ECOSTREAT PROJECT
The general objective of the project «DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM FOR THE TREATMENT OF VARIABLE-GEOMETRY SURFACES», “ECOSTREAT PROJECT”, is the design and development of an environmentally efficient self-propelled system for carrying out surface treatment operations on ship hulls of different sizes, types and geometries, which can be extrapolated to any other type of industry.
ECOSTREAT is conceived as an industrial experimental development project aimed at increasing the environmental and operational efficiency of the process of treating variable-geometry surfaces in three different ways: through the optimization of the work, the reduction of the volume of waste generated by the work (mainly grit and paint), and the lowering of noise pollution levels for employees and local residents.
This initiative is 100% co-funded by FEDER Funds. It is subsidized by the Axencia Galega de Innovación (Galician Innovation Agency) and has the support of the Consellería de Economía, Emprego e Industria (Regional Ministry of Economy, Employment and Industry) (IN852A 2018/12)
Consortium: The consortium is made up of three companies whose activity focuses on the value chain of the naval sector: • Nodosa: As shipyard and consortium leader, it will be responsible for manufacturing the operations cabin and for the future validation of the prototype developed. • Industrias Ferri: Which is responsible for designing the self-propelled system solution capable of moving the operations cabin freely, efficiently and safely. • Chorro Naval: Responsible for carrying out the full range of painting and blasting tests and for defining all the preliminary conditions for optimizing the cabin in order to reduce the volume of waste generated and lower noise pollution levels.
2018 Progress
In the first year of the project, which began in 2018, progress was made mainly on the Review of the state of the art and on data analysis, so that the aspects related to the conditions to be taken into account, both at operational level and at the level of the blasting/painting solution, were identified; the activity includes field data collection to corroborate the theoretical data with information.
2019 Progress
In the second year of the project, corresponding to 2019, the project is in the final phase of the Cabin System Design, where the list of materials needed for its construction has already been defined, and is also completing the Design and Development of the Work Platform and Mobility System.
The project has the collaboration of the University of Vigo and the acoustics specialist company Sound of Numbers, which have carried out a joint study on the acoustic impact of the Shipyard on the Ría de Marín, proposing ways to reduce it and an optimal acoustic insulation solution for the operations cabin.
The project is thus preparing for a final year in which the prototype designed to date will be manufactured and validated.
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2020 Progress
During the third year of the project, 2020, it was necessary to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the project being extended until December 2020. During this year, continuous technology watch was carried out on other ways of addressing the problem tackled by the project; the Automation and robotization of the cabin was completed; significant progress was made until the complete Development of the platform, the mobility system and the lifting system was finished; and the Integration of the prototype and its validation were carried out in full, with its assembly and the performance of various tests.