International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 13 Issue: 08 | Aug 2026
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
Oil Spillage Detection and Recovery System Pratik Sawant1, Aniruddha Phadte2, Ghanashri Nipanikar3, Melison Vaz4, Dr. Sonali Pandit5 1,2,3,4 Bachelor of Engineering Student, 5Associate Professor
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Goa college of Engineering, Farmagudi, Ponda-Goa, India ---------------------------------------------------------------------***--------------------------------------------------------------------2. METHODOLOGY Abstract - Oil spillages in marine environments pose severe ecological and economic threats, while traditional cleanup methods remain slow, labor-intensive, and costly. This paper presents an automated, low-cost, 3D-printed robotic boat integrated with IoT monitoring for localized oil spill detection and recovery. The system utilizes plastic oleophilic disks coupled with high-torque DC motors to selectively adhere and lift surface oil into an onboard storage tank. An intelligent onboard controller activates the skimming mechanism upon oil detection, navigates autonomously via obstacle avoidance, and monitors tank capacity to prevent overflow. Real-time system telemetry and recovery progress are managed remotely using the Blynk IoT platform. The proposed prototype offers a scalable, efficient solution for hazardous spill management in harbors and industrial waterways.
The project methodology is divided into two primary phases: Phase I: Foundational Research and Domain Analysis. The initial phase involved a comprehensive literature review focusing on modern oil detection and recovery technologies, Machine Learning integration, and IoT-based environmental monitoring systems. Relevant research papers were analyzed to evaluate optimal sensor configurations and hardwaresoftware communication protocols. Additionally, historical real-world oil spill case studies were examined to identify operational risks, define core functional requirements, and establish the system design architecture.
Keywords: 3D-printed Boat, Oleophilic Disk Skimming, Obstacle Avoidance System, IoT.
Phase II: System Implementation and Experimental Validation.
1. INTRODUCTION
The second phase focused on prototype construction, software integration, and experimental testing. An ESP32 microcontroller served as the primary control unit, interfacing with an IR sensor and camera module for oil detection, alongside HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensors for obstacle avoidance and tank volume monitoring. The software architecture structured sensor data and transmitted live telemetry over Wi-Fi to a Blynk IoT dashboard for real-time remote monitoring. Upon oil detection, the system automatically triggers the skimmer and propulsion motors to initiate recovery. Controlled aquatic field trials using engine oil validated the prototype, demonstrating low detection latency, accurate spill identification, and reliable recovery performance.
Global petroleum consumption continues to rise, with major economies relying heavily on oil transport via maritime and offshore infrastructure. Consequently, oil spills frequently occur due to tanker leakages, pipeline ruptures, natural disasters, illegal operational discharges, and infrastructure sabotage. When released into aquatic environments, lowerdensity oil rapidly forms thin surface sheens that disrupt marine ecosystems. Spills severely impact wildlife by destroying the thermal insulation of marine mammals, causing hypothermia in birds, disrupting fish reproduction, and blocking sunlight necessary for phytoplankton photosynthesis. Additionally, bioaccumulation of toxins threatens seafood safety and human health.
3. DESIGN 3.1 BLOCK DIAGRAM
Conventional spill response relies on physical containment (booms and skimmers), in-situ burning, and chemical dispersants. Among mechanical methods, skimmers offer an efficient, eco-friendly solution for direct oil removal. This paper presents an automated disc-type skimmer utilizing oleophilic plastic rotating discs to efficiently collect and separate surface oil without chemical contamination, providing a scalable and cost-effective solution for environmental protection.
© 2026, IRJET
|
Impact Factor value: 8.315
The proposed oil spill skimmer boat operates on a centralized control architecture powered by an ESP32-S3 microcontroller, which coordinates data processing, sensor inputs, and motor driving logic. An ultrasonic sensor provides obstacle detection for autonomous navigation, while a camera module and an IR sensor handle live visual monitoring and surface liquid classification based on light reflection properties. Actuation is managed via an L298N motor driver controlling the DC gear motor for skimming operations and a Cytron MDD3A driver controlling dual DC motors for boat propulsion. The system is powered by a central power supply unit and interfaces wirelessly with the
|
ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal
|
Page 282