These transports fly close to the earths surface, and are powered by sails made of a highly efficient solar panel system rigged as sails.
I'm struggling to come up with a design to propel the boats along, and the only concept that I can think of is propellers driven by electric engines.
Is there a more efficient/effective engine design that I can utilise?
Limitations:
- Fossil Fuels are depleted, and cannot be used.
- The largest of transports being Cargo Ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots, and the smallest at a minimum of 45 knots.
- Fuel sources required for the engine must be in abundant supply and easy to manufacture or contain, or if a reactor is required - able to be stationed onboard the vessel and be maintained by an engineer.
- The engine run as cleanly as possible. (As little emissions as possible)
science-based engineering vehicles
asked 4 hours ago
Lucas A.Lucas A.
3368
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In my world, 500 years in the future; my population fit anti-gravity engines to salvaged boats as a form of transport. These transports fly close to the earths surface, and are powered by sails made of a highly efficient solar panel system rigged as sails.
I'm struggling to come up with a design to propel the boats along, and the only concept that I can think of is propellers driven by electric engines.
Is there a more efficient/effective engine design that I can utilise?
Limitations:
- Fossil Fuels are depleted, and cannot be used.
- The largest of transports being Cargo Ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots, and the smallest at a minimum of 45 knots.
- Fuel sources required for the engine must be in abundant supply and easy to manufacture or contain, or if a reactor is required - able to be stationed onboard the vessel and be maintained by an engineer.
- The engine run as cleanly as possible. (As little emissions as possible)
science-based engineering vehicles
asked 4 hours ago
Lucas A.Lucas A.
3368
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
"Cargo ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots": you do realize that this makes them go three times as fast as our present cargo ships powered by burning fuel oil? No cargo ship ever has maintained an average speed of 25 knots: sailing ships couldn't, and steamers wouldn't because of the vast amounts of fuel required.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In my world, 500 years in the future; my population fit anti-gravity engines to salvaged boats as a form of transport. These transports fly close to the earths surface, and are powered by sails made of a highly efficient solar panel system rigged as sails.
I'm struggling to come up with a design to propel the boats along, and the only concept that I can think of is propellers driven by electric engines.
Is there a more efficient/effective engine design that I can utilise?
Limitations:
- Fossil Fuels are depleted, and cannot be used.
- The largest of transports being Cargo Ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots, and the smallest at a minimum of 45 knots.
- Fuel sources required for the engine must be in abundant supply and easy to manufacture or contain, or if a reactor is required - able to be stationed onboard the vessel and be maintained by an engineer.
- The engine run as cleanly as possible. (As little emissions as possible)
science-based engineering vehicles
asked 4 hours ago
Lucas A.Lucas A.
3368
$endgroup$
In my world, 500 years in the future; my population fit anti-gravity engines to salvaged boats as a form of transport. These transports fly close to the earths surface, and are powered by sails made of a highly efficient solar panel system rigged as sails.
I'm struggling to come up with a design to propel the boats along, and the only concept that I can think of is propellers driven by electric engines.
Is there a more efficient/effective engine design that I can utilise?
Limitations:
- Fossil Fuels are depleted, and cannot be used.
- The largest of transports being Cargo Ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots, and the smallest at a minimum of 45 knots.
- Fuel sources required for the engine must be in abundant supply and easy to manufacture or contain, or if a reactor is required - able to be stationed onboard the vessel and be maintained by an engineer.
- The engine run as cleanly as possible. (As little emissions as possible)
science-based engineering vehicles
science-based engineering vehicles
asked 4 hours ago
Lucas A.Lucas A.
3368
asked 4 hours ago
Lucas A.Lucas A.
3368
asked 4 hours ago
Lucas A.Lucas A.
3368
asked 4 hours ago
Lucas A.Lucas A.
3368
asked 4 hours ago
Lucas A.Lucas A.
