Pneumatic barriers for oil containment under-wind wave, and current conditions

Abstract

An experimental laboratory study of the pneumatic barrier has recently been completed at Texas A&M University (sponsored by the U. S. Coast Guard). Both the fluid mechanics of air-bubble generated currents and their effectiveness for containing oil under wind, wave, and current loadings were investigated. The bubble-generated current has been found to provide an effective means of containing oil on water. However, under strong currents (2 knots) or breaking wave conditions, large quantities of air are required and the substantial increase in power requirements which results may prove the system uneconomical for some applications. Consequently, use of the pneumatic barrier to prevent oil spreading on water is recommended for protected areas with low (below 1.0 knot) currents.