OIL RECOVERY SYSTEM AND APPARATUS

• US 20110042323A1
• Filed: 02/16/2009
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Myron Sullivan II
• Original Assignee: Myron Sullivan II
• Inventors: Sullivan, Myron II
• Application Number:
  US12/867,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20110042323A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/744
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 15/048 Oil collectors moved over the water skimming the water surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/204 Keeping clear the surface of open water from oil spills

Abstract

A system and method for cleaning oil spills from the surface of a body of water involves deploying a plurality of remotely guided self-propelled floating liquid hydrocarbons collection and separation apparatus, floating liquid hydrocarbons retention booms and floating liquid hydrocarbons storage devices, moving the liquid hydrocarbons boom to contain the liquid hydrocarbons, moving the liquid hydrocarbons collection and separation apparatus by remote guidance into the contained liquid hydrocarbons and operating the apparatus to separate the liquid hydrocarbons from the water, and pumping the separated liquid hydrocarbons into the floating liquid hydrocarbons storage devices.

Claims

1. A remotely-guided, self-propelled apparatus for collecting and separating liquid hydrocarbons from the surface of a body of water comprising:

a) a housing forming an interior space for receiving a volume of liquid and provided with flotation means, the housing having one or a plurality of entrance apertures adjacent the water surface adapted to admit an uppermost layer of liquid hydrocarbons and water from the water surface to the interior of the housing, and an exit aperture adapted to permit the flow of water from the housing;

b) means within the housing for collecting a flow of liquid from the surface layers of the liquid hydrocarbons and water in the interior of the housing and directing the liquid to first pump means;

c) means for maintaining said means for collecting at a selected depth;

d) means for measuring the thickness of hydrocarbons on said water surface and communicating said measurement to said means for maintaining said means for collecting at a selected depth;

e) second pump means for evacuating water from said exit aperture; and

f) a liquid hydrocarbons-water separator mounted in said housing, and connected to means for discharging separated liquid hydrocarbons from the housing to a means for storage of recovered separated liquid hydrocarbons;

g) variable direction propulsion means;

h) propulsion control means for receiving remote signals and controlling the direction and force of said propulsion means according to said remotely-received signals; and

g) geographic positioning system means for sensing the geographic position of the apparatus and communicating said position to said propulsion control means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means within the housing for collecting a flow of liquid from the surface layers of the liquid hydrocarbons and water comprises a floating intake and said means for measuring the thickness of hydrocarbons on said water surface comprise hydrocarbon sensors mounted on said floating intake communicating with said means for maintaining said means for collecting at a selected depth.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising sonar means for detecting floating objects and communicating said detection to said propulsion control means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for maintaining said means for collecting at a selected depth comprises a funnel depth control cylinder connected to said floating intake weir skimmer and for raising or lowering said floating intake weir skimmer in response to said communication from said means for measuring the thickness of hydrocarbons.

5. A method of collecting liquid hydrocarbons from the surface of water, and separating the liquid hydrocarbons from the water comprising:

a) deploying a plurality of remotely-guided self-propelled floating liquid hydrocarbons collection and separation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, floating liquid hydrocarbons retention boom means and floating liquid hydrocarbons storage means;

b) moving said liquid hydrocarbons boom means to contain the liquid hydrocarbons;

c) moving the liquid hydrocarbons collection and separation apparatus by remote guidance into the contained liquid hydrocarbons and operating the apparatus to separate the liquid hydrocarbons from the water; and

d) pumping the separated liquid hydrocarbons into the floating liquid hydrocarbons storage means.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the liquid hydrocarbons boom means, liquid hydrocarbons collection and separation apparatus and liquid hydrocarbons storage means are dropped onto the surface of water from the air by aircraft, or by ship or tractor-trailer.

7. Remotely-guided, self-propelled apparatus for collecting and separating liquid hydrocarbons from the surface of a body of water comprising:

a) a weir skimmer for the collection of a volume of liquid adapted to admit an uppermost layer of liquid hydrocarbons and water from the water surface to the skid mounted oil-water separator, and an exit aperture adapted to permit the flow of water from the housing to return to the environment and oil from the housing to separate storage tanks;

b) means within the housing for collecting a flow of liquid from the surface layers of the liquid hydrocarbons and water from the weir and directing the liquid to a first pump;

c) variable direction propulsion means;

d) propulsion control means for receiving remote signals and controlling the direction and force of said propulsion means according to said remotely-received signals; and

e) geographic positioning system means for sensing the geographic position of the apparatus and communicating said position to said propulsion control means;

wherein the apparatus also includes a liquid hydrocarbons-water separator mounted in the housing, and connected to means for discharging separated liquid hydrocarbons from the housing to a means for storage of recovered separated liquid hydrocarbons.

8. A method of collecting liquid hydrocarbons from the surface of water, and separating the liquid hydrocarbons from the water comprising:

a) providing a floating liquid hydrocarbons collection weir and skid mounted separation apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 7, and land based hydrocarbons storage means;

b) operating the apparatus to separate the liquid hydrocarbons from the water; and

c) pumping the separated liquid hydrocarbons into the land based liquid hydrocarbons storage means;

wherein the liquid hydrocarbons weir is dropped onto the surface of water from a skid by a hydraulic arm or small crane.