3368
3368
$begingroup$
"Cargo ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots": you do realize that this makes them go three times as fast as our present cargo ships powered by burning fuel oil? No cargo ship ever has maintained an average speed of 25 knots: sailing ships couldn't, and steamers wouldn't because of the vast amounts of fuel required.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
"Cargo ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots": you do realize that this makes them go three times as fast as our present cargo ships powered by burning fuel oil? No cargo ship ever has maintained an average speed of 25 knots: sailing ships couldn't, and steamers wouldn't because of the vast amounts of fuel required.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
"Cargo ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots": you do realize that this makes them go three times as fast as our present cargo ships powered by burning fuel oil? No cargo ship ever has maintained an average speed of 25 knots: sailing ships couldn't, and steamers wouldn't because of the vast amounts of fuel required.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
"Cargo ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots": you do realize that this makes them go three times as fast as our present cargo ships powered by burning fuel oil? No cargo ship ever has maintained an average speed of 25 knots: sailing ships couldn't, and steamers wouldn't because of the vast amounts of fuel required.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
3 hours ago
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Fossil Fuels are depleted, and cannot be used.
The largest of transports being Cargo Ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots, and the smallest at a minimum of 45 knots.
Fuel sources required for the engine must be in abundant supply and easy to manufacture or contain, or if a reactor is required - able to be stationed onboard the vessel and be maintained by an engineer.
The engine run as cleanly as possible. (As little emissions as possible)
Hydrogen powered jet engines.
In respective order to each requirement:
- Not fossils;
- More powerful than diesel, and most other fuels. This is literally rocket fuel. So you may go much faster or farther for the same amount of fuel mass;
- Just electrolyze water. About 0.0003% of the mass of the planet is just oceans. You may use nuclear plants power to break water into fuel and oxidizer at large scale, serving millions of vehicles regionally - or car-sized and larger vessels may use small, solar powered electrolyzers (might take days to refill a tank in this way, though).
- Your exhaust is literally steam.
answered 4 hours ago
RenanRenan
49.5k13115249
$endgroup$
3
$begingroup$
The OP wanted low/no emissions. Your plan spews Dihydrogen Monoxide everywhere!!!!
$endgroup$
– ShadoCat
4 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
@ShadoCat Not the dreaded Dihydrogen Monoxide, it will kill us all one day!
$endgroup$
– Lucas A.
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Renan For curiosities sake, once the water has been electrolysed can it be used as drinking water, or used in Agriculture? In places of water scarcity its quite valuable.
$endgroup$
– Lucas A.
4 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@LucasA., The water gets ripped into the two gasses when it is separated. However, if you can condense the waste steam from burning it, that is as close to chemically pure water as you are going to get.
$endgroup$
– ShadoCat
4 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@LucasA. adding to what ShadoCat said: that water is so pure it may actually harm living beings due to osmosis. You may need to add salts to it.
$endgroup$
– Renan
4 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
$begingroup$
From OP. /and are powered by sails/
They have sails!
I know you are using your sails as solar panels which is excellent. They can still be regular sails. Boats have a long history of successfully being propelled by sails.
A problem with steering a sail airship is lack of contact with the water. Regular sailboats have a rudder and I am not sure that will work 100% in the air. You could have a super long blade like air keel.
If you are wind powered that leaves open the question of what you are using your electricity to do. Keg fridge?
answered 3 hours ago
WillkWillk
111k26208464
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Windspeeds at high altitdue do reach hundreds of mph, so sails might work. Also airplanes do have rudders and so do airships.
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
You can steer with electric propellers. Some solar panels and batteries, and tail propellers line a helicooter and you are set.
$endgroup$
– Renan
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Not long a go a paper was released with the concept of an solid state propulsion for aeroplanes.
It works by creating a electical field in the wings, as they contain high-voltage electrodes. Nitrogen in the air gets ionized by the electic field and transports the charge from the front of the wing to the back of it. By that, the Nitrogen can collide with the rest of the air and pushes the air backwards, creating a backwards force and thus propels the aeroplane forward.
