A magnetic levitation rotor sail is proposed. The rotor sail may include a coil unit provided at a lower portion of a body of the rotor sail, and an electromagnet configured to levitate the coil unit. The rotor sail may also include a support member supporting the electromagnet, and a gap sensor provided at the support member and configured to measure a gap between the coil unit and the electromagnet.

A magnetic levitation rotor sail is proposed. The rotor sail may include a coil unit provided at a lower portion of a body of the rotor sail, and an electromagnet configured to levitate the coil unit. The rotor sail may also include a support member supporting the electromagnet, and a gap sensor provided at the support member and configured to measure a gap between the coil unit and the electromagnet.

A marine vessel can be propelled by using wind or solar energy. This propulsion results in the forward movement and six degrees of motion (roll, heave, pitch, yaw, surge, and sway) of the marine vessel. This invention capitalizes on the fact that solar, wind and wave energy are cyclical by nature. The present invention enables the vessel to manage stored and harvested energy from these energy sources and use the stored energy during periods when the external natural sources of energy are not available in adequate quantities to maintain a reasonable speed of advance for the marine vessel. The vessel's natural energy management system (NEMS) manages it in such a way that harvesting of the energy during high energy cycles, storing it and using it when needed during low external energy cycles, allows a marine vessel to maintain faster average speed without reliance on any fossil or chemical fuel and by only using renewable energy sources.

Propulsion apparatus for an aquatic vessel comprises an aerodynamic body which extends along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends and in a transverse direction between a leading edge and trailing edge. The aerodynamic body has one or more external wind-receiving surfaces which extend between the leading edge and the trailing edge, thereby defining an aerodynamic profile of the aerodynamic body in cross-section substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The propulsion apparatus further comprises at least one air vent and at least one air flow generator configured to expel air through the at least one air vent. The at least one air vent and/or the at least one air flow generator are configured to direct expelled air across at least a portion of the one or more or more external wind-receiving surfaces.

Propulsion apparatus for an aquatic vessel comprises an aerodynamic body which extends along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends and in a transverse direction between a leading edge and trailing edge. The aerodynamic body has one or more external wind-receiving surfaces which extend between the leading edge and the trailing edge, thereby defining an aerodynamic profile of the aerodynamic body in cross-section substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The propulsion apparatus further comprises at least one air vent and at least one air flow generator configured to expel air through the at least one air vent. The at least one air vent and/or the at least one air flow generator are configured to direct expelled air across at least a portion of the one or more or more external wind-receiving surfaces.

A Magnus rotor is provided. The Magnus rotor is located in a flowing fluid and driven to rotate by a power source. The Magnus rotor includes a Magnus rotor main body and a blade assembly. The Magnus rotor main body includes a cylinder side wall, a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end are disposed in one end and the other end of the cylinder side wall, respectively. The Magnus rotor is rotated around an axis connected between a first center point of the first end and a second center point of the second end. The blade assembly includes a plurality of blades which are disposed around the first end. Each blade is inclined toward a direction. A gap is formed between each two adjacent blades. Each gap is formed as a flowing channel for allowing the fluid to flow therethrough.

A vertical axis fluid energy conversion device is provided. The vertical axis fluid energy conversion device includes at least one lift blade and at least one Magnus rotor. A power source drives the Magnus rotor to rotate and the Magnus lift force is produced. The Magnus rotor is connected with a main shaft through a connection component. Consequently, the main shaft is rotated and the lift blade is also revolved. The flow field of the vertical axis fluid energy conversion device is less influenced by the Magnus rotor. The performance of the lift blade is better. The whole efficiency is enhanced. The vertical axis fluid energy conversion device is self-starting through the Magnus rotor. The power source only drives the Magnus rotor to rotate, but not drive the whole device. Therefore, the vertical axis fluid energy conversion device has advantages of low cost and low energy consumption.

A vertical axis fluid energy conversion device is provided. The vertical axis fluid energy conversion device includes at least one lift blade and at least one Magnus rotor. A power source drives the Magnus rotor to rotate and the Magnus lift force is produced. The Magnus rotor is connected with a main shaft through a connection component. Consequently, the main shaft is rotated and the lift blade is also revolved. The flow field of the vertical axis fluid energy conversion device is less influenced by the Magnus rotor. The performance of the lift blade is better. The whole efficiency is enhanced. The vertical axis fluid energy conversion device is self-starting through the Magnus rotor. The power source only drives the Magnus rotor to rotate, but not drive the whole device. Therefore, the vertical axis fluid energy conversion device has advantages of low cost and low energy consumption.

A Magnus rotor is provided. The Magnus rotor is located in a flowing fluid and driven to rotate by a power source. The Magnus rotor includes a Magnus rotor main body and a blade assembly. The Magnus rotor main body includes a cylinder side wall, a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end are disposed in one end and the other end of the cylinder side wall, respectively. The Magnus rotor is rotated around an axis connected between a first center point of the first end and a second center point of the second end. The blade assembly includes a plurality of blades which are disposed around the first end. Each blade is inclined toward a direction. A gap is formed between each two adjacent blades. Each gap is formed as a flowing channel for allowing the fluid to flow therethrough.

A marine vessel can be propelled by using wind or solar energy. This propulsion results in the forward movement and six degrees of motion (roll, heave, pitch, yaw, surge, and sway) of the marine vessel. This invention capitalizes on the fact that solar, wind and wave energy are cyclical by nature. The present invention enables the vessel to manage stored and harvested energy from these energy sources and use the stored energy during periods when the external natural sources of energy are not available in adequate quantities to maintain a reasonable speed of advance for the marine vessel. The vessel's natural energy management system (NEMS) manages it in such a way that harvesting of the energy during high energy cycles, storing it and using it when needed during low external energy cycles, allows a marine vessel to maintain faster average speed without reliance on any fossil or chemical fuel and by only using renewable energy sources.