Propulsion SystemsDeveloping Counting SystemsCalculating Time Dilation Effects on Relativistic...

Does the US political system, in principle, allow for a no-party system?

Tabular environment - text vertically positions itself by bottom of tikz picture in adjacent cell

What does "rhumatis" mean?

Draw this image in the TIKZ package

Sort array by month and year

Professor forcing me to attend a conference, I can't afford even with 50% funding

Ultrafilters as a double dual

Boss Telling direct supervisor I snitched

Short story about cities being connected by a conveyor belt

Use Mercury as quenching liquid for swords?

Should we avoid writing fiction about historical events without extensive research?

Exempt portion of equation line from aligning?

Can I negotiate a patent idea for a raise, under French law?

Why would /etc/passwd be used every time someone executes `ls -l` command?

Is it a Cyclops number? "Nobody" knows!

An Undercover Army

Do I need a return ticket to Canada if I'm a Japanese National?

How does learning spells work when leveling a multiclass character?

The (Easy) Road to Code

Help! My Character is too much for her story!

Why do we say 'Pairwise Disjoint', rather than 'Disjoint'?

What can I do if someone tampers with my SSH public key?

Can I challenge the interviewer to give me a proper technical feedback?

Create chunks from an array



Propulsion Systems


Developing Counting SystemsCalculating Time Dilation Effects on Relativistic AccelerationsAlternative Power SystemsDark matter caused by Matrioshka SystemsGravity PropulsionTwo-stage fusion propulsionPlacement of redundant containment systems?Interstellar construction between star systemsFeasibility of a purely mechanical grayscale “computer monitor”Airship Propulsion System













3












$begingroup$


In my world, 500 years in the future; my population fit anti-gravity engines to salvaged boats as a form of transport. These transports fly close to the earths surface, and are powered by sails made of a highly efficient solar panel system rigged as sails.



I'm struggling to come up with a design to propel the boats along, and the only concept that I can think of is propellers driven by electric engines.



Is there a more efficient/effective engine design that I can utilise?



Limitations:




  • Fossil Fuels are depleted, and cannot be used.

  • The largest of transports being Cargo Ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots, and the smallest at a minimum of 45 knots.

  • Fuel sources required for the engine must be in abundant supply and easy to manufacture or contain, or if a reactor is required - able to be stationed onboard the vessel and be maintained by an engineer.

  • The engine run as cleanly as possible. (As little emissions as possible)










share|improve this question









$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    "Cargo ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots": you do realize that this makes them go three times as fast as our present cargo ships powered by burning fuel oil? No cargo ship ever has maintained an average speed of 25 knots: sailing ships couldn't, and steamers wouldn't because of the vast amounts of fuel required.
    $endgroup$
    – AlexP
    3 hours ago


















3












$begingroup$


In my world, 500 years in the future; my population fit anti-gravity engines to salvaged boats as a form of transport. These transports fly close to the earths surface, and are powered by sails made of a highly efficient solar panel system rigged as sails.



I'm struggling to come up with a design to propel the boats along, and the only concept that I can think of is propellers driven by electric engines.



Is there a more efficient/effective engine design that I can utilise?



Limitations:




  • Fossil Fuels are depleted, and cannot be used.

  • The largest of transports being Cargo Ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots, and the smallest at a minimum of 45 knots.

  • Fuel sources required for the engine must be in abundant supply and easy to manufacture or contain, or if a reactor is required - able to be stationed onboard the vessel and be maintained by an engineer.

  • The engine run as cleanly as possible. (As little emissions as possible)










share|improve this question









$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    "Cargo ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots": you do realize that this makes them go three times as fast as our present cargo ships powered by burning fuel oil? No cargo ship ever has maintained an average speed of 25 knots: sailing ships couldn't, and steamers wouldn't because of the vast amounts of fuel required.
    $endgroup$
    – AlexP
    3 hours ago
















3












3








3





$begingroup$


In my world, 500 years in the future; my population fit anti-gravity engines to salvaged boats as a form of transport. These transports fly close to the earths surface, and are powered by sails made of a highly efficient solar panel system rigged as sails.



