Blog Post #2
- Team 22
- Oct 9, 2020
- 3 min read
When looking at a global issue such as water pollution, no singular solution will be able to address the entirety of the problem. Current solutions for floating pollutants in large bodies of water already exist, such as the Water Witch’s Buddy Aluminum Catamaran 6m Model and AlphaBoats’ MarinaCleaner 202 Pontoon. In an effort to enhance solutions for water pollution, our team is focusing on applying the ideas of currently available solutions to smaller bodies of water that were not addressed by these ideas.
Our team has researched in-depth the available solutions and inherent problems they are facing. The Buddy Catamaran 6m model is the smallest option that the Water Witch provides at 19ft long by 8ft wide. For size reference, a figure of the Buddy Catamaran is shown to the right. This boat collects surface trash in a hidden container that was designed for easy emptying. The MarinaCleaner is also the smallest trash skimmer available from AlphaBoats at 36ft long and 12 ft wide with a conveyor belt system with cleats to transport debris into the boat’s storage. The images below show the belt system (left) and the front wings (right) that extend from the sides of the conveyor belt to better guide the flow of surface debris.
These solutions are both powered by a diesel engine and a qualified personnel to man the vessel. Due to their ability to collect high volumes of waste in large bodies of water, pollution emissions of current skimmers are considered a small issue compared to the vast amount of trash they collect. However, for small bodies of water, similar emissions do not balance out the amount of trash collected. The need for a licensed driver is also less desirable for a solution in waters agitated by leisure activities. A good solution for these locations would not interrupt regular activities and would be accessible by the average person, especially as a form of eco-tourism. The issue of current solutions in smaller scale environments is that they are not as accessible due to their large size, pollution emissions, high costs, and license requirement.
Our initial approach to address these issues is to implement similar concepts of current solutions as an attachment for pedal boats. Pedal boats were selected due to their small size and man powered system. This would scale the idea down to the size of the bodies of water our team wants to target, as well as mitigate diesel pollution. For example, the Sun Dolphin Pedal boat’s dimensions are 8ft by 5.4 ft, shown below, compared to the much larger size of the MarinaCleaner and the Buddy Catamaran. The use of pedal boats in areas disturbed by recreational activities is more feasible as the easy operation allows for a broader set of users. It also allows users to reach areas along the edges and shores that would normally not be feasible for the larger and deeper vessels that current solutions use.
The function of our attachment will be very similar to the ideas of current day trash skimmers but on a smaller scale. Using a conveyor belt system, our design will be able to collect trash similarly to how current solutions do. However, instead of using fuel to power the attachment, it will be powered by the flow of water as the user pedals to eliminate pollution emissions and maintain the goal of cleaning local water sources. Since pedal boats are used for mostly leisure activities, our goal is to address water pollution in smaller bodies of water without interference to the recreational aspect and function of the watercrafts.
SOURCES:
Water witch - Buddy aluminum catamaran, model 6m
AlphaBoats - Marina Cleaner 202 Pontoon
36 x 12
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