May/June 2009 - International Technology and Engineering ...

Classroom Challenge
Ship Hull Cleaning Challenge
By Harry T. Roman
Many great inventions start when
a bold inventor is brave enough to
change the problem, or redefine it into
a unique or out-of-the-box context.
Ship hulls must be cleaned to remove marine growth
that can actually increase their resistance through the
water. Repairs must be made to the huge steel surface;
and, of course, the hull must be sanded and painted to
prevent rust. How would your students address this problem
and perhaps even automate the entire process?
The Problem
When a ship is going to have its hull cleaned, it is brought
into a dry dock where it can be worked on. It is a big job,
time consuming, and not terribly pleasant, with lots of dust
and grime in the air. There is plenty of time allocated to
prepare for the job, and lots of time and effort expended
to break the job down when it is done. How can a great
expanse of metal surface, sometimes irregular at times, be
cleaned, prepped, and painted?
Are there similar applications where large surfaces are
treated and painted from which there might be a chance
to adopt or adapt technology for the ship hull challenge?
Certainly there should be some serious library or Internet
search of the technology to see what is out there and how
others may have approached this problem.
For instance, let’s look at some other large surface areas that
need cleaning, treatment, and painting:
• How are airplane wings and bodies worked on and
painted?
• How are planes de-iced before takeoff?
• How about those huge oil storage tanks in tank farms?
They are cleaned, treated, and painted on the inside and
outside.
• How does the military clean, treat, and paint its
equipment?
24 • The Technology Teacher • May/June 2009