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How Kevin Costner's oil filtration tech works
Yesterday, we got the announcement. Today, we get the details.
Fri, May 14 2010 at 1:46 PM
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Photo: ZUMA Press
At a press conference yesterday in Louisiana, Kevin Costner became the first, and most unlikely, celebrity to step up and announce his support for helping residents affected by the Gulf oil spill. But Costner was bringing more than just star power to the rescue. Along with his brother Dan, the two showed off the oil-filtration technology that they've been working on for more than 15 years.
Turns out Costner has a passion for more than just Hollywood. And lucky for us, that investment could help deal with the oil spill crisis.
Unfortunately, little was known about how the new invention would work — but a demonstration was promised later. Here's what I found after a little digging, courtesy of local Gulf station WDSU:
The machine works on the principle of centrifugal force. In this case, diesel fuel and water enter the machine together and are jettisoned separately, with water on one side and diesel on the other. The machine will clean the water up to 97 percent, officials with Ocean Therapy Solutions said.
OK, so that's a very basic explanation. There's obviously a bit more at work here, but for patent reasons (assumingly), the Costner brothers ain't talking. The cool thing is that the jump to 100 percent filtration is within reach — something one of the engineers said will allow you to drink the water being filtered from the machine.
Sure, but you first.
"I just am really happy that this has come to the light of day," Costner told the station. "I'm very sad about why it is, but this is why it was developed, and like anything that we all face as a group, we face it together."
The company offers five different machines that work from 5 gallons a minute to 200 gallons a minute — making the high-end version capable of doing some serious filtration near the source of the spill. It's no wonder that BP is working with locals to get one of the demo units out in the water.
For his part, Costner said he's invested some $26 million to make the technology a reality. Should it help to filter even a small percentage of oil in the water, you can bet his gamble will pay off substantially.
And then we won't be making anymore "Waterworld" jokes. Turns out the guy may actually be able to save the oceans after all.
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Kevin is great in the world of make-believe and movie magic, going to the real world EVTN has a oil and water seperator that is industry proven to work 17 times better, wake up and clean up the Gulf of Mexico before it is completely dead
A much belated but, nonetheless, STILL pertinent rhetorical question. How can processes such as the one you mentioned be "17 times better" than another process that is 97% effective?
Further, a process that in its final stage was developed to at 99% efficacy. The water comes out as something else, a highbred form of super-water? The oil comes out as some exotic interstellar propulsion fuel?
I agree that something must be done sooner rather than later. I don't think most people grasp the fact that one large oil spill can have devastating effects on a global scale. I have heard of a new system which uses text marketing in addition to common media outlets to spread the word of impending disasters (both natural and man made).
I really hope it works. At least corporations could learn something from all of your team.
Mr. Costner, I am a retired petroleum engineer and I am certain that the burnt-orange substance floating on the water is a pretty tight emulsion. (oil and water) I am certain you will need demulsifers to help break the emulsion. They are on the market and used in the industry for just this purpose. Best of luck.
Mr. Costner, I am a retired petroleum engineer and I am certain that the burnt-orange substance floating on the water is a pretty tight emulsion. (oil and water) I am certain you will need demulsifers to help break the emulsion. They are on the market and used in the industry for just this purpose. Best of luck.
Mr. Costner, I am a retired petroleum engineer and I am certain that the burnt-orange substance floating on the water is a pretty tight emulsion. (oil and water) I am certain you will need demulsifers to help break the emulsion. They are on the market and used in the industry for just this purpose. Best of luck.
I am amazed that when an actors name is mentioned about something serious, there is a snicker and grin as though they are not to be taken seriously. You obviously did not give up your citizenship, intellect, or entrepreneurial spirit. Go get em Kevin(aka Mr. Costner). God bless your endeavour.
FFS. Centrifuging oil/water has been around for many years. "Invention" ? "Patent" ? Not likely. And there is a substantial difference in separating DIESEL fuel from water, and separating thick heavy parafinnic waxy and partially emulsified/invert emulsified oil and water. Costner, you're an idiot.
I worked with centrifuges on the Air Research skimmer design for the Santa Barbara spill in 1969. Sadly the unit quickly choked on debris, tar and oily lumps of carbonized. These unit are required as oil purifiers on board ocean going ships to clean the diesel oil for the engines (it has to be very clean to pass through the injectors) and to clean the main engine lubricating oil of the carbon formed when diesel is burned.
Use a y fitting with a movable gate which closes one port and opens the other for recapture.Have a second discharge gate to allow a backwash for hot solution to de-ice.Use hydrolic motors to drive the gates.DEK
Use a y fitting with a movable gate which closes one port and opens the other for recapture.Have a second discharge gate to allow a backwash for hot solution to de-ice.Use hydrolic motors to drive the gates.DEK
www.oilskim.com
and i'm sure you've already heard about this:
HUMAN HAIR MATS & OYSTER MUSHROOMS CLEAN UP OIL SPILLS ARTICLE:
www.inhabitat.com/2007/11/19/cleaning-up-an-oil-spill-with-hair-and-mush...
DEMO: http://upcoming.current.com/items/1385912_file-this-under-things-we-love...
HOW TO GET HAIR MATS & BOOMS FOR A CLEAN UP: email: team@matteroftrust.org
HOW TO HELP COLLECT HAIR FOR HAIR MATS:
http://www.matteroftrust.org/programs/hairmatsinfo.html
The entrepeneur spirit is what makes the USA the best country in the world.
If this works, Costner himself will make 26 Billion off of his 26 Million investment. And, I hope he does!!!
Not to mention the numerous manufacturing jobs, trucking jobs, etc. that will be created.
It takes money to allow us to do better things, without money we will go back to burning all the tree's for fire to cook and heat our caves.
Hurry, and get them going,thats what world economy,ecology needs are capability like these.Make them larger also and make them many.
Really, tho, it is so refreshing to see someone use their $$$ for good and not evil - save our Gulf and become a bigger hero than any you've played onscreen!!
This whole problem is disgusting. I hope people that drive cars think about this every time they get in the car to go somewhere. YOU, driving Americans, did this. Not BP, Not Texas, Not Obama, Not the Middle East, Not China, YOU.
-Bike more.
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