Sustainable filtering device for collecting floating debris

Abstract

An assembly for being dragged by a vessel, wherein the assembly includes a filtering system and a fluidum guiding system, wherein the filtering system is suitable for filtering large volumes of fluidum, and wherein the fluidum guiding system defines a channel configured such that at least in a channel portion the current velocity of the fluidum guided through that channel portion is reduced downstream, and wherein the fluidum guiding system and the filtering system are mutually arranged such that current velocity of fluidum filtered in the filtering system is reduced for decreasing drag.

Claims

1. An assembly for being dragged by a vessel, the assembly comprising a filtering system comprising an inlet, and a fluidum guiding system defining a channel which increases in cross-sectional area from a fluidum inlet, wherein the inlet of the filtering system is at a position in or at the end of the channel at a point of largest cross-sectional area such that velocity of fluidum is reduced from the fluidum inlet to the inlet of the filtering system.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fluidum guiding system at least partly encloses the filtering system.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fluidum guiding system encloses substantially the entire filtering system.

4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the filtering system comprises a netting with a mesh configured such that particles of contamination are filtered out of the fluidum.

5. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the filtering system comprises an outlet for allowing filtered out particles to leave the filtering system.

6. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fluidum guiding system comprises opposing side members and a bottom member which are joined together for defining the channel.

7. An assembly according to claim 6, wherein at least one side member comprises a curved portion (13).

8. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the channel is open at its upper side.

9. A vessel comprising an assembly according to claim 1, wherein the assembly is connected to the vessel such that it can be dragged by the vessel.

10. A vessel according to claim 9, wherein the assembly couples to the vessel such that the height position of the assembly relative to the water surface can be adjusted.

11. A vessel according to claim 9, comprising a plurality of assemblies.

12. A vessel according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of assemblies are arranged side by side in a row.

13. A vessel according to claim 9, wherein each filtering system comprises an outlet and respective outlets of at least two filtering systems can be coupled.

14. A vessel according to claim 9, the vessel being driven using solar and/or wind power.

15. A vessel according to claim 9, wherein the vessel comprises control means such that the vessel is an autonomous unmanned vessel.

16. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the inlet of the filtering system is located at a midpoint of the channel, and the channel decreases in cross-sectional area after the location of the inlet of the filtering system.

17. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sides of the fluidum guiding system defining the channel are curved.

18. A method for collecting particles from water bodies, the method comprising: providing at least one assembly comprising a fluidum guiding system defining a channel which expands in cross-sectional area from an inlet to an inlet of a filtering system; coupling said at least one assembly to a vessel; and placing the vessel in a water body to collect particles therefrom.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the vessel moves on the water body.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be further elucidated referring to embodiments shown in the drawing wherein shown in:

(2) FIG. 1 in perspective view an assembly according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2a a top view of the assembly according to FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 2b a top view of a further embodiment of the assembly according to the invention;

(5) and FIG. 3 a vessel comprising a plurality of assemblies of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(6) In the figures FIG. 1 discloses in perspective view an assembly 1. FIG. 2a shows a top view of the assembly 1 according to FIG. 1. FIG. 2b depicts a top view of a further embodiment of the assembly 1. FIG. 3 shows a vessel 7 comprising a plurality of assemblies 1 of FIG. 1. The invention will be described referring to all figures.

(7) The Assembly 1 is suitable for being dragged by a vessel 7. When the assembly 1 is dragged by a vessel 7, a flow resistance will occur which needs to be overcome by the vessel 7. This flow resistance is referred to as drag.

(8) The assembly 1 comprises a filtering system 3. The filtering system 3 is suitable for filtering large volumes of fluidum 14, in this case (sea) water. The filtering system 3 comprises an inlet 10 for allowing fluidum to be filtered to enter the filtering system 3. Usually the inlet 10 is framed (not shown) for maintaining the shape of inlet 10. Here, the filtering system 3 comprises a netting 8. The netting is provided with a mesh 9 configured such that particles of contamination, like e.g. particles of plastic, are filtered out of the fluidum. The filtering system 3 comprises an outlet 11 for allowing filtered out particles to leave the filtering system 3.

(9) The assembly 1 comprises a fluidum guiding system 2. The fluidum guiding system 2 defines a channel 12 configured such that at least in a channel portion the current velocity of the fluidum 14 guided through that channel portion is reduced downstream. Here, the cross-sectional area of the channel portion increases downstream for reducing speed of the fluidum 14 to be filtered. The fluidum guiding system 2 comprises opposing side members 5, 6 and a bottom member 4 which are joined together for defining the channel 12. Here, both side members 5, 6 comprises a curved portion 13. The geometry of the side members 5, 6 reduces the velocity of the fluidum at the inlet 10 of the filtering system 3. The curved portion 13, which constitutes a hydrodynamic shape, guarantees a smooth flow, resulting in a low drag assembly 1.

(10) Here, the channel 12 is open at its upper side. It is conceivable however to employ a circumferential conduit which defines the channel 12.

(11) The fluidum guiding system 2 and the filtering system 3 are mutually arranged such that current velocity of fluidum 14 filtered in the filtering system 3 is reduced for decreasing drag. Here, the fluidum guiding system 2 is arranged for reducing current velocity of fluidum to be filtered downstream towards the inlet 10.

(12) In FIG. 2a, the fluidum guiding system 2 is placed at the inlet 10 of the filtering system 3 to limit the unwanted inflow of fluidum from higher pressure zones outside the filtering area of the assembly.

(13) In FIG. 2b the fluidum guiding system 2 encloses substantially the entire filtering system for reducing drag.

(14) The vessel 7 of FIG. 3 is a catamaran type of vessel 7 with two opposing floating bodies 15a, 15b joined by two tranverse connection profiles 16a, 16b. The vessel 7 of FIG. 3 comprises a plurality of assemblies 1 wherein the assemblies are arranged side by side in a row for increasing the filtering area. Here, the assemblies 1 are arranged between the two floating bodies 15a, 15b. The vessel 7 comprises an adjusting device (not shown) which couples the assemblies 1 and the vessel 7 for adjusting the height position of the assemblies 1 relative to the water surface. Respective outlets 11 of at least two filtering devices 3 are coupled with a common conduit (not shown) for collecting residue. The vessel 7 comprises control means (not shown) such that the vessel 7 is an autonomous unmanned vessel 7. The vessel 7 is driven by driving means (not shown) using solar and/or wind power, preferably using only solar and/or wind power.

(15) In use, the vessel 7 collects particles from sea in particular pollution, like plastic particles. The vessel drags the assembly at low travelling speed, like lower than 2 m/s, for example 1 m/s.

(16) It will also be obvious that the above description and drawings are included to illustrate some embodiments of the invention, and not to limit the scope of protection. Starting from this disclosure, many more embodiments will be evident to a skilled person which are within the scope of protection and the essence of this invention and which are obvious combinations of prior art techniques and the disclosure of this patent.