Formal Progress Update Presentation (MP3)

Introduction

Bertha Robles-Giron

Grade 12

Marine Academy of Science and Technology

Systems Engineering II 

Oil Response 

Background
      Oil is a major source of energy in today's society. Unfortunately, it is distributed unevenly throughout the world. Because of this, oil must be transported to other areas around the world by land (as seen in Figure 1 below) and sea (as seen in Figure 2 below). The major transportation of oil occurs on the seas, ports, and rivers by use of oil tankers and barges.

Figure 1: Iran-Iraq Oil Pipeline (Source: Iraq-businessnews.com)

Figure 2: Venezuela-Cuba Oil Tanker (Source: JuventudRebelde.co.cu)

       Accidents have been known to occur whenever oil is drilled, handled, transported, stored, refined or transferred. Some of the biggest spills in history have involved the oil tankers Amoco Cadiz, Exxon Valdez, and the Sea Empress. In March of 1989, the Exxon Valdez oil tanker (shown in Figure 3 below) ran aground in the Prince William Sound in Alaska. This damaged the tankers hull, releasing about 10.9 million gallons of crude oil into the ocean. (Figure 4 below is of an oil sheen from the Exxon Valdez spill.) This spill was relatively small, compared to other spills in history, but it had major impacts on the environment and the industry.

Figure 3: Exxon Valdez (Source: Wikipedia)

Figure 4: Oil Sheen from the Exxon Valdez (Source: Wikipedia)

  
      Today, several improvements have been implemented in tanker safety and operations to prevent spills. All personnel working aboard tanker vessels must now be licensed and must routinely engage n safety drills. They are subjected to random drug tests and can only work a prescribed number of hours per day. The tankers are also equipped with GPS that sounds an alarm if the tankers deviate off course. By 2015, all tankers operating in U.S. waters will be required to have double-hulls because of the Oil Pollution Act. Double-hull tankers (Shown in Figure 5 and 6 below) have been shown to be better in terms of environmental protection.

Figure 5: Double-Hull Tanker Being Built (Source: schleswig-holstein.de)

Figure 6: Inside of a Double-Hull Tanker (Source: eng.nus.edu.sg)

 
Design Brief
Team
To design and construct a demonstration teaching model of open oil gushers and how they are contained, along with a multimedia display of the groups' efforts and solutions. The multimedia display will include different aspects and a storyboard for any filming done.

Individual 
To design and construct a model of a device capable of transferring an oil-like substance to a retrieval storage device. 

 British Pioneer Oil Tanker (Source: arabianoilandgas.com)

 
Specifications

• Must fit inside of the tank --> YES!
• Must be buoyant --> YES!
• Must be free of any leaks --> YES!
• Must be able to carry the weight of the oil-like substance --> YES!
• Must attach well to the other parts of the project--> YES!
• Must be able to shut off the flow of oil --> NOT YET
• Must have aesthetic appeal --> NOT YET

Limitations

• Cannot exceed the size of the tank --> YES!
• Cannot take too long to build (must be done before we start the actual testing) --> NO
• Total cost cannot exceed $100 --> YES!
• Power will be limited to what is available for the entire model --> YES!

Testing Procedures
Model:

Balsa Wood Model

Final Product:

Labeled Final Product

Testing Stages:

• Stage One:

• Location: My bath tub
• Date: January 19, 2011
• What is being tested: Final tanker body made out of plywood and balsa wood tanks. Testing for buoyancy of the body.
• Result: It was buoyant.

Stage One of Testing

• Stage Two:

• Location: Systems Lab
  
• Date: March 21, 2011
• What is being tested: Final tanker body and tanks both made out of plywood. Testing for buoyancy and flow inside the tanks.
• Result: It was buoyant. Tanks filled up slowly, but it was good.

Final Tanker Body and Tanks (missing switch)

 

• Stage Three:

• Location: Systems Lab
  
• Date: March 28, 2011
  
• What is being tested: Final tanker body and tanks both made out of plywood. Testing for movement of the shut off switch with the flow of water.
  
• Result: Switch barely moved, which is not good.

 

 

• Stage Four:

• Location: Systems Lab
  
• Date: March 30, 2011
  
• What is being tested: Final tanker body and tanks both made out of plywood. Testing for movement of the shut off switch with the flow of water.
  
• Result: Switch moved! This means that it will break the connection, causing the oil flow to stop.

 

• Stage Five:

• Location: Systems Lab
  
• Date: TBD
  
• What is being tested: Final tanker body and tanks both made out of plywood. Testing for movement of the shut off switch with the flow of the oil-like substance. Also testing for how well it works with the other parts of the project.