Novel Lubricants For Oil Tankers Can Reduce Drag, CO2 Production
In today’s era, the release of air pollutants by the ships are the basic concern the researchers are trying to look for solutions. The ship hulls coated with distinct high-tech air trapping materials can help reduce at least 1% of the global CO2 emissions. The researchers from the University of Bonn along with colleagues from St. Augustin and Rostock are working on hunting down such materials. The reduce drag could help save 20% of the ship’s fuel. The antifouling effects like low organism growth can all be enhanced by doubling the reduction. The journal Philosophical Transactions A has the study mentioned in a smooth-tongued format.
The ships are considered to be one of the 1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emitters along with the burning of 250 million tonnes per year into the air which is almost similar to the quantity emitted by the entire country like Germany. The amount of hull between the ship and water is the reason for the ships low speed. Almost 90% of energy consumption accounts for the formation of the amount of drag. The fuel consumption is the factor behind the transport fare amplification. The technical tricks like microbubbles technology can actively help reduce the drag by pumping bubbles beneath the hull. The bubble carpet created helps reduce the drag but the major drawback is the energy consumption in the bubble production that uses the total savings. A new high-tech coating technique can help reduce 10% of the drag for longer periods. Dr. Matthias from the University of Bonn have created a number of materials along with his colleagues but they are not mature enough to be put to practical use.
The fuel-saving potential helps reduce the growth of barnacles and other aquatic organisms causing the addition of drag and in turn, lower the global CO2 emissions. The economic and ecological balance can be well maintained via this technology. The technology consists of high-tech layers formed using extremely hydrophobic floating fern like Salvinia molesta. The plants when underwater avoid getting wet by covering a layer of air around it showing a superhydrophobic behavior. The egg-beater-like hairs on surface help create water repulsion which can prove as a potent lubricant for oil tankers. After a calm 3 Years, the US has shown a dramatic 3.4% increase in the carbon dioxide emission in 2018 due to the air travel, road transport, fuel oil burning, and other natural gas-powered electricity stations related issues.
