Simple multidirectional marine organism fouling severity detection device

Abstract

The invention relates to a marine equipment biofouling detection technology, and aims to provide a simple multidirectional marine organism fouling severity detection device. The device comprises a cylindrical frame which is composed of an upper circular ring, a lower circular ring and a plurality of supporting columns connecting the upper circular ring and the lower circular ring. The upper circular ring is connected with at least one floating ball through a steel cable, and a test rack seated on the lower circular ring is arranged in the cylindrical frame; the test rack is of a vertical triangular prism structure composed of three rectangular frames, and the included angle between every two adjacent rectangular frames is 60 degrees. A plurality of sample plates are respectively mounted on each rectangular frame in a full laying manner, so that the test rack is provided with three rectangular planes and an inner cavity with two open ends. The device can adaptively adjust the optimal service angle along with the periodic change of the water flow direction based on the water retaining effect; the clamping grooves are formed in the three-dimensional frame, so that quick disassembly and replacement are facilitated; the sampling efficiency can be improved, the effluent detection time is greatly shortened, and the form information of living marine organisms is reserved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a marine equipment biofouling detection technology, in particular to a simple multi-directional marine biofouling severity detection device. Background Art

[0002] Underwater facilities, including mobile or fixed equipment and structures that are partially or fully in contact with seawater, such as marine vessels, offshore platforms, coastal power plants, seawater pipelines, and ocean observation and detection facilities like pier piles, offshore wind turbines, marine aquaculture cages, and ocean buoys, are critical infrastructure for marine economic development and resource exploitation. Marine corrosion and biofouling are common problems for these facilities and equipment in the marine environment. Biofouling of underwater facilities can not only cause corrosion of facility materials but also lead to increased resistance to ship navigation and blockage of cooling system pipes in coastal power plants, impacting the proper functioning of critical equipment and causing significant economic losses and ecological impacts. Biofouling has become a global concern due to its widespread impact and the complexity of its prevention and control. In recent years, with the development of marine economic and social development, various new underwater facilities and equipment have been put into operation. Biofouling is becoming a limiting factor, or even a bottleneck, hindering the safe and efficient operation of many underwater facilities and equipment. Further research and understanding of biofouling, and the development of effective and rational measures to inhibit or mitigate marine biofouling, are crucial for the long-term safe and efficient operation of underwater facilities.

[0003] For example, the waters near shipbuilding and repair facilities often have complex composition, which can easily lead to biofouling on the underwater surfaces of moored vessels, significantly increasing resistance to navigation. Being able to quickly and easily assess the severity of biofouling in the waters near docks is crucial for shipbuilding companies to implement production plans based on these findings.

[0004] Currently, testing for biofouling severity primarily refers to the "Antifouling Paint Shallow Sea Immersion Test Method" (GB5370-2007). This standard requires that antifouling paint sample frames be fixed to the bottom of a large steel, wooden, or reinforced concrete raft, submerged in seawater to a depth of 0.2-2 meters. The samples are then regularly observed for biofouling. However, traditional rafts require a large space and are expensive to construct, making them difficult to quickly and easily deploy near docks.

[0005] Chinese patent document CN106290128A discloses a multifunctional deep-sea environmental specimen frame with a large sample capacity, which can meet the needs of conducting deep-sea environmental corrosion and aging tests on a large number of materials at a specific depth at the same time, and can carry 300-600 plate-shaped specimens. However, the invention has a complex structure and is mostly suitable for deep-water environments, making it difficult to use near ship docks where there is a lot of surface work. Chinese patent document CN118999656A discloses a fixed biological adhesion monitoring device suitable for the low tide zone of coastal ports. Through integrated real-time monitoring of physical quantities such as temperature, salinity, pressure, and tide level coupled with video, it realizes the tracking observation and analysis of fouling biological adhesion of antifouling coatings. However, the invention requires external solar panels and has a complex structure. At the same time, the presence of power generation equipment may cause the temperature to rise, affecting biological adhesion. Chinese patent document CN117517181A discloses an antifouling paint hanging board test device and method with a float, which uses a float to fix the sample test frame. However, the patent ignores the reality that tidal effects cause the water to flow cyclically, which can lead to a lack of directional control of the severity of marine biofouling. Furthermore, the invention lacks effective fixing, making it difficult to use in busy waters such as docks.

