Addressing Oil Spill Cleanup Using Hydrophobic Meshes

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics
Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Visualization

Applicable Industries

Oil & Gas

Applicable Functions

Quality Assurance
Maintenance

Use Cases

Predictive Maintenance
Remote Asset Management

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services
System Integration
Training

The Challenge

Oil spills are urgent and unexpected events that cause significant damage to aquatic environments and marine life. Current methods for containing and recovering spilled oil, such as booms and skimmers, are often costly and only partially effective. These methods need to be deployed quickly to be effective, and even then, they often fail to recover most of the oil, which can sink to the sea floor. The collected oil-water mixture is often only partially usable, leading to further environmental concerns and wasted oil.

About The Customer

Amphos 21 is a consultant group specializing in environmental technology. They have developed numerical models of hydrophobic meshes to address the challenges of oil spill cleanup. Their goal is to create a fast, easy-to-use, and environmentally friendly solution for collecting spilled oil. Amphos 21 aims to provide virtual testing capabilities through simulation apps to engineers, researchers, and cleanup crews, enabling them to find the best response for different oil spill scenarios.

The Solution

Amphos 21 developed numerical simulations and custom applications to test the effectiveness of hydrophobic meshes in oil spill cleanup. These meshes, typically made of steel or copper and coated with a hydrophobic polymer, repel water and attract oil. The team used COMSOL Multiphysics software to simulate different mesh designs and assess their performance at various water depths. The simulation apps allow users to predict mesh performance, check design quality, and calculate properties like permeability and breakthrough pressure. This enables engineers to design the ideal mesh for specific conditions and deploy new tools in real-time.

Operational Impact

The simulation apps developed by Amphos 21 allow for virtual testing of hydrophobic meshes, reducing the need for physical experiments and saving costs.
The apps enable quick analysis of mesh designs for different operating conditions, helping engineers find the best solutions for specific oil spill scenarios.
The use of COMSOL Multiphysics software allows for detailed modeling of mesh properties and fluid dynamics, providing valuable insights into the effectiveness of different designs.

Quantitative Benefit

The simulation apps can run an analysis in less than 30 seconds, significantly speeding up the design process.
The apps help reduce the cost of physical experiments by providing virtual testing capabilities.
The use of hydrophobic meshes can potentially recover more oil compared to traditional methods, reducing oil waste and environmental impact.