Ventilation module for mounting to a ship, and ship comprising such a ventilation module

Abstract

A ventilation module (3) for mounting to a ship (1) comprises: a housing (12) having at least one air-supply inlet (10) and at least one air discharge outlet (18); and a membrane film (19), which is arranged on the air discharge outlet (18) and secured to the housing (12).

Description

[0001] Aerator module for attachment to a ship and ship with such aerator module

[0002] This patent application claims priority from German patent application DE 10 2023 211 639.1, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] The invention relates to an aerator module for attachment to a ship and to a ship with such an aerator module.

[0004] It is known that the principle of air lubrication can be used to reduce the friction in water, known as ship resistance. This involves creating small air bubbles and expelling them underwater through the ship's bottom, flowing in the opposite direction to the ship's direction of travel. This can reduce the ship's fuel consumption.

[0005] To expel the air bubbles, the ship's bottom must be laboriously manufactured by drilling holes in the bottom. The manufacturing effort for such a ship's bottom and the associated costs are enormous.

[0006] The invention is based on the object of improving air lubrication on ships, in particular of implementing it in a cost-effective manner.

[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention by an aerator module having the features of claim 1 and by a ship having the features of claim 12. The core of the invention is that reliable and advantageous air lubrication is ensured with an aerator module, wherein the aerator module can be prefabricated as an independent, in particular separate, structural unit. The aerator module can be attached to a ship, in particular to its hull, in particular to an underside of the hull. In particular, this makes it possible to retrofit existing ships with one or more aerator modules in order to subsequently enable the operation of the ships under advantageous ecological conditions.Calculations by the applicant have shown that ships equipped with aeration modules according to the invention can be operated with reduced fuel consumption, thus reducing carbon dioxide emissions by up to 10%. The manufacturing effort for the aeration module is reduced. In particular, the aeration module can be manufactured separately in an automated or semi-automated manner and later attached to the ship's hull. The manufacturing effort for a ship equipped with at least one aeration module is reduced.

[0008] The aerator module according to the invention makes the principle of air lubrication available for existing ships.

[0009] The aerator module comprises a housing with at least one air supply opening and at least one air discharge opening. Air from the ship's hull can flow into the aerator module via the at least one air supply opening. The housing is made, in particular, from a plastic material, in particular from a thermoplastic material and, in particular, from polyethylene (PE), polylactide (PLA), and / or acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS). Additionally or alternatively, the housing can be made from a metallic material, in particular steel and, in particular, stainless steel. To improve the durability of the metallic material, a surface treatment, in particular a coating, can be present.

[0010] The aerator module further comprises a membrane film arranged at the air discharge opening. The air discharge opening is at least partially, in particular completely, covered by the membrane film. Air flowing out through the aerator module must flow through the membrane film. For this purpose, the membrane film has a perforation, i.e. a plurality of passage openings. The passage openings are in particular circular, but can also have a different shape. The passage openings are in particular identical, but can also have different sizes. The arrangement of the passage openings on the membrane film is in particular regular, in particular grid-like. The aerator module ensures a forced flow of air and thus advantageous air discharge.It has been shown that the use of the membrane foil achieves a uniform and fine distribution of air bubbles, which is beneficial for air lubrication. Depending on the size of the openings used, the air bubbles generated by the membrane foil have an average bubble size between 1 mm and 4 mm, and in particular between 1 mm and 2 mm.

[0011] The membrane foil is attached to the housing, in particular directly. The membrane foil is securely held to the housing.

[0012] The aerator module is robustly designed. The aerator module is mechanically durable. The aerator module is particularly seawater-resistant. Neither the membrane film nor the housing corrode as a result of contact with salt water and / or the chloride ions in seawater.

[0013] Surprisingly, it was found that the aeration module according to the invention reduces the risk of mineral and / or biological deposits forming on the aeration module, particularly in the area of ​​the at least one air discharge opening. During operation of the aeration module, the membrane film is stretched and, in particular, slightly curved. When the aeration module is not in operation, the membrane film lies flat against the housing. These relative movements of the membrane film result in either no deposits forming or deposits that have already formed being detached again. Overall, the risk of unwanted deposits is reduced. This can prevent the aeration module from only enabling reduced bubble generation and / or higher pressure losses occurring during compressed air generation.It is particularly advantageous if the aeration module is repeatedly pressurised with compressed air and then relieved again, especially several times a day.

