A bubble curtain: block—redirect—collect
A curtain that blocks and redirects floating waste to a collection point has been installed in Paris, in the Canal de l’Ourcq, helping to tackle physical pollution more effectively.
Keeping our waterways clean
Ocean currents carry sediment, silt, organic matter, and—above all—a large volume of synthetic waste. Without human action, trash flows to the sea, where it becomes much harder, or impossible, to trap effectively. It also ends up strewn along river banks, requiring long, expensive efforts to clean up.
However, a closer look reveals that ocean currents are regular and show limited variation. This means that the inflow points for large quantities of waste can be identified.
The idea is to create a collection point using technology to block the flow of waste and redirect it to the previously identified area, without altering the water’s flow or harming local ecosystems.
What solutions exist?
The Searial Cleaners and its partner Canadian Pond have an innovative solution: Invisibubble
Invisibubble is a bubble curtain which uses an air compressor to create bubbles, redirecting debris and trapping it in a dedicated area.
It doesn’t disrupt surrounding plant or animal life and can even provide protection against harmful items.
After several weeks in the water, trash sinks to the bottom of the river, where it is rolled along by the current. A bubble curtain positioned diagonally redirects it towards the bank. As the bubbles rise to the surface, they also create a vertical current that does not affect boats or marine life of any size.
Invisibubble is a powerful complement to other solutions, such as Collec’Thor, as the bubble curtain creates a current that redirects waste to the fixed collection point.