Biggest Problem might be to get the voltage to create enough propulsion for bigger ships, but else this is as carbon neutral as it gets.
answered 1 hour ago
PSquallPSquall
46616
$endgroup$
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Fossil Fuels are depleted, and cannot be used.
The largest of transports being Cargo Ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots, and the smallest at a minimum of 45 knots.
Fuel sources required for the engine must be in abundant supply and easy to manufacture or contain, or if a reactor is required - able to be stationed onboard the vessel and be maintained by an engineer.
The engine run as cleanly as possible. (As little emissions as possible)
Hydrogen powered jet engines.
In respective order to each requirement:
- Not fossils;
- More powerful than diesel, and most other fuels. This is literally rocket fuel. So you may go much faster or farther for the same amount of fuel mass;
- Just electrolyze water. About 0.0003% of the mass of the planet is just oceans. You may use nuclear plants power to break water into fuel and oxidizer at large scale, serving millions of vehicles regionally - or car-sized and larger vessels may use small, solar powered electrolyzers (might take days to refill a tank in this way, though).
- Your exhaust is literally steam.
answered 4 hours ago
RenanRenan
49.5k13115249
$endgroup$
3
$begingroup$
The OP wanted low/no emissions. Your plan spews Dihydrogen Monoxide everywhere!!!!
$endgroup$
– ShadoCat
4 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
@ShadoCat Not the dreaded Dihydrogen Monoxide, it will kill us all one day!
$endgroup$
– Lucas A.
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Renan For curiosities sake, once the water has been electrolysed can it be used as drinking water, or used in Agriculture? In places of water scarcity its quite valuable.
$endgroup$
– Lucas A.
4 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@LucasA., The water gets ripped into the two gasses when it is separated. However, if you can condense the waste steam from burning it, that is as close to chemically pure water as you are going to get.
$endgroup$
– ShadoCat
4 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@LucasA. adding to what ShadoCat said: that water is so pure it may actually harm living beings due to osmosis. You may need to add salts to it.
$endgroup$
– Renan
4 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
$begingroup$
Fossil Fuels are depleted, and cannot be used.
The largest of transports being Cargo Ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots, and the smallest at a minimum of 45 knots.
Fuel sources required for the engine must be in abundant supply and easy to manufacture or contain, or if a reactor is required - able to be stationed onboard the vessel and be maintained by an engineer.
The engine run as cleanly as possible. (As little emissions as possible)
Hydrogen powered jet engines.
In respective order to each requirement:
- Not fossils;
- More powerful than diesel, and most other fuels. This is literally rocket fuel. So you may go much faster or farther for the same amount of fuel mass;
- Just electrolyze water. About 0.0003% of the mass of the planet is just oceans. You may use nuclear plants power to break water into fuel and oxidizer at large scale, serving millions of vehicles regionally - or car-sized and larger vessels may use small, solar powered electrolyzers (might take days to refill a tank in this way, though).
- Your exhaust is literally steam.
answered 4 hours ago
RenanRenan
49.5k13115249
$endgroup$
3
$begingroup$
The OP wanted low/no emissions. Your plan spews Dihydrogen Monoxide everywhere!!!!
$endgroup$
– ShadoCat
4 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
@ShadoCat Not the dreaded Dihydrogen Monoxide, it will kill us all one day!
$endgroup$
– Lucas A.
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Renan For curiosities sake, once the water has been electrolysed can it be used as drinking water, or used in Agriculture? In places of water scarcity its quite valuable.
$endgroup$
– Lucas A.
4 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@LucasA., The water gets ripped into the two gasses when it is separated. However, if you can condense the waste steam from burning it, that is as close to chemically pure water as you are going to get.
$endgroup$
– ShadoCat
4 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@LucasA. adding to what ShadoCat said: that water is so pure it may actually harm living beings due to osmosis. You may need to add salts to it.
$endgroup$
– Renan
4 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
$begingroup$
Fossil Fuels are depleted, and cannot be used.
The largest of transports being Cargo Ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots, and the smallest at a minimum of 45 knots.
