Automated Oil Boom Decontamination System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for decontaminating oil booms are manually intensive, slow, expensive, and expose workers to toxic substances, with no effective way to efficiently remove residual oil and debris.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and process involving a conveyance system with a wash table, spray manifold, and drying area to remove residual oil from oil containment booms using high-pressure cleaning solutions and air drying, allowing for thorough inspection and cleaning of all surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual scraping and scrubbing is used to decontaminate oil booms, then workers can remove oil and debris, but the process becomes manually intensive, slow, and expensive while exposing workers to toxic substances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical scraping and scrubbing with an automated washing system that uses high-pressure water spray, surfactant solution, and mechanical brushes to decontaminate oil booms. The washing apparatus automatically transports booms through cleaning zones, eliminating manual labor while maintaining effective oil and debris removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The oil boom itself is the object being cleaned by the washing system, which applies cleaning solutions and mechanical action directly to the boom surface. The system enables the boom to be self-decontaminated without requiring manual intervention, improving both productivity and worker safety.
2Reliability
If manual scraping and scrubbing is used to decontaminate oil booms, then workers can remove oil and debris, but the process becomes expensive and yields inconsistent results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces variable manual cleaning performance with a standardized automated washing system that consistently applies controlled amounts of high-pressure water, surfactant solution, and mechanical brush action. This ensures uniform decontamination results across all oil booms while reducing operational costs through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The washing system controls cleaning parameters such as water pressure (50-200 psi), surfactant concentration, brush rotation speed, and contact time to ensure consistent and reliable decontamination results. These controlled parameters eliminate the variability inherent in manual cleaning operations.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If workers manually scrape and scrub oil booms, then decontamination can be performed, but workers are exposed to toxic and carcinogenic oil components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual scraping and scrubbing with an automated washing system that uses high-pressure water spray, surfactant solution, and mechanical brushes to remove oil and debris. This substitution eliminates direct worker contact with toxic oil components while maintaining effective decontamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The washing system introduces water and surfactant solution as intermediary substances that facilitate the removal of toxic oil components from the boom surface. These intermediaries enable safe decontamination by preventing direct worker exposure to harmful substances while effectively removing them.
4Loss of time
If traditional manual cleaning methods are used, then oil booms can be cleaned, but the process is slow and manually intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces slow manual scraping and scrubbing with an automated washing system that simultaneously applies multiple cleaning mechanisms (high-pressure water, surfactants, mechanical brushes) to the entire boom surface, dramatically reducing cleaning time while eliminating manual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The washing system continuously applies cleaning action to the oil boom throughout its transport through the washing apparatus, ensuring complete decontamination in a single pass. This continuous automated processing eliminates the intermittent and time-consuming nature of manual cleaning.
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
Facilitates quick, safe, and cost-effective decontamination of oil booms, reducing manual labor and exposure to toxic substances while ensuring effective removal of oil and debris.
Implementation Method 1
contacting at least a portion of the boom with a high-pressure spray of cleaning solution
Implementation Method 2
drying area to remove residual oil from oil containment booms using high-pressure cleaning solutions and air drying
Data Source
AI summary
A rapid and effective means for decontaminating fouled oil-control booms is provided. The process involves washing the boom with pressured washing fluid, reorienting the boom to facilitate full inspection, and drying the boom. This can be performed in an assembly-line manner, using one or more conveyors to transport the boom sequentially to a washing area, an inspection area, and a drying area. Consequently, contaminated oil-control booms can be cleaned and redeployed rapidly and inexpensively during an oil release accident.