I'm struggling to come up with a design to propel the boats along, and the only concept that I can think of is propellers driven by electric engines.



Is there a more efficient/effective engine design that I can utilise?



Limitations:




  • Fossil Fuels are depleted, and cannot be used.

  • The largest of transports being Cargo Ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots, and the smallest at a minimum of 45 knots.

  • Fuel sources required for the engine must be in abundant supply and easy to manufacture or contain, or if a reactor is required - able to be stationed onboard the vessel and be maintained by an engineer.

  • The engine run as cleanly as possible. (As little emissions as possible)










share|improve this question









$endgroup$




In my world, 500 years in the future; my population fit anti-gravity engines to salvaged boats as a form of transport. These transports fly close to the earths surface, and are powered by sails made of a highly efficient solar panel system rigged as sails.



I'm struggling to come up with a design to propel the boats along, and the only concept that I can think of is propellers driven by electric engines.



Is there a more efficient/effective engine design that I can utilise?



Limitations:




  • Fossil Fuels are depleted, and cannot be used.

  • The largest of transports being Cargo Ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots, and the smallest at a minimum of 45 knots.

  • Fuel sources required for the engine must be in abundant supply and easy to manufacture or contain, or if a reactor is required - able to be stationed onboard the vessel and be maintained by an engineer.

  • The engine run as cleanly as possible. (As little emissions as possible)







science-based engineering vehicles






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 4 hours ago









Lucas A.Lucas A.

3368




3368












  • $begingroup$
    "Cargo ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots": you do realize that this makes them go three times as fast as our present cargo ships powered by burning fuel oil? No cargo ship ever has maintained an average speed of 25 knots: sailing ships couldn't, and steamers wouldn't because of the vast amounts of fuel required.
    $endgroup$
    – AlexP
    3 hours ago




















  • $begingroup$
    "Cargo ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots": you do realize that this makes them go three times as fast as our present cargo ships powered by burning fuel oil? No cargo ship ever has maintained an average speed of 25 knots: sailing ships couldn't, and steamers wouldn't because of the vast amounts of fuel required.
    $endgroup$
    – AlexP
    3 hours ago


















$begingroup$
"Cargo ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots": you do realize that this makes them go three times as fast as our present cargo ships powered by burning fuel oil? No cargo ship ever has maintained an average speed of 25 knots: sailing ships couldn't, and steamers wouldn't because of the vast amounts of fuel required.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
3 hours ago






$begingroup$
"Cargo ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots": you do realize that this makes them go three times as fast as our present cargo ships powered by burning fuel oil? No cargo ship ever has maintained an average speed of 25 knots: sailing ships couldn't, and steamers wouldn't because of the vast amounts of fuel required.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
3 hours ago












3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















2












$begingroup$



  • Fossil Fuels are depleted, and cannot be used.


  • The largest of transports being Cargo Ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots, and the smallest at a minimum of 45 knots.


  • Fuel sources required for the engine must be in abundant supply and easy to manufacture or contain, or if a reactor is required - able to be stationed onboard the vessel and be maintained by an engineer.


  • The engine run as cleanly as possible. (As little emissions as possible)





Hydrogen powered jet engines.



In respective order to each requirement:




  • Not fossils;

  • More powerful than diesel, and most other fuels. This is literally rocket fuel. So you may go much faster or farther for the same amount of fuel mass;

  • Just electrolyze water. About 0.0003% of the mass of the planet is just oceans. You may use nuclear plants power to break water into fuel and oxidizer at large scale, serving millions of vehicles regionally - or car-sized and larger vessels may use small, solar powered electrolyzers (might take days to refill a tank in this way, though).

