Modular auger design to prevent clogging in suction

Abstract

A mechanical design was conducted for a modular auger system that reduces the risk of clogging in suction piping meant to process sargassum seaweed. The auger supports a slurry pump-based system being designed to address sargassum blooms adversely affecting beaches in the Caribbean. By reducing clogging, the auger will prevent damage to the pump and reductions in productivity. A mathematical model of the auger system was created, then a small-scale physical model was built to test the concept. These tests exposed flaws in the mechanical details of the design, but the viability of the concept was shown, so a full-scale design was completed to be implemented as a backup in an extended field test that will be conducted in the Caribbean during the summer 2019.