Collapsible Aquatic Enclosure for Sediment Contaminant Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing contaminants from aquatic sediments and detritus often cause physical disturbance and dispersion of loose sediment layers, are not ecologically sensitive, and are not suitable for shallow water areas, where they can spread contaminants further or harm aquatic fauna.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible, soft enclosure made of waterproof fabric that minimizes physical disturbance by enclosing targeted contaminant areas, allowing for the release or removal of contaminants through dissociation or physical disturbance, and can be deployed without heavy equipment, using microbial and geochemical processes to convert solid contaminants to soluble forms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional dredging methods are used to remove contaminants from sediments, then contaminant removal is achieved, but physical disturbance and dispersion of loose sediment layers occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible, collapsible enclosure made of soft waterproof material that gently encapsulates contaminated sediment areas. This flexible structure minimizes physical disturbance to the sediment layers while enabling contaminant removal through controlled water circulation and gravity-driven extraction, avoiding the harsh mechanical disturbance of traditional dredging methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary medium to facilitate contaminant removal. By circulating water through the enclosure and allowing it to flow out through controlled outlets, the system enables passive extraction of contaminants from sediments without direct mechanical contact, thus preventing physical disturbance and dispersion of the sediment matrix.
2Reliability
If hard or rigid containment structures are used to enclose contaminants, then containment is effective, but damage to benthic fauna such as snails and shellfish occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces hard or rigid containment structures with a flexible, collapsible enclosure made of soft waterproof material. This flexible structure maintains effective containment of contaminants while being gentle enough to avoid damaging benthic fauna such as snails and shellfish, allowing the enclosure to adapt to the underlying sediment and biological communities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic, collapsible enclosure structure that can adapt its shape and volume in response to environmental conditions and biological presence. This dynamic flexibility allows the enclosure to maintain containment effectiveness while avoiding rigid structures that would harm benthic fauna, enabling the system to conform to the natural topography and life forms in the water body.
3Productivity
If chemicals are applied to treat or bind contaminants in shallow water areas, then contaminant treatment is achieved, but wave action and water turbulence spread contaminants further
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses water circulation through the enclosure as an intermediary mechanism to facilitate contaminant treatment in shallow water areas. By controlling water flow through the enclosure structure, the system enables chemical or biological treatment processes to occur in a controlled environment, preventing wave action and water turbulence from spreading contaminants further while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
4Adaptability or versatility
If heavy equipment and barges are used to deploy containment structures, then deployment capability is achieved, but operational complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the containment structure into modular, segmentable components that can be assembled and deployed in a systematic manner. This segmentation allows the enclosure to be configured for different water body sizes and contaminant loads while simplifying deployment operations, reducing the need for heavy equipment and complex operational procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates self-deploying features into the enclosure structure, allowing it to be positioned and secured in water bodies with minimal external assistance. The collapsible design enables the structure to be collapsed for transport and then automatically deployed or easily assembled on-site, reducing operational complexity and eliminating the need for heavy equipment and specialized personnel.
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
Effectively captures and removes contaminants with minimal disturbance to the ecosystem, reducing the volume of extracted materials and avoiding the use of toxic chemicals, suitable for shallow water areas and ecologically sensitive regions.
Implementation Method 1
The collapsible enclosure itself is constructed primarily with soft layers of waterproof fabric in order to minimize potential damage to sensitive ecological receptors
Implementation Method 2
The dissolved and suspended contaminants within the isolated, interior portion of the enclosure could then be pumped out
Implementation Method 3
microbial and geochemical processes to convert solid contaminants to soluble forms
Implementation Method 4
The dissolved and suspended contaminants within the isolated, interior portion of the enclosure could then be pumped out
Implementation Method 5
by raising and lowering the top of the enclosure and plunger to suspend loose sediments and detritus within the enclosure
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible aquatic enclosure apparatus is described for use in capturing, isolating and removing contaminants and otherwise easily dispersed aquatic sediments and detritus in water bodies. The collapsible aquatic enclosure can also be used for removal and control of targeted aquatic fauna and flora. Once deployed, the collapsible enclosure creates an isolated volume of water above the target aquatic area. Internal plunger and pipe intake structure within the enclosure provide agitation to remove contaminants, sediments and detritus and targeted fauna and flora residues inside the collapsible apparatus. Methods for using the collapsible aquatic enclosure apparatus are also described.