Digital Logistics Challenges for Fragile, Remote Systems

There is a critical need to mitigate undesirable fouling formation on seawater-based titanium heat exchangers used in US Navy vessels.  Heat exchangers are widely used in Navy ships to cool operating fluids and gases, and seawater is the preferred cooling medium since it is readily available. However, fouling will form while ocean water circulates through the heat exchanger tubes or plates, decreasing the heat transfer efficiency and increasing fluid resistance. Further fouling eventually results in the consumption of more energy and a decrease in heat exchanger service life. To solve the fouling problem, Luna will leverage more than ten years of experience in the synthesis of sol-gel coatings and their successful application in the US Department of Defense. Our team will tailor a coating based on advanced silane chemistry to prevent biofouling with the added value of shielding the surface against abrasion, erosion and under-deposit corrosion. In addition, Luna’s solution will eliminate the need of expensive chlorination systems and increase maintenance intervals.