Design Summary & Analysis Draft #4

Introducing the Seabin Project - Summary Analysis Draft # 4

MEC1281

Summary Analysis

Draft #4 

By Lek Jia Yu

5th April 2021

In the article "Introducing the Seabin Project" (2018), Jateff highlights the benefits of Seabin as a front-line approach to countering plastic pollution by capturing surface debris near land before it escapes into the ocean. The author mentions that many sea creatures are harmed due to the eight million tons of pollutant, mostly plastic, added to the ocean yearly. The author explains that the shore-powered Seabin uses a motor to create a whirlpool, filtering the debris from water into a catch-bag and ejecting clean water back out. The Seabin is also equipped with oil absorbent pads that clean surface water of oil containments. However, the author mentions that the Seabin needs to be placed strategically for maximised collection due to being unable to capture debris from a distance. The author claims that the Seabin is still developing a "zero-carbon power option" using solar panels and a "recycled material catch-bag." 

While Jateff describes Seabin as one of the solutions to plastic pollution to the sea, the three limitations, the catch-bag's size, the water pump’s weak flow rate and the Seabin's overall design as a skimmer renders it ineffective in controlling the plastic flow to the ocean.

One of the limitations that render Seabin ineffective is the size of the catch-bag. The Seabin's catch-bag can not collect plastics larger than a 20-litre jerry can.  According to Akester (2019), large plastic such as styrofoam boxes and the buoy is commonly used for maritime purposes and therefore is a direct potential source of plastic pollution to the ocean. When these large plastics are left uncollected, they break down into smaller pieces of plastics and eventually reduced to microplastics particles (Plastic Action Centre, n.d.) that will escape into the ocean, harming the marine creatures. Hence, the catch-bag size makes the Seabin less than effective in controlling the plastic flow to the ocean.

Another limitation of the Seabin is the water pump's weak flow rate. The water pump displaces the water inside the Seabin, creating a suction at the edge that pulls garbage inside it (Haeberlin, 2010). However, due to the water pump's weak flow rate, it can not create a stronger suction to attract garbage from a distance and instead relies on the water current and the wind to push the debris ("The Seabin floating rubbish bin," n.d. ). If there isn't a calm wind and water current, this will significantly affect Seabin's performance. Additionally, large plastics that are up against the Seabin can potentially be swept away due to the weak suction. When these plastics are swept away, they are likely to escape into the ocean, hence rendering the Seabin's ineffective in controlling plastic flow to the open sea.

Lastly, the Seabin overall design as a skimmer limits trash collection to floating plastics only. The article "The Seabin" (n.d.), states that the Seabin unit acts as a floating garbage bin skimming the water's surface. This is a major flaw for a plastic collecting device as plastics that are denser than seawater or have lost their air bubbles due to being agitated by the waves, such as plastic bottles and cups, will sink and never be seen again (Johnson, 2012). When these plastic sinks, it is unlikely to be sucked into the Seabin. 

In conclusion, maximising the collection of both large plastics as well as microplastic by improving and modifying Seabin's design is essential to curb the plastic flow to the ocean.

Reference list:

Akester, H. (2019). How big a problem is ocean polystyrene pollution. https://phys.org/news/2019-12-big-problem-ocean-polystyrene-pollution.html#:~:text=Laboratory%20research%20suggests%20that%20foamed,such%20as%20fish%20or%20squid. 

Haeberlin, C. (2019). The Seabin Project. https://hydroheart.org/2019/01/19/seabin-project/

Jateff, E. (2018). Introducing the Seabin Project. www.sea.museum/2018/06/08/introducing-the-seabin-project 

Johnson, H. (2012). Plastics in the Ocean: How Dense Are We?. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/plastics-in-the-ocean-how-dense-are-we/ 

Plastic Action Centre. (n.d.). Microplastics are being found in oceans and waterways all around the world. https://plasticactioncentre.ca/directory/how-plastics-breakdown-into microplastics/#:~:text=Plastic%20waste%20in%20water%20systems,eventually%20reduced%20to%20microplastic%20particles.

The Seabin floating rubbish bin collecting waste from the water surface. (n.d.). http://www.ideassonline.org/public/pdf/SeabinProject-ENG.pdf 

The Seabin. (n.d.). https://plasticsmartcities.org/products/the-seabin