On July 11, a group of Delft students, known as the TU Delft Hydro Motion team, made it to Ramsgate, England, using a boat powered exclusively by hydrogen. a boat powered exclusively by hydrogen. .
This voyage marks a historic achievement, as it is the first time that the crossing from the Netherlands to England has been made with a vessel powered solely by this type of energy, covering a distance of about 169 km on a single tank of fuel.
Second attempt by Delft students
It should be noted that the team’s first attempt to complete the crossing on July 9 was aborted due to technical setbacks the day before and the threat of thunderstorms. However, the team did not give up and tried again on July 11. Although they faced initial problems with a damaged cooling pump, a quick intervention in the port of Zeebrugge allowed the part to be replaced and the vessel was able to resume its course successfully.
This year, the students decided to take a different approach to their usual participation in competitions. Having won the title of world champions in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge the previous summer, they opted to set a new personal challenge: to be the pioneers to cross the North Sea in a fully hydrogen-powered boat, rather than compete in the annual event.
Challenges and vessel design
Organizing the crossing presented several additional challenges in terms of security, logistics and regulations. An internal team was dedicated exclusively to the organization and planning of the event, including the creation of security protocols and the necessary logistics, largely adjusted for weather conditions.
The second week of July was selected as the ideal window for the crossing, based on weather forecasts.
In terms of the boat’s design, the team focused on improving its robustness and ability to sail in more demanding waters, the team focused on improving the boat’s robustness and ability to navigate in more demanding waters. . The hull was modified to be taller and to have a sharper bow, which improved its ability to cut through the waves. In addition, an extra tank of hydrogen was added, bringing the reserve to 25 kilograms and ensuring that the 169 km trip could be completed without the need for refueling.
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Source: marinelink
Photo: hydromotionteam
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