Using the advanced technologies available at MARIN (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands), the Ocean Cleanup has conducted new scale model tests of its system. As explained, through continued testing, the Dutch foundation was able to adapt and redesign its system, as needed, in order to have the best possible chance of effectively working in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
In December, after our last screen material proved unsuccessful in the North Sea, a team of our engineers worked on finding a new design. After careful consideration and research, we chose the new screen material that was modeled in our testing at MARIN. Because the screen has a “cloth-like” structure, its behavior is highly dynamic, which makes it difficult for hydrodynamic model software to replicate numerically. So, we needed to go to greater lengths to learn more about this chosen design.
Series blog posts on plastic marine debris and microplastics
MARIN’s facilities were proven ideal for this, as they not only had the basin that allowed to replicate the conditions of the Pacific Ocean, but they had innovative measurement techniques that provided with even further insights into this technology.
This extensive series of tests allowed the Ocean Cleanup to:
- Receive detailed quantitative data on screen motions and forces in the screen
- Test the operational conditions of the screen
- Test the towing configuration of the screen (imitating the system when it will be in tow to the GPGP)
Preliminary conclusions from the tests are that the motions and forces are in the range of what it was expected based on numerical modeling.
For peak functioning in the GPGP, we have optimized the screen design to accommodate the motions and loads that we expect it to endure. This means that the assembly and deployment of System 001 will continue as scheduled.
