Air lubrication system utilizing vacuum pump to convey air

Abstract

An air lubrication system utilizing a vacuum pump to convey air is characterized in that the vacuum pump is provided with a working water inlet and an air suction port, a vacuum pump working water power source is connected with the vacuum pump working water inlet through a water inlet pipeline to convey working water into the vacuum pump, and the water inlet pipeline is provided with a working water inlet stop valve; the vacuum pump air inlet device is connected with a vacuum pump air suction port through an air inlet pipeline, and a vacuum pump air suction check valve is arranged on the air inlet pipeline to feed air into the vacuum pump. The vacuum pump is connected with a discharge pipeline, a vacuum pump outlet check valve is arranged on the discharge pipeline, a vacuum pump discharge port is formed in the end portion of the discharge pipeline, and the vacuum pump discharge port faces the stern at the bottom of the ship body to discharge water and gas mixtures. In order to solve the problem of high initial investment of a ship owner, the ship raw water fire extinguishing system is used as a power source of working water of the vacuum pump, main functional equipment is the vacuum pump, and the vacuum pump is low in cost and can provide tiny thrust for advancing of the ship.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of marine vessel design and construction, and specifically relates to an air lubrication system that utilizes a vacuum pump to deliver air. Background Technology

[0002] As international conventions impose increasingly stringent requirements on ship carbon emissions, the shipping industry, a major carbon emitter, is actively promoting energy conservation and emission reduction measures. In recent years, more and more shipowners have requested the adoption of air lubrication systems, and the International Maritime Organization has included bubble lubrication drag reduction systems in ship design energy efficiency indicators. Currently used air lubrication drag reduction systems work by using an air compressor to expel pressurized air from the hull, creating a layer of bubbles on the hull surface to reduce the ship's wetted surface area. Since air resistance is much less than water resistance, the larger the air contact area with the hull, the lower the ship's drag, thus reducing drag during navigation and improving propulsion efficiency. However, this principle leads to high initial investment and high maintenance costs for shipowners, and it does not fully utilize the resources of the ship's existing systems. Therefore, to address these issues, an air lubrication system utilizing a vacuum pump to deliver air is proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides an air lubrication system that utilizes a vacuum pump to deliver air, aiming to achieve low initial investment costs, utilize existing ship resources, generate partial thrust, and ensure reliable operation. The technical solution adopted is as follows:

[0004] An air lubrication system that uses a vacuum pump to deliver air, wherein the vacuum pump has a working water inlet and an air intake port, the working water power source of the vacuum pump is connected to the working water inlet of the vacuum pump through an inlet water pipe to deliver working water into the vacuum pump, and a working water inlet shut-off valve is provided on the inlet water pipe.

[0005] The vacuum pump intake device is connected to the vacuum pump intake port through an intake pipe. A vacuum pump intake check valve is installed on the intake pipe to send air into the vacuum pump.

[0006] The vacuum pump is connected to the discharge pipeline, which is equipped with a vacuum pump outlet check valve. The end of the discharge pipeline has a vacuum pump outlet, which is located at the bottom of the hull facing the stern, to discharge the water and gas mixture.

[0007] Furthermore, in the aforementioned air lubrication system that utilizes a vacuum pump to deliver air, the air intake device uses cabin air as its air source.

[0008] Furthermore, the aforementioned air lubrication system that utilizes a vacuum pump to deliver air can be further described with a water-powered fire extinguishing system for ships as the operating hydrodynamic source.

[0009] Furthermore, in the aforementioned air lubrication system that utilizes a vacuum pump to deliver air, the discharge pipe is welded to the outer plating at the bottom of the hull.

[0010] To reduce the high initial investment for ship owners, this invention utilizes the ship's raw water fire extinguishing system as the power source for the working water of the vacuum pump. The main functional equipment is the vacuum pump, which has a low cost.