[0014] The aeration module is easy to install on the ship. Retrofitting the ship is straightforward.

[0015] With the aerator module 3 according to the invention, an air flow with a throughput of at least 80 Nm 3 / h and in particular at least 90 Nm 3 / h and in particular at least 100 Nm 3 / h can be generated.

[0016] An aerator module according to claim 2 ensures a large-area inlet opening. In particular, the at least one inlet opening extends over a large part of a base area of ​​the housing. In particular, the base area is formed essentially exclusively by the air inlet opening. The base area is in particular flat, has a rectangular basic shape, and is in particular open. The aerator module can be attached directly to the ship by its base area. Attaching the aerator module to the ship is further simplified. Installation is uncomplicated. Air can flow from the ship directly through the air inlet opening. A separate air line from the ship to the aerator module is unnecessary.

[0017] An aerator module according to claim 3 has advantageous flow characteristics. The aerator module protrudes from the hull of the ship. Because the housing has a cover element with an uneven cover surface, the overall flow resistance of the ship is improved by the aerator module attached to the hull. The cover surface is curved, in particular in sections. The cover surface is arranged opposite the base surface of the housing. The cover surface gives the aerator module an airfoil-like cross-sectional shape. The cross-sectional area of ​​the housing corresponds to a wing shape, which is geometrically optimized from a fluidic perspective.

[0018] An aerator module according to claim 4 ensures improved release of air bubbles. In particular, the air release opening is designed as a plane, particularly a surface inclined relative to the base. This facilitates the release of air bubbles rearward, opposite to the ship's direction of travel.

[0019] An aerator module according to claim 5 is designed to be mechanically stable and allows for a compact construction. In particular, the aerator module features two side covers positioned opposite each other. The top surface and the base surface are arranged between the side covers and are defined by them.

[0020] An aerator module according to claim 6 enables flexible air flow into and / or out of the aerator module. An air connection, in particular a separate one, can in particular be used exclusively for the air supply. In this case, the air supply opening is integrated into the air connection. In this case, the base area can be designed to be closed. The aerator module then has increased rigidity and stability. In particular, in this case, it is not necessary to provide separate openings on the ship's hull, on which the aerator module must be arranged. It is sufficient if an air discharge line is led from the ship to the air connection. The flexibility in arranging the aerator module on the ship is increased.

[0021] The separate air connection can also be used for air delivery, i.e., in particular, for air distribution. It is particularly possible for another ventilation module to be connected to the air connection via a corresponding air distribution line. The air connection enables air distribution to other ventilation modules.

[0022] The separate air connection is provided, in particular, on at least one side cover. It is conceivable that both side covers each have a separate air connection.

[0023] An aeration module according to claim 7 ensures advantageous air bubble generation. The membrane film is made, in particular, of a plastic material and, in particular, of a thermoplastic material, in particular of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Alternatively or additionally, the membrane film can be made of silicone, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or ethylene-propylene-diene (monomer) rubber (EPDM). The membrane film has, in particular, passage openings with a clear width between 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm. The membrane film has a film thickness of at most 1 mm and, in particular, between 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm.

[0024] In particular, it was recognized that by specifying the clear width of the passage openings, the size of the resulting air bubbles can be precisely adjusted. It is possible, in particular, to equip the aerator module with different membrane films depending on its intended application. This makes it possible to precisely adjust the flow conditions. Depending on the size of the vessel and / or the typical travel speed, air bubbles of different sizes can be advantageous for implementing air lubrication.

[0025] An aerator module according to claim 8 ensures reliable and controlled release of air bubbles. The membrane film is securely and tightly attached to the housing. In particular, the membrane film is attached to the cover element along an edge region surrounding the air discharge opening, in particular by means of at least one fastening strip and / or a fastening frame, glued, screwed, and / or welded.

