Oceanvolt offers complete electric and hybrid motor systems with clear benefits compared to diesel motors. The system creates energy while sailing, is silent, lightweight and maintenance free. You can install it to any sailboat between 20 and 60 ft., whether new or old.
Oceanvolt SEA® system
The SEA in Oceanvolt SEA® stands for Silent Electric Autonomy. Oceanvolt SEA® is a complete electric motor system for monohulls and multihulls. It is a complete system with everything you need to become energy autonomous. Oceanvolt SEA® creates energy while sailing (average 2 kW @ 8-17 knots) so you can enjoy the picture-perfect silent sailing experience by day and a good night sleep by night.
You can create up to 4000W. The regeneration function of the motors will recharge your batteries. Complemented with solar power and shore power, there is almost no need to use a generator while sailing.
How does the system create energy while sailing?
The hydro-generation, or “creating energy while sailing” function, is an automatic feature in all Oceanvolt motors. This feature is activated by pushing the button on the Oceanvolt displays for 5 seconds. The display will automatically switch to regeneration mode showing the current generated power, RPM and time until the batteries are fully charged. With a folding propeller, the motor kicks the blades out, and centrifugal force combined with the motor controller keep the blades open. The motor controllers tune the system actively at 10 Hz, which prevents the blades from closing (too much braking would close the propellers). This is continuous monitoring; the system will adjust the propeller RPM depending on the boat speed. The system shuts itself down if the battery is fully charged or the boat speed is too low for efficient hydro generation.
The below graph shows the regeneration power of one of the motors on the SIG45 catamaran.
Compatible propellers
The Oceanvolt systems are optimized for either 2 or 3 blade Flexofold folding propellers and Gori Propellers. Other folding propellers can also be used, but they provide 30-50% less propulsion and regeneration power. The highest regeneration power is gained with fixed blade and adjustable pitch propellers, and also with dedicated systems for hydro generator use, because they allow using a higher pitch/dimension propeller.
At 5-7 knots, the regeneration power with a folding propeller is about half compared to fixed and adjustable pitch propellers. Folding propellers provide low drag due to partially opened blades. A 15-inch 3-blade folding propeller will slow the boat (Maestro 40, 6 tons) about 0.1 knots at 7 knots of speed in regeneration mode. The regenerating feature is extremely suitable for catamarans, because twin motors mean double the energy. Catamarans are also faster, which means that the regeneration power is higher. If the Oceanvolt motor is used only for hydro-generation and not for propulsion, the power boost gained from using a higher pitch propeller dedicated for regenerations is about 20-30%.
If you want to harness the power of the sea, call for more details about Oceanvolt systems.
Ph: 07 5580 1511 www.amwholesale.com.au
(May-Aug2017)
