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         Scientists developed Ground Effect Craft (seaplane) because our world is getting smaller and as a Global community people are required faster and more efficient ways for sea transport for both people and cargo. A ground effect seaplane can meet these challenges. It is almost fast as Aircraft but uses much less fuel to fly, it can take off from both water or land and also can land water or land. It flies but doesn't need an airport and it can carry passengers or cargo. Studies show that a properly designed and configured ground effect seaplane can operate at up to 40% less fuel consumption than an equivalent sized and loaded airplane; this makes fast cheaper marine transport a feasible alternative to air transport, in an ever increasingly cost conscious global market. 

The Electric Seaplane 

The concept of electric seaplane has came from the attractiveness of the above stated ground effect seaplane. But it is powered by electric cables that wired on the sea / lake surface. As the heavy combustion system in the craft is replaced by electric motors, its efficiency will be highly increased and the total mass of the craft is considerably reduced because of the absence of engine and the fuel. Theoretically, the electric propeller seaplane can fly more faster and more efficiently than any of the ordinary ground effect crafts or airplanes. 

  Construction of floating platform (electric cables are wired on above it)

On costal region: The wave amplitudes and activities is maximum in the costal regions but, the depth of the sea affordable to construct of floating system on seabed based supporting stands. In the high depth offshore regions, the wave activities are much calm than onshore and the floating systems can anchored to the sea bottom. The electric cables are wired through on the floating systems.

Spacing and installation of floating platforms

The length of a floating platform is about 500meter, width is about 1foot and height from the sea surface is about 1meter. The electric cables are wired through on above of the platform. After a floating platform with 500 meter of length, the next 100 meter of distance of electric cables are going through the immersed (under water) insulated cables about 25 meter below the sea surface. After the100 meter of distance, the floating platform and the electric cable are reappear to the sea surface to the next 500 meter. Again, after the 500 meter long floating platform, the next 100 meter of electric cables are going through 25 meter below the sea surface and so on (see.fig). Since the spacing between the two floating platforms are 100 meter, ships and boats can pass through these channels (spacing between two floating systems or the height of the water between the immersed insulated electric cables to the water surface (25 meter) can be modified as longer or shorter).

The connecting shaft and counter weight:

The 100meter of insulated electric cables between two floating platforms are wired through a 100meter long connecting shaft (25meter below the sea surface). The connecting shaft connects two floating platforms together and also working as a counter weight. The counter weight maintains the floating platforms always in straight vertical.

Floating platform:

The floating platforms are made with low weight, less corrosive material or good strength air bags. A 500 meter long floating platform is constructed with a number of small floating units. Each units are connected with turning pair mechanisms. With the help of the turning pairs that fixed in-between every floating  units, the wave / wind energy will be absorbed by the floating platform. Every units can oscillate or slightly slide in both direction individually, when waves or winds are present, but it will not affect the total alignment of the floating platforms. The connecting shafts are tied to the sea bottom. 

Tying of the connecting shafts to the sea bottom:

The connecting shafts are tied to the sea bottom to both sides with the help of  anchors.

Anchors:

The anchors can be made of concrete blocks with sufficient masses. Hooks are provided on the anchors for tying the corrosion resistant cables to that. The anchors can simply drop to the sea bottom from ships. 

 Electric cable: One pair( phase & neutral) of electric cables are wired through the floating platform (see.fig).  

Rechargeable battery inside the vehicle:

Rechargeable batteries are provided inside the vehicles. The rechargeable batteries delivers electric energy when the vehicle flies the100meter of distances between every floating platforms.  

Electric contact: Spring electric wire with two internal cables (for phase & neutral) are provided from the bottom of vehicle. The electric contacts provided on the other end of the spring electric wire will mesh with the electric cable, that wired on the floating platform when the vehicle flies near above of the floating platform. When the electric contacts meshes to the electric cables, the electric power will be transmitted to the rechargeable battery inside of the vehicle and also to the electric propellers of the vehicle. When the electric contacts touches to the electric cable, the electric propellers consumes electric energy directly from the electric cables and also, the batteries will be charged. The spring electric wire maintains the contact with the electric cables when the vehicle moves upward or downward direction or slightly both sides, with the help of its expansion or contraction. 