[0026] An aerator module according to claim 9 is particularly lightweight and robust. It has been recognized that the housing can be substantially hollow if at least one stiffening element is arranged inside the housing. The at least one stiffening element is arranged, in particular, in the transverse direction of the aerator module between the two side covers. The at least one stiffening element has a support contour that substantially corresponds to that of the side covers. The support contour is, in particular, designed to correspond to an inner contour of the cover element. In particular, the membrane film can additionally be fastened to the at least one stiffening element. The fastening of the membrane film to the aerator module is designed to be particularly reliable and robust. In particular, the aerator module has a plurality of stiffening elements that are arranged at a distance from one another, in particular in the transverse direction.In particular, the stiffening elements are designed to be identical to one another.

[0027] An aerator module according to claim 10 has improved rigidity. The at least one stiffening element is flat with a hollow structure. The stiffening element is designed in the style of a truss. The stiffening element comprises, in particular, a base strip, a cover strip connected thereto, in particular a curved one, and at least one stiffening strip connecting the base strip and the cover strip. In particular, several stiffening strips are provided, which are oriented transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the base strip. Because the at least one stiffening element has a hollow structure, air flow into and through the aerator module is essentially unimpaired. The ventilation function is ensured despite the stiffening elements.

[0028] A membrane film according to claim 11 reduces the risk of unwanted deposits on the membrane film, which can impair the permeability of the membrane film and thus the functionality of the aerator module as a whole. Because an outer surface of the membrane film has a non-stick layer, unwanted deposits are reduced and in particular avoided. The non-stick layer can be implemented, for example, by a surface coating, in particular as a separate layer. The surface coating can be subsequently applied to the membrane film and / or formed during the manufacturing process, in particular by extrusion, in particular co-extrusion. Additionally or alternatively, it is conceivable for the non-stick layer to be formed by incorporating at least one functional additive, in particular a metal, in particular metal ions and in particular silver ions, into the membrane film.The at least one functional additive is arranged on the outer surface of the membrane film, in particular partially exposed, and / or embedded in the membrane film. In particular, the at least one functional additive is arranged close to the surface and in particular with a maximum penetration depth of at most 0.3 mm, in particular at most 0.2 mm, in particular at most 0.1 mm relative to the outer surface.

[0029] The functional additives impart an antibacterial effect to the membrane film and in particular to the non-stick layer. The membrane film has an antibacterial surface. The membrane film is arranged on the housing in such a way that the non-stick layer is located on the water side. The non-stick layer can be formed on the membrane film using physical and / or chemical processes. The antibacterial surface prevents the growth of a biofilm. This ensures long-term and efficient operation of the aeration module. The aeration module is sustainable and economical. A ship according to claim 12 is designed in particular as a seagoing vessel and has the advantages of the aeration module according to the invention, to which express reference is hereby made. The at least one aeration module is attached in particular to the hull of the ship and in particular to the underside of the hull.

[0030] A vessel according to claim 13 enables a large-area air supply from the hull of the vessel into the at least one aerator module. The aerator module is arranged with its base at least partially aligned with a ventilation opening in the hull. The supply of air to the at least one aerator module is straightforward and, in particular, possible at a high throughput rate.

[0031] A ship according to claim 14 has additionally improved air lubrication. In particular, it was discovered that several aerator modules can be flexibly arranged and mounted on the hull of the ship. The positioning of the aerator modules on the hull is flexible. In particular, the positioning of the individual aerator modules on the hull can be customized to enable the optimal flow conditions for each hull. This results in additional optimization potential with regard to fuel savings.

[0032] In particular, the aerator modules can be arranged regularly, particularly in the longitudinal and / or width directions of the hull, spaced apart from one another. This allows for various grids, particularly a rectangular grid and / or a hexagonal grid. Irregular and, in particular, randomly distributed arrangements of the aerator modules on the ship's hull are also possible. A ship according to claim 15 ensures a simple and flexible connection of the aerator modules to one another. In particular, when a ship is subsequently equipped with multiple aerator modules, an air distribution line can be adapted and installed accordingly.

