Techno-financial analysis and design of on-board intelligent-assisting system for a hybrid solar–DEG-powered boat

Abstract

In this paper, we present a financial feasibility analysis and design of an on-board-assisting system for a hybrid solar-diesel-powered boat. The major components of this boat are solar panel, battery bank, speed and direction controller for dc motor, brushless dc motor, diesel engine generator (DEG), and intelligent-assisting system (IAS) to assist the sailor. A DEG is considered to maintain the ability to run the system even during night-time, cloudy, and partially cloudy days. The energy demand posed by the electrical system requires maintaining an appropriate balance between the energy sources-done by an on-board-processing element which facilitates the system to run automatically. The capacity of the battery bank is considered large enough to satisfy electrical power requirement of the system for a whole day during noncharging periods. The optimal configuration for the hybrid system is selected from HOMER simulation results, whereas a financial feasibility analysis of the proposed hybrid solar and DEG-powered boat is performed using a clean energy management software called RETScreen. The IAS also provides solutions to the common naval hazards, such as over-weight and inclement weather by employing depth of submergence detector and GSM network interface. Financial analysis reveals that the proposed system is financially feasible, while tests showed that IAS successfully provides navigational supports to sailors.

A Review on Solar Powered Boat Design

“…Neural networks has been used for the solar irradiance forecasting. Mamun et al [23] presents feasibility analysis and design of an on-board assisting system for a hybrid solar diesel-powered boat. HOMER simulation is used for optimal configuration of boat.…”

Techno‐economic assessment and optimization of a standalone residential hybrid energy system for sustainable energy utilization

“…Earlier researchers have shown their interest in the same area to deliver the optimization of energy systems with different perspectives 20 . But still, there is a requirement to evaluate the HES (ie, sometimes these are called “integrated energy systems” ) with their design configurations for their optimized operation with the help of advanced simulation models for better energy security to achieve the energy sustainability 29,30 . These will offer an ideal allocation of resources and parameters considering other constraints such as emission and system reliability 31‐33 …”

Urban energy system management for enhanced energy potential for upcoming smart cities

“…These are causing various problems including (a) contribution towards various types of greenhouse gasses ignoring the influence of atmospheric pollution, climate change or nuclear waste towards our better living condition on the earth, and (b) all these conventional sources of energy will be exhausted after several years and leaving no energy resources. Thus, there is a requirement of clean energy system technology to fulfil the future energy generation from various sources (Al Mamun et al, 2016). During recent years, the capital and costs of energy have condensed due to improved reliability of the system and use of other non-conventional sources of electricity such as wind and geothermal energy (Hosseini et al, 2013).…”