Bubble Tubing ® Has a wide range of commercial applications.
The Bubble Tubing® diffuser creates millions of bubbles as small as 500 Microns (depending upon pressure) dispersed over the length of Bubble Tubing®. These tiny bubbles rise slowly to the surface in a dense wall. This wall of slowly rising bubbles has an enormous potential to protect marine life, shoreline environments and fish habitat. Bubble Tubing can be employed in a number of different ways in order to serve a role in Bio-Augmentation and rehabilitation, DeIcing Marine Structures, or in a protection and containment capacity.
Air Bubble Curtains are also known as:
Air barrier – Air curtain – Bubble barrier – Bubble curtain – Pneumatic barrier – Pneumatic boom – Barrier of air bubbles – Curtain of air bubbles – Air bubble curtains – Bubble wall – Bubble screen.
How do Bubble Curtains Function?
The interest in the effects of air bubble curtains in water has been studied in detail during the Second World War to block sound waves created by submarines. The rate of sound wave dispersion and the propagation of energy densities that would typically be observed have been demonstrated to be reduced by underwater air bubble curtains.
Effectiveness depends mainly on the frequency of the waves, the volume of air injected, the size of the bubbles, the number of air diffuser lines used and the distance between the bubbles emanating from the air diffuser lines.
The Operating Principle of a Curtain of Bubbles
They create a wall of dense, flexible bubbles creating a barrier that rises continuously from the bottom to the surface.
This wall of air bubbles is created using a suitably adapted compressor and capable of operating continuously according to the estimated air volume. These bubble curtains serve as a buffer zone to reduce the impact of shock waves, sound waves and frequencies of these shock events dispersing in water from a source (e.g. seabed pile driving).
The injected air flow must be sufficient to form a very dense and efficient bubble curtain. Depending on the project, we suggest the installation of double or triple bubble curtains to maximize the number of bubbles present. In the case of a double or triple curtain, the lines of Bubble Tubing® diffusers are installed parallel to one another at a distance unique to each project.
The reasoning is that each layer of bubble tubing contributes to the reduction of the total impact, so by incorporating several layers, it is possible to increase protection in the aquatic environment.
Independent studies are underway to determine the specific capacity of Bubble Tubing ®. The market for noise attenuation and environmental protection by two-phase barriers is evolving.
Common sources of high-pressure noise in waters:
- De-Mining Operations (Naval Mine Clearance) and Underwater Blasting.
- Seismic Surveys.
- Pile Driving.
- Drilling for the installation of offshore wind turbines.
- Retraction of Marine Structures.
- Oil Prospecting activities (seismic).
- Military activity using seismic or sonar equipment.
- Shoreline development.
Containing Oil Spills
Used as a containment measure in calm waters.
Compressed air released from a submerged, perforated tubing creates a bubble air barrier. The rising curtain of bubbles produces an up-swelling on the water surface above the tubing. Trapped behind the raised surface, formed by this up-swelling, are the floating oil molecules. The air barrier (air curtain) represents an alternate method of containing or confining spilled oils within a given area, allowing time for decontamination.
Litter Floating Debris Control
Litter Control in Rivers as seen used in The Great Bubble Barrier® (see images featuring The Great Bubble Barrier® by Peter de Jong AP/Guardian/CBCNews) This European endeavour can be viewed at www.thegreatbubblebarrier.com
Fish Guiding and Containment Systems in Waterways such as Rivers The increasing demand for marine life conservation is worldwide.
Submerged air bubble curtains create a linear screen that protects, deflects, herds & guides particular fish species away from the pile, water intakes, hydroelectric dams and contaminated areas.
In Denmark, RS Coast Care has tested Air Bubble Curtains using Bubble Tubing ® to protect beaches, harbours and coastlines against seaweed, algae, jellyfish and other floating debris.
More companies are specialising in the development of barrier protection systems for small fish such as salmon smolts that migrate between rivers and the sea.
These companies contact us to obtain our Bubble Tubing ® to integrate into their existing guiding systems that function with various components. Bubble Tubing ® creates a bubble curtain deterring fish from swimming past the bubble wall.
By installing Bubble Tubing ® in a strategic location of a dam, a hydrant or other engineering structure, we can redirect fish to ladders designed for them. Other components such as strobe lights and sounds at low frequencies can be added to redirect the fish to safe places, or to prevent them from passing into water intakes that can be fatal.
Air bubble curtains created with Bubble Tubing ® that is already used as a fish screening systems to stop jellyfish from entering and blocking water intake pipes in the United Kingdom.
Motion Control and Direction of Floating Debris
A growing problem for motel chains and other tourism businesses living along shoreline regions is a seaweed called Sargassum. This seaweed is pushed by waves on the beaches and can sometimes accumulate up to 3 meters thick! The daily costs associated with the machinery and the employees required for to the collection of the seaweed is staggering.
The growing presence of Sargassum (and indeed many other species of aquatic plants or algae) in the sea is due to the increased presence of nutrients in the water as well as to temperature, sea current and wind changes. The tourism industry is affected by this problem in areas such as the island of Saint-Martin, Guadeloupe, Mexico and Martinique. Other debris may be found floating on the water surface such as bottles, plastic bags and microplastics. Installing bubble curtains contains the floating debris and algae for easier retrieval and before they arrive on the coast. Bubble curtains can prevent floating debris from entering channels or create a current that can repel algae and debris to a less sensitive area.
Silt Barrier and Turbidity Curtains used to contain Sediments in Suspension.
Bubble curtains also meet the requirement for containing silt and turbidity for in-situ work where sediment containment barriers are mandatory. When operating in a stream, river or lake, marine construction and dredging companies are required to install a physical curtain called a floating turbidity barrier.
These obstacles do not allow free passage for boats and work equipment. Whereas a bubble curtain does both. It allows movement of boats and equipment over the barrier while retaining sediment and other suspended matter. In this case, it is installed from the stream, river or lake bed will mitigate the migration of silt and other suspended sediments through the water column.
Our Bubble Tubing ® has proven to be very useful as a silt barrier and turbidity curtain during these applications. Also, in this article, research is currently underway to validate the effectiveness of bubble curtains in altering stream dynamics.
These are only a few of the applications for Bubble Curtains. We look forward to working closely with engineers, scientists and water managers to find bubble curtain applications to protect wildlife and the environment so projects can move forward in an environmentally responsible manner.
Who may need to create a Bubble Barrier?
Demand for bubble curtains is booming. Who are our customers?
- Port authorities
- Shipbuilding companies
- Acoustic reduction specialists
- Environmental firms
- Hotel chains
- Oil platform managers
- Companies specializing in dredging
- Marine construction companies
- Hydroelectric dam managers
- Companies specializing in fish barriers
- Naval bases
- Environmental engineering firms
- Cities to recover waste in canals and rivers
- Floating waste recovery companies
- Environmental groups and citizen associations
DeiceAir also features Industrial Diffusers.
DeiceAir. Water Treatment and Water Ecology Experts.
