Device having surfaces and an anti-biofouling system comprising at least one anti-biofouling light source for emitting rays of anti-biofouling light

Abstract

A device (100) has surfaces (21, 22, 23, 24) and an anti-biofouling system (10) comprising at least one light source (11, 12) for performing an anti-biofouling action on at least a majority of the surfaces (21, 22, 23, 24), the at least one light source (11, 12) being adapted to emit rays of anti-biofouling light. The surfaces (21, 22, 23, 24) are configured relative to each other and to the at least one light source (11, 12) such that during operation of the at least one light source (11, 12), at least a majority of the surfaces (21, 22, 23, 24) is free from shadow with respect to the rays of anti-biofouling light from the at least one light source (11, 12), wherein it may be possible for the rays of anti-biofouling light to reach the surfaces (21, 22, 23, 24) by skimming along the surfaces (21, 22, 23, 24).

1 . A device comprising:
 a plurality of surfaces; and   at least one anti-biofouling light source,   wherein the at least one anti-biofouling light source is arranged to emit anti-biofouling light,   wherein the plurality of surfaces are configured relative to each other and to the at least one anti-biofouling light source such that during operation of the at least one anti-biofouling light source, the plurality of surfaces are substantially free from shadow with respect to exposure to the anti-biofouling light.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a majority of the plurality of surfaces has a normal,   wherein the normal is at an angle of at most 90° towards the at least one anti-biofouling light source, at any portion of the plurality of surfaces.   
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of surfaces is configured to allow the anti-biofouling light to skim along the at least one of the plurality of surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least a portion of the anti-biofouling light is in a plane,   wherein at least one of the plurality of surfaces is a planar surface which is oriented substantially parallel to the plane.   
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an enclosure for accommodating the at least one anti-biofouling light source,
 wherein the enclosure is further arranged to accommodate at least a fluid,   wherein the at least one anti-biofouling light source is arranged for to illuminate an interior surface of the enclosure.   
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , comprising at least one functional element, wherein the at least one anti-biofouling light source is arranged to illuminate at least one surface of the at least one functional element. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the at least one functional element has a polygonal cross-section, wherein the polygonal cross-section has a plurality of planar and/or curved sides,   wherein the number of anti-biofouling light sources is half the number of planar and/or curved sides.   
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the functional elements comprise pipes having a polygonal cross-section,   wherein the at least one anti-biofouling light source comprises at least one elongated anti-biofouling light source extending parallel to the pipes,   wherein the planar exterior surfaces of the pipes are oriented along an imaginary plane,   wherein the imaginary plane incudes a longitudinal axis of the at least one elongated anti-biofouling light source.   
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the functional elements comprise pipes having a rectangular cross-section,   wherein the anti-biofouling light source comprises at least one elongated anti-biofouling light source extending perpendicular to the pipes.   
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 6 , further comprising an enclosure,
 wherein the enclosure accommodates the at least one functional element and the at least one anti-biofouling light source,   wherein the at least one anti-biofouling light source of the anti-biofouling light source is arranged to illuminate an interior surface of the enclosure.   
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the at least one functional element is part of a heat exchanger system,   wherein the at least one functional element comprises a plurality of interconnected units in a successive arrangement,   wherein each of the units comprise:
 an interior space; 
 at least one inlet; and 
 at least one outlet 
   wherein the at least on inlet is arranged to supply fluid to the interior space,   wherein the at least one outlet is arranged to discharge fluid from the interior space,   wherein the at least one anti-biofouling light source extends through at least a portion of the units.   
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the heat exchanger system comprises corrugated sheets,   wherein the corrugates sheets delimits at least a portion of the units,   wherein corrugations of the sheets extend in a straight direction along an imaginary plane,   wherein the imaginary plane includes a longitudinal axis of the at least one anti-biofouling light source.   
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the device comprises a rotatable propeller and a fin,   wherein the fix extends from a propeller shaft casing,   wherein the propeller shaft accommodates a shaft of the propeller,   wherein the at least one anti-biofouling light source is arranged at a position for illuminating substantially all of the surface of the propeller as the propeller rotates.   
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the propeller shaft is hollow,   wherein material of the propeller shaft is transparent to anti-biofouling light,   wherein the anti-biofouling light source comprises an elongated light source which is arranged so as to extend through the propeller shaft.   
     
     
         15 . A method of designing a device having a plurality of surfaces and t at least one anti-biofouling light source, wherein the at least one anti-biofouling light source emits anti-biofouling light, wherein the configuration of the plurality of surfaces relative to each other and to the at least one anti-biofouling light source is adapted such that the plurality of surfaces are substantially free from shadow with respect to the anti-biofouling light. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein a majority of the plurality of surfaces is designed so as to have a normal,   wherein the normal is at an angle of at most 90° towards at the least one anti-biofouling light source, at any portion of the plurality of surfaces.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein at least a portion of the anti-biofouling light is in a plane,   wherein at least one of the plurality of surfaces is designed so as to be a planar surface which is oriented substantially parallel to the plane.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 designing a device having at least two anti-biofouling light sources and a plurality of functional elements,   wherein the at least two anti-biofouling light sources are arranged at two different positions with respect to the plurality of functional elements,   wherein surfaces of the functional elements which are blocked from directly facing at least one of the anti-biofouling light sources are substantially planar,   wherein at least a portion of the anti-biofouling light is in a plane from at least one of the at least two anti-biofouling light sources,   wherein each of those surfaces is designed so as to be oriented substantially parallel to the plane.