An apparatus includes first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure. The apparatus also includes at least one generator configured to receive flows of the refrigerant between the tanks and to generate electrical power based on the flows of the refrigerant. The apparatus further includes first and second hydraulic drives associated with the first and second tanks, respectively. Each hydraulic drive includes a first piston within the associated tank, a channel fluidly coupled to the associated tank and configured to contain hydraulic fluid, and a second piston within the channel and configured to move within the channel in order to vary an amount of the hydraulic fluid within the associated tank and vary a position of the first piston within the associated tank. The channel of each hydraulic drive has a cross-sectional area that is less than a cross-sectional area of the associated tank.

An apparatus comprises multiple electrically conductive loops, an elongated tubular ferromagnetic shield, and an elongated tubular superconductive inner shield. The superconductive inner shield is positioned within the ferromagnetic shield. Each conductive loop includes (i) a thrust segment extending from a first end of the superconductive inner shield outside the ferromagnetic shield to a second end of the superconductive inner shield and (ii) a return segment passing through an interior passage of the superconductive inner shield from the second end of the superconductive inner shield to the first end of the superconductive inner shield. The conductive loops can be spatially arranged relative to a uniform external magnetic field so that interaction between the external magnetic field and electrical current flowing in the conductive loops results in asymmetric magnetic flux density around, and non-zero net force exerted on, the conductive loops.

A method and an apparatus (1, 11, 21, 31) for moving one or more loads (5, 15, 25, 35a, 35b,45), in which method loads are moved along a channel (2, 12, 22, 32a, 32b, 49, 49) on or in fluid, wherein the channel (2, 12, 22, 32a, 32b, 49, 49) extending substantially horizontally in lengthwise direction has a cross-section, which cross-section defines an open section (13, 33a, 33b) and a closed section (14, 34a, 34b), wherein the fluid in the open section is directly in contact with surrounding air, and the fluid in the channel can flow from the open section to the closed section and vice versa through opening or openings located below the surface level of the fluid in the open section, and the load or loads (5, 15, 25, 35a, 35b, 45) are moved by floating them at least partially inside the closed section.

A method and an apparatus (1, 11, 21, 31) for moving one or more loads (5, 15, 25, 35a, 35b,45), in which method loads are moved along a channel (2, 12, 22, 32a, 32b, 49, 49) on or in fluid, wherein the channel (2, 12, 22, 32a, 32b, 49, 49) extending substantially horizontally in lengthwise direction has a cross-section, which cross-section defines an open section (13, 33a, 33b) and a closed section (14, 34a, 34b), wherein the fluid in the open section is directly in contact with surrounding air, and the fluid in the channel can flow from the open section to the closed section and vice versa through opening or openings located below the surface level of the fluid in the open section, and the load or loads (5, 15, 25, 35a, 35b, 45) are moved by floating them at least partially inside the closed section.

The invention relates to a vessel for operating on a body of water comprising: a non-planing hull having a waterline and a longitudinal direction with a forward portion, an aft portion, and a central portion, the hull being configured to have the aft portion with a smaller water displacement relative to a water displacement at the central portion; and an aft foil affixed to the aft hull portion with one or more connecting members, and below the surface of the water, and spaced from the hull, the aft foil having a span, a chord, and a leading edge and a trailing edge relative to a forward direction, wherein the leading edge of the aft foil is tilted at a downward angle relative to the horizontal, wherein the aft foil has a chord and profile in longitudinal cross section, with a configuration to provide a lifting force, the tilt angle of the chord of the aft foil being measured with respect to the horizontal, and wherein the aft foil is oriented to provide a continuous, upward, forwardly directed component of the lifting force.

A magnetohydrodynamic seawater propulsion thruster includes: a first electrode body including a seawater inlet, a seawater flow space, and a seawater outlet; a second electrode body arranged in the seawater flow space to be spaced apart from the first electrode body, and allowing current to flow through the seawater with the first electrode body; a flow guide having a helical shape, arranged between the first electrode body and the second electrode body in the seawater flow space to guide flowing of seawater; a magnetic field formation unit arranged to surround at least a portion of an outer circumference of the first electrode body and generate a magnetic field in an extension direction of the first electrode body; a power supply unit that supplies electricity to the first and second electrode bodies. The power supply unit includes a fuel cell module generating electricity through electrochemical reaction of fuel and oxidizer.

A magnetohydrodynamic seawater propulsion thruster includes: a first electrode body including a seawater inlet, a seawater flow space, and a seawater outlet; a second electrode body arranged in the seawater flow space to be spaced apart from the first electrode body, and allowing current to flow through the seawater with the first electrode body; a flow guide having a helical shape, arranged between the first electrode body and the second electrode body in the seawater flow space to guide flowing of seawater; a magnetic field formation unit arranged to surround at least a portion of an outer circumference of the first electrode body and generate a magnetic field in an extension direction of the first electrode body; a power supply unit that supplies electricity to the first and second electrode bodies. The power supply unit includes a fuel cell module generating electricity through electrochemical reaction of fuel and oxidizer.

An environmentally friendly ship propulsion system and a method for propelling a ship. The ship propulsion system comprises an osmosis chamber (1), a pressure relief unit (2) and a desalination unit, the osmosis chamber (1) comprising a high salinity region (11) and a low salinity region (12) separated from one another by an osmotic membrane (13). The pressure relief unit (2) having at least one pressure-motion converter connected to the high-salinity region (11) of the osmosis chamber (1) via high-pressure line (21). The desalination unit is suitable for producing salt or at least high-salinity water and fresh water or at least low-salinity water. A fresh water pipe connecting the desalination unit with the low salinity area (12) of the osmosis chamber (1) and a salt water supply (14) is controllably connected to the high salinity area (11) of the osmosis chamber (1). (FIG. 1a)

An environmentally friendly ship propulsion system and a method for propelling a ship. The ship propulsion system comprises an osmosis chamber (1), a pressure relief unit (2) and a desalination unit, the osmosis chamber (1) comprising a high salinity region (11) and a low salinity region (12) separated from one another by an osmotic membrane (13). The pressure relief unit (2) having at least one pressure-motion converter connected to the high-salinity region (11) of the osmosis chamber (1) via high-pressure line (21). The desalination unit is suitable for producing salt or at least high-salinity water and fresh water or at least low-salinity water. A fresh water pipe connecting the desalination unit with the low salinity area (12) of the osmosis chamber (1) and a salt water supply (14) is controllably connected to the high salinity area (11) of the osmosis chamber (1). (FIG. 1a)

An apparatus comprises multiple electrically conductive loops, an elongated tubular ferromagnetic shield, and an elongated tubular superconductive inner shield. The superconductive inner shield is positioned within the ferromagnetic shield. Each conductive loop includes (i) a thrust segment extending from a first end of the superconductive inner shield outside the ferromagnetic shield to a second end of the superconductive inner shield and (ii) a return segment passing through an interior passage of the superconductive inner shield from the second end of the superconductive inner shield to the first end of the superconductive inner shield. The conductive loops can be spatially arranged relative to a uniform external magnetic field so that interaction between the external magnetic field and electrical current flowing in the conductive loops results in asymmetric magnetic flux density around, and non-zero net force exerted on, the conductive loops.