Oil spill clean-up technologies for rivers, ports and sheltered waters. Part I - The hydrodynamic circus

The 'Circus', a simple vessel-like device for oil spill control and recovery, has been developed in response to operational problems typical for fast flowing rivers and mobile seep applications. Surface water with floating ail is diverted by an oil boom or sweep jib into the Circus chamber through a tangential combined in-and outlet. Rotaton of the oil/water in the Circus is generated by the current or the sweep vessel's own movement. The water exits the Circus by the vortex centre whereas the oil accumulates on the surface to form a layer sufficiently thick to allow skimming and discharge pumping of oil or oil/water emulsion only The Circus has been tested in response operations both as a stationary system in rivers with 4 knots current, and as a sweep system with sweep jibs attached, advancing at 3 knots. The smaller Circus model can be operated with very small (trailer borne) work boats. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.