I think it would still be possible, especially for a habitat. Most
navigational markers and many yachts have solar panels, as long as they're
high enough above the water salt doesn't seem to be a problem. They wouldn't
be *on* the habitat, obviously, but on a separate floating power station or
shore unit, as you mentioned. For a remote habitat, it might be viable.
As far as being on a sub, I was thinking that they could be "deployed"
when surfaced and kept stowed otherwise. This would be for a long-distance,
week-long cruise, for instance. Maybe not enough to recharge everything, but
an extra benefit to help conserve the main fuel.
Natural gas.... interesting idea. It would have to be in an
already-commercialized area where gas connections are available,
correct?
-Benjamin Arie
On Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 10:51 AM, Brian Cox
<ojaivalleybeefarm@dslextreme.com>
wrote:
Ben,
I
think that would be a difficult thing to accomplish. You would have to
protect the solar panels from the salt water, which would be tough. It
might make sense to have them charging a battery pod on shore
though. On a sub you most likely would not be at the
proper angle for optimum solar exposure, unless you were stationary.
Since we have an abundance of natural gas I wonder what the feasibility of a
natural gas power plant would be?
Brian
Of
course we've all thought about using solar panel as a method of recharging
batteries, particularly for a surface-supplied habitat or surfaced sub.
Here's an interesting tool to estimate monthly or annual solar power
energy in a geographic location:
Looks like the best place for solar-powered sub is... the middle of
Arizona. Wait a sec.......
-Benjamin
Arie