Listen to this PodcastMore 60-Second Earth
When oil started spewing from BP's Macondo well in April 2010, there weren't too many options for cleaning it up. Concentrated slicks on the ocean surface could be set ablaze. Booms kept oil off the shores, as long as the waves stayed calm. And chemical dispersants of unknown toxicity could be sprayed to break up oil patches.
But thanks to the Wendy Schmidt X Prize that won't be true next time. A company from Illinois known as Elastec / American Marine won the $1-million first prize by tripling previous cleanup rates.
Over 10 weeks this summer, 10 finalists out of 350 entrants demonstrated their technology at the largest outdoor saltwater wave test facility in North America. Elastec's Grooved Disc Skimmer scooped up 4,670 gallons of oil per minute and didn't leave much behind.
The machine looks like a giant, thick, grooved vinyl record spinning at high speed to capture nearly 90 percent of the oil on the waters. And there's no shortage of oil spills for it to work on. The latest is underway in New Zealand, as a stranded cargo ship leaks heavy oil onto a coral reef and local beaches.
—David Biello
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6 Comments
Add CommentSounds like a great step forward, would like to see it in action, surely this topical event was recorded by someone? Did it not attract the media? Where's the vid?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GakVQQP1wH4
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHere's a related video with some good footage of the Elastec skimmer in the test tank:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEoDGzBcxoI&feature=related
Thanks guys, all they need now is to build one 10 - 20 X bigger and oil spill damage could be a thing of the past! Assuming it works with lumpy crude in the sea...
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis machine proved out while the BP oil spill was going on. Elastec voluntered to furnish 2 machines for FREE to show how well it works but the government said it had already contracted with others and WOULD NOT USE IT EVEN IF IT WORKED 10 TIMES BETTER. The local media covered it shortly but was instructed to stop by pressure applied by political forces on the parent companies. TYPICAL!!!!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisOf course the administration would not use it. First rule is "Never waste a crisis".
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this