The document discusses an air lubrication system that uses compressors to generate a carpet of air bubbles under a ship's hull. This reduces the frictional resistance between the hull and water, saving fuel and reducing emissions by 10-15%. The system works by trapping microbubbles from cavities under the hull. It is currently only suitable for flat-bottomed ships and challenges remain around stability and propeller cavitation. Questions also remain around its effectiveness at all speeds and potential impacts on marine growth.

3.  It’s a system that reduces the
viscous resistance Component of the
hull of ship by creating a layer Of air
bubbles bellow the hull. This reduces
the frictional resistance between the
hull and seawater

5. Air Cavity System
● London based DK
Group
● Aim at reducing
fuel consumption
and Co2 emission by
up to 10-15% along
with saving of fuel
● The air bubble
distribution across
the hull surface
reduces the
resistance working
on ship’s hull

6. ● It just reduces Ship’s frictional resistance
through water by generating carpet of air bubbles
under the hull
● One Version- “Air Cavity
System”….uses Compressors to
form an air carpet under the
hull
Air Carpet under Hull

7. AIR
• There is a cavity (Chamber) under the hull filled
with compressed air by a compressor
CAVITY
• As the sea water flows past it, it traps micro air
bubbles from the cavities and forms an air
carpet under the hull
SYSTEM
• Thus Vessels floats on a carpet of air- which
reduces the contact friction with water and
enable a smooth sail reducing fuel consumption

8. No. Of Cavities (or) Chambers
8 for small ships 30 for large ships
Air Cavity System Overview
Air Compressor
W L
Air bubbles blanket (fore to aft)
Chamber

9. • The ALS until now can only be
used for flat bottom hull Ships.
Ship’s having v-shaped hull are not
getting this facility
• To trap the layers of bubbles
beneath the ship’s hull is a
challenging task
• It’s also feared that the air
cavities made for trapping the air
bubbles would affect the handling
and Ship’s stability
• MALS-ADMMAX company claims
to offer a flat bottom Container
Carrier with reduction of Co2
emission by 35%

10. Will the Air
Lubrication
Happen and
be Effective
by all
speeds???
Won’t it
interfere with
Propeller
Cavitation as
Air bubbles
collide/collaps
e on Propeller
blades???
Won’t the
cavities
on hull
offer a
better
places for
Marine
Growth???

11. Impact of Air
lubrication system on
shaft power (fuel
consumption)
Flat bottoms
Chambers
Running parallel