Fuel sources required for the engine must be in abundant supply and easy to manufacture or contain, or if a reactor is required - able to be stationed onboard the vessel and be maintained by an engineer.
The engine run as cleanly as possible. (As little emissions as possible)
Hydrogen powered jet engines.
In respective order to each requirement:
- Not fossils;
- More powerful than diesel, and most other fuels. This is literally rocket fuel. So you may go much faster or farther for the same amount of fuel mass;
- Just electrolyze water. About 0.0003% of the mass of the planet is just oceans. You may use nuclear plants power to break water into fuel and oxidizer at large scale, serving millions of vehicles regionally - or car-sized and larger vessels may use small, solar powered electrolyzers (might take days to refill a tank in this way, though).
- Your exhaust is literally steam.
answered 4 hours ago
RenanRenan
49.5k13115249
$endgroup$
Fossil Fuels are depleted, and cannot be used.
The largest of transports being Cargo Ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots, and the smallest at a minimum of 45 knots.
Fuel sources required for the engine must be in abundant supply and easy to manufacture or contain, or if a reactor is required - able to be stationed onboard the vessel and be maintained by an engineer.
The engine run as cleanly as possible. (As little emissions as possible)
Hydrogen powered jet engines.
In respective order to each requirement:
- Not fossils;
- More powerful than diesel, and most other fuels. This is literally rocket fuel. So you may go much faster or farther for the same amount of fuel mass;
- Just electrolyze water. About 0.0003% of the mass of the planet is just oceans. You may use nuclear plants power to break water into fuel and oxidizer at large scale, serving millions of vehicles regionally - or car-sized and larger vessels may use small, solar powered electrolyzers (might take days to refill a tank in this way, though).
- Your exhaust is literally steam.
answered 4 hours ago
RenanRenan
49.5k13115249
edited 4 hours ago
answered 4 hours ago
RenanRenan
49.5k13115249
answered 4 hours ago
RenanRenan
49.5k13115249
answered 4 hours ago
RenanRenan
49.5k13115249
49.5k13115249
3
$begingroup$
The OP wanted low/no emissions. Your plan spews Dihydrogen Monoxide everywhere!!!!
$endgroup$
– ShadoCat
4 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
@ShadoCat Not the dreaded Dihydrogen Monoxide, it will kill us all one day!
$endgroup$
– Lucas A.
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Renan For curiosities sake, once the water has been electrolysed can it be used as drinking water, or used in Agriculture? In places of water scarcity its quite valuable.
$endgroup$
– Lucas A.
4 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@LucasA., The water gets ripped into the two gasses when it is separated. However, if you can condense the waste steam from burning it, that is as close to chemically pure water as you are going to get.
$endgroup$
– ShadoCat
4 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@LucasA. adding to what ShadoCat said: that water is so pure it may actually harm living beings due to osmosis. You may need to add salts to it.
$endgroup$
– Renan
4 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
3
$begingroup$
The OP wanted low/no emissions. Your plan spews Dihydrogen Monoxide everywhere!!!!
$endgroup$
– ShadoCat
4 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
@ShadoCat Not the dreaded Dihydrogen Monoxide, it will kill us all one day!
$endgroup$
– Lucas A.
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Renan For curiosities sake, once the water has been electrolysed can it be used as drinking water, or used in Agriculture? In places of water scarcity its quite valuable.
$endgroup$
– Lucas A.
4 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@LucasA., The water gets ripped into the two gasses when it is separated. However, if you can condense the waste steam from burning it, that is as close to chemically pure water as you are going to get.
$endgroup$
– ShadoCat
4 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@LucasA. adding to what ShadoCat said: that water is so pure it may actually harm living beings due to osmosis. You may need to add salts to it.
$endgroup$
– Renan
4 hours ago
3
3
$begingroup$
The OP wanted low/no emissions. Your plan spews Dihydrogen Monoxide everywhere!!!!
$endgroup$
– ShadoCat
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
The OP wanted low/no emissions. Your plan spews Dihydrogen Monoxide everywhere!!!!
