Tidal Compensator

A tidal compensator is used to prevent oil bypassing a boom when water levels rise and fall and is particularly useful in tidal areas or water bodies subject to stormwater surges.

Slides can be permanently installed to a fixed point along jetties, stormwater outlets, creeks or drains, with the tidal compensator placed into the slide and then attached to a boom in the event of a spill.

The swivel tidal compensator allows the unit to move with the change of tide and to be more versatile with changes in current and weather conditions.

• Tidal compensators include a standard ASTM connector to allow attachment of booms ranging from 330mm to 1000mm.
• Use ASTM connectors to attach a boom to the tidal compensator.
• The tidal compensator floats up and down within the slide rail (with the boom attached) as the water level rises and falls.
• Slides rails are ordered separately in increments of 500mm and should be selected to allow for any height variations between the high and low water levels PLUS an additional height equal to the boom height.

Notes about oil containment booms:

Floating booms or impervious barriers that trap oil on the water’s surface are universally called oil containment booms. They are generally manufactured from PVC or urethane material and are able to withstand the harsh conditions and elements typically found at an oil spill. Oil containment booms typically consist of the following elements:

• Freeboard – the part of the boom above the water’s surface. Designed to deflect or contain an oil spill.
• Skirt – the impervious barrier below the water’s surface. Skirt depth varies according to boom type.
• Ballast – located at the bottom of the skirt and keeps the boom upright in the water.
• Connectors – allow multiple boom lengths to be joined together to form one long continuous barrier.