  • Your exhaust is literally steam.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$









  • 3




    $begingroup$
    The OP wanted low/no emissions. Your plan spews Dihydrogen Monoxide everywhere!!!!
    $endgroup$
    – ShadoCat
    4 hours ago






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    @ShadoCat Not the dreaded Dihydrogen Monoxide, it will kill us all one day!
    $endgroup$
    – Lucas A.
    4 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Renan For curiosities sake, once the water has been electrolysed can it be used as drinking water, or used in Agriculture? In places of water scarcity its quite valuable.
    $endgroup$
    – Lucas A.
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @LucasA., The water gets ripped into the two gasses when it is separated. However, if you can condense the waste steam from burning it, that is as close to chemically pure water as you are going to get.
    $endgroup$
    – ShadoCat
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @LucasA. adding to what ShadoCat said: that water is so pure it may actually harm living beings due to osmosis. You may need to add salts to it.
    $endgroup$
    – Renan
    4 hours ago



















2












$begingroup$

From OP. /and are powered by sails/



They have sails!



I know you are using your sails as solar panels which is excellent. They can still be regular sails. Boats have a long history of successfully being propelled by sails.



A problem with steering a sail airship is lack of contact with the water. Regular sailboats have a rudder and I am not sure that will work 100% in the air. You could have a super long blade like air keel.



If you are wind powered that leaves open the question of what you are using your electricity to do. Keg fridge?






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Windspeeds at high altitdue do reach hundreds of mph, so sails might work. Also airplanes do have rudders and so do airships.
    $endgroup$
    – Efialtes
    3 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    You can steer with electric propellers. Some solar panels and batteries, and tail propellers line a helicooter and you are set.
    $endgroup$
    – Renan
    3 hours ago



















0












$begingroup$

Not long a go a paper was released with the concept of an solid state propulsion for aeroplanes.



It works by creating a electical field in the wings, as they contain high-voltage electrodes. Nitrogen in the air gets ionized by the electic field and transports the charge from the front of the wing to the back of it. By that, the Nitrogen can collide with the rest of the air and pushes the air backwards, creating a backwards force and thus propels the aeroplane forward.



Biggest Problem might be to get the voltage to create enough propulsion for bigger ships, but else this is as carbon neutral as it gets.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$













    Your Answer





    StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
    return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
    StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
    StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
    });
    });
    }, "mathjax-editing");

    StackExchange.ready(function() {
    var channelOptions = {
    tags: "".split(" "),
    id: "579"
    };
    initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

    StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
    // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
    if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
    StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
    createEditor();
    });
    }
    else {
    createEditor();
    }
    });

    function createEditor() {
    StackExchange.prepareEditor({
    heartbeatType: 'answer',
    autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
    convertImagesToLinks: false,
    noModals: true,
    showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
    reputationToPostImages: null,
    bindNavPrevention: true,
    postfix: "",
    imageUploader: {
    brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
    contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
    allowUrls: true
    },
    noCode: true, onDemand: true,
    discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
    ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
    });


    }
    });














    draft saved

    draft discarded


















    StackExchange.ready(
    function () {
    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworldbuilding.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f141055%2fpropulsion-systems%23new-answer', 'question_page');
    }
    );

    Post as a guest















    Required, but never shown

























    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes








    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    2












    $begingroup$



    • Fossil Fuels are depleted, and cannot be used.


    • The largest of transports being Cargo Ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots, and the smallest at a minimum of 45 knots.


    • Fuel sources required for the engine must be in abundant supply and easy to manufacture or contain, or if a reactor is required - able to be stationed onboard the vessel and be maintained by an engineer.


    • The engine run as cleanly as possible. (As little emissions as possible)





    Hydrogen powered jet engines.



    In respective order to each requirement:




    • Not fossils;

    • More powerful than diesel, and most other fuels. This is literally rocket fuel. So you may go much faster or farther for the same amount of fuel mass;

    • Just electrolyze water. About 0.0003% of the mass of the planet is just oceans. You may use nuclear plants power to break water into fuel and oxidizer at large scale, serving millions of vehicles regionally - or car-sized and larger vessels may use small, solar powered electrolyzers (might take days to refill a tank in this way, though).

