4 September 2018
This technology contributes to the protection of the seas and the atmosphere. A self-adhesive foil attached to the ship’s hull generates a thin air layer that significantly reduces frictional resistance and, at the same time, acts as a physical barrier between the hull’s surface and the water. As a result, fuel consumption and exhaust gas emission of the ship can be reduced considerably. The air coating also reduces the emission of noise. Moreover, it prevents sea organisms from settling on the hull, so-called fouling, and a release of biocides from coatings below into the water. The innovative air coating method is a bionic application modeled on nature. AIRCOAT is based on the salvinia effect discovered jointly by botanist Professor Wilhelm Barthlott of Bonn University and physicist Professor Thomas Schimmel of KIT.
This effect enables certain plants, such as floating fern (salvinia), to breathe under water. They retain a thin air layer on the surface of their leaves, which is covered by hair-like structures and is highly water-repellent. The AIRCOAT project technologically implements this effect of maintaining air layers on surfaces under water on a self-adhesive foil system.
The AIRCOAT consortium now optimizes the new technology and studies the surface properties experimentally and numerically. Afterwards, the researchers plan to demonstrate the efficiency and industrial feasibility on the laboratory scale, on research ships, and on container ships. A comprehensive validation process will prove the benefit for industry and the environment.
Scientists of various disciplines collaborate under AIRCOAT, from applied physics to nanotechnology, experimental and numerical fluid mechanics, bionics, to ship technology and ship emission modeling. In addition, industry experts in the areas of ship coating, eco-toxicology, and self-adhesive foil technologies as well as container ship operators are involved in the project.
Altogether, ten partners participate in the project funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 programme. The project is scheduled for a duration of three years.
http://www.kit.edu/
New passive air lubrication technology for ships
Researchers from all over Europe develop an air coating that reduces frictional resistance of ships. Therefore, they use the salvinia effect studied by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). It allows an air layer to permanently exist under water. "AIRCOAT" is aimed at developing a passive air lubrication technology for ships.
 Photo: Schimmel Team, KITAIRCOAT is based on the salvinia effect, which serves as a model of the innovative technology. |
This effect enables certain plants, such as floating fern (salvinia), to breathe under water. They retain a thin air layer on the surface of their leaves, which is covered by hair-like structures and is highly water-repellent. The AIRCOAT project technologically implements this effect of maintaining air layers on surfaces under water on a self-adhesive foil system.
The AIRCOAT consortium now optimizes the new technology and studies the surface properties experimentally and numerically. Afterwards, the researchers plan to demonstrate the efficiency and industrial feasibility on the laboratory scale, on research ships, and on container ships. A comprehensive validation process will prove the benefit for industry and the environment.
Scientists of various disciplines collaborate under AIRCOAT, from applied physics to nanotechnology, experimental and numerical fluid mechanics, bionics, to ship technology and ship emission modeling. In addition, industry experts in the areas of ship coating, eco-toxicology, and self-adhesive foil technologies as well as container ship operators are involved in the project.
Altogether, ten partners participate in the project funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 programme. The project is scheduled for a duration of three years.
http://www.kit.edu/
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