Electric Hybrid Marine Technology

Sealance
SEALENCE was founded in 2017 as an innovative startup based in Milan, and since its first presentation to the world, it has made its name for its innovative electric jet propulsion system, the DeepSpeed. 

The revolutionary DeepSpeed jets are part of an entire ecosystem that SEALENCE wants to propose to completely redefine the way of sailing and experiencing the sea. Innovation not only concerns the engines but also encompasses the entire control and power ecosystem, based on the self-production of energy. The absence of noise and vibration, the reduction of emissions, will allow changing the way of life of the sea and will have a significant impact on the quality of navigation, respecting the flora and fauna of the oceans. 

In 2018, the procedure was launched to ensure the uniqueness of the project through the deposition of the European patent, granted in February 2020. The coordination was chaired by Professor Ernesto Benini, one of the world’s leading experts in fluid dynamics and scientific coordinator of the project. In October 2020 it was also recognized in Australia and the extension was launched in a further 25 Worldwide countries.  

DeepSpeed jets

The most efficient naval propulsion 

DeepSpeeds jets have been designed to meet the requirements of reliability, power, and energy efficiency, able to use significantly less energy than the existing propulsion. It is therefore a new and extremely complex technology and in addition to the attention for fluid dynamics and mechanical aspects, it was necessary a meticulous search for the right materials that guaranteed very high performance and quality construction. The jets are built largely in aluminum and some titanium components, in addition to specific details made using special polymers charged in carbon and glass that are printed internally in 3D.

One of the materials used in Deepspeed jets is Hi-Lite and William Gobbo, CEO of the startup, explains in a few lines the motivation :

 “The electric motors that move our jets are extremely advanced, sophisticated, and performing. To give a clear perception of the technological level we have reached, just imagine that the mass power ratio of one of our jets is 0.5 kg/hp. To make a comparison, the current Diesel or Petrol engines have a mass power ratio of approximately 2 kg/hp. It was possible to achieve these incredible performances not only through an engineering process but also by using sophisticated materials such as Hi-Lite, which we use with satisfaction since the prototypes”

An example of the jets being tested is the 420 with a power of 220kW and 560Nm of torque which in peak conditions comes to generate a thrust equivalent to a 420 horsepower engine (360 hp equivalent, instead, in continuous use).

 

Energy efficiency

Efficiency Enhancement of maritime transport

SEALENCE’s first big and ambitious goal is to drive the energy efficiency enhancement of the entire naval sector by using half of the energy to generate the same boost. Sealence’s payoff is “we will spend less to arrive before, and water will be the only footprint we will leave”. Besides the choice to use an electric motor, in addition to being the enabling technology for the application of fluid dynamic innovations, it has also allowed having a significant impact on respect for the environment, inserting itself in the project of decarbonization and energy transition of maritime transport. Therefore, we are talking about a technological innovation that has a significant impact on cost reduction and environmental benefits. SEALENCE wants to demonstrate that innovation is possible without damaging the planet and the oceans, with a technology that drastically reduces consumption and that will potentially apply to the entire shipping sector, to achieve great commercial boating in the future. It is in the sector of great vessels that DeepSpeed technology can generate the maximum value in economic and environmental terms, whereas on millions of kilometers traveled, for example, a saving of up to 1% means several tons of fuel saved.