D&E spring semester project 2010/2011

1. DESIGN&ENGINEERING
OIL SPILL EQUIPMENT
STUDY PROJECT OF DESIGN & ENGINEERING MASTER’S PROGRAMME
2011 TALLINN

2. DESIGN&ENGINEERING
INTRODUCTION
“No product is an island. A product is
more than the product. It is a cohesive,
integrated set of experiences. Think
through all of the stages of a product or
service – from initial intentions through
final reflections, from first usage to help,
service, and maintenance. Make them all
work together seamlessly. That’s systems
thinking.”
Don Norman
This booklet is a summary development is to create on absorbent of the same
of a spring project for understanding and name, that can be used both Synergy between different fields is best achieved in group work environment, therefore nine design
studies of product design common work culture for on water and on land. These and engineering students worked as one team on the solving of the business problem of absorbent
and development MA both parties – designers products are used by ports, producer Bonusvia.
study programme. Study and engineers. The fuel terminals and gas stations.
programme of product design guiding principle of the study Also enterprises involved with
and development is based process was „learning by mining, waste conditioning
on combining the strengths doing“. Although working and rescue service.
of business, technological independently and applying
competence and user centred methods learnt previously
design. Both the technological on lectures, the students still
knowledge of the engineering had the constant support of
and product design students instructors.
as creative problem solving
of the design students were Work partner Bonusvia OÜ
applied. is a small enterprise in Baltic
region, that has specialized
In the centre of the on cleaning materials of
unified study programme oil and chemical spillage.
of design and product Bonsuvia’s products are based

3. DESIGN&ENGINEERING
TEAM AND TUTORS
Liivar Kongi Aap Piho Karl Annus
Tallinn University of Estonian Academy of Arts, Tartu Art College, Furniture
Technology, Interior Architecture, BA design and preparation, BA
product development, BA
„Project offered a great „I learnt to better express my
„Because of particular features experience on how such ideas and thoughts. It is very
of the skimmers’ application a relatively large project is important while working in a
field, this project taught me structured during different large team. You must express
about critical parameters phases, what decisions turned an idea well if you want it to
in skimmer designing. Got out to be right and what reach everybody.“
to experiment with the wrong and how to reach more
Martin Eerme Martin Pärn Sven Sõrmus
simulation of airflow in small effectively for wanted result.“
Professor, department of Professor of strategic design, Industrial designer, supervisor,
vacuum-system. Met new
mechanics, Tallinn University Estonian Academy of Arts Estonian Academy of Arts
people, their workhabits and
of Technology therefore joys and sorrows of
groupwork.
Tõnis Kalve Katrin Rekor Iiris Rausk Egert Uibo Maarja Mõtus Mihkel Joost
Estonian Academy of Arts, Estonian Academy of Arts, Estonian University of Life Estonian Academy of Arts, Estonian Academy of Arts, Tallinn University of
Interior Architecture, BA product design, BA Sciences, ergonomics branch product design, BA product design, BA Technology, product
of mechanics and technology, development, BA
„Learnt basics of design „To do, to do, to do!“ BA „Power of the group work. „Learnt from experience that
theory and methods. Can If group is well motivated to ideas may look good on paper „In the beginning of the
also understand engineers’ „I learnt to listen to one act, then the process is much but rapid prototyping will project you must find out
worldview. I can now see that another and wait for my faster than alone. People expose its true merit.“ from the client exactly what
not a single project can be turn in discussions. Learnt to from different fields can help their problems are and what
finished without them.“ communicate with people that with know-how, that is not they need.“
are nor easy to communicate reachable for others.“
with.“

4. DESIGN&ENGINEERING
MAPPING OF THE THEME
ABSORBENT AND OIL POLLUTION All these services were visited as well to get
an adequate information on what must be
Absorbent is a bibulous material, which is concluded while developing a skimmer.
used to remove a variety of liquid pollutants
- chemicals, oil, water, mazsut and other
dangerous liquids. Absorbent that is meant
for oil pollution removal has the an ability to MEETINGS WITH PARTIES
remove the stickiness of oil, which makes the
cleaning easier and quicker. 1. BONUSVIA
While speaking about oil pollution, it is Before we started to create a skimmer, there
necessary to know that different oils have was a meeting with Bonusvia representatives
different viscosity, which means that lower and „design and engineering“ workgroup,
the viscosity, the thinner and less sticky it where company’s wishes and specifications
is and harder to clean by using methods of were discussed. By the end of the first
adhesiveness. Therefore absorbent helps to meeting the following specifications and
clean oils with low viscosity, even from water, criteria became apparent:
from where it is not possible to clean it with the
principle, where oil should stick to the brush
and be removed from water. • Skimmer works with absorbent
If there is an oil pollution, then the first to be • Skimmer works on water
called is a Estonian Rescue Service, whose
responsibility is to take care of the pollution on • Suitable for small bodies of water -
water, and the next is Estonian Fund of Nature, lakes, rivers and for harbours and
whose responsibility is to take care of the shores.
nature and animals on ashore. If the pollution
occurs off the shore, the Boarder Guard Board To give us a better understanding on what
is responsible for handling it. If the pollution the workgroup was going to be working, the
reaches the shore, then the Estonian Rescue company made a brief presentation about
Service is to take action. their absorbent and how it works and how it is
produced.
Estonian Rescue Service and Estonian
Fund for Nature at field training

