Buoyant Polymeric Pipe for Rapid Spill Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spill containment systems in aqueous environments are reactive and slow to deploy, often failing to effectively manage large-scale oil spills due to complex deployment processes and limited containment capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus utilizing an inherently buoyant polymeric pipe that can be rapidly deployed by adjusting tether length, ballast separation, or propeller displacement to form a containment boundary around spills, with optional features like GPS, dispersants, and renewable power, allowing for efficient containment and treatment of spills in various environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional booms are brought on site and placed in configuration after spill occurs, then containment can be achieved, but deployment time is excessive and response is reactive
Solution Approach 1:
The buoyant pipe is pre-positioned in the vicinity of potential spill sites before any spill occurs. The pipe remains submerged and held in place by tethers or ballasts during normal conditions, ready for immediate activation. When a spill occurs, the pipe can be rapidly raised to the surface to form a containment boundary, eliminating the need for reactive deployment from shore-based locations.
2Productivity
If pre-positioned buoyant pipe is used for rapid deployment, then response time is improved, but complexity of positioning and control systems increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses ballasts attached to the buoyant pipe to counteract its natural buoyancy, keeping it submerged during normal operations. The ballasts can be easily detached or released when containment is needed, allowing the pipe to rapidly rise to the surface. This passive positioning mechanism avoids complex active control systems while achieving both pre-positioning and rapid deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
Tethers serve as intermediary elements connecting the buoyant pipe to the seabed or anchor points. These tethers hold the pipe in the desired pre-positioned location during normal conditions and can be released or adjusted when containment is required. The tether system provides simple mechanical control without requiring complex positioning equipment.
3Area of stationary object
If large containment areas are targeted, then environmental protection scope is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The buoyant pipe system is designed to be scalable and adaptable to different containment area requirements. The same basic pipe design can be used for small, medium, or large containment needs by varying the pipe length, diameter, or number of pipes deployed. The pipe can form complete circles, partial arcs, or be combined with other pipes to create containment boundaries of any size, eliminating the need for entirely different systems for different scales.
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
Enables rapid and effective containment of spills in large areas, reducing environmental impact by quickly forming a containment boundary and facilitating the deployment of dispersants and treatment agents, while being durable and adaptable to different spill scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
raising said pipe under the effect of its buoyancy from under the surface level to a containment level
Implementation Method 2
holding said pipe under the surface level against its buoyancy by employing one of a tether, a ballast or a propeller
Data Source
AI summary
A method of containing a spill in an aqueous environment, comprises the steps of:placing a polymeric pipe under the surface level of the aqueous environment in the vicinity of a site of potential spillage; andraising the pipe from under the surface level to a containment level; wherein the pipe forms, when raised, at least a partial boundary around the spill for containing the spill.