Marine electric propulsion prototype
The Challenge:
Marine electric propulsion (MEP) research with the Australian Maritime College and discussions with the maritime industry in Australia and Europe identified key areas requiring further technology development, including:
Lithium-ion battery safety.
Electrical wiring reliability.
Replacing the traditional ‘house’ battery with high-efficiency DC/DC converters.
Lightning protection on small vessels.
The Solution:
A minimum viable prototype addressing four key areas of MEP on a small sailing boat (Hartley TS16), including:
Wiring re-design to EN ISO 10133 standard using electrical CAD software.
‘Off-the-shelf’ 24 V electric pod outboard.
Dual redundant 24 V, 20 Ah Lithium-ion-phosphate (LiFeMgPO4) batteries, with BMS built-in.
A water-resistant and thermal-runaway-resistant battery box with exterior venting.
24 V distribution for propulsion and bilge pump, with a DC/DC converter for 12 V auxiliary circuits.
A new lightning conductor from the mast step, to an aluminium plate on the keel, based on ABYC guidelines.
Transient surge protection on mast-head antennae and anchor light circuits.
The Next Steps:
The prototype is a platform for marine electric propulsion and will be used to trial new solar and battery technologies.
Scaling up MEP in Australia.
The Hartley TS16 before electrification
New wiring design using eCAD
Battery box design using 3D CAD
Battery box assembled
Design to EN ISO 10133, with battery redundancy
Water resistant DC Distribution
Transient surge protection
Battery box vented externally