ARMADA TECHNOLOGIES
COMPRESSOR-FREE HULL AIR LUBRICATION
Armada Technologies’ is the pioneer of the second-generation air lubrication system, PALS or passive air lubrication system.
How does it work?
- A number of water inlet and outlet units are installed into the double bottom of the vessel
- Using the forward motion of the ship, water passes through the inlet and a venturi nozzle draws air from the deck level via the vacuum created
- The resulting forced water / air mixture is ejected into the hull boundary layer at the outlet of each unit
This offers an optimal blend of air and water for superior hull coverage, ensuring seamless control and drag reduction across various speeds, drafts, and weather conditions. As a result, the PALS enhances vessel performance, reduces fuel consumption, and promotes more sustainable maritime operations.
HIGHLY EFFICENT PERFORMANCE
- NO COMPRESSORS! Great energy efficiency
- PALS is targeting a very ‘flat operating curve’
- System performance is more consistent across a wide range of operating conditions
- Double-digit fuel savings is achievable
- Easy operation
- Less maintenance, inspections and overhauls
- Optimal drag reduction is aligned with ship type, prevailing speed, draft and even weather conditions
- Small installation footprint
- Short installation timeframe
REDUCED POWER
Unlike traditional air lubrication systems that rely on high-energy compressors, Armada’s PALS utilizes small capacity pumps and blowers to achieve optimal bubble generation with significantly less power required.
The PALS technology is designed to enhance vessel performance, reduce fuel consumption, and promote more sustainable marine operations. This offers shipowners a system that will reduce harmful emissions and increase efficiency without compromising on vessel performance.
Armada Technologies understands the value of constant innovation, which is why they have developed a performance-augmented control system with “machine learning” capabilities. With this self-learning feature, PALS will continue to improve over time, delivering greater fuel and emission reduction benefits with every journey.
ALSs have emerged as one of the leading options in assisting ships achieve EEXI and CII compliance. The general operative principle behind an ALS is the delivery of bubbles under the ship’s hull to create a layer of aerated water to reduce drag between the hull and seawater, which consequently reduces fuel consumption and emissions. Most ALSs use compressors which are operated continuously to replenish the air needed to produce this desired effect.
The ALS traps a layer of air bubbles beneath the ship’s hull. In current ALS technologies, an air blower or compressor is used to produce air pressure to pass the air continuously beneath the ship’s surface to the hull, usually through some type of piping. Air bubble outlets are then created at different locations along the bottom of the hull, symmetrically on both sides of the ship’s center line.
The air is blown at a constant rate to form a layer of bubbles, which reduces the drag and resistance between the ship and the seawater. The system continuously replenishes the lost air bubbles to ensure that a uniform layer of air bubbles is maintained beneath the ship and the desired effect is produced.
Contact us at armada@ecochlor.com to learn more about Armada’s Passive Air Lubrication technology and how it can benefit your maritime operations.