Oil Spill Challenge “Solution Revealed” #5: The Magnetic Plug
The days and weeks pass, and oil continues to blast upwards from the bottom of the Gulf. And as time marches on, we continue to receive submissions from you about how to stop the gushing oil and protect the coastline. Because of the importance and magnitude of this disaster, and because we want to keep you apprised of various InnoCentive activity around this Challenge, we are glad to share during the coming weeks the details of several key solutions and ideas we’ve received from you. Today’s post is a summary of a submission by Renate Wortelboer.
Pipes–horizontal or vertical–from which oil leaks under enormous pressure, could be closed by using the strongest magnets available in several sizes.
A custom made, cone shaped strong magnet with a “collar” at its widest diameter to fit the pipe could withstand the pressure of the flowing oil. If this magnet is not strong enough to withstand the pressure, another magnet could be added on top of the cap, like halter weights.
Small crevices could be covered with a layer of small metal and magnets. The entire structure could then be sealed off with bitumen, cold asphalt, synthetic rubber or any other sealing material. To finish, the bedrock could be restored with stones.
Schematic cross-cut overview:
- Pipe to be closed
- Main magnet, first placed
- Extra weights
- Magnetic “wings” as long as possible
- Layer of bits of metal & magnets
- Layer of sealant
- Layer of stones
Notes:
It could be investigated whether the wings should be attached later or be on the main magnet already. However, an on/off switch will be required for the wings if already attached.
Around the entire structure, to seal it properly, a thick layer of a mixed iron/steel/magnets could be used. When a layer of synthetic rubber, for example, reinforced with any metal is chosen, it would help if the underlying layer still has magnetic properties.
The main magnet could also be composed of magnetic cubes or balls, glued or attached to steel rods to create a cone shape. This might save time.
Resources for further reading:
Cold asphalt: http://www.coldasphalt.com/
Magnet supplier: http://www.supermagnete.nl/eng/index.php
Tags: Challenge, emergen, emergency response 2.0, gulf oil spill, magnets, Notable Solvers, Open Innovation, Solution Revealed
July 10th, 2010 at 11:10 am
I am not an engineer, not a chemist, but I am very anxious Harbour oil spill, proposed a immature way, refer to.
1, using solid materials and oil to create a large number of hollow tubes, pipes requirement is a two-tier. Inside diameter of the pipe diameter requirements and the same oil. The gap between the two tubes from the requirement is large enough (preferably through the volume and weight basis), which to inject water to fix the pipe. The two tubes to design a good link between the device and set aside.
2, into the first tube to the bottom, into the water pipe fixed to the second pipe piling up on the first tube, the good link, according to this approach into the water ,………… , stacking up the tube until the surface of the sea.
3, collection of oil spills from the mouth tube.
我不是工程师，也不是化学家，但我对海底漏油很焦急，提出一个不成熟的办法，请参考。
1，使用坚固而且耐油的材料，制造多个空心大圆管，管子要求是双层的。管子里面的直径要求和油井的直径相同。管子两层之间的空隙距离要求足够大（最好通过容积和重量的计算），里面要注入海水，用来固定管子。两个管子之间要设计好链接装置，备用。
2，放入第一个管子到海底，管子注入海水固定，将第二个管子堆放于第一个管子上，做好链接，注入海水，…………按照此种方式，将管子堆放起来，直到海面。
3，从管子口收集漏油。
July 10th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
[...] The magnetic plug. [...]
July 30th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
Great idea! I was thinking of using ferrofluids in a similar scheme. One of the biggest problems is trying to get the plug(s) inserted in the bore of both the drill pipe and casing then trying to move the packers downhole before actuation. The deeper the better…a physical plug of what we all saw at the existing BOP could have been easily effected, but that would have lead to alternate failure modes.
Another thought was to install a tubular curtain (Kevlar/CF reinforced nylon mesh) perhaps 50-100′ in diameter extending upward from the seabed. The produced fluids could have then been easily conducted to the surface without methane hydrate complications and more efficiently dealt with by collection or burning.
August 6th, 2010 at 11:20 am
What about using inflatable plugs?
http://www.pipeplug.com/inflatable_plugs.html