[0006] A more significant issue is that, when designing the structures of various experimental devices in the existing technology, much attention is paid to structural stability and the number of panels to be installed, but no consideration is given to the possibility that the experimental devices may "turn downstream" under the influence of actual water flow or tidal changes. The purpose of installing panels in such devices is to receive the water flow and facilitate the attachment and growth of marine organisms. However, the excessive size of the panels will cause the entire device to rotate under the influence of the water flow, and the panels must remain parallel to the water flow to maintain a relatively stable state. This will lead to significant differences in the growth conditions of marine organisms on the panels compared to actual scenarios such as ships and seabed piles, thus affecting the accuracy of the monitoring results.

[0007] Therefore, designing a simple and multi-directional marine biofouling severity detection device that can adapt to changes in tidal effects has important practical value. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies in the prior art and provide a simple multi-directional marine biofouling severity detection device.

[0009] To solve the technical problem, the solution of the present invention is:

[0010] A simple multi-directional marine biofouling severity testing device is provided, comprising a cylindrical frame consisting of an upper circular ring, a lower circular ring and a plurality of support columns connecting the upper circular ring and the lower circular ring; the upper circular ring is connected to at least one buoy by a steel cable, and a test frame seated on the lower circular ring is provided inside the cylindrical frame; the test frame is a vertical triangular prism structure consisting of three rectangular frames, with the angle between adjacent rectangular frames being 60°; a plurality of sample plates are respectively installed on each rectangular frame in a full-coverage manner, so that the test frame has three rectangular planes and an internal cavity open at both ends.

[0011] As a preferred solution of the present invention, at least two eye rings are alternately arranged on the upper ring, two of which are symmetrically arranged around the center of the ring; a hanging lug is provided on the float, and both ends of the steel cable are connected to the eye ring and the hanging lug respectively.

[0012] As a preferred solution of the present invention, the eye ring is made by bending a round steel column, and its two ends are welded to the outer edge of the surface of the upper circular ring.

[0013] As a preferred solution of the present invention, the number of the float is at least one; a hanging lug with a perforation is provided on the lower side of each float, and the steel cable is connected to the hanging lug through the perforation.

[0014] As a preferred solution of the present invention, in the cylindrical frame, there are at least three support columns, which are evenly arranged in an annular direction; the two ends of the support columns are respectively connected to the upper ring and the lower ring by welding.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rectangular frame in the test frame is in the shape of a U-shaped structure, including an outer frame and a number of transverse flat bars arranged alternately, the two ends of the transverse flat bars are welded to the outer frame, and the adjacent transverse flat bars and the outer frames on both sides together form the installation position of the sample; through holes are provided on the transverse flat bars or the rectangular frame, or a fixed installation plate with a through hole is provided at the connecting angle between the transverse flat bars and the outer frame, and the sample is fixed in the corresponding installation position using a bolt assembly.

[0016] As a preferred solution of the present invention, an insulating gasket is provided between the transverse flat strip or rectangular frame and the template.

[0017] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sample plate is a polyvinyl chloride plate or a steel plate coated with an antifouling paint.

[0018] As a preferred solution of the present invention, there are nine templates in total, three of which are arranged vertically on each rectangular frame, and the templates are fixed to the rectangular frames with bolt assemblies.

[0019] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rectangular frames in the test frame are independent of each other and not connected to each other, and each rectangular frame is installed on the support column through an assembly of connecting parts and card plates; wherein, a plurality of card plates are fixed alternately on the inner side of each support column by welding, and each card plate has two card slots formed by cutting; mounting holes are provided alternately on both sides of the rectangular frame, and each mounting hole corresponds to a connecting part; each connecting part is inserted into the card slot of the card plate with its vertical edge, and the connecting part is fixed to the rectangular frame by a bolt assembly.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0021] 1. In the device of the present invention, since the test frame has three rectangular planes and is arranged at an angle, the entire device will adaptively adjust the optimal service angle as the direction of the water flow changes periodically based on the water retaining effect. The three rectangular frames are constructed into a vertical triangular prism structure, which is stable and not easy to damage. The angle between adjacent rectangular frames in the triangular prism structure is 60°. After the template is installed, the angle will be coupled with the water flow torque to adaptively and finely adjust the service angle of the entire test frame, thereby maintaining a relatively stable azimuth with the incoming flow direction. Moreover, in this state, the surface of the template has water flow conditions similar to those on the surface of ships and piles, so that the final monitored biological attachment results can be basically consistent with the surface water flow conditions of ships and piles in actual scenarios, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of the experiment. This design in the present invention solves the problem of template downstream that has always been unavoidable in the prior art. At the same time, the exposure of the template in multiple directions can further improve the representativeness and accuracy of the experimental results.

