UV Anti-Biofouling System with Water Switch Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Biofouling on submerged surfaces, such as ship hulls and infrastructural objects, leads to increased drag and fuel consumption due to the accumulation of microorganisms, algae, and animals, with existing anti-biofouling methods posing risks to humans from UV radiation exposure, especially in harbors where more people are present.
Innovation Solution
An anti-biofouling system utilizing UV emitting elements, specifically solid-state light sources, that irradiate submerged surfaces with UV radiation only when in contact with water, using a water switch to control UV emission and a control system to adjust based on location, movement, and human presence to minimize exposure risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV radiation is applied to prevent biofouling on submerged surfaces, then anti-biofouling effectiveness is improved, but UV radiation exposure risk to humans worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies UV radiation locally only to submerged surfaces below the waterline, where biofouling occurs, while preventing exposure to areas above water where humans are present. The UV emitting elements are positioned and oriented to direct radiation exclusively at the water-contact portions of the hull or structure, creating a localized treatment zone that eliminates harmful exposure to crew and surrounding areas while maintaining effective biofouling prevention at the target surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses water as an intermediary medium that naturally attenuates and blocks UV radiation. By positioning UV emitting elements at or below the waterline, the water itself acts as a protective barrier that prevents UV radiation from reaching humans above the waterline. This intermediary approach allows the system to maintain effective UV treatment of submerged surfaces while the water column serves as a natural shield against harmful radiation exposure to personnel.
2Area of stationary object
If UV emitting elements are installed on the external surface, then anti-biofouling coverage is improved, but UV radiation leakage to areas above waterline worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The UV emitting elements are positioned and oriented to create localized treatment zones that concentrate UV radiation exclusively on submerged portions of the external surface. By adjusting the positioning, orientation, and beam direction of each UV element, the system achieves broad anti-biofouling coverage on underwater surfaces while preventing radiation from escaping into areas above the waterline where humans are present.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension created by the waterline to separate the UV treatment zone from human exposure zones. UV emitting elements are positioned at or below the waterline, using the water-air interface as a natural boundary that blocks UV radiation upward. This dimensional approach allows comprehensive coverage of submerged surfaces while the waterline itself acts as a protective barrier preventing radiation leakage to above-water areas.
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 prevents biofouling while minimizing UV radiation exposure to humans by ensuring UV emission is restricted to submerged areas, reducing fuel consumption and maintenance costs while ensuring safety.
Implementation Method 1
an UV emitting element for application of UV radiation (which may also be indicated as 'anti-fouling light') (to a part of an external surface of the object), wherein the UV emitting element especially comprises one or more light sources
Implementation Method 2
During cruise at open sea, this may not happen (even though it is to be mentioned that personnel on board of the vessel might still face a (tiny) risk), but while e.g. being docked in a harbor the risk is larger
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides an object (10) that during use is at least partly submerged in water, the object (10) further comprising an anti-bio fouling system (200) comprising an UV emitting element (210), wherein the UV emitting element (210) comprises one or more light sources (220) and is configured to irradiate with UV radiation (221) during an irradiation stage one or more of (i) a part (111) of an external surface (11) of said object (10) and (ii) water adjacent to said part (111) of said external surface (11), wherein the object (10) is selected from the group consisting of a vessel (1) and an infrastructural object (15), wherein the object (10) further comprises a water switch (400), wherein the anti-bio fouling system (200) is configured to provide said UV radiation (221) to said part (111) in dependence of the water switch (400) being in physical contact with the water.