초록 ▼

A ship is provided with microbubble generators attached below the waterline to supply microbubbles, which decrease the ship's frictional resistance during navigation and improve fuel efficiency. The below waterline region (L.W.L.) of the ship is divided into an upper region (R1) proximate the waterl

A ship is provided with microbubble generators attached below the waterline to supply microbubbles, which decrease the ship's frictional resistance during navigation and improve fuel efficiency. The below waterline region (L.W.L.) of the ship is divided into an upper region (R1) proximate the waterline, and a lower region (R2) proximate the ship's bottom. The air supply to the microbubble generators (10) in the upper region (R1) is performed through a pipe (3), one end of which is exposed to the atmosphere. The air supply to the microbubble generators (10) in the lower region (R2) is performed through a branch pipe (6) from a pipe (5) using an assist compressor (4), which is arranged as a closed system instead of being exposed to the atmosphere.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A frictional resistance reduction ship, comprising: a ship equipped with microbubble generators, said microbubble generators comprising first and second sets of microbubble generators attached to lateral sides of ship hull from ship waterline to ship bottom, each of said micr

What is claimed is: 1. A frictional resistance reduction ship, comprising: a ship equipped with microbubble generators, said microbubble generators comprising first and second sets of microbubble generators attached to lateral sides of ship hull from ship waterline to ship bottom, each of said microbubble generators being equipped with a wing spaced from the ship hull for generation of negative pressure during navigation of the ship; said first set of microbubble generators attached to an upper part of the ship hull in a first region below the ship waterline, said first set of microbubble generators each having a first air-liquid mixture space opposite the wing for mixing seawater and air; a first air charging line provided for said first set of microbubble generators having a first end and a second end, said first end connected to the first air-liquid mixture space opposite the wing, and said second end of said first air charging line exposed to open atmosphere, said second set of microbubble generators attached to a lower part of the ship hull proximate said hull bottom in a second region below said first set of microbubble generators, said second set of microbubble generators each having a second air-liquid mixture space opposite the wing for mixing seawater and air; a second air charging line provided for said second set of microbubble generators having a first end and a second end, said first end of the second air charging line connected to the second air-liquid mixture space opposite the wing in said second set of microbubble generators, and said second end of said second air charging line connected to an assist compressor. 2. A frictional resistance reduction ship according to claim 1, wherein said first set of microbubble generators are selectively exposed to the atmosphere or connected with the assist compressor by changeover valves. 3. The frictional resistance reduction ship according to claim 2, wherein pressurized air from said assist compressor is supplied to each of said second set of microbubble generators through branch pipes, each said branch pipes being equipped with pressure regulator so that higher pressure air is supplied to lower ones of said second set of microbubble generators. 4. A method of operating the frictional resistance reduction ship according to claim 2, comprising: generating air bubbles along the sides of said ship hull to reduce frictional resistance of the hull when the ship is moving through the water, wherein when the navigation speed of said ship is slower than cruising speed, air bubbles are generated only from the microbubble generators connected to the assist compressor, and wherein when said ship is moving at cruising speeds, air bubbles are generated from all of the microbubble generators. 5. The frictional resistance reduction ship according to claim 1, wherein pressurized air from said assist compressor is supplied to each one of said second set of microbubble generators through branch pipes, each said branch pipes being equipped with pressure regulator so that higher pressure air is supplied to lower ones of said second set of microbubble generators. 6. A method of operating the frictional resistance reduction ship according to claim 5, comprising: generating air bubbles along the sides of said ship hull to reduce frictional resistance of the hull when the ship is moving through the water, wherein when the navigation speed of said ship is slower than cruising speed, air bubbles are generated only from the microbubble generators connected to the assist compressor, and wherein when said ship is moving at cruising speeds, air bubbles are generated from all of the microbubble generators. 7. A method of operating the frictional resistance reduction ship according to claim 1, comprising: generating air bubbles along the sides of said ship hull to reduce frictional resistance of the hull when the ship is moving through the water, wherein when the navigation speed of said ship is slower than cruising speed, air bubbles are generated only from the microbubble generators connected to the assist compressor, and wherein when said ship is moving at cruising speeds, air bubbles are generated from all of the microbubble generators. 8. A frictional resistance reduction ship, comprising: a ship equipped with microbubble generators, said microbubble generators comprising first, second and third sets of microbubble generators attached to lateral sides of ship hull from ship waterline to ship bottom, each of said microbubble generators being equipped with a wing spaced from the ship hull for generation of negative pressure during navigation of the ship; said first set of microbubble generators attached to an upper part of the ship hull in a first region below the ship waterline, said first set of microbubble generators each having a first air-liquid mixture space opposite the wing for mixing seawater and air; a first air charging line provided for said first set of microbubble generators having a first end and a second end, said first end connected to the first air-liquid mixture space opposite the wing, and said second end of said first air charging line exposed to open atmosphere, said second set of microbubble generators attached to a lower part of the ship hull proximate said hull bottom in a second region below said first set of microbubble generators, said second set of microbubble generators each having a second air-liquid mixture space opposite the wing for mixing seawater and air; a second air charging line provided for said second set of microbubble generators having a first end and a second end, said first end of the second air charging line connected to the second air-liquid mixture space opposite the wing in said second set of microbubble generators, and said second end of said second air charging line connected to an assist compressor; said third set of microbubble generators attached to a third region between said first region and said second region, said third set of microbubble generators having a third air-liquid mixture space opposite the wing for mixing seawater and air; a third air charging line provided for said third set of microbubble generators having a first end and a second end, said first end of said third air charging line connected to the third air-liquid mixture space opposite the wing in said third set of microbubble generators, and said second end of said third air charging line being selectively exposed to the atmosphere or connected with the assist compressor by changeover valves. 9. The frictional resistance reduction ship according to claim 8, wherein pressurized air from said assist compressor is supplied to each of said second and third sets of microbubble generators through branch pipes, each said branch pipes being equipped with pressure regulator so that higher pressure air is supplied to lower ones of said second and third sets of microbubble generators. 10. A method of operating the frictional resistance reduction ship according to claim 8, comprising: generating air bubbles along the sides of said ship hull to reduce frictional resistance of the hull when the ship is moving through the water, wherein when the navigation speed of said ship is slower than cruising speed, air bubbles are generated only from the microbubble generators connected to the assist compressor, and wherein when said ship is moving at cruising speeds, air bubbles are generated from all of the microbubble generators.