RO 340 ECO
Starting from the premise that the RO 340 is one of the best sailing boats in the market within its length, awarded among the five best boats in Europe in 2005, Ronautica launches the first ecological boat from its new Division Ronautica Yachts & Renovables.
A sailing boat in itself is already ecological, as it is mainly driven by the wind, but the new RO 340 ECO is also not pollutant, given that it is also propelled by an electric motor instead of a traditional diesel engine.
This boat has a many advantages over its competitors: better comfort due to the lack of noise and vibrations, as well as obtaining maximum energy efficiency in the whole of its components.
The challenge of obtaining maximum energy efficiency has been overcome with the following: 9 Maximum efficiency of each of its components:
1. By using an electric motor which obtains similar or higher power than conventional diesel engines, with no emissions or noise whatsoever. Moreover the boat’s and the installations’ weight has been reduced.
2. By incorporating an innovative electric installation. It is composed of digital wiring (BUS) which allows us both to reduce weight and optimize its performance.
3. By using self-sufficient energy systems from renewable energies: water, sunshine, wind.
4. By reducing the use of electricity through the use of electronic appliances which aid the navigation and are fed by renewable energies (photovoltaic panels) as well as the use of Led lights as an exclusive lighting system, which reduce substantially the consumption of energy stored in the batteries against traditional systems.
5. By improving the quickwork. Through the use of a new antifouling with an epoxy base, the new RO 340 ECO will maintain its surface smooth for years without the need of painting the vessel frequently, which translates into a better engine performance.
6. By reducing its weight. In addition to the motor and the electric installation, all the elements included in the RO 340 ECO have been thoroughly controlled in order to reduce the boat’s weight. The installations weight is also reduced, given that the electricity is used as the single energy source. The gas installation disappears and a new system of black sewage is used, much more efficient, and with fewer installations.
9 Maximum efficiency of the whole:
The above points are very important, but only with those we cannot assume that they will result into a totally efficient system.
So it is aimed that the main elements of the system exchange information in real time, and that implies a common operation protocol or at least compatible. The state-of-the-art digital-electric installation and self-sufficient energy systems which are independent and interrelated, allow the user to control the available energy and its best use.
Next we will detail each of the unique selling points of the RO 340 ECO. All of its elements are installed to achieve maximum energy efficiency with the minimum environmental impact. The boat has a high technological level, which will allow its users to enjoy the sea to the fullest, without causing damage to it.
Characteristics of the
RO 340 ECO
components
9 MOTOR
• Electric three-phase AC synchronous motor (rotation in-sync with freq long-life -alternator-) • Weight 66 Kg
• Power supply 7.5 KW (it produces the same power as a diesel engine of 29 Hp) • No maintenance needed
• SAIL DRIVE transmission
• Watertight electric system: certified type IP55 in engine and IP65 in controllers • Efficiency level much higher than the conventional diesel engine, over 90% • Electronic switching (forward-back)
• Electronic accelerator Joystick type
• State-of-the-art software (2008 version) which regenerates the electric current to charge the batteries when the boat is navigating only with its sales (with motor off), as it works as a battery charge alternator. This latest 2008 version guarantees a maximum control and an exceptional performance. It has a LC-Display which provides more information, in an intuitive and visual manner, similar to a car:
o R.P.M
o Motor consumption (amp) o Battery charge level
o Remaining time of motor range (based on charge level and consumption)
• Communications between the different elements of the electric propulsion through the CAN-BUS system (standard protocol of data transmission for the sending of orders among the different elements of the system: from the accelerator to the controller, from the controller to the motor, etc. It is a cutting-edge technological data transmission system.
• Maximum R.P.M: 1500 RPM
• Safety voltage (without danger of electric shocks) of 48 V
The main advantages of this propulsion system are the following:
¾ Low sound level (inaudible) and minimum vibrations (imperceptible) ¾ More capacity for acceleration and deceleration
¾ More control at reduced speed during port manoeuvres. The minimum speed is lower, which prevents forward and back jerks, typical of diesel propulsion.
¾ Immediate emergency stop, much faster in emergency situations onboard, such as the fall of a crew member or risk of a crash. 9 DIGITAL WIRING (Capi-2 Distributing Power System)
Capi- 2 is an intelligent system of electric supply and output feedback through interconnection. It is a compact system, which reduces the weight of traditional wirings, given that the wiring network which supply power to all electric and electronic components, which a sailing boat normally has, is replaced by a main cable set (bus) which only consists out off 3 wires plus / minus cable and a data cable, where nodes (electronic switches) are connected.
It also has better behaviour in damp environments and with sea vibrations.
