Acoustic Anti-Fouling Feedback Control for Submerged Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing anti-fouling methods for submerged vessels and structures, such as toxic paints and manual cleaning, are ineffective, environmentally harmful, and costly, failing to provide long-term protection against marine fouling organisms like barnacles and algae, which increase weight and drag, and pose ecological threats.

Innovation Solution

A non-toxic, self-monitoring and self-adjusting anti-fouling system using sound energy to create a vibrational energy field around submerged surfaces, employing transducers and sensors to generate and control sound waves that prevent fouling organisms from attaching, while continuously monitoring and adjusting the system's performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If toxic anti-fouling paints or chemical methods are used, then fouling organisms are prevented from attaching, but environmental harm increases and ecological threats arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanti-fouling effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical methods with a mechanical/vibrational system. Transducers generate sound waves that create a vibrational energy field around the submerged surface, preventing fouling organisms from attaching through mechanical vibration rather than toxic chemicals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of sound waves (which can be damaging at high intensities) into a beneficial anti-fouling mechanism by using controlled vibrational frequencies that prevent organism attachment without causing environmental harm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If manual cleaning methods are used, then fouling is removed temporarily, but labor intensity increases and protection is only short-term

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefouling removal effectivenessVSAvoidmaintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by continuously generating a vibrational energy field that prevents fouling organisms from attaching in the first place, eliminating the need for subsequent manual cleaning and maintenance time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The anti-fouling system operates continuously, maintaining a constant vibrational energy field around the submerged surface to provide ongoing protection against fouling, rather than requiring periodic manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If transducers and sensors are added to create a self-monitoring system, then system reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem self-monitoring capabilityVSAvoidsystem component count

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by using sensors to detect the performance of transducers and the condition of the water environment, then using this information to adjust system operation. This self-monitoring capability improves reliability by ensuring the system operates optimally under varying conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Effectively reduces the growth rate of fouling organisms, prevents their attachment, and maintains submerged surfaces free of fouling in aquatic environments, offering long-term protection without environmental harm, and is customizable and cost-effective.

Implementation Method 1

generate a sound wave from the at least one transducer based on input data

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound wave generation: Sound

Implementation Method 2

using sound energy to create a vibrational energy field around submerged surfaces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibrational energy field: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS20220156032A1System and method for feedback for remote interfacing of an Anti-fouling system for submerged vessels and structures

Publication Date: 2022.05.19 WAVEARRAY ANTIFOULING SYSTEMS LLC

AI summary

A method of controlling an anti-fouling system, the method comprising: activating at least one transducer and at least one sensor; analyzing the at least one transducer and the at least one sensor to determine a set of features of the at least one transducer and the at least one sensor which are controllable; generating a user interface, wherein the user interface is based on the set of features of the at least one transducer and the at least one sensor; generating a sound wave from the at least one transducer based on input data; monitoring the performance of the transducer by collecting data from the at least one sensor; and providing the collected data through the user interface, wherein values outside of a predetermined range, further comprise, transmitting an indicator of the values.