MERSYSTEM



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Sails for all kinds of ship with or without solar cells
Sails coated with a positive or negative sharkskin or with the positive or negative lotus effect

These inventions concerns applications for lowering or increasing the turbulence or the flow resistance on objects.
 

  The following are specified here:
1. The positive sharkskin surface profile or the negative sharkskin surface profile,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2. The positive Lotus effect surface profile or the negative Lotus effect surface profile
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

3. The positive octopus compression suction cup surface profile or the negative octopus compression suction cup surface profile

These three surface profile types may be mounted on objects individually or in combination to one another as desired. Mounting solar cells on objects as desired is also of benefit for generating energy.



Figure 1

These pictures depict a model of positive sharkskin serving to reduce the flow resistance for the following technical applications or examples. Positive sharkskin produces a negative sharkskin with regard to the technical surface profile. The negative sharkskin is suited for reducing or increasing flow turbulence. While implementing positive sharkskin to decrease flow resistance a value of 3 to 18% can be attained. The negative sharkskin produces an increase or decrease in flow turbulence amounting to 2 to 18% on objects.




Figure 2

Figure 2 provides several illustrations of the positive lotus effect. The lotus effect (a surface resistant to collecting dirt) is based on hydrophobic tabular surfaces, which practically repel water and dirt particles. The positive lotus effect is suited best for reducing the flow resistance of objects located in water and for influencing flow turbulence, i.e. of turbine blades or turbine propellers of all types. In this respect a decrease of flow resistance by 2 to 8% has been attained on objects. The positive lotus effect as technical surface profile also produces a negative lotus effect. The negative lotus effect produces a favorable enhancement of flow turbulence and at the same time a turbulence harmonization, i.e. on the inside of turbines or all types of turbine vanes. In this regard an enhancement of flow turbulence amounting to 2 to 7% has been attained on objects.

The described negative lotus effect can also be implemented as additive in adhesives, bands, films of all types or in primary coats. The adherence, in other words the cohesion of the glued joints, increases in this case by approx. 8 to 15%, while in primary coats by approx. 4 to 12%.




Sails for all kinds of ship with or without solar cells

Sails coated with a positive or negative sharkskin or with the positive or negative lotus effect


Figure 1
 
 

shows a ship’s sail as an example of all kinds of sales, which has been fitted with a positive sharkskin surface profile on the lee side and a negative sharkskin surface profile on the luv side. Another form of attachment to ship sails involves  coating both sides in a positive sharkskin surface profile and a negative sharkskin surface profile. The attachment of a positive and/or negative lotus effect surface profile is also advantageous. These surface profiles improve control over the vessel and also speed by between 5 and 23 %, depending on the hull. Flexible and/or elastic solar sells can also be steamed to the sail. Coating with a transparent positive lotus effect prevents soiling and is therefore water-resistant. This gives sailors the following advantages:

Improved speed and control over the vessel. The interaction of these two effects also results in:
 







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