5. DESIGN&ENGINEERING
SURVEY OF COMPETITION
COMPANY
Petroleum
Bonus via
Versatech
&
2. ESTONIAN FUND FOR NATURE (ELF)
Passage
Skimoil
Oilsorb
Elastec
Hisorb
Lamor
Action
PRODUCT
Clear
A coordinator of volunteers made us think
about the following issues. Absorbent is easily
Abs. spreader
flying and dust like. It is harmful to people
working with it. Cleaning birds with it damages Brush skimmer
their respiratory system. Cleaning of shore Belt skimmer
is time-consuming handwork that has to
be done with shovels and brushes. Weir skimmer
Drum skimmer
Grinder skimmer
Abs. skimmer
Abs. granules
Abs. Mats
3. ESTONIAN RESCUE SERVICE Booms
Rescue service gave us next important tips. Abs. Booms
Machine should consist of standard Hand tools
details, so when necessary it would
Mat/boom kits
possible to cooperate with neighbouring
countries and combine our equipment
with their equipment. Machine must be Table shows products offered by different companies offer and
compact, light weight and multifunctional, so reflects which areas these companies are concentrated on.
it could be transported to the places that are
difficulty reachable and that it could be used in
as many different operations as possible. From the table it can be mentioned as important absorbent is a perfect product
concluded, that Lamor competitor, as it offers its for relatively easy cleaning
is a strong competitor clients brush skimmers as well of oil spills and it is known
with its wide choice of as absorbent mats, booms and that skimmer has proved its
skimmers as well as by kits. efficiency in cleaning oil spill
4 .ENVIRONMENTAL INSPECTORATE offering booms and hand from surface of the water.
tools. Compared to other As a conclusion, Bonusvia as Therefore there is opportunity
Environmental inspectorate gave us competitors, Lamor offers a absorbent and absorbent to come to the market with a
following information. They provided us different brush skimmers, belt product producer is on new idea by putting these two
with an overview of an Estonian absorbent skimmer and weir skimmer, the same position as its things work together.
manufacturer, Oilsorb OÜ, and suggested while Skimoil and Action strong competitor Oilsorb
we visited pollution clean up ship at Muuga Petroleum have specialized as Bonusvia offers granules, As a Bonusvia’s aim is
port. We also found out that there are natural only on weir and drum booms, mats and kits. If we to put skimmers work
absorbents, such as peat and sawdust. Nature skimmer manufacturing. consider Bonusvia’s objective on absorbent, there is
is self-renewable, loss of two dozen birds is to expand into the field of an opportunity to gain
not a natural disaster. We were also told that In the field of absorbent skimmer manufacturing, then momentum and get ahead
figuratively speaking the seabed around a port the market leader is Bonusvia has a very good of the competitors.
is covered with asphalt. Oilsorb with its absorbent chance to become the market
granules, mats, booms leader in absorbent field
and kits. Clear Passage by entering into the field of
Products could also be skimmers. It is well known that

6. DESIGN&ENGINEERING
PREMISES
PREMISES
Considering Bonusvia’s wishes and conditions, • Can be combined with other
information provided by parties involved with machines and components to
pollution and experiences of client’s who use facilitate cooperating with other
such products, the following premises for task rescue services
were concluded:
• Weights less than 50 kg per person,
meant for 2 people
• Skimmer works with absorbent
• Wide scattering of absorbent can be
• Suitable for work on small bodies of avoided
water — rivers, lakes, ports, shores
• Autonomous, easy to clean
• Small dimensions to facilitate
transportation to places that are
difficult to reach

7. DESIGN&ENGINEERING
PROCESS
TESTS MORPHOLOGICAL DEVELOPING OF GROUPING OF IDEAS
MATRIX CONCEPTS
Before starting the product development The first step was to put Next step for each team As we had many ideas in
process, the team carried out different tests together a morphological member was to outline the conception creation
with Bonusvia absorbent in order to find out matrix, where machine was 3–5 ideas while taking phase after composing the
the exact characteristics and possible future divided into details (absorbent different solutions from morphological matrix, the
opportunities for following work. Results of crusher, spreader, collector, the morphological matrix. next logical step was to
these tests were following: energy source etc.) and for Ideas had to be logical and aggregate them together.
every detail there were written thought out. That was the The product groups of similar
down all possible solutions. All part of process where many products emerged. They
• The absorbent has to be put directly to the group member participated conceptions were created were belt skimmers, buoys,
polluted area. in it. Such a approach helps (some of them overlapped) karakatitsas (self-made vehicles
to create an overview of the and during discussions it for driving on thin ice),
• After saturation absorbent smears. possible solutions. became apparent which catamarans, buoys, „vacuum
• It is important to have absorbent granules details and principles were cleaner“, shore connected
in optimal size for maximum saturation. favoured and where potential system.
was seen.
• Absorbent loses its effectiveness when
filled with water.

