System and method for reducing drag on hulls of marine crafts thereby increasing fluid dynamic efficiencies

A superaerophilic inducing surface for use in reducing hydrodynamic drag on a hull of a marine craft, comprising:

• a metallic surface;
• said metallic surface having a plurality of superaerophilic inducing microscopic and nanoscopic structures etched within said metallic surface from laser ablation;
• each superaerophilic inducing microscopic structure of said plurality of superaerophilic inducing microscopic and nanoscopic structures defines a trench and a ridge geometry, wherein each ridge structure defines a protruding structure;
• each superaerophilic inducing nanoscopic structure of said plurality of superaerophilic inducing microscopic and nanoscopic structures defines a trench and a ridge geometry in a sidewall of each of said superaerophilic inducing microscopic structure covering all surface area of said protruding structure, wherein surfaces of adjacent ridges of the microscopic structures, extending between an intermediate trench to a respective ridge top, progressively diverge away to define a V-shaped geometry;
• and
• said metallic surface having a plurality of apertures in at least an innermost point in said trench and ridge geometry of said superaerophilic inducing microscopic structure, wherein each aperture in said plurality of apertures is configured to pass supplied air from an interior side of said metallic structure to a wet side of said metallic structure, thereby creating an air plastron when engaged.

A method of reducing frictional drag on a marine craft hull, thereby increasing its efficiency, comprising the steps of:

• configuring a marine craft hull for reduced frictional drag by providing a superaerophilic inducing surface, wherein said superaerophilic inducing surface comprises a metallic surface having a plurality of superaerophilic inducing microscopic and nanoscopic structures etched within said metallic surface from laser ablation, wherein each superaerophilic inducing microscopic structure of said plurality of superaerophilic inducing microscopic and nanoscopic structures defines a trench and a ridge geometry, wherein each ridge structure defines a protruding structure, wherein surfaces of adjacent ridges of the microscopic structures, extending between an intermediate trench to a respective ridge top, progressively diverge away to define a V-shaped geometry, and each superaerophilic inducing nanoscopic structure of said plurality of superaerophilic inducing microscopic and nanoscopic structures defines a trench and a ridge geometry in a sidewall of each of said superaerophilic inducing microscopic structure, wherein said nanoscopic structures cover all surface area of the protruding structure, and said metallic surface includes a plurality of apertures in at least an innermost point in said trench and ridge geometry of said superaerophilic inducing microscopic structure, wherein each aperture in said plurality of apertures is configured to pass supplied air from an interior side of said metallic structure to a wet side of said metallic structure, thereby creating an air plastron when engaged.

A system for reducing frictional drag on a hull of a marine craft, comprising:

• a multi-layer air lubrication system;
• and
• said multi-layer air lubrication system having at least three layers, wherein the at least three layers includes an outermost layer having a constructed superaerophilic inducing surface, a porous layer facilitating an exchange of a gaseous supply to said outermost layer, and a contact layer for bonding said multi-layer air lubrication system to a hull of a marine craft;
• at least one gaseous injection point in said porous layer for receiving a gaseous supply;
• an air distribution and replenishment system providing said gaseous supply to said porous layer;
• said air distribution and replenishment system comprising a compressor for supplying gas at a pressure marginally above the pressure exerted from water on the air plastron to ensure continued facilitation of air disbursement;
• wherein said gaseous supply consists of filtered carbonous gases, including at least carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and methane, to enhance aerophilic and hydrophobic properties of the superaerophilic surface;
• and
• wherein said gaseous supply is obtained from at least one of external atmosphere, engine exhaust, black water tank fumes, bioreactor exhaust, and galley hood fumes, whereby said gaseous supply is routed through a turbocharger to a compressor input in said compressor, whereby the compressor supplies the air distribution and replenishment system.

A method of reducing frictional drag on a marine craft hull, thereby increasing its efficiency, comprising the steps of:

• configuring a marine craft hull for reduced frictional drag by providing a superaerophilic inducing surface, wherein said superaerophilic inducing surface comprises a metallic surface having a plurality of superaerophilic inducing microscopic and nanoscopic structures etched within said metallic surface from laser ablation, wherein each superaerophilic inducing microscopic structure of said plurality of superaerophilic inducing microscopic and nanoscopic structures defines a trench and a ridge geometry, wherein each ridge structure defines a protruding structure and each superaerophilic inducing nanoscopic structure of said plurality of superaerophilic inducing microscopic and nanoscopic structures defines a trench and a ridge geometry in a sidewall of each of said superaerophilic inducing microscopic structure, wherein said nanoscopic structures cover all surface area of the protruding structure, and said metallic surface includes a plurality of apertures in at least an innermost point in said trench and ridge geometry of said superaerophilic inducing microscopic structure, wherein each aperture in said plurality of apertures is configured to pass supplied air from an interior side of said metallic structure to a wet side of said metallic structure, thereby creating an air plastron when engaged;
• providing an air distribution and replenishment system comprising a compressor for supplying gas at a pressure marginally above the pressure exerted from water on the air plastron to ensure continued facilitation of air disbursement and a system of pipes that connect a gas supply source to said compressor;
• providing a continuous gaseous supply to said at least one gaseous injection point in said middle porous layer from said air distribution and replenishment system;
• using carbonous gasses to accelerate a conversion of the laser ablated superaerophilic inducing surface, to a laser ablated superaerophilic inducing surface having enhanced aerophilic and hydrophobic properties;
• configuring said air distribution and replenishment system to receive a gaseous supply of carbon from at least one of an external atmosphere, engine exhaust, black water tank fumes, bioreactor exhaust, and galley hood fumes, whereby said gaseous supply is rerouted from said at least one of external atmosphere, engine exhaust, black water tank fumes, bioreactor exhaust, and galley hood fumes through a turbocharger to a compressor input in said compressor, whereby the compressor supplies the air distribution and replenishment system;
• and
• providing a carbon filter with at least an outer casing, a lid, an intake pipe, and an interchangeable carbon-sensitive membrane configured to allow carbon molecules to pass through said interchangeable carbon-sensitive membrane, whereby remaining gas molecules that are not able to pass through said interchangeable carbon-sensitive membrane collect and filter out through a top and around the sides to a bottom where the molecules can exit through a carbon-reduced outlet.