    • Your exhaust is literally steam.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$









    • 3




      $begingroup$
      The OP wanted low/no emissions. Your plan spews Dihydrogen Monoxide everywhere!!!!
      $endgroup$
      – ShadoCat
      4 hours ago






    • 3




      $begingroup$
      @ShadoCat Not the dreaded Dihydrogen Monoxide, it will kill us all one day!
      $endgroup$
      – Lucas A.
      4 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @Renan For curiosities sake, once the water has been electrolysed can it be used as drinking water, or used in Agriculture? In places of water scarcity its quite valuable.
      $endgroup$
      – Lucas A.
      4 hours ago






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @LucasA., The water gets ripped into the two gasses when it is separated. However, if you can condense the waste steam from burning it, that is as close to chemically pure water as you are going to get.
      $endgroup$
      – ShadoCat
      4 hours ago






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @LucasA. adding to what ShadoCat said: that water is so pure it may actually harm living beings due to osmosis. You may need to add salts to it.
      $endgroup$
      – Renan
      4 hours ago
















    2












    $begingroup$



    • Fossil Fuels are depleted, and cannot be used.


    • The largest of transports being Cargo Ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots, and the smallest at a minimum of 45 knots.


    • Fuel sources required for the engine must be in abundant supply and easy to manufacture or contain, or if a reactor is required - able to be stationed onboard the vessel and be maintained by an engineer.


    • The engine run as cleanly as possible. (As little emissions as possible)





    Hydrogen powered jet engines.



    In respective order to each requirement:




    • Not fossils;

    • More powerful than diesel, and most other fuels. This is literally rocket fuel. So you may go much faster or farther for the same amount of fuel mass;

    • Just electrolyze water. About 0.0003% of the mass of the planet is just oceans. You may use nuclear plants power to break water into fuel and oxidizer at large scale, serving millions of vehicles regionally - or car-sized and larger vessels may use small, solar powered electrolyzers (might take days to refill a tank in this way, though).

    • Your exhaust is literally steam.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$









    • 3




      $begingroup$
      The OP wanted low/no emissions. Your plan spews Dihydrogen Monoxide everywhere!!!!
      $endgroup$
      – ShadoCat
      4 hours ago






    • 3




      $begingroup$
      @ShadoCat Not the dreaded Dihydrogen Monoxide, it will kill us all one day!
      $endgroup$
      – Lucas A.
      4 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @Renan For curiosities sake, once the water has been electrolysed can it be used as drinking water, or used in Agriculture? In places of water scarcity its quite valuable.
      $endgroup$
      – Lucas A.
      4 hours ago






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @LucasA., The water gets ripped into the two gasses when it is separated. However, if you can condense the waste steam from burning it, that is as close to chemically pure water as you are going to get.
      $endgroup$
      – ShadoCat
      4 hours ago






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @LucasA. adding to what ShadoCat said: that water is so pure it may actually harm living beings due to osmosis. You may need to add salts to it.
      $endgroup$
      – Renan
      4 hours ago














    2












    2








    2





    $begingroup$



    • Fossil Fuels are depleted, and cannot be used.


    • The largest of transports being Cargo Ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots, and the smallest at a minimum of 45 knots.


    • Fuel sources required for the engine must be in abundant supply and easy to manufacture or contain, or if a reactor is required - able to be stationed onboard the vessel and be maintained by an engineer.


    • The engine run as cleanly as possible. (As little emissions as possible)





    Hydrogen powered jet engines.



    In respective order to each requirement:




    • Not fossils;

    • More powerful than diesel, and most other fuels. This is literally rocket fuel. So you may go much faster or farther for the same amount of fuel mass;

    • Just electrolyze water. About 0.0003% of the mass of the planet is just oceans. You may use nuclear plants power to break water into fuel and oxidizer at large scale, serving millions of vehicles regionally - or car-sized and larger vessels may use small, solar powered electrolyzers (might take days to refill a tank in this way, though).

    • Your exhaust is literally steam.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$





    • Fossil Fuels are depleted, and cannot be used.


    • The largest of transports being Cargo Ships must travel at a minimum of 25 knots, and the smallest at a minimum of 45 knots.


