Dithered Marine UV Coating for Anti-Biofouling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current anti-biofouling methods for vessels, such as ships, face challenges in effectively preventing biofouling while maintaining the original color and appearance of the hull, as traditional UV-based solutions often require significant color changes or uniform UV reflective coatings that are not aesthetically pleasing for shipping companies.
Innovation Solution
A vessel with an anti-biofouling system comprising a transmissive optical medium and a light source that provides UV radiation, featuring a pattern of colored and UV reflective segments, allowing for enhanced UV radiation extraction and maintaining the original color appearance by dithering the coating color perception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a uniform UV reflective coating is applied to the hull, then UV radiation extraction is maximized for anti-biofouling effectiveness, but the original color and appearance of the vessel is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The coating is divided into multiple segments with different properties: UV-reflective segments (white or light-colored) that provide anti-biofouling protection, and colored segments that maintain the vessel's original appearance. These segments are arranged in a patterned distribution across the hull surface, allowing each to perform its specific function while contributing to the overall aesthetic.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the coating have different local properties: some areas are optimized for UV reflection with light-colored or white material, while other areas are optimized for color retention with pigmented material. The local composition is tailored to achieve both protective and aesthetic functions in different spatial locations.
2Reliability
If a UV reflective coating is applied to maintain anti-biofouling function, then UV radiation exposure is enhanced, but fuel consumption increases due to increased drag from altered hull surface
Solution Approach 1:
The coating design modifies optical parameters (UV reflectivity, visible light transmission) while maintaining hydraulic parameters (surface smoothness, drag characteristics). By carefully selecting coating materials and thicknesses, the system achieves enhanced UV reflection without significantly altering the hull's hydrodynamic properties, thus avoiding increased fuel consumption.
3Reliability
If a thick optical medium is used to provide sufficient UV radiation path length, then UV light extraction is improved, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing thickness in one dimension, the solution distributes the UV reflection function across a two-dimensional patterned surface. The optical path length is effectively increased by creating multiple reflection paths within a thin coating layer, utilizing lateral spatial distribution rather than vertical thickness to achieve sufficient UV radiation extraction.
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
The solution effectively prevents biofouling by maximizing UV radiation exposure while preserving the vessel's original color, reducing fuel consumption and maintaining the company's visual identity, with improved UV reflectivity and color consistency.
Implementation Method 1
the vessel further comprises a pattern comprising colored segments and UV reflective segments
Implementation Method 2
the optical medium is configured to provide a propagation path of the ultraviolet light such that the ultraviolet light travels within the optical medium
Implementation Method 3
It appears that most micro-organisms are killed, rendered inactive or unable to reproduce with sufficient UV light
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A-1~2A-4
Figure 2B-1~2C
AI summary
The invention provides a vessel (1) comprising a hull (21) with a coating layer (100), the vessel (1) further comprising an anti-biofouling system (200) comprising an optical medium and a light source configured to provide UV radiation, wherein the optical medium (270) is transmissive for light, wherein the optical medium comprises a radiation escape surface and a second optical medium surface with at least part of the transmissive optical medium material configured between said radiation escape surface and said second optical medium surface, wherein the optical medium is configured adjacent to at least part of the coating layer with the second optical medium surface configured closer to the hull (21) than the radiation escape surface, wherein the anti-biofouling system (200) is configured to provide said UV-radiation downstream from said radiation escape surface in a direction away from said hull (21), and wherein the vessel (1) further comprises a pattern comprising colored segments and UV reflective segments with at least part of the transmissive optical medium material configured between said pattern and said radiation escape surface.