Shipglide Boundary Layer Testing Lab
The only Boundary Layer Testing Lab on the planet
VERIFIABLE DESIGN
Boundary Layer Testing Lab
Shipglide has the only Boundary Layer Testing Lab on the planet dedicated to designing, optimizing, and verifying air lubrication systems.
The air bubble phenomenon is not verifiable with traditional ship testing in scale-model tow tanks. With traditional testing, two important factors don’t scale:
- air bubble formation and shape which are governed primarily by nonlinear surface tension physics
- the turbulence modifying mechanism by which those bubbles affect viscous shearing to reduce drag within the boundary layer
Before the advent of the Shipglide Boundary Layer Testing Lab, as an owner or operator you were required to make the blind leap of faith from the computer CFD design to actual installation on your vessel. There hasn’t been any way to test empirically or verify the design or the anticipated results. With the development of the Shipglide Boundary Layer Testing Lab, you as the ship owner can have verifiable design.
Verifiable results
Shipglide ALS testing regime
The Shipglide Boundary Layer Testing Lab offers the following benefits to our Shipglide ALS testing regime:
- default design to replicate boundary layer of 300m ship cruising at 16-18 kts
- customizable to fit specific solutions
- optimize ALS delivery in dynamically similar flow fields
- capable of producing flows in the transitional and fully rough regime
- same frictional Reynolds number as a ship, i.e. minimal to no scaling effects
- windows for test viewing and displays for real-time results
- accurately measure changes in frictional resistance from energy saving device or coating damage
Ask us for a tour.
The Boundary Layer Test Lab allows for real-world resistance savings. We can provide a tour of our lab, where the true effects of air lubrication can be demonstrated.
Boundary Layer Testing Lab
Technical aspects of shipglide blt laboratory
The Shipglide Boundary Layer Testing Lab is designed and built to measure the single-largest contributor to ship resistance: viscous drag created as the water slides past the shell plate of the ship.
Generally speaking, the other two parameters are the energy expended in creating a wave pattern and the energy expended in the pressure wave primarily in front of and behind the ship.
Boundary Layer Testing Lab benefits
Viscous drag considerations
Shipglide’s ALS offers strategic advantages in reducing Carbon Intensity (CII) and achieving EEXI and EEDI compliance. The system is adaptable to diverse hull forms and provides shipowners with a preliminary Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis, offering detailed insights into the system’s impact on energy efficiency and emissions reduction.
By minimizing resistance, the Shipglide system decreases drag, requiring less energy for propulsion. This substantial drop in fuel consumption directly correlates with lower carbon emissions, aiding vessels in meeting EEXI and EEDI standards. By enhancing energy efficiency, Shipglide plays a pivotal role in propelling the maritime industry toward a sustainable and environmentally responsible future.
THE COMPLETE PICTURE
We supply world-class air lubrication solutions to vessels of all types and sizes.
Shipglide conducts CFD analysis for every ship type using cutting edge CFD software and in-house CFD experts.
Shipglide has the only Boundary Layer Testing Lab dedicated to designing, optimizing and verifying air lubrication system performance.
Our engineers and project managers have the ability to take a Shipglide ALS from early concept design to completed installation.
Shipglide analyzes ship data to confirm fuel savings achieved through its air lubrication systems.
Many of our new cutting-edge concepts have been thoroughly tested, validated and are now under consideration for multiple patents.
We have conducted test cases to demonstrate the potential for analyzing the resistance reduction effects of the Shipglide ALS.
THE COMPLETE PICTURE
We supply world-class air lubrication solutions to vessels of all types and sizes.
Shipglide conducts CFD analysis for every ship type using cutting edge CFD software and in-house CFD experts.
Shipglide has the only Boundary Layer Testing Lab dedicated to designing, optimizing and verifying air lubrication system performance.
Our engineers and project managers have the ability to take a Shipglide ALS from early concept design to completed installation.
Shipglide analyzes ship data to confirm fuel savings achieved through its air lubrication systems.
Many of our new cutting-edge concepts have been thoroughly tested, validated and are now under consideration for multiple patents.
We have conducted test cases to demonstrate the potential for analyzing the resistance reduction effects of the Shipglide ALS.
