Innovative Design Approach of Mechanical Skimmer for Restoration of Water-bodies from Aquatic Weeds

Emerging technologies and technological innovations define new horizons for the mankind but are adversely affecting the blanket of earth and its creatures. The deteriorating conditions of the natural environment is being taken care of through various schemes of cleanliness, new policies and general awareness among people. The presented investigation provides a solution to an environmental problem faced in the areas where rivers, canals and lakes are present. The trash and debris (human produced or natural) present in these water bodies are source of pollution and also obstruct the natural beauty of the place. The water-bodies have excessive growth of aquatic weeds which flow 1–2 cm below water surface. These aquatic weeds obstruct the flow of water and get hinged and coagulate on any solid surface which appear as floating heap of waste. Till date, these weeds are removed manually with a temporary arrangement of equipment. A solution to this is proposed in the form of design modification of frontal part of mechanical skimmer i.e., the conveyor but with an introduction of third shaft. The shaft was designed with 8 fins equidistant at an angle of 45 degrees with few assumptions made during the design of fins. The design of the shaft was validated through the static structural analysis which was performed for total deformation and Von mises stresses. The solution converged at 10 steps with a total deformation of 2.378%. The entire project aims at scavenging the trash debris and restoring the natural beauty of all water-bodies on the mother earth.