Development and evaluation of solar powered catamaran for sustainable tourism in southeast of the gulf of Thailand

Abstract

© 2018, International Journal of Renewable Energy Research. The aim of this research is to develop and evaluate the solar powered catamaran for a response to low carbon destination and sustainable tourism for Ko Mak Island, Thailand. The development process includes ship design, PV system design and shipbuilding. Thus, it has designed that are the length with 7.5 Meters and the width with 3.5 meters. Similarly, it has installed 1.8 kWp photovoltaic generation system and 2 units of 3-hp induction motors. The performance evaluations have been accomplished in the open water in the designated route. The result showed that the uppermost speed of the catamaran was 9.18 km/h at 4,500 W. At normal cruise speed of 2,000 W, the catamaran speed was 7.77 km/h and maximum travel distance without charging at depth of discharge equally to 0.6 is 41.96 km. Therefore, the catamaran cruise distance would cover any common travel route of Ko Mak Island. Furthermore, the 19-km extended travel route has been guided for the boat cruise and monitoring. The cruise has been performed in calm weather condition, which insolation of the cruise was 27.18 kWh. The PV system could generate electricity equally to 4.1 kWh or with efficiency of 15.08 percent. However the total consumption was 5.7 kWh. The average cruise speed was 6.26 km/h and the average motors consumption was 1,889.37 W. Finally it turned out that the boat has good maneuver response and good throttle response, passengers can walk to several parts for doing activities conveniently.