Plastic pollution is one of the biggest challenges today and increasing every year. It is estimated that 0.8 - 2.7 million tons of plastic debris end up in the ocean each year exclusively through rivers. To tackle this problem, RSL, Ecolymer, and a team of ETH students have started the Autonomous River Cleanup (ARC) project in Autumn 2019. Project and Thesis students are always welcome to join this exciting endeavor, become a part of the team, and contribute their technical skills to change the world.
Bubble curtains or bubble barriers represent a promising tool for plastic particle concentration by flow shaping. By pumping air through a perforated tube beneath the river surface, bubbles are induced at the orifices creating a vertical upward and a symmetric horizontal surface flow. This technique has proven to be promising in lifting plastic particles up to the water surface and blocking plastic debris from travelling further downstream. Advantage of such a system is that it is unlikely to harm fish and that it allows the passage of boats.
The aim of this thesis is to analyze the requirements for a bubble curtain to be installed in a real river. Furthermore, the findings of this analysis should directly be applied to design and realize such a system for testing in the Limmat. This Master Thesis will therefore include research, planning, designing, and hands-on building and evaluation of a mechanical system for tackling the plastic pollution problem. The Thesis will be carried out within the framework of the ARC project, which provides the opportunity to become part of a multidisciplinary team. Come on-board and make the world a cleaner place!
Plastic pollution is one of the biggest challenges today and increasing every year. It is estimated that 0.8 - 2.7 million tons of plastic debris end up in the ocean each year exclusively through rivers. To tackle this problem, RSL, Ecolymer, and a team of ETH students have started the Autonomous River Cleanup (ARC) project in Autumn 2019. Project and Thesis students are always welcome to join this exciting endeavor, become a part of the team, and contribute their technical skills to change the world.
Bubble curtains or bubble barriers represent a promising tool for plastic particle concentration by flow shaping. By pumping air through a perforated tube beneath the river surface, bubbles are induced at the orifices creating a vertical upward and a symmetric horizontal surface flow. This technique has proven to be promising in lifting plastic particles up to the water surface and blocking plastic debris from travelling further downstream. Advantage of such a system is that it is unlikely to harm fish and that it allows the passage of boats.
The aim of this thesis is to analyze the requirements for a bubble curtain to be installed in a real river. Furthermore, the findings of this analysis should directly be applied to design and realize such a system for testing in the Limmat. This Master Thesis will therefore include research, planning, designing, and hands-on building and evaluation of a mechanical system for tackling the plastic pollution problem. The Thesis will be carried out within the framework of the ARC project, which provides the opportunity to become part of a multidisciplinary team. Come on-board and make the world a cleaner place!
- Literature study on bubble curtains and investigation of existing techniques
- Research on river conditions and creating a system requirements list
- Planning and design of a bubble curtain prototype for real river testing
- Assembly and ideally installation of the prototype in the Limmat
- Collection of data and evaluation of the prototype’s performance
- Literature study on bubble curtains and investigation of existing techniques - Research on river conditions and creating a system requirements list - Planning and design of a bubble curtain prototype for real river testing - Assembly and ideally installation of the prototype in the Limmat - Collection of data and evaluation of the prototype’s performance
- High motivation and interest in the topic
- High motivation to be part of a multidisciplinary team and contribute to a common goal
- Methodological and goal-oriented working behavior
- Recommended: Experience in hands-on mechanical system design
- High motivation and interest in the topic - High motivation to be part of a multidisciplinary team and contribute to a common goal - Methodological and goal-oriented working behavior - Recommended: Experience in hands-on mechanical system design
Dr. Isabella Schalko (VAW, D-BAUG)
schalko@vaw.baug.ethz.ch
Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology
Dr. Isabella Schalko (VAW, D-BAUG) schalko@vaw.baug.ethz.ch Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology