nir-vana innovation network

The European Union has set targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, establishing an emission reduction of 20% compared to 1990 levels, a target that has been expanded to 40% for the 2030 horizon.
This effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is also complemented by demanding regulations regarding polluting emissions, both for fuels used in navigation and for those used in land transport.
In the case of maritime transport, as of 2006 Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78) of the “International Maritime Organization” (IMO), which establishes restrictions on emissions, became effective.
Within this context, focusing on the objectives of 2030 horizon, it has been detected that one of the problems faced by ships sailing in parallel with freezing temperatures is the creation of layers of ice on deck of thicknesses and weights that can include up to 600mm and several tons depending on the length of the ship. This increases in weight, as well as the deformation of the ship's aerodynamic profile, lead to higher fuel consumption, which has been calculated in studies by the University of Aalto (Finland) of up to 35%.
The efficiency problems are detected also in other sectors, such, as for instance, the wind power. The formation of ice has dire consequences on the performance of wind turbines since their productive capacity is diminished and even nullified by the accumulation of ice on their blades. Both the weight of the ice and the deformation of the aerodynamic profile can make the starting mechanism unusable due to a management error on the generator's computer. Another problem at least significant in these generators is the danger of projection of ice sheets once the blade begins its turn, throwing blocks of several hundred kilograms at distances that exceed 250 meters.
Another example of problems caused by the accumulation of ice are related with freezer equipments such as food chambers that have to get rid of excess ice and be restarted wasting too much energy during the process.
In this context, several Spanish entities are gathering in a consortium tending to submit a Eureka-Eurostars Eurogia Green Transition Call 2021 proposal for the next cut-off in June 2021. The coordinator is an international paint manufacturer located in the North-West of Spain and the consortium already counts with the following partners: coating factories, research and technology centers and ship owners.
The project aims at developing a suitable coating that would prevent different equipments to be covered by ice, by adapting a phobic ice coating technology that is currently used for aircraft safety.
Milestones to be achieved with this project / product:
- Cancel the increase in fuel consumption and thus reduce the emissions produced by the increase in weight and the deformation of the aerodynamic profile as a result of the accumulation of ice in all types of ships.
- Achieve greater efficiency in wind turbines installed in cold climates by eliminating the accumulation of ice on the blades and thus improving their performance.
- Reduce the annual energy consumption of cold food chambers, being able to carry out simpler cleaning operations on their walls without having to turn off and start the machinery with its consequent increase in energy consumption.
- Increase the safety of different equipment commonly affected by ice such as cable cars, snow plows, road signs, pavements ... etc.
In order to complete the current consortium, the co-ordinator is looking for industrial or SME partners (not Spanish) able to validate the resulting technology on their own products.
The project will have a maximum lifetime of 24 months.
Its collaboration framework will be a research cooperation agreement.
The call’s deadline is the 15th June 2021
The profile will be open for expressions of interest until the 8th of June 2021.

Advantages & innovations

Cancel the increase in fuel consumption and thus reduce the emissions produced by the increase in weight and the deformation of the aerodynamic profile as a result of the accumulation of ice in all types of ships. - Achieve greater efficiency in wind turbines installed in cold climates by eliminating the accumulation of ice on the blades and thus improving their performance. - Reduce the annual energy consumption of cold food chambers, being able to carry out simpler cleaning operations on their walls without having to turn off and start the machinery with its consequent increase in energy consumption. - Increase the safety of different equipment commonly affected by ice such as cable cars, snow plows, road signs, pavements ... etc.

Stage of development

Project in negotiations - urgent

Partner sought

The co-ordinator is looking for non-Spanish industrial or SME partners from different sectors, able to test the resulting coating on their products and see if the coating avoids ice to be formed on the surfaces of their products (for instance: wind turbine blades, road signs, snow plows, etc.). The partnership sought is a research cooperation agreement to apply to the Eurostars programme.