$endgroup$
– ShadoCat
4 hours ago
3
3
$begingroup$
@ShadoCat Not the dreaded Dihydrogen Monoxide, it will kill us all one day!
$endgroup$
– Lucas A.
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@ShadoCat Not the dreaded Dihydrogen Monoxide, it will kill us all one day!
$endgroup$
– Lucas A.
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Renan For curiosities sake, once the water has been electrolysed can it be used as drinking water, or used in Agriculture? In places of water scarcity its quite valuable.
$endgroup$
– Lucas A.
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Renan For curiosities sake, once the water has been electrolysed can it be used as drinking water, or used in Agriculture? In places of water scarcity its quite valuable.
$endgroup$
– Lucas A.
4 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
@LucasA., The water gets ripped into the two gasses when it is separated. However, if you can condense the waste steam from burning it, that is as close to chemically pure water as you are going to get.
$endgroup$
– ShadoCat
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@LucasA., The water gets ripped into the two gasses when it is separated. However, if you can condense the waste steam from burning it, that is as close to chemically pure water as you are going to get.
$endgroup$
– ShadoCat
4 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
@LucasA. adding to what ShadoCat said: that water is so pure it may actually harm living beings due to osmosis. You may need to add salts to it.
$endgroup$
– Renan
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@LucasA. adding to what ShadoCat said: that water is so pure it may actually harm living beings due to osmosis. You may need to add salts to it.
$endgroup$
– Renan
4 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
$begingroup$
From OP. /and are powered by sails/
They have sails!
I know you are using your sails as solar panels which is excellent. They can still be regular sails. Boats have a long history of successfully being propelled by sails.
A problem with steering a sail airship is lack of contact with the water. Regular sailboats have a rudder and I am not sure that will work 100% in the air. You could have a super long blade like air keel.
If you are wind powered that leaves open the question of what you are using your electricity to do. Keg fridge?
answered 3 hours ago
WillkWillk
111k26208464
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Windspeeds at high altitdue do reach hundreds of mph, so sails might work. Also airplanes do have rudders and so do airships.
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
You can steer with electric propellers. Some solar panels and batteries, and tail propellers line a helicooter and you are set.
$endgroup$
– Renan
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
From OP. /and are powered by sails/
They have sails!
I know you are using your sails as solar panels which is excellent. They can still be regular sails. Boats have a long history of successfully being propelled by sails.
A problem with steering a sail airship is lack of contact with the water. Regular sailboats have a rudder and I am not sure that will work 100% in the air. You could have a super long blade like air keel.
If you are wind powered that leaves open the question of what you are using your electricity to do. Keg fridge?
answered 3 hours ago
WillkWillk
111k26208464
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Windspeeds at high altitdue do reach hundreds of mph, so sails might work. Also airplanes do have rudders and so do airships.
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
You can steer with electric propellers. Some solar panels and batteries, and tail propellers line a helicooter and you are set.
$endgroup$
– Renan
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
From OP. /and are powered by sails/
They have sails!
I know you are using your sails as solar panels which is excellent. They can still be regular sails. Boats have a long history of successfully being propelled by sails.
A problem with steering a sail airship is lack of contact with the water. Regular sailboats have a rudder and I am not sure that will work 100% in the air. You could have a super long blade like air keel.
If you are wind powered that leaves open the question of what you are using your electricity to do. Keg fridge?
answered 3 hours ago
WillkWillk
111k26208464
$endgroup$
From OP. /and are powered by sails/
They have sails!
I know you are using your sails as solar panels which is excellent. They can still be regular sails. Boats have a long history of successfully being propelled by sails.
A problem with steering a sail airship is lack of contact with the water. Regular sailboats have a rudder and I am not sure that will work 100% in the air. You could have a super long blade like air keel.
