The design of an oceanic particle dewatering device

In applications ranging from wastewater treatment to food processing, dewatering presses are commonly used to increase the solid concentration in a hydrated mixture. These traditional systems typically rely on gravitational settling and density differences between solid and liquid phases to achieve separation. However, such methods are ineffective for micron-scale, neutrally buoyant organic particles suspended in water. This project presents a novel submerged press mechanism designed to continuously extract water from a low-concentration suspension of <1 mm near-neutrally buoyant organic particles collected from seawater. Unlike conventional systems, the compactor operates fully underwater and does not rely on gravity or density-driven separation. Instead, it uses a large-inlet/small-outlet configuration to generate internal back pressure across a cylindrical mesh. This pressure differential forces water radially outward through the mesh while retaining the suspended particles inside the auger chamber. The system is designed with minimal mechanical complexity, self-cleaning geometry, and anti-fouling features to enable continuous operation for over a year without clogging or degradation. This design enables passive, reliable concentration of fine particulates that are otherwise difficult to separate, with potential applications in marine biomass harvesting, ecological monitoring, and bioseparation systems.