Working:

When the spring electric contacts touches to the electric cables and the electric propellers are turned on, the propellers will rotate. Now the craft will move on the sea surface. As the velocity increased to the lift velocity, the craft will take off from the sea surface. After the 500meter of distance, the floating platform ends. Now the electric propellers consumes electric energy from the batteries inside the vehicle. Then, after the 100meter of distance, the floating platform and electric cables will reappears and the craft consumes electric energy from electric cables and the batteries will be recharged and so on. When the craft maintain to fly in near surface of the sea (about 1meter), because of the ground effect the craft will fly with high efficiency. When the rotations of the electric propellers were lowered, the craft will land on the sea surface.  

Electric sea plane (flywheel model).

The rechargeable batteries inside the craft can be replaced with flywheels with sufficient mass. 

The flywheels:

Two flywheels with sufficient mass are rotating in opposite directions in same speed. When two same mass flywheels rotates in opposite directions in same speed, the torque of the flywheels cancels each other.  

Working of the flywheel model:

When the electric contacts touches to the electric cables, the electric propellers consumes energy directly from electric cables, and also the flywheels rotates at high speed and stores mechanical energy in it. When the power interruption occurs after 500meter (in the absence of floating platform and electric cables), the flywheels delivers the required mechanical energy to the propellers. When the floating platform and electric cables are reappears after the 100meter of distance, the electric contacts will again touches to the electric cables and the electric propellers consumes energy directly from the electric cables and also, the flywheels again stores mechanical energy in it and so on. 

Comparisons between battery model and flywheel model:

 a) The time required for the recharging of the batteries will be comparatively long period. A long floating platform in the sea/ lake will cause long obstacles to the ships or other transportation systems. But in the cause of flywheels, the time required for store mechanical energy in it will be less than batteries and so the length of floating platform  can be minimized. 

b) Weight of the batteries will be larger than flywheels and this increased weight will cause low efficiency.

c) The efficiency of recharging of the batteries will be less than the storing of mechanical energy in properly balanced flywheels. 

d) Life of the rechargeable batteries will be less than flywheels.

Potential uses and applications:

Passenger Transport:

1) Inter island, 2) International (in distant future), 3) Water taxi.

Cargo transport:

1) Sea food, 2) high value exports.

Attractions of the Electric Seaplane: 

a) Since the passengers / goods and the Electric- Ground effect craft 'weight ratio' is minimum, it will be more efficient.

b) Since the craft is flying through the near surface of the sea, because of the 'ground effect', the power conception reduces considerably.

c) Velocity of the craft can be increased nearly as fast as Aircraft.

d) Expenses for making the floating platforms on the sea surface will be very less than the construction of under sea tunnels.

e) The Electric- Ground effect craft will be very suitable for fast transportation through vast lakes.

Challenges in the designing of Electric Seaplane transportation system:

a) Chances of the destruction of the floating platforms because of high winds, high waves, floating icebergs etc and also thereby maintenance charge.

b) Construction of floating platforms on the sea with high depth will be difficult.

c) Danger of high voltage electric cables below the craft.     

d) The construction of floating platforms through a busy water way may cause  traffic difficulties for normal  transportation systems.

Renewable Energy Technologies:> | | Wave energy extractors | | Energy from snow/ice fall | | Wind barrier system for generating Hydrogen | | Tide barrier system | | Energy from capillary effect in the presents of solar light | | Energy from Land tidal force ||  Space Technologies:> | | Thermo electricity in outer space | | Electro magnetic flying disc | | Vacuum refrigerator | | Transportation Technologies:> | | Electric sea plane | | Wing levitated ground effect train | |  | | DIRECTORY  | |   HOME

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