If you are wind powered that leaves open the question of what you are using your electricity to do. Keg fridge?
answered 3 hours ago
WillkWillk
111k26208464
edited 3 hours ago
answered 3 hours ago
WillkWillk
111k26208464
answered 3 hours ago
WillkWillk
111k26208464
answered 3 hours ago
WillkWillk
111k26208464
111k26208464
$begingroup$
Windspeeds at high altitdue do reach hundreds of mph, so sails might work. Also airplanes do have rudders and so do airships.
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
You can steer with electric propellers. Some solar panels and batteries, and tail propellers line a helicooter and you are set.
$endgroup$
– Renan
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Windspeeds at high altitdue do reach hundreds of mph, so sails might work. Also airplanes do have rudders and so do airships.
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
You can steer with electric propellers. Some solar panels and batteries, and tail propellers line a helicooter and you are set.
$endgroup$
– Renan
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Windspeeds at high altitdue do reach hundreds of mph, so sails might work. Also airplanes do have rudders and so do airships.
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Windspeeds at high altitdue do reach hundreds of mph, so sails might work. Also airplanes do have rudders and so do airships.
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
You can steer with electric propellers. Some solar panels and batteries, and tail propellers line a helicooter and you are set.
$endgroup$
– Renan
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
You can steer with electric propellers. Some solar panels and batteries, and tail propellers line a helicooter and you are set.
$endgroup$
– Renan
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Not long a go a paper was released with the concept of an solid state propulsion for aeroplanes.
It works by creating a electical field in the wings, as they contain high-voltage electrodes. Nitrogen in the air gets ionized by the electic field and transports the charge from the front of the wing to the back of it. By that, the Nitrogen can collide with the rest of the air and pushes the air backwards, creating a backwards force and thus propels the aeroplane forward.
Biggest Problem might be to get the voltage to create enough propulsion for bigger ships, but else this is as carbon neutral as it gets.
answered 1 hour ago
PSquallPSquall
46616
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Not long a go a paper was released with the concept of an solid state propulsion for aeroplanes.
It works by creating a electical field in the wings, as they contain high-voltage electrodes. Nitrogen in the air gets ionized by the electic field and transports the charge from the front of the wing to the back of it. By that, the Nitrogen can collide with the rest of the air and pushes the air backwards, creating a backwards force and thus propels the aeroplane forward.
Biggest Problem might be to get the voltage to create enough propulsion for bigger ships, but else this is as carbon neutral as it gets.
answered 1 hour ago
PSquallPSquall
46616
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Not long a go a paper was released with the concept of an solid state propulsion for aeroplanes.
It works by creating a electical field in the wings, as they contain high-voltage electrodes. Nitrogen in the air gets ionized by the electic field and transports the charge from the front of the wing to the back of it. By that, the Nitrogen can collide with the rest of the air and pushes the air backwards, creating a backwards force and thus propels the aeroplane forward.
Biggest Problem might be to get the voltage to create enough propulsion for bigger ships, but else this is as carbon neutral as it gets.
answered 1 hour ago
PSquallPSquall
46616
$endgroup$
Not long a go a paper was released with the concept of an solid state propulsion for aeroplanes.
It works by creating a electical field in the wings, as they contain high-voltage electrodes. Nitrogen in the air gets ionized by the electic field and transports the charge from the front of the wing to the back of it. By that, the Nitrogen can collide with the rest of the air and pushes the air backwards, creating a backwards force and thus propels the aeroplane forward.
Biggest Problem might be to get the voltage to create enough propulsion for bigger ships, but else this is as carbon neutral as it gets.
answered 1 hour ago
PSquallPSquall
46616
answered 1 hour ago
PSquallPSquall
46616
answered 1 hour ago
PSquallPSquall
46616
answered 1 hour ago
PSquallPSquall
46616
46616
add a comment |
add a comment |
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"Cargo ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots": you do realize that this makes them go three times as fast as our present cargo ships powered by burning fuel oil? No cargo ship ever has maintained an average speed of 25 knots: sailing ships couldn't, and steamers wouldn't because of the vast amounts of fuel required.
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– AlexP
3 hours ago