CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Solar Powered Electric Boat Definition
While most boats on the water today are powered by diesel engines, sail power and gasoline engines, it is perfectly feasible to power boats by electricity too. Electric
boats were very popular from the 1880s until the 1920s, when the internal combustion engine took dominance. Since the energy crises of the 1970s, interest in this quiet and
potentially renewable marine energy source has been increasing steadily again, especially as solar cells became available, for the first time making possible motorboats
with an infinite range like sailboats. The first practical solar boat was probably constructed in 1975 in England.
Solar electric boat is powered by an electric motor which gets its supply from photovoltaic PV panels and utilizes solar energy. The photovoltaic panels mounted and
installed on the boat without compromising riding comfortability. This provides a cost- effective way for leisure or moving around relatively short distances. To design the solar
powered electric boat, the system is using solar panel, converter, rechargeable battery and electric motor. Solar electric boat can minimize and economical the electricity uses
for its electric motor. It is also can maximizes the usefulness of solar energy in our life without wasting it and then extends the system for commercial market.
1.2 Problem Statement
This project is designed and developed because there are a lot of problem with the ordinary boat that use electric power which gets its supply from the generator. For
example, the ordinary boat uses diesel fuel to run the generator of the boat, and then supply electric power to run the electric motor. The increasing impact of fuel price in the
global market is one of the factors that motivate people now to try and find the use of new alternative energy to substitute the usefulness of fuel. The solar electric boat is one
of the alternative energy that can possibly solve this problem. This solar electric motor that is powered by an electric motor which gets its supply from photovoltaic PV panels
has economical fuel and electric uses added to its electric motor usefulness. So, to keep this solar boat more popular and broaden its scope for commercial uses, the quality of
the solar boat must be increased.
As we know, the solar electric boat cannot be use at night because there is no sunlight to produce energy. However, this problem can be solved by using rechargeable
batteries that can supply current to the electric motor of the solar boat at night. Besides that, the solar electric boat also has an electric motor to
move it’s easily and efficiently on water. So, the selection of electric motor must be exact and applicable to the solar
electric boat. The aspects that must be stressed to choose an applicable electric motor are the types of motor either AC motor or DC motor and the horsepower of motor to move
the solar electric boat. A lot of calculation must be done for the electric motor in order to determine the required horsepower to support the weight, size and burden and then move
the solar boat easily and efficiently. Lastly, we must consider whether the use of either generator or solar energy is more cost-effective for the boat.
1.3 Project Objectives
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