Environmentally-Neutral Processing With Condensed Phase Cryogenic Fluids

• US 20090044546A1
• Filed: 08/15/2007
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ronald De Strulle
• Original Assignee: Ronald De Strulle
• Inventors: DE STRULLE, RONALD
• Granted Patent: US 7,674,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/46.100
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/0014 by incorporation in a layer which is removed with the contaminants
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/0092 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B09B 1/004 Covering of dumping sites
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/681 by addition of solid materials for removing an oily layer on water
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 12/006 Oil removal
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 15/043 Devices or methods for removing oil by means of freezing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/204 Keeping clear the surface of open water from oil spills
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/30 Landfill technologies aiming to mitigate methane emissions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/923 using mechanical means, e.g. skimmers, pump

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for utilizing a substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid for the purpose of remediation and retrieval of, e.g., spilled crude oil and other “oil spill”-related products from marine/aquatic and terrestrial environments. In some implementations, systems and apparatus are provided for applying a substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid to a volume of spilled oil, and further having structure for collecting the spilled oil. Some implementations are environmentally-neutral. Substances other than oil may be remediated as well.

Claims

1. A buoyant immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus for use in a body of water comprising:

a deck having a first end and a second end;

a cryogenic fluid source adapted for providing a cryogenic fluid, the cryogenic fluid source supported by the deck;

a cryogenic fluid dispenser structure coupled to the cryogenic fluid source and supported over the body water at a first end of the deck, the cryogenic fluid dispenser structure comprising at least one cryogenic fluid dispenser adapted for dispensing cryogenic fluid in a substantially condensed phase;

a conveyor belt adapted to receive and transport at least some immiscible pollutant that was exposed to substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid by the cryogenic fluid dispenser structure, wherein the conveyor belt causes a belt to travel in a direction from the first end of the deck toward the second end of the deck;

transport structure, disposed proximate to the second end of the deck, adapted for transporting the immiscible pollutant from the conveyor belt to the waste tank; and

a waste tank adapted for storing collected immiscible pollutant.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a plow coupled proximate to the first end of the cryogenic fluid dispenser structure.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising:

one or more sensors disposed proximate to the immiscible pollutant adapted to generate one or more data signals;

a controller coupled to the sensors and cryogenic fluid source, wherein the controller is adapted to control the cryogenic fluid source in response to the one or more data signals.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the one or more sensors includes an infrared sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the one or more sensors includes an optoacoustic sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the one or more sensors includes a temperature sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 comprising wireless communication structure.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the wireless communication structure includes GPS, RF or IR receivers.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the wireless communication structure includes GPS, RF or IR transmitters.

10. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising cryogenic fluid transport means, coupled between the cryogenic fluid source and the at least one cryogenic fluid dispenser, for maintaining the pressure of the cryogenic fluid transported to the cryogenic fluid dispenser at less than about 50 psi.

11. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the at least one cryogenic fluid dispenser dispenses the cryogenic fluid at about atmospheric pressure.

12. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the at least one cryogenic fluid dispenser comprises a sparger bar.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the sparger bar is constructed of a sintered metal.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the metal comprises brass, bronze or stainless steel.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the sparger bar is constructed of a sintered composite.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the sparger bar is constructed of a sintered material comprising silicon carbide.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the mean porosity of the sparger bar is between about 1 micron and 10 microns.

18. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser comprises a spray bar comprising at least one nozzle.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 comprising means for adjusting an aperture size of at least one nozzle.

20. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser comprises a drizzle bar comprising at least one hole array.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the at least one hole array comprises holes having a diameter from about 0.1 millimeters to about 0.5 millimeters.

22. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the transport structure comprises a ramp coupled to the waste tank.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 comprising a secondary waste tank coupled to the waste tank.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the transport structure comprises:

a sleuth well disposed proximate to the second end of the deck and adapted to the receive the immiscible pollutant from the conveyor belt;

one or more rotating scoops adapted to capture at least some of the contents of the sleuth well and transport the contents to the waste tank.

25. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the conveyor belt is cooled with cryogenic fluid.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the conveyor belt comprises at least one cryogenic fluid dispenser.

27. A cryogenically cooled quarantine receptacle system comprising:

a waste tank having a movable top and movable bottom;

at least one cryogenic fluid source coupled to the waste tank; and

lifting structure adapted for placing the waste tank over an item to be quarantined;

wherein after the lifting structure places the waste over the item, the top and bottom are moved so as to seal the waste tank, and the tank is filled with cryogenic fluid.