    • Fuel sources required for the engine must be in abundant supply and easy to manufacture or contain, or if a reactor is required - able to be stationed onboard the vessel and be maintained by an engineer.


    • The engine run as cleanly as possible. (As little emissions as possible)





    Hydrogen powered jet engines.



    In respective order to each requirement:




    • Not fossils;

    • More powerful than diesel, and most other fuels. This is literally rocket fuel. So you may go much faster or farther for the same amount of fuel mass;

    • Just electrolyze water. About 0.0003% of the mass of the planet is just oceans. You may use nuclear plants power to break water into fuel and oxidizer at large scale, serving millions of vehicles regionally - or car-sized and larger vessels may use small, solar powered electrolyzers (might take days to refill a tank in this way, though).

    • Your exhaust is literally steam.







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited 3 hours ago

























    answered 4 hours ago









    RenanRenan

    49.5k13115249




    49.5k13115249








    • 3




      $begingroup$
      The OP wanted low/no emissions. Your plan spews Dihydrogen Monoxide everywhere!!!!
      $endgroup$
      – ShadoCat
      4 hours ago






    • 3




      $begingroup$
      @ShadoCat Not the dreaded Dihydrogen Monoxide, it will kill us all one day!
      $endgroup$
      – Lucas A.
      4 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @Renan For curiosities sake, once the water has been electrolysed can it be used as drinking water, or used in Agriculture? In places of water scarcity its quite valuable.
      $endgroup$
      – Lucas A.
      4 hours ago






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @LucasA., The water gets ripped into the two gasses when it is separated. However, if you can condense the waste steam from burning it, that is as close to chemically pure water as you are going to get.
      $endgroup$
      – ShadoCat
      4 hours ago






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @LucasA. adding to what ShadoCat said: that water is so pure it may actually harm living beings due to osmosis. You may need to add salts to it.
      $endgroup$
      – Renan
      4 hours ago














    • 3




      $begingroup$
      The OP wanted low/no emissions. Your plan spews Dihydrogen Monoxide everywhere!!!!
      $endgroup$
      – ShadoCat
      4 hours ago






    • 3




      $begingroup$
      @ShadoCat Not the dreaded Dihydrogen Monoxide, it will kill us all one day!
      $endgroup$
      – Lucas A.
      4 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @Renan For curiosities sake, once the water has been electrolysed can it be used as drinking water, or used in Agriculture? In places of water scarcity its quite valuable.
      $endgroup$
      – Lucas A.
      4 hours ago






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @LucasA., The water gets ripped into the two gasses when it is separated. However, if you can condense the waste steam from burning it, that is as close to chemically pure water as you are going to get.
      $endgroup$
      – ShadoCat
      4 hours ago






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @LucasA. adding to what ShadoCat said: that water is so pure it may actually harm living beings due to osmosis. You may need to add salts to it.
      $endgroup$
      – Renan
      4 hours ago








    3




    3




    $begingroup$
    The OP wanted low/no emissions. Your plan spews Dihydrogen Monoxide everywhere!!!!
    $endgroup$
    – ShadoCat
    4 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    The OP wanted low/no emissions. Your plan spews Dihydrogen Monoxide everywhere!!!!
    $endgroup$
    – ShadoCat
    4 hours ago




    3




    3




    $begingroup$
    @ShadoCat Not the dreaded Dihydrogen Monoxide, it will kill us all one day!
    $endgroup$
    – Lucas A.
    4 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    @ShadoCat Not the dreaded Dihydrogen Monoxide, it will kill us all one day!
    $endgroup$
    – Lucas A.
    4 hours ago












    $begingroup$
    @Renan For curiosities sake, once the water has been electrolysed can it be used as drinking water, or used in Agriculture? In places of water scarcity its quite valuable.
    $endgroup$
    – Lucas A.
    4 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    @Renan For curiosities sake, once the water has been electrolysed can it be used as drinking water, or used in Agriculture? In places of water scarcity its quite valuable.
    $endgroup$
    – Lucas A.
    4 hours ago




