Hydrotechnik Lubeck GmbH products

The Big Bubble Curtain (BBC), or in German ‘Großer Blasenschleier’ (GBS), is a compressed air system for sound absorption in water. We have developed this system in line with respective conditions and with subsidies from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear safety (BMUB). The system serves primarily to provide sound protection during offshore pile driving and offshore munitions blasting. The Big Bubble Curtain especially protects porpoises and seals which use ultrasound as orientation in water. The limit specified by the BMUB of 160 dB sound exposure level (SEL) applies in German waters of the North and Baltic Sea, measured at a distance of 750 m from the sound source.

The Big Bubble Curtain is extremely flexible and designed for pile driving in offshore areas. A hose system is installed temporarily on the sea bed. This is done before or after the pile driving platform has assumed its position. A special vessel is part of the system. There are large hose reels on board. The stern of the ship is designed specifically for the launch and recovery of the Big Bubble Curtain. If necessary the ship combines pressure air compressors with the hose ends and forces air up to 10 bar in the tube system. The position of the pipes on the seabed is variable and depends primarily on the local conditions and the maximum effectiveness of noise control function.

During the building of the FINO 3 research platform, a system to protect against underwater noise pollution was needed for the first time. The engineers from HYDROTECHNIK LÜBECK took on this challenge and developed the Big Bubble Curtain.

The pneumatic oil barrier or compressed air barrier is a plant for waters or port facilities. It creates a barrier for anything floating on the water, holding back especially floating oil and flotsam. For more than 50 years, it is used in locks, ports, rivers, canals or for the protection of industrial plants. In a system permanently installed hoses or pipes with special nozzle openings are anchored to the seabed. In case of alarm, compressed air generated in a compressed air system is pushed into the nozzle tube. The air exiting the nozzle produces a vertical flow, which converts to the water surface in two horizontal currents in the water. These horizontal currents keep the water surface floating oil and other substances driving back. Boats or ships can pass the barrier freely. A permanently installed compressed air system is ready for use in just a few minutes after activation. This system can operate without additional work force and can also be used in case of fire.

The floating oil-containment boom is the oldest method of combating oil spills on water. It consists of a floating buoy, to which a skirt made of absorbent material is attached. The skirt contains the oil and the buoy takes care of the flotation. Using modern materials and depending on the requirements of the specific case, we produce every type of these floating oil-containment booms.

A floating baffle is used in water construction and serves as a light material separator. It holds back any substance, floating on the water surface, and adapts to different water levels. It is useful in all applications where a firmly embedding to the embankment construction is possible. Two embankment walls, which are usually made of sturdy wooden planks or concrete walls, are connected by floating plastic elements. These are running in flexibly rails to fit at the respective water levels. If the water level rises, the passage is extended below the barrier. Water can flow in a uniformly low speed. Oil or floating debris will be retained on the surface by floating booms.

Deep-water aeration is used when the deeper water, the hypolimnion, in a standing body of water is not adequately supplied with oxygen. This layer of water is relatively unaffected by the influence of the surface. The thermocline, which lies above it, separates it from the surface area, the epilimnion, of a standing body of water. The epilimnion is lit by daylight, is relatively warm and is well aerated.

Several important components make up a complete set of oil-control equipment. We deliver full packages for initial use. These are individually assembled and are adjusted to the particular requirements of the deployment location.

The containment capacity of an oil-containment barrier is usually exhausted quickly. For this reason, the way in which the oil will be removed from the water’s surface should be kept in mind from the beginning of every oil-containment operation.

An air-bubble installation offers effective and long-term protection from floating debris. Even at varying water levels, it ensures the proper functioning of a lock.