[0022] 2. The device of the present invention adopts a cylindrical frame design and uses a float instead of a traditional raft, which can effectively reduce the overall volume and production cost of the test device. The distance between the float and the top of the frame can be adjusted according to the needs of the experimental plan, thereby adjusting the immersion depth of the device in water.

[0023] 3. The device of the present invention provides a slot matching the test frame inside the cylindrical three-dimensional frame, which facilitates the rapid disassembly and replacement of the test frame, thereby improving the sampling efficiency; it can significantly shorten the sample out-of-water detection time and retain the morphological information of living marine organisms to the greatest extent.

[0024] 4. The device of the present invention is not limited to monitoring the severity of biofouling. It can also be equipped with various environmental data monitoring devices such as temperature sensors and salinity sensors to record the environmental parameters and location information of the sea area where the device is located in real time, further assisting in the analysis of the severity of biofouling and its environmental relevance. In addition, it can also be used for immersion tests of various different types of components and simulated parts. It has strong versatility and is suitable for various experimental needs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 It is a front view of the detection device in the present invention.

[0026] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the connection between each rectangular frame and the support column in the test frame.

[0027] Reference numerals in the figure are: float 1; steel cable 2; eye ring 3; fixing ear 4; upper ring 5; template 6; support column 7; fixed mounting plate 8; clamping plate 9; rectangular frame 10; lower ring 11; clamping groove 12; connecting piece 13. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] In order to make the purpose and technical solution of the present invention clearer and more specific, the present invention is described in further detail below.

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown, the simplified multi-directional marine biofouling severity detection device provided by the present invention comprises a cylindrical frame consisting of an upper ring 5, a lower ring 11, and three support columns 7. The three support columns 7 are evenly spaced and arranged in a circular pattern, and their ends are respectively connected to the upper ring 5 and the lower ring 11 by welding.

[0030] Three eye rings 3 are alternately arranged on the outer edge of the surface of the upper ring 5, two of which are symmetrically arranged around the center of the ring. The eye rings 3 are made by bending round steel columns (or threaded steel bars) and welded at both ends to the surface of the upper ring 5. Figure 1 The figure shows an example of a float 1 (multiple are possible). A perforated lug with three holes is located on the underside of the float 1. Three steel cables 2 are fixed at their ends in corresponding pairs of eyelets 3 and the lug holes, securing the float 1 to the cylindrical frame. Adjusting the length of each cable 2 adjusts the distance between the float 1 and the cylindrical frame below it, thereby adjusting the suspension depth of the entire device in the seawater.

[0031] Placing the two eyelets 3 symmetrically about the center of the ring helps maintain the balance of the entire device's center of gravity during temporary lifting. First, pass the lifting rope through the two symmetrical eyelets 3, and then use a ship crane or dock lifting equipment to smoothly lift and lower the entire device to the designated sea surface area.

[0032] When the detection device is lowered to the preset sea surface, it should be anchored with an anchor rope. One end of the anchor rope is tied to the hanging ear of the buoy 1, and the other end is fixed to the anchor. This ensures that the buoy 1 always maintains a stable floating state and avoids displacement or instability of the device due to changes in tides or water flow.

[0033] Inside the cylindrical frame, there is a test stand seated on the lower ring 11. It is a vertical triangular columnar structure composed of three rectangular frames 10, and the included angle between adjacent rectangular frames 10 is 60°. On each rectangular frame 10, multiple templates 6 are respectively installed in a full-paving manner, so that the test stand has three rectangular planes and an internal cavity with open ends. The cylindrical frame serves as an external protection and support structure, which can not only protect the structure of the internal test stand but also enhance the overall rigidity and stability. The horizontal section of the test stand is an equilateral triangle, enabling the templates 6 carried by it to be exposed in multiple directions simultaneously.

