Recoil Oil Containment Winch (Patent Applied For) - 2009/2010
Oil spilled at sea can have disastrous consequences for this environment which makes rapid containment and recovery of the oil crucial. However, past incidents show that existing methods of response do not adequately prevent environmental disasters.
The Recoil winch is designed as part of an innovative new system for recovering oil contamination from the sea. Oil is encircled and concentrated in a continuous process, producing an increased recovery rate as well as an increase in recovery process efficiency.
Nils received the Kennett Prize for design innovation for this project, awarded by a panel of 8 industrial judges.
Recoil Oil Recovery Process:
1. A length of oil containment boom is used to encircle an area of oil, preventing it from spreading further
2. The circle of boom is constricted using the Recoil winch, concentrating the oil
3. The concentrated oil is recovered at a greatly increased efficiency using exisiting skimming devices
Recoil Winch Overview:
Video produced for the James Dyson Award 2010 showing the design process of the Recoil Oil Containment Winch: