Ship Bottom Air Injection Stabilization Assembly for Vortex Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ship bottom air injection systems suffer from the formation of strong, large-scale columnar vortexes that shear and accelerate the breakup of air bubbles, undermining the drag reduction effect due to unstable air distribution.

Innovation Solution

A ship bottom air injection stabilization assembly featuring a flow guide and a protruding member with an arc surface, positioned upstream of air injection holes, to suppress vortex formation and stabilize air distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a flow guide is provided upstream of air injection holes to create a low-pressure area for air accumulation, then air stability is improved, but strong columnar vortexes form that accelerate air bubble breakup and diffusion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair stabilityVSAvoidvortex formation
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the air cavity structure into two functional parts: a flow guide for creating low-pressure areas and air accumulation, and a protruding member for suppressing vortex formation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between air stability and vortex suppression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protruding member acts as an intermediary element between the flow guide and the air injection holes. It mediates the flow field by suppressing vortex formation in the low-pressure area created by the flow guide, thereby preventing the harmful effect of vortex-induced air bubble breakup while maintaining the beneficial low-pressure effect for air accumulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Force

If air is continuously injected to form an air layer for drag reduction, then drag reduction effect is achieved, but air dissipates quickly reducing stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrag reductionVSAvoidair stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The flow guide creates a low-pressure area and accumulates air beforehand before the air reaches the injection holes. This preliminary action of air accumulation and stabilization ensures that when air is injected, it forms a more stable layer that persists longer, enhancing drag reduction effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the potentially harmful strong vortexes into a beneficial controlled flow pattern. By using the protruding member to suppress harmful large-scale vortexes, the air flow becomes more stable and coherent, transforming what would be a destabilizing factor into a condition that supports sustained air layer formation for drag reduction.

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

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

Reduces vortex size and intensity, decelerates bubble diffusion, and enhances the drag reduction effect by stabilizing the air layer between the ship bottom and water.

Implementation Method 1

the protruding member is mounted on the ship bottom, connected to the second end, and spaced apart from and located upstream of the at least one row of air injection holes. The peripheral surface of the protruding member facing the at least one row of air injection holes is an arc surface.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVortex suppression: Vortex Ring

Implementation Method 2

arranging air injection pipes along the ship bottom to continuously inject air, thereby forming a layer of air between the ship bottom and the surrounding water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir injection: Injector

Implementation Method 3

This partial separation of the ship bottom from the water reduces the contact area between the ship bottom and the water and thus reduces the drag exerted on the ship during the ship movement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDrag reduction: Drag

Implementation Method 4

an air cavity structure is often provided with a flow guide upstream of air injection holes, creating a low-pressure area behind the flow guide. When the air is injected, the low-pressure effect causes the air to tend to accumulate toward this low-pressure area, thus slowing down the diffusion of air bubbles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLow-pressure area formation: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP4613626A1Ship bottom air injection stabilization assembly, and ship
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 CSIC SHANGHAI MARINE ENERGY SAVING TECH DEV CO LTD
  • EP4613626A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4613626A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4613626A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Provided are a ship bottom air injection stabilization assembly and a ship. The ship bottom is provided with at least one row of air injection holes in a first direction. The ship bottom air injection stabilization assembly includes a flow guide and a protruding member. The flow guide is mounted on the ship bottom. The flow guide has a first end and a second end in a second direction. The first end is located upstream of the second end. The protruding member is mounted on the ship bottom, connected to the second end, and spaced apart from and located upstream of the at least one row of air injection holes. The peripheral surface of the protruding member facing the at least one row of air injection holes is an arc surface. The first direction is the width direction of the ship.