Kumaraguru’s Team Sea Sakthi is all set to race at Monaco with their Energy Boat for the Third Year
A team of 12 students from Kumaraguru College of Technology (KCT) Coimbatore are all set to travel to Monaco in Europe to take part in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge 2024 –a one-of-a-kind motor boating event dedicated to promoting a sustainable future through alternative energy sources. This event aims to stimulate the creativity of tomorrow’s engineers and the industry to develop propulsion methods using clean energy. Named as Sea Sakthi, the team from KCT is gearing up to participate in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (MEBC) 2024 for the third consecutive year, as the only team from India.
The boat race is set for July first week and the KCT team comprising of students from various engineering streams is one among the 21 teams across the world to take part in the race in the energy class. The challenge in the energy class is to design boat’s cockpit and the most efficient and durable propulsion system using renewable alternative energy sources. The team has designed their boat from scratch to suit their requirement and named it Yali 3.0 A fully autonomous boat equipped with custom-built propulsion system, featuring twin propulsion each with the capacity of 6.5 KW, Yali 3.0 demonstrates their commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation.
The team has developed and indigenously built 10 KW Lithium Ferro Phosphate Battery Pack and the cockpit embracing sustainability using pineapple fibre and upcycled plastic fibre to highlight the ecofriendly approach. The boat’s design and features reflect the team’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of energy-efficient marine technology. While this is the third time that the team is going to participate in the race, the boat has undergone significant improvements.
Improvements to the propulsion system:
This time, the propulsion system strives for a strategical performance. The power consumption can be adjusted to the requirement, using 3 preset modes which limits the energy usage. Eco-Mode will be opted for endurance race where efficiency is vital and for high performance the sports mode will be opted. Normal mode is optimized for cruising. Two 6500 W Propulsion systems with MOX – 09 motors are rated at IE5.
This is the world’s highest energy efficiency classification for electric motors. The manoeuvrability of the boat through thrust vectoring, expands YALI’s ability to take agile turns. The twin Propulsion System produces 1668 Newtons of thrust. Decreasing propeller diameter achieves 40% more acceleration and 15% drag reduction. The YALI cruises at a speed of 18 Knots and reaches a top speed of 25 knots. This time, the team has opted for a Magnetic propulsion, eliminating energy loss due to watersee page. The anti-ventilation plates above the propeller restricts the flow of air into the propeller preventing loss of traction and reduces slip. To optimize the efficiency, sinewave technology has been employed, where the controller manages the heat produced inside the system which sees through increases the performance, efficiency and provides longer life to the motor and the controller of the propulsion system.
Improvement on Design:
The cockpit’s weight has been reduced by 50%. This is achieved by placing the battery in a different compartment unlocking a smooth passage for air to pass through the battery. A specially designed air duct cools the battery maintaining an optimum temperature. The design has enhanced the weight distribution of the catamaran,giving us the ability to adjust the trim allowing a smooth passage through the choppy waters. The nose cone is designed to create a lucid flow around the cockpit to continue the flow laminar in the negative surface of the cockpit. Materials Used for cockpit: Committed to using a natural fibre to promote sustainability, research on Flax, Pineapple,Hemp, Bamboo, and carbon fibre were undertaken. By sandwiching a layer of carbon fibre in between the pineapple fibre, this composite structure can with stand under cyclic loads. The optimal strength to weight ratio has cut the weight of the cockpit to 14 kg.
Innovations:
YALI can run autonomously. The Algorithm has given the ability to attune to the environment with a 3D lidar and Depth Camera and employs a GPS and IMU system to cruise to the destination in the shortest path. With ADAS, Route suggestions and Docking assistance can be provided. 15% lighter battery achieved by an indigenously developed 9600Wh and Lithium Phosphate battery system. A smart hybrid cooling had been employed with Forced air method and phase changing material keeps the battery at an optimum temperature. Through thrust vectoring 20 % moremanoeuvr ability is achieved.
Journey of SeaSakthi So Far:
Team Sea Sakthi accomplished a historic milestone by winning the Communication Prize for two years in a row at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. Sea Sakthi was adjudged the most popular among 17 teams across 10 countries in the contest. They managed to secure 6th position in the overall ranking too for a record second year be sides receiving the “Monaco Town Hall Cup”. This year the team is determined for a podium finish besides retaining the Communication Prize.
What's Your Reaction?
