11 ms·

Used in foiling boats in America's cup and similar races.

• n40487171 3y ago
  I believe those use a hydraulic accumulator system rather than compressed air.
  • KennyBlanken 3y ago
    Guess what's on the other side of the membrane or piston in a hydraulic accumulator?
    • n40487171 3y ago
      I would guess that it would be a metal spring of some sort that doesn't lose energy to thermal side effects of compressing and decompressing gas, for a higher round trip power efficiency. Or else it could be a relatively large gas reservoir so that it doesn't heat or cool the gas too much.
  • gotts 3y ago
    I'm far from foiling boats would you mind explaining why are these compressors human powered and not gas/battery powered? Is it something from racing code?
    • BrentOzar 3y ago
      Racing code - America's Cup races prohibit stored energy aboard the boat, for example. Exceptions are made for certain springs, valves, and batteries for electronics.