3 ms·
A lot of large ships use air lubrication systems to reduce fuel use, it's typically a system of compressors connected to ports with lots of tiny holes at the bo
by moffkalast 3y ago
A lot of large ships use air lubrication systems to reduce fuel use, it's typically a system of compressors connected to ports with lots of tiny holes at the bottom of the hull. As I understand it, it reduces effective wetted area and thus surface tension drag.
So if you used a wind turbine to drive the compressor then it's fair game I guess? Maybe that makes it more of a windmill ship than a sailboat though.
- MengerSponge 3y agoYou could just have a dude on an exercise bike powering the compressor too. A well-conditioned athlete can sustain 300 watts, which is 0.4 HP, or enough to drive something like 2.5 cfm?
- LorenzoGood 3y agoSome AC75 designs (The British one I believe), used cyclists as their grinders, to drive the onboard hydraulics.