8. DESIGN&ENGINEERING
CONCEPT
RETHINKING & NEW
POSSIBILITIES
Absorbent cleaning traditionally consist of Questions raised in rethinking the problem:
granulating, spreading and collecting the How we can shorten the process of
oil filled absorbent. Granulated absorbent
absorbent based cleaning?
though is dusty and flyable, not a comfortable
working environment. Also, the need of
granulation makes the process of cleaning How can we built an absorbent
EVALUATION MATRIX STRONGER PRINCIPLES REFINED PREMISES a 3 step process: granulating, spreading, based cleaning system without the
collecting.
need of granulation and causing
Each solution was evaluated After finding out the product Considering previous the dusty working environment?
within the group according ideas, people were for the first brainstorming,
to the evaluation matrix. time divided into workgroups evaluations and tests, the
According to the matrix the and started the more in team members found that
criteria for evaluating the depth work. Product ideas initial grand ideas were
conception were: mobility were tested with simple not quite as powerful as
of the device, efficiency, user models, rapid prototyping they had thought.
friendliness, manpower, method. What were the problems in
overhead expenses, easy analyzing previous thoughts,
usability, safety, reliability, By the end of this process ideas and principles?
dimensions, weight, ect. many ideas were worked NEW WORK CONCEPT,
through, including catamaran, KEBAB PRINCIPLE
• Too many machines
Evaluation brought our karaktitsa and buoy. Main
work ideas, that received collection ideas were bristles • High price Absorbent is not crushed
most points. Better detailed and tapes from fabric that • Problems with weight and and in is placed into machine
solutions were screened out and these did not were most dimensions on the shape of a rollers.
and table helped to find the successful in tests. • Lengthy work process Absorbent is not crushed
solutions with better potential but in the device as roll.
• Ideas were not working
and smart specifics. It was difficult to integrate Absorbent’s roller spins across
crushing, spreading and • Spreading of absorbent the water. Surface that has
collecting into function one were too dusty absorbed the oil is cut off and
skimmer while considering collected.
weight limits and need for Since the ideas that emerged
compact system that were form the process were
provided by rescue services. unsuitable for the initial task
This approach had also because of the lengthy work
transportation difficulties. process and dustiness of
Final solution was nowhere to absorbent, we had to take an
be seen. u-turn and start to think out of
the box.

9. DESIGN&ENGINEERING
SKIMMER
PROCESS
In order to find a solution for different functions
a morphological matrix was created, where was
set a task about what this machine’s capability
has to be. Brainstorming brought out plenty of
ideas about each function. Combining of these
ideas gave many different solutions.

10. DESIGN&ENGINEERING
CYCLON
COLLECTION TANK VACUUM PUMP
ABSORBENT ROLL
FINAL SOLUTION SATURATED ABSORBENT
MUZZLE
FLOATS
ABSORBENT ROLL
Result is a catamaran-type skimmer, Length of the machine is 1,25 m and width is
with working principle that an 1 m, so it fits into special transportation that is
absorbent roll that is partially in the used by rescue services.
water rotates around its axis, the part in
the water absorbs the oil spill and oil saturated
coating is cut off in every rotation and
vacuumed into collection tank.

11. DESIGN&ENGINEERING
HANDLE
„Peeled“ saturated absorbent is sucked of the projected collection tank is 50 litres.
from the blade into collection tank by Rollers attached at the front of the tank allow
vacuum pump. Muzzle of the suction system easy mounting and transportation on land.
is projected so that for cross-section of the
muzzle airflow speed would be as even as Skimmer is powered by two Li-Ion battery that
possible. Collection tank has conical chamber are placed in the middle of the floats. Batteries
FLOATS
or cyclon. Vacuum pump creates cyclon that are estimated to power until absorbent bar
by centrifugal force cleans the air from solid is completely worn off (90 minutes) and INSIDE FLOATS:
LI ION BATTERY
matter that is thrown into collection tank. getting back to the land. In the back of both ENGINE
floats there are propellers that give good PROPELLERS
In front of the vacuum pump there is a filter manoeuvreability. In addition to propeller
that prevents small matters to get into the engine, the vacuum pump and engines to
pump. Bar’s initial diameter is 380 mm. regulate and rotate absorbent bar work from
As the diameter lessens, the bar that is the batteries.
held between two „claws“ is let lower by
electrical engine, so that the bar stays Present solution offers skimmer driving by
constantly in the same depth of water. radio transmitter. For further development
Blade moves in sync with the „claws“ and we think of making skimmer autonomous
maintains the same cutting depth. Based on machine, that can map the spillage and remove
the absorption volume of the bar, that volume it by itself.
SKIMMER
KIMMER
CYCLON
AIRFLOW SPEED
PAAK
COLLECTION TANK
ROLLERS