[0033] Both the features specified in the patent claims and the features specified in the exemplary embodiment of an aerator module according to the invention are suitable, either individually or in combination with one another, for further developing the subject matter of the invention. The respective combinations of features do not represent any limitation with regard to the further development of the subject matter of the invention, but are essentially merely exemplary in nature.

[0034] Essential features, advantages, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment with reference to the drawings. They show:

[0035] Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a ship with several aeration modules according to the invention,

[0036] Fig. 2 is a view from below of the ship according to Fig. 1,

[0037] Fig. 3 a perspective view of the aerator module from the outside,

[0038] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the aerator module according to Fig. 3 from below. A ship, which is shown purely schematically and as a whole with 1 in Fig. 1 and 2, is in particular a seagoing vessel. The ship 1 has a hull 2 ​​to which several, in particular at least two, aerator modules 3 are attached. It is essential that at least one aerator module 3 is attached to the ship 1. There can also be more than two aerator modules 3. The aerator modules 3 can be arranged regularly on the hull 2, in particular spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction and / or in the width direction of the hull 2. The longitudinal direction of the hull 2 ​​is oriented parallel to the direction of travel 4 of the ship 1. The width direction 29 is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 4.

[0039] The aerator modules 3 are mounted in particular on an underside 5 of the fuselage 2. According to the illustrated embodiment, the underside 5 is flat. It is also conceivable for the underside 5 to be uneven, in particular at least partially curved. It is also possible to arrange aerator modules 3 on lateral sections and / or side walls of the fuselage 2.

[0040] The aeration modules 3 are arranged on the ship 1 in particular such that they are arranged below the water surface 28 during operation of the ship 1.

[0041] The ship 1 has an air generation unit 6 for supplying air to the aerator modules 3. For this purpose, the air generation unit 6 is fluidly connected to the aerator modules 3 by at least one air supply line 7. According to the exemplary embodiment shown, each aerator module 3 is separately connected to the air generation unit 6 by means of an air supply line 7. It is also possible for not all, in particular only some, of the aerator modules 3, and in particular for at least one aerator module 3 to be directly connected to the air generation unit 6. Air distribution to the other aerator modules 3 is possible by means of an air distribution line 8, which is shown in Fig. 2.

[0042] The air generation unit 6 is, in particular, a compressed air generation source, in particular a compressor, in particular in the form of a rotary lobe blower, a screw compressor, a hybrid compressor, and / or a turbocompressor. The air generation unit 6 is arranged, in particular, inside the ship 1. From the air generation unit 6, the air supply line 7 leads from the inside of the ship 1 to the hull 2 ​​and to the aerator modules 3.

[0043] Alternatively, the air generation unit 6 can also be designed as a fan which in particular sucks in ambient air and supplies it to the at least one aerator module 3 via the air supply line 7.

[0044] For the air supply to the aerator modules 3, the fuselage 2 has a ventilation opening 9 on its underside 5, through which the air can flow into the corresponding aerator module 3. The aerator modules 3 are arranged, in particular, with an air supply opening 10 at least partially aligned with the ventilation opening 9.

[0045] Through the operation of the air generation unit 6, air is fed into the aerator modules 3 and released from the aerator modules 3 in the form of finely distributed air bubbles 11, in particular as a carpet of bubbles, which spread along the underside 5 of the ship 1 opposite to the direction of travel 4. The aerator modules 3 are directly attached to the ship 1, in particular to its hull 2, in particular by means of at least one fastening element. In particular, the aerator module 3 is held directly to the hull 2 ​​of the ship 1 by means of several bolts.

[0046] The structure and function of the aeration module 3 are explained in more detail below using Fig. 3 and 4.

[0047] The aerator module 3 has a housing 12 with an open base area 13, which is rectangular in the illustrated embodiment. It is understood that the base area 13 of the aerator module 3 can also have a different basic shape. The housing 12 is open at the base area 13. The base area 13 includes the air supply opening 10. It is conceivable that the base area 13 is closed at least in some areas to improve the attachment of the aerator module 3 to the ship 1.

