This research, funded by Promotion Fund for Development of Environmental Technology of Ministry of the Environment from 2006 to 2007, is being conducted as a joint project between Osaka Univiersity, Port and Airport Research Institute, and Akishima Laboratory (Mitsui Zosen) Inc..
Background
Because Spilled oil by an accident of oil tanker becomes highly
viscous through emulsion by mixing with water in waves, it gives a huge damage
on natural environment and local economy after drifting ashore. It is important
to precisely predict the drifting of the spilled oil using real time information
on its location and environmental conditions to withdraw it ashore utilizing
equipment and materials effectively. However, there exists no system chasing the
spilled oil automatically just after an accident of oil spill and sending real
time information on its location and environmental conditions.
Outline of Research
(1) Design of configuration of spilled oil chasing buoy robot and automatic control system
Configuration automatic control system of spilled oil chasing buoy robot with the functions of sensing and sending oceanographic information and spilled oil information on location and characteristics in real time, and automatically chasing spilled oil are designed.
(2) Development of contact and noncontact sensors of
spilled oil on sea surface, and spilled oil chasing autonomous buoy system, and
construction of monitoring system on land
Contact and noncontact sensors of viscosity of oil and localization of spilled
oil are developed. A buoy robot installing contact and noncontact sensors of
spilled oil, measurement instruments of atmospheric and oceanographic data，ＧＰＳ
receiver, transmitter of measured data in real time receiver of data from land
is constructed. Monitoring system of sent data from the buoy system on land is
also developed.
(3) Performance test of spilled oil autonomous chasing buoy robot in water tanks and at sea
Performances of transmitter and
receiver of information on buoy robot, and automatically spilled oil chasing are
tested in water tanks. After that, sea experiment using monitoring system on
land is carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of spilled oil autonomous
chasing buoy robot.
Outcome and
Expected Effects
① Outcome
Real time data on location of spilled oil, atmospheric and oceanographic
data, and characteristics of spilled oil are transmitted on land monitoring
system by autonomously chasing spilled oil using buoy robot.
② Expected effects
These real time data make it possible ｔo precisely predict the drifting of the spilled oil on its location and environmental conditions to withdraw it ashore utilizing equipment and materials effectively. This leads to reduction of hazards on natural environment and reduction of harmful effect on local economy.