Posted on Oct 5, 2023
New technology uses good old-fashioned wind to power giant cargo vessels
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https://www.npr.org/2023/10/05/ [login to see] /wind-power-cargo-ships-carbon-emissions
Well over a century after the Age of Sail gave way to coal- and oil-burning ships, climate change concerns are prompting a new look at an old technology that could once again harness wind to propel commercial cargo ships — this time with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Imagine what looks like Boeing 747 wings with movable flaps, set vertically on a ship's deck. The vessel cruises under minimum power from its giant engine as computerized sensors adjust the fiberglass wings to take advantage of the wind's speed and direction. This wind-assisted propulsion saves a substantial amount of fuel and reduces the carbon belching from the ship's stack. Many experts think the idea has the potential to navigate the notoriously dirty shipping industry toward a greener future.
Well over a century after the Age of Sail gave way to coal- and oil-burning ships, climate change concerns are prompting a new look at an old technology that could once again harness wind to propel commercial cargo ships — this time with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Imagine what looks like Boeing 747 wings with movable flaps, set vertically on a ship's deck. The vessel cruises under minimum power from its giant engine as computerized sensors adjust the fiberglass wings to take advantage of the wind's speed and direction. This wind-assisted propulsion saves a substantial amount of fuel and reduces the carbon belching from the ship's stack. Many experts think the idea has the potential to navigate the notoriously dirty shipping industry toward a greener future.
New technology uses good old-fashioned wind to power giant cargo vessels
Posted from npr.org
Climate Change
Technology
Shipping
Posted 7 mo ago
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Now this is novel innovation. Using a 'wing', you provide "horizontal lift" instead of "vertical lift".
Just using straight up math, it appears that you could get a decent boost if you had a strong wind coming in from ~310° out of a full circle (basically as long as it wasn't coming at you from directly ahead or ~25° to either side).
Just using straight up math, it appears that you could get a decent boost if you had a strong wind coming in from ~310° out of a full circle (basically as long as it wasn't coming at you from directly ahead or ~25° to either side).
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
"The vessel cruises under minimum power from its giant engine as computerized sensors adjust the fiberglass wings to take advantage of the wind's speed and direction. This wind-assisted propulsion saves a substantial amount of fuel and reduces the carbon belching from the ship's stack."...
"The vessel cruises under minimum power from its giant engine as computerized sensors adjust the fiberglass wings to take advantage of the wind's speed and direction. This wind-assisted propulsion saves a substantial amount of fuel and reduces the carbon belching from the ship's stack."...
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