Flocculation and magnetic separation device; system for purifying marine plastic, microplastic, and ballast water having the flocculation and magnetic separation device; ship equipped with the system; and operation method of the ship

Abstract

In a conventional flocculation and magnetic separation device, it was not possible to make the device downsized because the flocs are easily broken. In addition, there was no system for the ballast water treatment that is capable of simultaneous removal of plastics and microplastics drifting in the ocean. Furthermore, there were no ships and their navigation method capable of solving the pollution problem caused by plastics and microplastics floating in the ocean. By arranging a magnetic drum that rotates in a direction opposite to the flow of a fluid containing flocs and by changing the flow path by about 180 degrees or so immediately before contacting the magnetic drum, the flocs can be removed without breaking. This method can downsize the size of the magnetic drum with the required area reduced. By combining small-sized flocculation and magnetic separation device and a device that breaks and recovers floating plastics, it is possible to remove plastics and microplastics floating in the ocean at the same time. By taking into account the status of marine plastics in the ship's planned route information, it becomes possible to remove plastics and microplastics floating on the ocean by the ship.