    1




    1




    $begingroup$
    @LucasA., The water gets ripped into the two gasses when it is separated. However, if you can condense the waste steam from burning it, that is as close to chemically pure water as you are going to get.
    $endgroup$
    – ShadoCat
    4 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    @LucasA., The water gets ripped into the two gasses when it is separated. However, if you can condense the waste steam from burning it, that is as close to chemically pure water as you are going to get.
    $endgroup$
    – ShadoCat
    4 hours ago




    1




    1




    $begingroup$
    @LucasA. adding to what ShadoCat said: that water is so pure it may actually harm living beings due to osmosis. You may need to add salts to it.
    $endgroup$
    – Renan
    4 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    @LucasA. adding to what ShadoCat said: that water is so pure it may actually harm living beings due to osmosis. You may need to add salts to it.
    $endgroup$
    – Renan
    4 hours ago











    2












    $begingroup$

    From OP. /and are powered by sails/



    They have sails!



    I know you are using your sails as solar panels which is excellent. They can still be regular sails. Boats have a long history of successfully being propelled by sails.



    A problem with steering a sail airship is lack of contact with the water. Regular sailboats have a rudder and I am not sure that will work 100% in the air. You could have a super long blade like air keel.



    If you are wind powered that leaves open the question of what you are using your electricity to do. Keg fridge?






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$













    • $begingroup$
      Windspeeds at high altitdue do reach hundreds of mph, so sails might work. Also airplanes do have rudders and so do airships.
      $endgroup$
      – Efialtes
      3 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      You can steer with electric propellers. Some solar panels and batteries, and tail propellers line a helicooter and you are set.
      $endgroup$
      – Renan
      3 hours ago
















    2












    $begingroup$

    From OP. /and are powered by sails/



    They have sails!



    I know you are using your sails as solar panels which is excellent. They can still be regular sails. Boats have a long history of successfully being propelled by sails.



    A problem with steering a sail airship is lack of contact with the water. Regular sailboats have a rudder and I am not sure that will work 100% in the air. You could have a super long blade like air keel.



    If you are wind powered that leaves open the question of what you are using your electricity to do. Keg fridge?






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$













    • $begingroup$
      Windspeeds at high altitdue do reach hundreds of mph, so sails might work. Also airplanes do have rudders and so do airships.
      $endgroup$
      – Efialtes
      3 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      You can steer with electric propellers. Some solar panels and batteries, and tail propellers line a helicooter and you are set.
      $endgroup$
      – Renan
      3 hours ago














    2












    2








    2





    $begingroup$

    From OP. /and are powered by sails/



    They have sails!



    I know you are using your sails as solar panels which is excellent. They can still be regular sails. Boats have a long history of successfully being propelled by sails.



    A problem with steering a sail airship is lack of contact with the water. Regular sailboats have a rudder and I am not sure that will work 100% in the air. You could have a super long blade like air keel.



    If you are wind powered that leaves open the question of what you are using your electricity to do. Keg fridge?






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$



    From OP. /and are powered by sails/



    They have sails!



    I know you are using your sails as solar panels which is excellent. They can still be regular sails. Boats have a long history of successfully being propelled by sails.



    A problem with steering a sail airship is lack of contact with the water. Regular sailboats have a rudder and I am not sure that will work 100% in the air. You could have a super long blade like air keel.



    If you are wind powered that leaves open the question of what you are using your electricity to do. Keg fridge?







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited 3 hours ago

























    answered 3 hours ago









    WillkWillk

    111k26208464




    111k26208464












    • $begingroup$
      Windspeeds at high altitdue do reach hundreds of mph, so sails might work. Also airplanes do have rudders and so do airships.
      $endgroup$
      – Efialtes
      3 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      You can steer with electric propellers. Some solar panels and batteries, and tail propellers line a helicooter and you are set.
      $endgroup$
      – Renan
      3 hours ago


















    • $begingroup$
      Windspeeds at high altitdue do reach hundreds of mph, so sails might work. Also airplanes do have rudders and so do airships.
      $endgroup$
      – Efialtes
      3 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      You can steer with electric propellers. Some solar panels and batteries, and tail propellers line a helicooter and you are set.
      $endgroup$
      – Renan
      3 hours ago
















