Difference between revisions of "PropellerEfficiency"
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where deltaV is the change in velocity of the water. The energy put into that water by the propeller is: | where deltaV is the change in velocity of the water. The energy put into that water by the propeller is: | ||
1/2 mass * deltaV^2 | 1/2 mass * deltaV^2 | ||
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| + | Because the energy goes up with the square of the velocity change and the momentum only with the velocity change, the most efficient approach is to push lots of water with a small change in velocity. | ||
If a boat is going fast a propeller passes through lots of water and so can push a little bit on many different cubic feet of water and so only change the velocity of any given bit of water by a small amount. | If a boat is going fast a propeller passes through lots of water and so can push a little bit on many different cubic feet of water and so only change the velocity of any given bit of water by a small amount. | ||
Revision as of 02:14, 29 November 2008
Why we need big propellers at slow speeds
The push you get from a propeller is proportional to the change in momentum the propeller gives some water which is: mass * deltaV
where deltaV is the change in velocity of the water. The energy put into that water by the propeller is: 1/2 mass * deltaV^2
Because the energy goes up with the square of the velocity change and the momentum only with the velocity change, the most efficient approach is to push lots of water with a small change in velocity.
If a boat is going fast a propeller passes through lots of water and so can push a little bit on many different cubic feet of water and so only change the velocity of any given bit of water by a small amount.
A propeller that makes efficient use of 50 Hp at 15 MPH makes very inefficient use of the same power at 2 MPH. At slow speeds it goes through less water and gives it a much higher deltaV.
An efficient propeller for a slow seastead that will be large so that it can give a small deltaV to a lot of water. Using a small fast propeller on a big slow seastead would take far more energy for the same push.