[0048] The housing 12 has at least one and in particular two side covers 14, which are in particular identically designed. The side covers 14 are arranged opposite one another on the housing 12. The side covers 14 are oriented parallel to one another. The aerator module 3 is in particular mounted on the vessel 1 such that the side covers 14 are oriented parallel to the direction of travel 4.

[0049] At least one of the side covers 14, in particular both side covers 14, has a separate air connection 15. The air supply line 7 and / or the air distribution line 8 are connected to the air connection 15. The air connection 15 can also form the air supply opening 10, in particular in the case that the base area 13 is completely closed and air is not supplied to the ventilation module 3 via the base area 13.

[0050] Opposite the base surface 13, a cover element 16 is arranged on the housing 12, which defines a cover surface 27. The cover element 16 is at least partially uneven, in particular partially curved. A curved section of the cover element 16 forms in particular an inflow surface 17 of the aerator module 3. The inflow surface 17 is part of the cover surface 27. In the area of ​​the inflow surface 17, the aerator module 3 has a maximum height h ma x. The aerator module 3 is mounted on the ship 1 in such a way that the inflow surface 17 is arranged facing away from the ship in the direction of travel 4.

[0051] The housing 12, in particular its individual parts, in particular the side covers 14 and the cover element 16, are made of a plastic material, in particular of PE.

[0052] The cover element 16 has at least one air discharge opening 18, which is formed by a recess in the cover element 16. According to the exemplary embodiment shown, the air discharge opening 18 extends transversely across the entire width of the aerator module 3 and is laterally delimited by the side covers 14. In the region of the air discharge opening 18, the cover element 16 is flat. The air discharge opening 18 is arranged inclined relative to the base surface 13 at an angle of inclination n. The angle of inclination n is in particular at least 3°, in particular at least 5°, in particular at least 8°, in particular at least 10°, in particular at least 12°, and in particular at most 30°. The angle of inclination n is determined depending on the flow conditions to be achieved on the ship 1.

[0053] The air discharge opening 18 is inclined towards the underside 5 of the fuselage 2.

[0054] The air discharge opening 18 is in particular part of the cover surface of the cover element 16.

[0055] A membrane film 19 is arranged at the air discharge opening 18. According to the exemplary embodiment shown, the air discharge opening 18 is completely covered by the membrane film 19. Air that enters the aerator module 3 through the air supply opening 10 must necessarily flow out of the aerator module 3 through the membrane film 19. As a result of the air flowing through the membrane film 19, finely distributed air bubbles 11 are formed, which effect the intended air lubrication. The membrane film 19 is fastened to the housing 12, in particular in an edge region 20 surrounding the air discharge opening 18. The edge region 20 is rectangular, with its side edges running parallel to the side covers 14 and transverse edges running perpendicular to the side covers 14.

[0056] It is also conceivable that the membrane film 19 partially covers the air discharge opening 18.

[0057] The membrane film 19 is a plastic film, in particular TPU.

[0058] Membrane film 19 has a plurality of through-openings 21, which are particularly regularly distributed in the form of a grid on the membrane film 19. The through-openings 21 have a clear width between 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm.

[0059] The aerator module 3 has a plurality of stiffening elements 22 that serve to stiffen the housing 12. In particular, the stiffening elements 22 are each identically designed and arranged at a distance from one another in the transverse direction of the aerator module 3. The stiffening elements 22 are arranged, in particular, parallel to one another and, in particular, parallel to the side covers 14 in the housing 12 and are fastened therein, in particular by adhesive bonding and / or welding.

[0060] The stiffening elements 22 each have a support contour that corresponds to an inner contour of the cover element 16. The cover element 16 is supported in a strip-like manner, in particular in a linear manner, by a stiffening element 22.

