Objective
To manufacture a controlled floating skimmer. It is a dynamic system of very large capacity for the collection of hydrocarbon spills (black-tides) from the sea, capable of providing a totally effective solution against marine pollution. Four units of this innovative skimmer are to be tested in different sea conditions. The most innovative features are:
1) the system's dynamism, which allows it to work independently of sea conditions, as well as to be fixed very easily to any tugboat,
2) its collecting capacity, up to 480 c m /h of spilled oil per unit,
3) automatic controlled oil aspiration which, by means of an infrared-ray water-in-oil detector, modifies the aspiration mouth draft for recovering minimum percentages of water into the oil, what allows the oil to be reused. The expected average energy recovery is 25.000 c m. per year, while the specific energy saving over conventional and much smaller systems reaches 93,1%.
A recovery capacity up to 480 m³/hour has been demonstrated. Due to the installation of an automatic selectors to reduce water absorption within oil, the water absorption has been reduced to five per cent of water in total recovery.
All system tests were carried out in different areas near Santander port. All the attendants, representing various authorities and oil companies, were fully satisfied with the system's performance.
The "A.F.C." skimming system is a floating and dynamic equipment capable of collecting up to 480 c.m./h of oil spill with a minimum content of water in the recovered oil. The device works at approximately two knots of speed. The floating skimmer incorporates a rolling support that, once slipped inside two tracks (simple removable tools attached to the gunwale of the tugboat), moves freely, being in such a way fully operative even in open seas and capable of working independently of any pitching or rolling of the tugboat caused by the waves.
The system consists of the following elements:
- Floating skimmer
- Aspirating pump with an adjustable capacity of up to 480 c m./h, capable of absorbing solid bodies of up to 30 mm diam., with hydraulic remote control
- Aspirating mouth, adjustable in accordance to the draft of the oil layer, with hydraulic remote control
- Hydraulic centralised control system to drive all the above mentioned elements.
- Tracks to be attached to the gunwale ofthe tugboat where the floating skimmer will be fixed
- Floating device where the tails of the booms will be fixed.
- Infrared-ray detection device which automatically modifies the vacuum skimmer's position of the mouth in order to match the oil spill draft at any time
- 20' containers for the transport of the equipment.
It is possible to install two units per ship, so increasing the capacity of recovery to up to 960 c.m./h per ship, by far the highest figure ever for this type of operations.
The systems works as follows: The spill is driven towards the vacuum skimmer's mouth by both the system's deflectors and a sea curtain (boom), towed by a small boat to embrace the spill. For maximum efficiency throughout the cleaning operation, two booms have to be used, whose tails are fixed to a floating device place a few centimetres ahead of the skimmer.
The collected product is pumped into the tanks of the tugboat. If the extent of the spill is larger than the tug's storage capacity, theoil may be pumped into either floating tanks of different capacities, as those used in some petrol drillings in the sea, or tanks in a towed tanker.
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Programme(s)
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
39002 Santander
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.