[0034] As Figure 1 shown, the three rectangular frames 10 in the test stand have the same eye-shaped structure, including an outer frame and several horizontally arranged flat bars arranged alternately. The two ends of the horizontally arranged flat bars are welded to the outer frame, and the adjacent horizontally arranged flat bars and the outer frames on both sides jointly form the installation positions for the templates 6. At the connection included angle between the horizontally arranged flat bars and the outer frame, fixed mounting plates 8 with through holes are provided. Alternatively, through holes are provided on the horizontally arranged flat bars or the rectangular frames for fixing the templates 6. Figure 1 The test stand exemplified in [Figure] has a total of nine templates 6, which are arranged vertically on each rectangular frame 10, and the templates 6 are fixed to the rectangular frames 10 by means of bolt assemblies cooperating with the fixed mounting plates 8.

[0035] As Figure 2 shown, each rectangular frame 10 in the test stand is independent and not connected to each other. Each rectangular frame 10 is installed on the support column 7 through a component of a connecting piece 13 and a clamping plate 9. Among them, multiple clamping plates 9 are alternately fixed to the inner sides of each support column 7 by welding. Each clamping plate has an arc edge adapted to the support column 7 and two clamping grooves 12 formed by cutting. Mounting holes are provided alternately on both sides of the rectangular frame 10, and each mounting hole corresponds to a connecting piece 13; each connecting piece 13 inserts its vertical edge into the clamping groove 12 of the clamping plate 9, and the connecting piece 13 is fixedly connected to the rectangular frame 10 by using a bolt assembly.

[0036] In order to ensure that the test frame is firmly installed and easy to disassemble and transport, the present invention adopts a detachable design for the structure of the test frame, thereby saving packaging and transportation costs for each component. During installation, the rectangular frame 10 is lowered vertically from the upper circular ring 5 so that it rests on the lower circular ring 11 to bear the weight. On both sides of each rectangular frame 10, each mounting hole corresponds to a connector 13, and each connector 13 corresponds to a slot 12 on a clamping plate 9. During installation, the vertical edge of the connector 13 is first inserted into the slot 12 of the clamping plate 9, and then a bolt assembly is passed through the connector 13 and the mounting holes on the rectangular frame 10 for fastening and installation. In this way, the assembly of the test frame in the cylindrical frame can be easily achieved, thereby reducing the difficulty of transportation and the welding workload. Since the edges of the rectangular frame 10 are embedded in multiple clamping plates 9 through the connector 13, the overall stability of the test frame can be further ensured to prevent it from loosening under the impact of ocean currents. Since the openings at both ends of the test frame do not need to be sealed and gaps can be retained between the frames, seawater can enter the internal cavity very smoothly without affecting the sinking operation of the entire device.

[0037] In the present invention, all structural components can be made of salt-resistant and anti-adhesion stainless steel, or corrosion-resistant steel with a surface anti-adhesion coating. Sample plate 6 can be a rectangular plate made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or a steel plate coated with an anti-fouling coating. During installation, insulating gaskets can be placed between the transverse flat bar or rectangular frame 10 and sample plate 6, and the bolt assembly used for fastening can also be made of insulating material to prevent the steel from rusting and affecting sample plate 6.

[0038] The present invention utilizes a buoy 1 to suspend the cylindrical three-dimensional frame structure in the water, avoiding the high cost and large footprint of rafts and making it more suitable for use in scenarios such as shipbuilding docks. The triangular prism structure of the test frame allows the sample 6 to be exposed to seawater from multiple directions to fully understand the extent of marine biofouling. Furthermore, different mounting holes can be arranged on the rectangular frame 10 of the test frame to simultaneously accommodate multiple environmental data monitoring devices. The dimensions of the entire monitoring device can be adjusted according to actual needs. The dimensions of the biofouling sample are based on the "GB 5370-2007 Shallow Sea Immersion Test Method for Antifouling Paint."

