Presets
Playback
Parameters
Model checks
The science
Swept-area law
A ship moving at speed v with a boom lane of width W sweeps an area W v t. If the debris carries a surface mass density ρ (kg/m2) the expected collected mass is M = ρ W v t. The Canvas model moves individual pieces past the bow line, so the measured value scatters around this prediction (Poisson counting noise, shown as a 3-sigma band in the checks).
Process line as a flow network
The belt carries at most λ vbelt (6 kg per metre of belt). The sorter splits the stream by material (plastic, metal, organic residue) from what was actually collected. Each stream has a finite buffer, so a stopped machine causes back-pressure and throttles the whole line. Mass is conserved at every step.
Energy
Gasified residue gives P = ṁ × 0.75 kWh/kg, the same figure used in the 3D page (waste-to-energy plants typically deliver about 0.4-0.7 kWh of electricity per kg). Ship load is a hotel load plus machinery utilisation plus propulsion P = R v / η with resistance R = ½ ρw v2 (Cf S + Cd W d).
Honest simplifications: this is a teaching model of a conceptual vessel, not a real design. Debris is shown at a density far higher than the open ocean (real gyre surface concentrations are usually well under 1 g/m2), pieces are rigid dots, there are no waves, wind or windage, and machine efficiencies are constants.
What to try
- Preset "Dense windrow": the sorter hits its 20 kg/s capacity and the intake queue grows, showing the bottleneck.
- Preset "Gasifier off": the residue buffer fills, back-pressure throttles the line and power generation drops to zero.
- Double the boom width and see the collected mass follow the dashed rho W v t line.
- Press "Run 10-min experiment" to compare measured throughput with the minimum of all stage capacities.