[0061] The stiffening elements 22 are flat and have a hollow structure in the manner of a truss. The hollow structure comprises in particular a base strip 23, in particular a straight one, which faces the base surface 13. Connected to the base strip 23 is a cover strip 24, which defines the support contour of the stiffening element 22. The cover element 16 is supported in particular by the cover strip 24 of the stiffening element 22. The cover strip 24 is in particular curved, at least in sections. The base strip 23 and the cover strip 24 are connected to one another in a stiffening manner by a plurality of stiffening strips 25. The stiffening strips 25 run perpendicular to the base strip 23. The membrane film 19 is fastened, in particular screwed, to a respective stiffening element 22 by means of a respective fastening strip 26.The fastening strips 26 run along an outer side of the housing 12, in particular parallel to the stiffening elements 22 arranged underneath. In particular, a corresponding fastening strip 26 is provided for each stiffening element 22. Transverse fastening strips are arranged at the respective ends of the fastening strips 26 and are fastened to the housing 12, thereby achieving additional stabilization of the stiffening elements 22. The transverse fastening strips and the fastening strips 26 form a frame-like fastening structure for the membrane film 19, which is arranged reliably on the aeration module 3 with a large flow area.

[0062] The aerator modules 3 are mounted on the fuselage 2 in such a way that the inflow surface 17 is arranged at the front in the direction of travel 4. The air discharge opening 18 with the membrane film 19 is arranged behind the maximum height h in the direction of travel 4. max of the housing 12. Due to the inclination of the air discharge opening 18 with the membrane film 19, the air bubbles 11 are discharged with a directional component counter to the direction of travel 4. This promotes additional propulsion of the ship 1. In particular, the air bubbles 11 are discharged from the aerator module 3 not exclusively perpendicular to the direction of travel 4. The air bubbles 11 are discharged from the air discharge opening 18, in particular, in the flow shadow of the aerator module 3.

[0063] The aerator modules 3 are in particular positioned on the hull 2 ​​in such a way that the air discharge opening 18 and the membrane film 19 are oriented obliquely rearward with respect to the direction of travel 4.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Aerator module for attachment to a ship (1), the aerator module (3) comprising a. a housing (12) with at least one air supply opening (10) and with at least one air discharge opening (18) and b. a membrane film (19) arranged at the air discharge opening (18) and fastened to the housing (12).

2. Aerator module according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one air supply opening (10) is arranged on a base surface (13) of the housing (12).

3. Aerator module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (12) has an uneven, in particular partially curved, cover surface of a cover element (16).

4. Aerator module according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one air discharge opening (18) is part of the cover surface.

5. Aerator module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (12) has at least one side cover (14) which delimits the cover surface and / or the base surface (13).

6. Aerator module according to claim 5, characterized by an air connection (15), which is arranged in particular on the at least one side cover (14).

7. Aerator module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the membrane film (19) comprises a, in particular thermoplastic, plastic material, in particular made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and / or has passage openings (21) with a clear width which is between 0.5 mm and is 2.0 mm.

8. Aerator module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the membrane film (19) is fastened to the cover element (16) of the housing (12) in an edge region (20) surrounding the air discharge opening (18), in particular by means of fastening strips (26) arranged along the edge region (20).

9. Aerator module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one stiffening element (22) having a supporting contour corresponding to an inner contour of the cover element (16), wherein in particular the membrane film (19) is additionally fastened to the at least one stiffening element (22).

10. Aerator module according to claim 9, characterized in that the at least one stiffening element (22) has a hollow structure and in particular has a base strip (23), a cover strip (24) connected thereto and at least one stiffening strip (25) connecting the base strip (23) and the cover strip (24).

11. Aerator module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the membrane film (19) has an external non-stick layer.

12. Ship, in particular a seagoing vessel, to whose hull (2) at least one aeration module (3) according to one of the preceding claims is attached.

13. Ship according to claim 12, characterized in that the at least one aerator module (3) is arranged with the base area (12) on the hull (2), wherein in particular the hull (2) has a ventilation opening (9) at least partially aligned with the air supply opening (10).

14. Ship according to claim 12 or 13, characterized by a plurality of aerator modules (3) which are arranged spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction and / or in the width direction of the hull (2).

15. Ship according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized by an air distribution line (8) connecting several aeration modules (3) to one another.

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