Laser textured discs to improve marine engines
Scientists at Heriot-Watt University have been working with industry partners on a new laser-textured friction disc that could improve marine engine performance.
Friction discs transfer power in engines and act as a safety device. They need to sustain a precise amount of friction: too much and the gear can be overloaded, too little and there could be premature slippage.
Currently, discs are treated with a thermal spray coating to help create friction. However, the method method is not as precise as the engine and the industry need, Heriot-Watt said.
The new laser-textured disk could reportedly reduce maintenance cost and downtime for the biggest ships. MAN Energy Solutions tested laser-textured friction disks on its two-stroke engines on two ships sailing from Europe to Asia.
Scientists at Heriot-Watt worked with MAN Energy Solutions and TRD Surfaces in Denmark to develop a new laser-texturing process. The innovation was funded through the EU SHARK project, aiming to industrialise laser texturing.
Professor Duncan Hand from Heriot-Watt University said: “Using lasers means we can create precise, uniform and replicable textures on the discs.
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