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Hi, for my science fair project, I'm comparing the efficiency of oil cleanup with ferrofluid and oil skimmers. I'm able to buy a ferrofluid kit, but I can't find a way to replicate the effects of a disk, drum, tube, and mop oil skimmer. Does anybody have any suggestions as to how I can make a homemade, cheap, but just as efficient version of these oil skimmers?
Thank you for your time.
How to replicate oil skimmers?
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SchrodingersCat
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2013 1:01 pm
- Occupation: Student 9th grade
- Project Question: My project is experimenting to see if ferrofluid is more effective at cleaning up oil than a disk, drum, tube, and mop oil skimmer.
- Project Due Date: January 5th, 2014 is when I must finish, but I'd like to get started as soon as possible.
- Project Status: I am just starting
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theborg
- Former Expert
- Posts: 360
- Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2011 12:26 pm
- Occupation: Space Test Analyst
- Project Question: "To explain all nature is too difficult a task for any one man. 'Tis much better to do a little with certainty and leave the rest for others that come after you, than to explain all things by conjecture without making sure of anything." - Sir Isaac Newton
- Project Due Date: N/A
- Project Status: Not applicable
Re: How to replicate oil skimmers?
SchrodingersCat,
Welcome to the forum and thank you for your question. The operation of different types of oil skimmers are similar. For disk, drum, and mop skimmers, Oleophilic material in the shape of a disk, drum or mop is placed in the oil contaminated water. Oleophilic means to have an afinity with oils...oil will "stick" to the material, while water will run off. If you can get some of this material, you could potentially attach a disk and/or drum to a RC model engine to rotate it in the contaminated fluid.
The issue is that the efficiency with which any of the mechanical options work is highly dependent on the viscosity of the oil and the depth of water they must work in, and sea states (rough or calm water). Viscosity describes how well a fluid will flow. A low viscosity flows freely (like water) where as a highly viscus fluid will not (like molasses). Keep in mind that fluid viscosity can change with conditions, such as temperature.
Skimmer devices tend to be designed to work well for certain conditions...i.e. some work better for low viscosity oil spills, while others work better for high viscosity oil, like crude.
My research suggests that the skimmer devices, if operating within their design parameters, have efficiency ratings around 90%. I would suggest, rather than spend time trying to "engineer" homemade versions of highly industrial equipment, you vary the viscosity (thickness) of the oil contamination and plot the efficiency of the ferrofluid over the range of contaminaton viscosity. Any point you are above 90% efficient, you will be better than the skimmer designed to operate at that viscosity.
This link includes a plot showing skimmer types efficiency vs viscosity.
http://www.oilspillsolutions.org/skimmers.htm
Welcome to the forum and thank you for your question. The operation of different types of oil skimmers are similar. For disk, drum, and mop skimmers, Oleophilic material in the shape of a disk, drum or mop is placed in the oil contaminated water. Oleophilic means to have an afinity with oils...oil will "stick" to the material, while water will run off. If you can get some of this material, you could potentially attach a disk and/or drum to a RC model engine to rotate it in the contaminated fluid.
The issue is that the efficiency with which any of the mechanical options work is highly dependent on the viscosity of the oil and the depth of water they must work in, and sea states (rough or calm water). Viscosity describes how well a fluid will flow. A low viscosity flows freely (like water) where as a highly viscus fluid will not (like molasses). Keep in mind that fluid viscosity can change with conditions, such as temperature.
Skimmer devices tend to be designed to work well for certain conditions...i.e. some work better for low viscosity oil spills, while others work better for high viscosity oil, like crude.
My research suggests that the skimmer devices, if operating within their design parameters, have efficiency ratings around 90%. I would suggest, rather than spend time trying to "engineer" homemade versions of highly industrial equipment, you vary the viscosity (thickness) of the oil contamination and plot the efficiency of the ferrofluid over the range of contaminaton viscosity. Any point you are above 90% efficient, you will be better than the skimmer designed to operate at that viscosity.
This link includes a plot showing skimmer types efficiency vs viscosity.
http://www.oilspillsolutions.org/skimmers.htm
Hope this helps.
theborg
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theborg
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