[0039] Example 1

[0040] The marine biofouling severity detection device provided in this embodiment has a cylindrical frame height of 900 mm, an upper and lower ring radius of 291 mm, and an inner radius of the upper ring of 200 mm. The three rectangular frames measure 900 mm by 400 mm, each with multiple sample mounting holes, allowing for the placement of nine biofouling samples at once. Three steel cables are evenly fixed to the upper ring, their tops converging on the buoy's lugs for securement.

[0041] In this embodiment, anchor points are set on both sides of the U-shaped dock, and two 5-meter-long stainless steel chains are selected as anchor ropes for fixing. The ends are connected to the dock anchoring components and the hanging ears of the buoy respectively, so that the test device can move within a certain range without colliding with the dock or ships.

[0042] In this example, the buoy was made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which offers excellent wear, heat, and impact resistance, making it highly susceptible to breakage. The components beneath the buoy (including the test frame and biofouling specimen) weigh approximately 30 kg. The 500 mm diameter buoy was selected, weighing approximately 8 kg and providing a buoyancy of 50 kg, meeting the required buoyancy for the entire test setup. The length of the steel cable was adjusted to ensure the cylindrical frame was suspended at a water depth between 0.2 and 2 meters, meeting the standards specified in "GB 5370-2007 Shallow Sea Immersion Test Method for Antifouling Paint." After the test, the most severely fouled specimen from the same test frame was used to assess the severity of marine biofouling in that area.

[0043] The above describes the specific embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above specific embodiments, and those skilled in the art may make various variations or modifications within the scope of the claims, which do not affect the essence of the present invention.

Claims

1. A simple multi-directional marine biofouling severity detection device, characterized in that: It includes a cylindrical frame, which is composed of an upper ring, a lower ring and several support columns connecting the two; the upper ring is connected to at least one floating ball by steel cables, and a test rack seated on the lower ring is provided inside the cylindrical frame; the test rack is a vertical triangular columnar structure composed of three rectangular frames, and the included angle between adjacent rectangular frames is 60°; on each rectangular frame, multiple templates are respectively installed in a full-paving manner, so that the test rack has three rectangular planes and an internal cavity with open ends at both ends.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that At least two eyebolts are arranged at intervals on the upper ring, and two of them are arranged symmetrically about the center of the ring; hanging ears are provided on the floating ball, and the two ends of the steel cable are respectively connected to the eyebolt and the hanging ear.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that The eyebolt is made by bending a round steel column, and its two ends are welded to the outer edge of the surface of the upper ring.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The number of the floating balls is at least one; a hanging ear with a perforation is arranged on the lower side of each floating ball, and the steel cable is connected to the hanging ear through the perforation.

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that In the cylindrical frame, there are at least three support columns, and they are arranged evenly at intervals in the circumferential direction; the two ends of the support columns are respectively connected to the upper ring and the lower ring by welding.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The rectangular frame in the test rack is in a structure like the Chinese character "mu", including an outer frame and several transverse flat bars arranged at intervals. The two ends of the transverse flat bars are welded to the outer frame, and the adjacent transverse flat bars and the outer frames on both sides jointly form an installation position for the template; through holes are provided on the transverse flat bars or the rectangular frame, or fixed mounting pieces with through holes are provided at the connection included angle between the transverse flat bars and the outer frame, and the template is fixed in the corresponding installation position by a bolt assembly.

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that An insulating gasket is provided between the transverse flat bar or the rectangular frame and the template.

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The template is a PVC board or a steel plate coated with an anti-fouling coating.

9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that There are a total of nine templates, and three are arranged vertically on each rectangular frame, and the templates are fixed to the rectangular frame by a bolt assembly.

10. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that Each rectangular frame in the test rack is independent and not connected to each other. Each rectangular frame is installed on the support column through a component of a connecting piece and a clamping plate; among them, a plurality of clamping plates are fixed at intervals by welding on the inner side of each support column, and each clamping plate has two card slots formed by cutting; mounting holes are provided at intervals on both sides of the rectangular frame, and each mounting hole corresponds to a connecting piece; each connecting piece inserts its vertical edge into the card slot of the clamping plate, and the connecting piece is fixedly connected to the rectangular frame by a bolt assembly.

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