[0011] Because the outlet pipe of the vacuum pump drainage device discharges the mixture of seawater and gas toward the stern, it can provide a small thrust for the ship to move forward. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the system of the present invention;

[0013] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the invention's arrangement on a ship;

[0014] Among them, 1-vacuum pump, 2-working water inlet shut-off valve, 3-vacuum pump suction check valve, 4-vacuum pump outlet check valve, 5-hull bottom outer plate, 7-working water inlet, 8-vacuum pump outlet, 9-suction port, 10-water inlet pipe, 11-discharge pipe, 12-air inlet pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0015] The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0016] An air lubrication system that utilizes a vacuum pump to deliver air, such as Figure 1 As shown, it includes a vacuum pump working water power source, a vacuum pump air intake device, and a vacuum pump drainage device. The vacuum pump working water power source utilizes the ship's conventional water fire extinguishing system as the power source for the working water; the water fire extinguishing system is a system originally designed for fire fighting purposes; the vacuum pump working water power source is connected to the vacuum pump working water inlet via an inlet pipe, and a working water inlet shut-off valve 2 is installed on the inlet pipe to control the opening and closing of the working water; the working water is connected to the working water inlet shut-off valve via an inlet pipe 10, and finally connected to the vacuum pump working water inlet 7.

[0017] The vacuum pump intake device is a device connected to the vacuum pump intake port 9; the vacuum pump intake device uses the air inside the chamber as the air source; the vacuum pump intake port is connected to the vacuum pump intake device through the intake pipe, and the intake pipe is equipped with a vacuum pump intake check valve 3, which only allows air to be drawn in.

[0018] The vacuum pump drainage device is a drainage device that drains air after a large amount of air has been drawn in. The vacuum pump is connected to the discharge pipeline, which is equipped with a vacuum pump outlet check valve. The end of the discharge pipeline has a vacuum pump outlet, which only allows the water-air mixture to be discharged. The vacuum pump outlet is located at the bottom of the hull facing the stern, where the water-air mixture is discharged.

[0019] An air lubrication system that utilizes a vacuum pump to deliver air includes the following steps:

[0020] Step 1: Ensure that the water extinguishing system is in operation and that the system pipelines can maintain a stable supply of seawater.

[0021] Step 2: Ensure the installation of the working hydraulic power source, vacuum pump air inlet device, and vacuum pump drainage device is complete, and the airtightness test has been completed.

[0022] Step 3: Open the working water inlet shut-off valve of the vacuum pump. At this time, the seawater in the water extinguishing system enters the vacuum pump through the water inlet pipe and the working water inlet shut-off valve 2 of the vacuum pump, serving as the working water power source of the vacuum pump. The air in the cabin enters the vacuum pump through the vacuum pump suction check valve and the vacuum pump air inlet pipe. After the air in the cabin mixes with the seawater, it passes through the vacuum pump discharge pipe and the vacuum pump outlet check valve, and is discharged to the stern through the vacuum pump outlet, covering the bottom of the ship with a layer of air containing air bubbles.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides an air lubrication system that utilizes an injector to deliver air, which has the following beneficial effects.

[0024] In this invention, in order to reduce the problem of high initial investment for ship owners, the ship's raw water fire extinguishing system is used as the power source for the working water of the ejector. The main functional equipment is the ejector, which has a low cost.

[0025] like Figure 2 As shown, the present invention is installed in the stern of the ship. Since the outlet pipe of the jetting drainage device discharges the mixture of seawater and gas toward the stern, it can provide a small thrust for the ship to move forward.

Claims

1. An air lubrication system that utilizes a vacuum pump to deliver air, characterized in that, The vacuum pump has a working water inlet and an air intake port. The working water power source of the vacuum pump is connected to the working water inlet of the vacuum pump through the water inlet pipe, which sends the working water into the vacuum pump. The water inlet is equipped with a working water inlet shut-off valve. The vacuum pump inlet device is connected to the vacuum pump intake port through an inlet pipe. A vacuum pump intake check valve is installed on the inlet pipe to send air into the vacuum pump. The vacuum pump is connected to the discharge pipeline, which is equipped with a vacuum pump outlet check valve. The end of the discharge pipeline has a vacuum pump outlet, which is located at the bottom of the hull facing the stern, to discharge the water and gas mixture.

2. An air lubrication system utilizing a vacuum pump to deliver air according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air intake system uses cabin air as its air source.

3. An air lubrication system utilizing a vacuum pump to deliver air according to claim 1, characterized in that, The working hydrodynamic source is the ship's water fire extinguishing system.

4. An air lubrication system utilizing a vacuum pump to deliver air according to claim 1, characterized in that, The discharge pipes are welded to the outer plating at the bottom of the hull.

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