    $begingroup$
    Windspeeds at high altitdue do reach hundreds of mph, so sails might work. Also airplanes do have rudders and so do airships.
    $endgroup$
    – Efialtes
    3 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    Windspeeds at high altitdue do reach hundreds of mph, so sails might work. Also airplanes do have rudders and so do airships.
    $endgroup$
    – Efialtes
    3 hours ago












    $begingroup$
    You can steer with electric propellers. Some solar panels and batteries, and tail propellers line a helicooter and you are set.
    $endgroup$
    – Renan
    3 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    You can steer with electric propellers. Some solar panels and batteries, and tail propellers line a helicooter and you are set.
    $endgroup$
    – Renan
    3 hours ago











    0












    $begingroup$

    Not long a go a paper was released with the concept of an solid state propulsion for aeroplanes.



    It works by creating a electical field in the wings, as they contain high-voltage electrodes. Nitrogen in the air gets ionized by the electic field and transports the charge from the front of the wing to the back of it. By that, the Nitrogen can collide with the rest of the air and pushes the air backwards, creating a backwards force and thus propels the aeroplane forward.



    Biggest Problem might be to get the voltage to create enough propulsion for bigger ships, but else this is as carbon neutral as it gets.






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$


















      0












      $begingroup$

      Not long a go a paper was released with the concept of an solid state propulsion for aeroplanes.



      It works by creating a electical field in the wings, as they contain high-voltage electrodes. Nitrogen in the air gets ionized by the electic field and transports the charge from the front of the wing to the back of it. By that, the Nitrogen can collide with the rest of the air and pushes the air backwards, creating a backwards force and thus propels the aeroplane forward.



      Biggest Problem might be to get the voltage to create enough propulsion for bigger ships, but else this is as carbon neutral as it gets.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$
















        0












        0








        0





        $begingroup$

        Not long a go a paper was released with the concept of an solid state propulsion for aeroplanes.



        It works by creating a electical field in the wings, as they contain high-voltage electrodes. Nitrogen in the air gets ionized by the electic field and transports the charge from the front of the wing to the back of it. By that, the Nitrogen can collide with the rest of the air and pushes the air backwards, creating a backwards force and thus propels the aeroplane forward.



        Biggest Problem might be to get the voltage to create enough propulsion for bigger ships, but else this is as carbon neutral as it gets.






        share|improve this answer









        $endgroup$



        Not long a go a paper was released with the concept of an solid state propulsion for aeroplanes.



        It works by creating a electical field in the wings, as they contain high-voltage electrodes. Nitrogen in the air gets ionized by the electic field and transports the charge from the front of the wing to the back of it. By that, the Nitrogen can collide with the rest of the air and pushes the air backwards, creating a backwards force and thus propels the aeroplane forward.



        Biggest Problem might be to get the voltage to create enough propulsion for bigger ships, but else this is as carbon neutral as it gets.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 1 hour ago









        PSquallPSquall

        46616




        46616






























            draft saved

            draft discarded




















































            Thanks for contributing an answer to Worldbuilding Stack Exchange!


            • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

            But avoid



            • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

            • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


            Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


            To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




            draft saved


            draft discarded














            StackExchange.ready(
            function () {
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworldbuilding.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f141055%2fpropulsion-systems%23new-answer', 'question_page');
            }
            );

            Post as a guest















            Required, but never shown





















































            Required, but never shown














            Required, but never shown












            Required, but never shown







            Required, but never shown

































            Required, but never shown














            Required, but never shown












            Required, but never shown







            Required, but never shown







            Popular posts from this blog

            is 'sed' thread safeWhat should someone know about using Python scripts in the shell?Nexenta bash script uses...

            How do i solve the “ No module named 'mlxtend' ” issue on Jupyter?

            Pilgersdorf Inhaltsverzeichnis Geografie | Geschichte | Bevölkerungsentwicklung | Politik | Kultur...