AFTI: The Permanent Boom Specialists

Fast water booming has always been a difficult operation. The hydraulic phenomenon of entrainment does not make life easy for the oil spill responder. It has been shown long ago that oil wants to escape - entrain - from under a boom at current speeds of about 1 knot or more. Recent research conducted by AFTI on behalf of a major oil company at the OHMSETT facility has shown that by using simple technology to change the current flow, the onset of entrainment can be delayed significantly - to as high as 2.5 knots.

Testing continues on several configurations of the conventional GlobeBoom® using the enhancements with the goal of achieving a gross loss tow speed of approximately 3 knots. This improvement can dramatically increase the recovery rates of conventional boom sweep systems for activities such as sea skimming and in-situ burning.

AFTI has been involved in fire boom development work since 1985. The patented PyroBoom® design has been shown to perform among the best of conventional fire-proof booms in a variety of independent test over the last 3 years. PyroBoom® is simply a combination of specifically selected material consolidated into a patented design. Other products, which are modifications of conventional boom designs and protected by materials which are not designed for use in the marine environment, were not able to contain burning oil under wave and current loads.


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