Angled Bubble Screen with Variable Intensity for Plastic Waste Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bubble screens struggle to efficiently intercept and recover plastic waste from watercourses before it reaches seas and oceans, due to difficulties in guiding plastics to collection areas without forming eddies that accumulate plastics upstream.
Innovation Solution
A bubble screen configuration is provided at an angle relative to the water flow direction, with a downstream part having a lower bubble intensity than the rest of the screen to counteract eddy formation, and collection areas on both sides of the screen to capture plastics effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the bubble screen is provided with high bubble intensity to effectively intercept plastics, then plastic interception efficiency is improved, but eddy formation increases causing plastic accumulation upstream of the collection area
Solution Approach 1:
The bubble screen is designed with spatially varying bubble intensity: the upstream portion has high bubble intensity for effective plastic interception, while the downstream portion has reduced bubble intensity to minimize eddy formation. This local differentiation allows the system to simultaneously achieve high plastic capture efficiency and prevent harmful eddy-induced accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The bubble screen is segmented into distinct functional zones along the water flow direction. The upstream segment provides strong aeration for plastic interception, while the downstream segment provides weaker aeration to allow smooth water flow and prevent eddy formation. This segmentation enables each zone to perform its specific function optimally.
2Productivity
If the bubble screen is positioned perpendicular to water flow for maximum interception, then plastic capture ability is improved, but plastic flow towards collection area is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The bubble screen is positioned at an oblique angle relative to the water flow direction rather than perpendicular to it. This asymmetric positioning creates a component of force that not only intercepts plastics but also guides them downstream toward the collection area, simultaneously achieving both capture and transport functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The bubble screen orientation is changed from a single perpendicular dimension to an oblique angle that incorporates both interception and directional guidance components. This dimensional adjustment allows the screen to interact with the water flow in a way that produces both vertical interception and horizontal guidance effects.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration improves the recovery yield of plastic waste by guiding plastics efficiently towards collection areas while minimizing eddy formation, thereby preventing accumulation and enhancing the freer flow of plastics to the collection points.
Implementation Method 1
Bubble screens for distributing and/or dispersing fluids into a liquid are generally known. Often, the fluid is air and the liquid is a body of water... Such bubble screens are applied for various purposes. For instance, bubble screens are typically applied to aerate water... upward thrust provided by known bubble screens may beneficially bring plastics to the water surface
Implementation Method 2
a bubble intensity of the downstream part of the bubble screen is less than the bubble intensity elsewhere in the bubble screen, such that the formation of eddies in the water in the vicinity of the collection area is counteracted. An eddy is a circular current of water.
Implementation Method 3
Bubble screens are typically applied to aerate water for aquaculture, bacterial and/or waste treatment, ice-melting... upward thrust provided by known bubble screens may beneficially bring plastics to the water surface
Data Source
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AI summary
Watercourse with water flowing in a flow direction, wherein the watercourse comprises a bubble screen provided at an angle relative to the water flow direction, wherein the bubble screen substantially extends from a water guide element to another water guide element, wherein a downstream part of the bubble screen is provided with a collection area, and wherein a bubble intensity of the downstream part of the bubble screen is less than the bubble intensity elsewhere in the bubble screen.