Ship Propulsion Machine Fine Dust Capturing Device
Solution Overview
Problem
Current ship propulsion machines lack the capability to effectively retrieve fine dust, such as microplastics, from water bodies due to the limitations of existing cooling mechanisms, which either fail to capture fine dust or compromise engine cooling performance.
Innovation Solution
A ship propulsion machine equipped with a fine dust capturing device that includes a water intake, a capturer, and a water outlet, independent of the cooling system, utilizing a strainer and multi-layer filter to capture fine dust without affecting the engine's cooling performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a fine filter is provided at the water intake to capture fine dust, then the fine dust retrieval capability is improved, but the water intake flow is reduced and engine cooling performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The filtering function is segmented into two stages: a strainer for coarse particles and a fine filter for fine dust. The strainer is positioned at the water intake to remove large particles, while the fine filter is positioned downstream in the cooling water channel to capture fine dust, allowing each filter to operate at optimal efficiency without compromising overall water flow
Solution Approach 2:
The strainer acts as an intermediary element between the water intake and the fine filter. It pre-filters the water by removing coarse particles before water reaches the fine filter, reducing the loading on the fine filter and maintaining water flow while enabling fine dust capture
2Quantity of substance
If a strainer is provided at the water intake to prevent dust intake, then large particles are captured, but fine dust passes through and is not retrieved
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system is segmented into two distinct stages with different mesh sizes: a strainer with larger openings for coarse particles and a fine filter with smaller openings for fine dust. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other
3Temperature
If the cooling mechanism takes water from sea/lakes/rivers, then engine cooling is achieved, but fine dust is discharged back into water bodies
Solution Approach 1:
The fine filter, originally intended to protect the engine from fine dust damage, is repurposed to capture fine dust for environmental benefit. The captured fine dust is collected in a collection bag and can be disposed of properly, converting the harmful discharge into a beneficial retrieval function while maintaining engine cooling performance
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
Enables the retrieval of fine dust during ship operation without reducing the cooling performance of the propulsion machine, promoting the collection of fine dust in water bodies worldwide.
Implementation Method 1
a strainer at a water intake and the like. The dust such as seaweed and PET bottle lids can be retrieved by the strainer
Implementation Method 2
a fine filter is provided at the water intake and the fine dust is retrieved by the filter. However, when the fine filter is provided at the water intake, the filter is a resistance, so that the water to be used as the cooling water cannot be sufficiently taken into the ship propulsion machine
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a ship propulsion machine that gives a propulsive force to a ship, including: a power source; a propulsion device that converts power of the power source into a propulsive force of the ship; a power transmission mechanism that transmits power of the power source to the propulsion device; a casing that covers the power source and the power transmission mechanism; and a fine dust capturing device. The fine dust capturing device includes: a water intake which is provided in the casing and through which water around the ship propulsion machine is to be taken in, a capturer that captures fine dust contained in water taken in from the water intake, and a water outlet through which water in which the fine dust was captured by the capturer is to be discharged.