SALMON: AN INNOVATIVE CONCEPT OF SHIP PROPULSION ON RIVERS

In this paper a concept is studied, where the energy for the propulsion of a ship is extracted from the down flow of the river. In this concept three elements are important; a wire which is connected upstream, paddles on both sides of the ship and a drum which rotates due to the movement of the paddles Due to the rotation of the paddles, the drum winds up the wire and pulls the ship upstream A theoretical framework is developed and verified in flume. The conclusion is that the concept indeed is feasible. For the experimental configuration the velocity of the vessel relative to afixed observer is about 20%-25% of the flow velocity of the river.