Ultrasonic Anti-Fouling
How it works
Our transducers produce ultrasonic sound, or ultrasonic vibration. This vibration is transferred into any sub-sea object that you want to keep clean from fouling. The vibration prevents the formation of biofilm. Our research has shown that if there is no biofilm, no mussels, barnacles, tubeworms will settle.
As a result, our ultrasonic anti-fouling systems are highly effective at preventing marine growth, but we cannot treat or kill marine growth (or biofilm) once it has formed.
The effectiveness of Shipsonic’s anti-fouling was assessed through independent research. The scientists concluded that plates with Shipsonic stayed almost entirely clean, while the reference plates were covered in mussel larvae. Shipsonic had 50 times less growth than the unprotected plates. (If the plate had 1000 mussels, Shipsonic only had 20).
Shipsonic’s system is plug-and-play, robustly built and has no moving parts. It has an expected life-time of 10+ years. It requires only low wattage electrical power and does away with systems that consume biocides, metals and need replacements and spare parts.
It is fully EU designed and produced.
Shipsonic’s USP amongst USAF providers
1. We weld using a patented double-ring design. Two advantages:
a. Much more durable and strong than glue (which all competitors use)
b. Through the double ring we can torque the transducer onto the part that needs protection, resulting in high transfer rate of the sound and vibration = higher sound pressure level
2.Due to radius transducers/welding rings, we can install on curved parts (pipes, thruster tunnels, strainers) with a perfect fit and maximum sound pressure level.
3. Our systems are modular, meaning that we only sell you the number of transducers, powerboards, connectors, etc. that you really need.
4. Using a 18.5 to 45kHz sweep, we ensure that the item comes into its resonance frequency (which changes over time), ensuring maximum sound pressure level without overheating.
5. Software enables us to remove those ultrasonic frequencies that the vessel may be using for other ultrasonic equipment (fish finders, dynamic position system…)
6. Longer guarantees: 5 years for the cabinets, 2 years for the transducers. If the systems are installed by our agents, we offer effectiveness guarantee (conditions apply).
Shipsonic compared to ICAF
1. Over the lifetime of 10 years, Shipsonic is half the cost of ICAF
2. Shipsonic functions whether the engines are running or not. ICAF stops working when engines are off. (ICAF requires the convection current of the water in the sea chests, or thermos-siphon circulation).
3. Shipsonic is a dry installation that could even take place in-transit. ICAF requires through-hull installation, which can only take place during dry dock and requires recognized, highly skilled installers.
4. ICAF can be troublesome: leaking currents cause galvanic corrosion and holes in the sea chest; when set too high, the large amount of copper ions damages the box-cooler’s coating; when set too low, it will still have fouling. The copper anodes may deplete unevenly resulting in anodes depleting more in certain parts and breaking into two.
5. ICAF uses up copper, and that copper can never be recuperated. This means that ICAF causes dependency on imports of copper, costs will be dependent on world copper prices, and we need copper for the energy transition.
6. Copper ions are poisonous—ICAF causes some 400 million kgs of copper flowing into the oceans each year. This damages sea life, endangers seashell production, and depletes coral reefs.
Preferred applications
Shipsonic is the ideal choice for protecting the following vessel parts:
- Box-coolers
- Bow/stern thruster tunnels
- Water-intake pipes, cross-over pipes
- Strainers
- FiFi systems
- Sea chests
- Dolphin nose
- Keel coolers
Shipsonic can deliver the following applications, but it needs to be analyzed whether it is the ideal solution:
- Hulls (often parts are hard to reach and large vessels require many transducers and tends to get too expensive)
- Ballast tanks
- Sea chest gratings
Currently being investigated:
- Plate coolers
- Rudders
What we will not offer:
- Propellers
Type of vessels we typically install on
- Tugs / workboats
- Bulk carriers
- Ferries
- Platform supply vessels
- Pilot boats
- Research vessels
Type of surfaces and shapes we can and cannot install on:
The Shiponic system can be installed on various surfaces, as long as it is a solid, vibration conductive material, such as:
- Metal
- Aluminium
- PVC piping
- Carbon
- Polyester
- Reinforced acrylic (polymethylmethacrylate or PMMA) panels
- Fiberglass
We cannot install on surfaces with a vibration dampening nature, e.g. rubber, wood, loose concrete, etc.
Shipsonic is unique in holding a patent that enables us to install seamlessly on curved surfaces, including pipes with specific radii, ball shapes or conic shapes. For these applications we develop tailored mounting rings and specifically prepare the transducer surface in the shape required. A standard flat transducer cannot make full contact with a curved surface.
Want to know more? View Shipsonic’s technical product brochure.
