Field Manual for Plunging Water Jet Use in Oil Spill Cleanup

摘要

The use of plunging water jets can often make possible the control (and, as a consequence, the cleanup) of spilled oil and other floating pollutants in currents too swift for conventional equipment. This short, illustrated manual provides practical information for field and planning personnel on the principles of plunging water jet operation, rapid fabrication of the equipment (from readily available materials), and use in the field. Water jets aimed vertically downwards from above the water surface carry entrained air into the water column. The expansion of this air returning to the surface generates a horizontal surface current which carries the floating pollutant laterally relative to the direction of stream flow. This lateral motion can be used in a diversionary manner to carry the floating pollutant into naturally occurring regions of the low flow, where conventional equipment works efficiently. This system is relatively unaffected by waves and works well in currents up to at least 6 knots.