On-Board Re-Inflatable Containment Boom Rapid Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional oil containment booms are limited by the need for multiple power sources, lack of rapid deployment capabilities, and restricted functional length, often requiring transportation from distant locations, leading to delayed responses and increased toxin discharge during oil spills.
Innovation Solution
An on-board re-inflatable containment boom system with a single point inflatable gas supply originating from the lagging end, allowing continuous inflation and deflation, controlled deployment, and integration with a winch-reel assembly for rapid deployment and recovery, enabling immediate response to oil spills without secondary deployment vessels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional booms are deployed from distant shore-based facilities or response vessels, then the boom can be contained and controlled during deployment, but the response time is delayed and toxin discharge increases
Solution Approach 1:
The containment boom is pre-positioned on-board the waterborne vessel in a deflated state, prepared in advance for immediate deployment. The inflatable gas supply system is pre-connected to the boom, allowing rapid inflation and deployment without needing to transport the boom from distant locations when a spill occurs.
2Productivity
If conventional booms are inflated from the leading end one section at a time, then the boom can be inflated in a controlled manner, but the deployment time is extended and rapid response is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of inflating the boom from the leading end as in conventional systems, this invention inflates the boom from the lagging end. The inflatable gas supply originates at the lagging last-off section and runs concurrently with the boom, allowing continuous inflation from the rear as the boom is deployed forward, significantly reducing inflation time.
3Length of moving object
If the boom is made longer to cover larger spill areas, then the containment capability is improved, but the boom becomes harder to deploy and control from distant locations
Solution Approach 1:
An inflatable gas delivery hose runs concurrently with the entire length of the boom, serving as an intermediary that delivers inflation gas along the full length of the boom. This allows the boom to be inflated uniformly along its entire length from the lagging end, enabling deployment of longer booms that can cover larger spill areas while maintaining ease of operation from the waterborne vessel.
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 rapid, controlled, and repeated deployment of a floating barrier that can be transported close to spill sites, maintaining inflation and extending deployment length, thereby reducing spill duration and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable gas supply originating at the lagging last-off end of boom and delivering pressurized gas to the boom through an inflatable gas delivery hose running externally and concurrently with the boom
Implementation Method 2
The containment boom has float sections that are sequentially inflated during deployment and sequentially deflated during recovery
Data Source
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AI summary
An on-board re-inflatable containment boom system for a waterborne vessel providing an on-board re-inflatable containment boom that lies substantially flat and capable of being spooled when deflated and floats in the proper orientation when inflated, that has re-inflatable float sections which are sequentially inflated during deployment and sequentially deflated during recovery, that can be repeatedly deployed and recovered for the purposes of training and testing, and that can be deployed immediately upon occurrence of an oil spill from a waterborne vessel because of its on-board location and its rapid deployment, providing controlled inflation and deflation during deployment and recovery, and a method for containment of an oil spill from a waterborne vessel using an on-board re-inflatable containment boom system.