FLOATING OIL RECOVERY DEVICE

Flow bench tests of a model rotating belt-Couette flow oil recovery device were conducted to evaluate its use in oil spill cleanup. These tests revealed that the device is capable of harvesting oils over a broad range of viscosities at the rates and purities specified by the EPA, if the inlet can be made to 'track' the water surface. Analyses were conducted to design a catamaran vessel suitable for mounting the Oil Pickup Unit (OPU) and also providing the requisite surface following performance. Vessel response analyses showed that the required surface following behavior cannot be provided by the catamaran itself, but can be achieved by floating the OPU and decoupling this assembly from the vessel in heave and surge.

• Corporate Authors:

  New Mexico State University, University Park

  Physical Science Laboratory
  University Park, NM  United States 
• Publication Date: 1971-2

Media Info

• Pagination: 76 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Oil spill cleanup; Water quality management
• Old TRIS Terms: Oil recovery systems; Oil skimmers
• Subject Areas: Environment; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00043702
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: EPA-15080-FWO-02/71
• Contract Numbers: EPA-14-12-903
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 27 1973 12:00AM