International. The European Commission granted an innovative project with the intention of developing a biomimetic hull coating that reduces the friction resistance of ships. The Aircoat project promotes an innovative technology that has great potential to revolutionise the ship casing sector and change the rules of the game to reduce energy consumption and emissions from Europe's shipping.
A team of ten European scientists and industry experts led by the Fraunhofer Centre for Maritime Technologies and Services will receive a total grant of €5.3 million to develop and demonstrate the Aircoat prototype.
Aircoat (Air-Induced Friction Reduction Coating) develops a passive air lubrication technology that uses the Salvinia biomimetic effect. This effect makes it possible to trap air while submerged in water.
The project technologically implements this effect in a self-adhesive sheet system. The application of a craft with such an Aircoat sheet will produce a thin layer of permanent air, which significantly reduces overall friction resistance while acting as a physical barrier between water and the hull surface.
Therefore, by substantially reducing the main fuel consumption and therefore the emission of exhaust gases, the air barrier further inhibits the fixation of dirt and the release of biocidal substances (from underlying coatings) into the water and mitigates radiation from ship noise.
The three-year project started on 1 May 2018 and receives a total grant of €5.3 million from the European Commission under Horizon 2020 which addresses the theme Innovations for energy efficiency and emission control in maritime transport.
The project is an excellent example for a biomimetic application in which technology learns from nature. Nature has developed the Salvinia effect, which allows the Salvinia plant, a fern floating in the water, to also breathe underwater while maintaining a permanent layer of air. Now, technology makes use of this natural phenomenon.
The main advantages to existing technologies are that the ship's hull is passively lubricated and that the refurbishment technology would be immediately applicable to the entire fleet. By combining the latest self-adhesive foil technology, Aircoat can revolutionize the marine coating sector and become an innovative energy efficiency and emission reduction technology in the future.
Source: Fraunhofer CML.
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