Design and analyses of semi-automated portable oil spill skimmer for water treatment application

Abstract

Oil spill response action plan is highly critical for preserving the ecosystem around the oil spillages area. During emergency situation, the action taken need to be responsive and effective to prevent the spillages from spreading widely and causes more harm to sea and water creature. Currently, several techniques were introduced with regards to response plan such as using booms, skimmers, barriers, storage barges, tanks and also vessel depending on the types of the spillages and the methods applied by the emergency response team. Owing to this reason, the project is conducted, to help providing an alternative for oil spillages response plan for water treatment application. Part of this project is designing prototype of portable oil spill skimmer to collect oil spillages in a different scales and area such as in the middle of the ocean, sea shore, water treatment facilities and reservoir. Radio frequency control is used as a controller for detection of location of the prototype while wireless camera for real-time monitoring. There are three analyses conducted for this project namely buoyancy force test, speed manoeuvring test, remote control coverage test and vision system coverage test. Results showed that the prototyped developed passed for the buoyancy force test. The maximum distance for coverage test using remote control is up to 50 m while it is improved to 60 m via vision system technique.