Its main advantages are:
¾ It reduces drastically the weight of the wiring
¾ The installation is simplified which reduces significantly any risk of accidents ¾ It warns about failures in devices or their wiring
¾ Protection against low charge of batteries. It switches off automatically circuits which have lower priority, and warns about the situation ¾ It simplifies extensions with new devices
¾ It allows simple configurations for advanced functions such as: intensity control, timer, warning signals for the start up of devices (bilge pump, etc) ¾ Especially designed for damp environments and in constant vibration
9 BATTERIES
The boat holds 8 motor batteries and 2 for the services in the, all of them high powered and maintenance free. All 10 batteries are AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) type, these being the most efficient in marine environments (with much better performance than GEL CELL batteries and of course than ACID ones) due to its low discharge level and the continuous energy supply to the motor. The brand is LIFELINE, the leading name for AGM batteries.
These batteries are charged at the harbour and have a 4 hour life at cruiser speed. When their charge level drop, they are recharged by the self-sufficient
systems during sailing which allow to extend its life as much time as we wish, according to the system we select or the combination of all or part of the
self-sufficient systems.
9 ENERGY SELF-SUFFICIENT SYSTEMS DURING SAILING
1. Energy regeneration through the Sea
i. A clean power generation system par excellence.
ii. When sailing only propelled by the wind, we use the hydrodynamic resistance of the propeller, operated by the force of the water in motion, to recharge the batteries. Our motor is working as an alternating-current generator.
2. Energy regeneration through the Sunshine By using photovoltaic panels located at the deck, the self-sufficient system which charges the 2 service batteries, is AGM type (similar to the propulsion batteries).
3. Energy regeneration through the Wind
i. By means of a vertical wind turbine located at the mast. Similarly, it also charges the 2 service batteries.
i. A small four-stroke low-energy consumption generator, with inverter technology and noise insulated will recharge the batteries in extreme conditions of no wind.
5. Batteries recharging at the harbour
i. Through a high-powered charger the batteries can be charged at 100% of their capacity in less than 6 hours if we start from a complete discharge.
9 ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
The boat has state-of-the-art electronic equipment which aid the navigation, such as depth, speed and wind instruments which are fed by solar energy through photovoltaic panels incorporated in the devices. On the other hand, data transmission will be made via WIFI, wireless, avoiding the weight of the wires and their corrosion in marine environments.
9 EQUIPMENT ONBOARD
All the equipment onboard have low-energy consumption and are feed at 12 V:
DVD, TFT screen, TV withTDT, VHF transmitter, Microwave oven and Led lights. The conventional gas cooker has been replaced by an induction ceramic cooktop, saving this way all the weight from gas installations and preventing gas leaks, which improves substantially safety onboard.
9 LONG-LASTING ECO-FRIENDLY ANTIFOULING
The new RO 340 ECO has a long-lasting antifouling (10 years).
It is a hard surface treatment of epoxy resin which repels all types of incrustations. This epoxy finish also guarantees a smooth line of water which allows a better sliding of the boat. This antifouling obtains better efficiency during the navigation, and given that it does not need to be applied yearly, its owner saves all the costs that this would imply.
Traditional antifoulings maintain the quickwork smooth and clean only for the first few months, and while a few months pass until its cleaning and repainting are carried out (as this is normally done once a year), the boat sails with incrustations, which reduces its hydrodynamic efficiency.
9 LIGHTING
All lights installed are Leds, of low-energy consumption, which allow an important energy saving of the batteries as well as long life for the lamps. This also saves costs to its owner.
Moreover, with the wiring system, its intensity may be regulated automatically through its switchboard, obtaining the intensity wished without wasting energy.
9 SEWAGE SYSTEM
The RO 340 ECO uses a vacuum sewer system which reduces weight in the whole of the mechanism and improves efficiency in its use, given that its installation hardly needs hosepipes, and does not need a macerating pump. Its location is in the W.C, with easy access, in a cabin used for this purpose. Of course without giving up on a very efficient and comfortable system, incorporating an electric toilet.
It is also a very clean system and of a very easy discharge.
9 WOODWORK
The boat’s woodwork is also lighter, but without losing its rigidity, thanks to the use of top quality materials. The intention is to reduce the weight without losing consistency in the structure.
SUMMARY OF THE MAIN ADVANTAGES OF THE RO 340 ECO:
The new RO 340 ECO is a unique boat in the world within its category, and it is the result of the efforts of Ronautica’s RTDI Department (Research, Technological Development and Innovation), which has achieved its purpose to design and manufacture a highly technological vessel, following the market demand: the use of renewable energies and the reduction of consumption and maintenance expenses. The new RO 340 ECO is ECO-FRIENDLY,
ECONOMICAL, and SAFE.
ECO-FRIENDLY
9 Zero waste emissions 9 Zero noise emissions
9 Better energy use (more energy efficient) 9 Minimum use of fossil fuels
9 Maximum use of renewable energies ECONOMICAL
9 Zero fuel use
9 Zero engine maintenance expenses
9 Zero costs for the repainting of the quickwork for the first 10 years 9 Starting price similar to a traditional boat
SAFER AND EASIER TO MANOEUVRE 9 Emergency stop much quicker
o In emergency situations such as the fall of a crew member or risk of a crash 9 More control at reduced speed during port manoeuvres
9 More reliable electric installation
9 Simplification of installations: fewer cables, fewer sea cocks, fewer pipes
