Ship-side ballast water treatment systems including related appratus and methods

• US 20080283467A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marenco Technology Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Marenco Technology Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Nguyen, Hap
• Granted Patent: US 7,897,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/600
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/00 Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 4/002 for treating ballast water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/444 by ultrafiltration or microfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/008 Originating from marine vessels, ships and boats, e.g. bilge water or ballast water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/008 Mobile apparatus and plants, e.g. mounted on a vehicle for biological treatment C02F2203/008
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3225 Lamps immersed in an open channel, containing the liquid to be treated
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3227 Units with two or more lamps
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/324 Lamp cleaning installations, e.g. brushes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/326 Lamp control systems
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/02 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/40 Monitoring or fighting invasive species
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/931 Zebra mussel mitigation or treatment

Abstract

Ballast water treatment apparatus and methods for preventing foreign aquatic invasive species form entering marine ecological zones by translocation in ship'"'"'s ballast water. The apparatus includes a housing, a filter member, and UV water treatment chambers. Methods include use of a ship'"'"'s fire hydrant system or ballast water discharge port for moving ballast water from the ship'"'"'s ballast tanks into the apparatus for filtration and treatment. In-port service vessels and barges as well as dock-side service vehicles are equipped with the various treatment and filtration apparatus to provided in-port or dock-side ballast water treatment services. Related methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A dock-side service vehicle for treating discharged ballast water from a ship in port, said vehicle comprising:

a water treatment processing platform accessible to a respective ship docked in port;

a housing tank positioned within said water treatment processing platform, said housing tank having at least one inlet port and one discharge port, said at least one inlet port being adapted to receive ballast water from a ballast discharge port of said respective ship by connecting a hose between the ballast discharge port on said respective ship and said at least one inlet port of said housing tank;

a filter positioned within said housing tank, said filter employed to filter particulate matter from said ballast water received from said respective ship'"'"'s ballast discharge port; and

a source of electromagnetic radiation maintained within said housing tank for irradiating said ballast water to thereby deactivate biological organisms contained therein.

2. A method of treating discharged ballast water from a ship using an in-port service barge, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a ballast water treatment apparatus on board said service barge;

positioning said service barge adjacent a respective ship requiring ballast water treatment; and

directing ballast water from a ballast tank of said respective ship into said ballast water treatment apparatus on board said service barge to thereby treat said respective ship'"'"'s ballast water before discharging said ship'"'"'s ballast water.

3. An in-port service barge for treating discharged ballast water from a ship, said barge comprising:

a ballast water treatment apparatus on board said service barge, said apparatus including an inlet port, a discharge port, means for filtering ballast water, and means for directing UV energy at said ballast water; and

a hoisting system for positioning a supply hose between a ballast water discharge port of the ship and said inlet port of said ballast water treatment apparatus.

4. A dock-side service vehicle for treating discharged ballast water from a ship in port, said vehicle comprising:

a water treatment processing platform accessible to a respective ship docked in port;

a housing tank positioned within said water treatment processing platform, said housing tank having at least one inlet port and one discharge port, said at least one inlet port being adapted to receive ballast water from a ballast discharge port of said respective ship by connecting a hose between the ballast discharge port on said respective ship and said at least one inlet port of said housing tank;

a filter positioned within said housing tank, said filter employed to filter particulate matter from said ballast water received from said respective ship'"'"'s ballast discharge port;

a source of electromagnetic radiation maintained within said housing tank for irradiating said ballast water to thereby deactivate biological organisms contained therein; and

an articulating arm for positioning said hose a hose between the ballast discharge port on said respective ship and said at least one inlet port of said housing tank.

5. A ballast water filtration and treatment system, said system comprising:

an inlet reservoir having an inlet port;

a main tank member fluidly connected to said inlet reservoir, said main tank member having filter means positioned in an upper portion thereof;

a side channel tank in fluid communication with said main tank member;

a side fill tank in fluid communication with said side channel tank; and

a UV containment chamber in fluid communication with said side fill tank, said UV containment chamber including a source of UV light directed into filtered ballast water contained in the chamber.

6. A ballast water filtration and treatment system, said system comprising;

an upper flow chamber for receiving ballast water and including a plurality of filter bag compartments, each filter bag compartment including valve means to fluidly isolate a respective filter bag compartment from ballast water maintained with in said upper flow chamber;

a filter bag associated with each of said of filter bag compartments;

a lower tank chamber in fluid communication with said upper flow chamber, each of said filter bags depending downwardly from a respective filter bag compartment into said lower tank chamber; and

at least one UV tank fluidly connected to said lower tank chamber implemented so that ballast water filtered through said filter bags is directed into said least one UV tank for further treatment.

7. The system according to claim 6 wherein said at least one UV tank fluidly is positioned below said lower tank chamber so that filtered ballast in said lower tank chamber is moved by gravity to flow from said lower tank chamber into said at least one UV tank.

8. The system according to claim 6 further including a pump to move filtered ballast in said lower tank chamber into said at least one UV tank.

9. An apparatus for connecting a hose to a ballast water discharge port located in the hull of a ship, said apparatus comprising:

a ring member sized to mate with the ballast water discharge port in the ship;

at least two hook arms positioned around the circumference of said ring member; and

means for making a water-tight seal between said ring member and the hull of the ship.

10. An apparatus for connecting a hose to a ballast water discharge port located in the hull of a ship, said apparatus comprising:

a ring member including a nipple extension sized to mate with the ballast water discharge port in the ship; and

means for making a water-tight seal between said ring member and the hull of the ship.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 further including at least one electro-magnet associated with said ring member so that when said electro-magnet is activated a magnetic holding force is applied between said ring member and the hull of the ship.

12. A method of retro-fitting a ballast water discharge port located in the hull of a ship to receive a hose connection, said method comprising the steps of:

obtaining measurements relating to the size of a respective ballast water discharge port;

providing a flat annular ring sized to fit said respective ballast water discharge port; and

welding said flat annular ring into said respective ballast water discharge port to thereby form a lip onto which a hose connector may be secured.

13. A UV tank system for use in treating ballast water, said tank system comprising:

a tank member having an inlet port and a discharge port;

at least one UV lamp positioned within said tank member between said inlet port and discharge port; and

an electronic circuit operatively connected to said at least one UV lamp to control operation thereof.

14. The tank system according to claim 13 wherein said electronic circuit includes a processor, a controller, and a memory.

15. The tank system according to claim 13 further including means for wiping clean said at least one UV lamp after a predetermined amount of use.

16. The tank system according to claim 14 further including means for wiping clean said at least one UV lamp after a predetermined amount of use.