12. DESIGN&ENGINEERING
BACKGROUND
HAND TOOLS
As study group was encouraged in first offering an absorbent based skimmer for low From a meeting with the ELF volunteers from the boat with manual tools was their
stage of contextual analysis look the waters that were effective in cleaning viscous responsible of shoreline and bird cleaning, the regular practice. Question that was raised:
field of oil cleaning in wide perspective. oil, currently an less developed area in oil study group learned about the difficulties of How to ease the manual shoreline
From contextual understanding also from the cleaning. As skimmer was a meant to be shoreline cleaning, which is a time consuming cleaning using absorbent?
market analysis settled out that there is an sold with the base product absorbent, manual labour. Study group visited Muuga
opportunity to widen the market of Bonusvia study group asked what other Port and studied their oil cleaning practices.
absorbent company. First, company was opportunities can be found to increase In their work, smaller oil spills are also not
looking for ways to expand their business by Bonusvia’s market share? collected with large skimmers but working
Study group visited Muuga Port and studied their oil cleaning practices. Testing in natural outdoor environment at Paljasaare beach.

13. DESIGN&ENGINEERING
PROCESS
Hand tools working group was formed of Real environmental testing revealed the 3. Brush and absorbent in granules
three members: Karl Annus, Katrin Rekor and weak sides of the absorbent cleaning usage: industrial environment
Maarja Mõtus. They focused on prototyping bars and previously believed winning
and testing in natural outdoor environment at solution failed. What was learned from the testing: (similar environment): good results
Muuga Port and at Paljasaare beach, as well as process was, that a prototype should first be on cleanliness, approved concept
in studio space. prototyped itself too. Sooner the better, decision: develop special tool by
thus fast prototyping before prototyping combining brush and mop ( 1. quick and
is a must to confirm the workability of rough collecting 2. surface cleaning and final
the idea. collecting)
1. Absorbent cleaning bars 2. Absorbent cleaning bars 4. Landing net and absorbent granules 5. Landing net and absorbent granules
usage: shoreline usage: industrial environment usage: shoreline, on sea usage: shoreline, on sea
testing in real environment, failed concept testing (similar environment): failed testing in real environment. possible but testing in Muuga port with 13 m/sec wind.
decision: failed due environment, find concept. poor results in cleanliness, time further testing needed. Failed in strong wind and heavy waves.
alternative market consuming decision: Suitable in inland waters and board
decision: develop further
decision: stop concept, move back to area.
granule absorbent

14. DESIGN&ENGINEERING
FINAL SOLUTION
BRUSHMOP AND SHOVEL ABSORBENT HANDNET
AND CONTAINER
Brushmop is a tool for Brushmop makes cleaning Negative side effect is the
industrial environment with absorbent less dusty. absorbent dust. Current Handnet is a tool for waters, where due to shorelines.
to car repairs, machinery One can collect most of the absorbent granules are not oil spill collection, the small pollution scale Handnet consists of the light
industry ect. absorbed oil fast with the mop so much granules in their counteracting in low manual work is more cost- aluminium handle and a
side. Then, for a second step, form, but rather a powder. effective than skimmer changeable polyethylene net.
cleaner can collect what was For further development machine transport and Operateable in low water from
left in the floor cracks with the absorbent granules installing. foot or possibly from boat.
brush side. could be made more
comfortable for workers Absorbent net enables to Used and oily absorbent can
In comparison with the first respiratory systems. collect low viscose oil spills be collected to the container.
concept idea of absorbent with absorbent. In comparison Handnet and container form
bars, this offers much faster with skimmers, handnet is a toolkit, handnet is fixable on
cleaning, and collects oil from also usable in stone covered the side of the container.
floor cracks.

15. DESIGN&ENGINEERING
Writing and Editing:
Mihkel Joost
Maarja Mõtus
Iiris Rausk
Translation:
Tea Tamm
Design:
Maarja Mõtus
Photography: D&E students and cortesy of partners
The views expressed in booklet are those of the authors.
DESIGN&ENGINEERING STUDIO E-MAIL: INFO@DESIGN-ENGINEERING.EE
AKADEEMIA TEE 21-D, ROOM 305 WEBSITE: WWW.DESIGN-ENGINEERING.EE
12618 TALLINN