When we conducted experiments on silicon coatings in the late 80's, we found that the O2 wanted to stay in situ against the paint. So you only needed a small compressor located on the foc's'le deck with an external discharge line (metal pipe) leading down to the tip of the bulbous bow.
If the commercial form of this type of paint requires additional outlets for a 300m long ship, then it is probably because of a relatively low silicon content to the stuff we tested.... as we found it was like a bank. Every time you turned the compressor on you added O2....i.e. it didn't break down and go away.... and that was also the reason for the fouling concerns... so in other words give the compresor 2 weeks or so and a large vessel would achieve its maximum efficiency.
the simple solution to the fouling was to lower the silicon content and then use the paint in conjunction with a diamond/ pyramid shape, much like you see on shark skin. Sharkskin "paint" is great as even wave action would contribute O2 to the hull below the waterline.
I seem to remember talking about this with GF0012... and he mentioned Incat(?) using a sandblasting technique to create similar micro vortices against the hull of an aluminum catamaran.
Anyway, all very interesting and hey, its only been 20 years from inception to commercial use.... LOL.
cheers
W
If the commercial form of this type of paint requires additional outlets for a 300m long ship, then it is probably because of a relatively low silicon content to the stuff we tested.... as we found it was like a bank. Every time you turned the compressor on you added O2....i.e. it didn't break down and go away.... and that was also the reason for the fouling concerns... so in other words give the compresor 2 weeks or so and a large vessel would achieve its maximum efficiency.
the simple solution to the fouling was to lower the silicon content and then use the paint in conjunction with a diamond/ pyramid shape, much like you see on shark skin. Sharkskin "paint" is great as even wave action would contribute O2 to the hull below the waterline.
I seem to remember talking about this with GF0012... and he mentioned Incat(?) using a sandblasting technique to create similar micro vortices against the hull of an aluminum catamaran.
Anyway, all very interesting and hey, its only been 20 years from inception to commercial use.... LOL.
cheers
W
