The present invention relates to structured, gas-holding surfaces for improving the friction-reducing properties of gas layers held under a liquid and for the simultaneous suppression of turbulence. The present invention furthermore relates to a device comprising this structured, gas-holding surface and to the use of this structured, gas-holding surface.

The present invention relates to structured, gas-holding surfaces for improving the friction-reducing properties of gas layers held under a liquid and for the simultaneous suppression of turbulence. The present invention furthermore relates to a device comprising this structured, gas-holding surface and to the use of this structured, gas-holding surface.

An apparatus including a fine-array porous material with a specific surface area higher than 10/mm, the specific surface area depending on different pore sizes, wherein the porous material comprises a plurality of pores having a substantially uniform size with a variation of less than about 20%, wherein the size is larger than about 100 nm and smaller than about 10 cm. The high-buoyancy apparatus can be part of a water vehicle such as a boat or a submarine, and the fine-array porous material is configured to reduce friction and/or control buoyancy. A conduit is also provided employing a fine-array porous material to reduce friction and/or control buoyancy. A garment is provided taking advantage of water repellant and/or UV/IR reflection properties of the fine-array porous material.

An apparatus including a fine-array porous material with a specific surface area higher than 10/mm, the specific surface area depending on different pore sizes, wherein the porous material comprises a plurality of pores having a substantially uniform size with a variation of less than about 20%, wherein the size is larger than about 100 nm and smaller than about 10 cm. The high-buoyancy apparatus can be part of a water vehicle such as a boat or a submarine, and the fine-array porous material is configured to reduce friction and/or control buoyancy. A conduit is also provided employing a fine-array porous material to reduce friction and/or control buoyancy. A garment is provided taking advantage of water repellant and/or UV/IR reflection properties of the fine-array porous material.

A frictional resistance-reducing device and a ship including the same are disclosed. The ship comprises: an outer panel including and air outlet; a plurality of reinforcement members provided on the inner surface of the outer panel so as to be spaced from each other; and a frictional resistance-reducing device formed on the inner surface of the out panel between immediately neighboring reinforcement members among the plurality of reinforcement members, so as to cover the air outlet, wherein the frictional resistance-reducing device includes: a hollow housing of which one surface is opened; and an air inlet formed in the housing, and the opened one surface faces the air outlet.

A frictional resistance-reducing device and a ship including the same are disclosed. The ship comprises: an outer panel including and air outlet; a plurality of reinforcement members provided on the inner surface of the outer panel so as to be spaced from each other; and a frictional resistance-reducing device formed on the inner surface of the out panel between immediately neighboring reinforcement members among the plurality of reinforcement members, so as to cover the air outlet, wherein the frictional resistance-reducing device includes: a hollow housing of which one surface is opened; and an air inlet formed in the housing, and the opened one surface faces the air outlet.

A marine vessel hull, and marine vessels comprising at least one such hull, comprising a non-entrapment hull having at least one longitudinally vented transverse step, each longitudinally vented transverse step comprising a transverse step extending from starboard to port, and one or more longitudinal steps extending forward therefrom. One or more longitudinal steps may also extend aft of an aft-most longitudinally vented transverse step, and may converge to a relatively lesser depth at the stern than a maximum depth at a location fore of the stern. The one or more longitudinal steps may gradually transition to a maximum depth aft of a discontinuity introduced by a forward transverse step. The hull may also have one or more longitudinal step tunnels.

A marine vessel hull, and marine vessels comprising at least one such hull, comprising a non-entrapment hull having at least one longitudinally vented transverse step, each longitudinally vented transverse step comprising a transverse step extending from starboard to port, and one or more longitudinal steps extending forward therefrom. One or more longitudinal steps may also extend aft of an aft-most longitudinally vented transverse step, and may converge to a relatively lesser depth at the stern than a maximum depth at a location fore of the stern. The one or more longitudinal steps may gradually transition to a maximum depth aft of a discontinuity introduced by a forward transverse step. The hull may also have one or more longitudinal step tunnels.

A transverse hydro-laminar flow system is a system that improves laminar flow across a watercraft's hull as the watercraft is moving through a body of water. The system may include air dispersal units, a first base anchor, a second base anchor, an air supply system, a controller, and a power system. The air dispersal units enable the creation of an air layer between the watercraft's hull and the surrounding water. The first base anchor and the second base anchor facilitate the fastening of the air dispersal units about the watercraft's hull without the need to dry dock the watercraft. The air supply system provides a constant air flow to each of the air dispersal units to enable the creation of the air layer that reaches most of the watercraft's hull. The controller enables the configuration of the system, while the power system supplies the necessary power for the system operation.

A transverse hydro-laminar flow system is a system that improves laminar flow across a watercraft's hull as the watercraft is moving through a body of water. The system may include air dispersal units, a first base anchor, a second base anchor, an air supply system, a controller, and a power system. The air dispersal units enable the creation of an air layer between the watercraft's hull and the surrounding water. The first base anchor and the second base anchor facilitate the fastening of the air dispersal units about the watercraft's hull without the need to dry dock the watercraft. The air supply system provides a constant air flow to each of the air dispersal units to enable the creation of the air layer that reaches most of the watercraft's hull. The controller enables the configuration of the system, while the power system supplies the necessary power for the system operation.