Environmentally neutral processing with condensed phase cryogenic fluids

• US 7,585,410 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2007
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kore Outdoor Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ronald De Strulle
• Inventors: de Strulle, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Upton; Christopher
• Application Number:
  US11/839,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20090045118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 210/170.09, 210/170.11, 210/177, 210/198.1, 210/242.3, 210/923, 210/104, 210/143, 153/20, 153/21, 134/198, 62/521, 62/74, 621/23, 622/93
• US Class Current: 210/143
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/042 by changing the temperature
• 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 1/22 by freezing
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/40 Devices for separating or removing fatty or oily substances or similar floating material cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like materials E02B15/04; devices in sewers for separating liquid or solid substances from sewage E03F5/14, e.g. for use in drains leading to the sewer E03F5/16
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/681 by addition of solid materials for removing an oily layer on water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/32 Hydrocarbons, e.g. oil
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/08 Seawater, e.g. for desalination
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• 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 20/124 Water desalination
• 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. An immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus comprising:

a cryogenic fluid source adapted for providing a cryogenic fluid;

a cryogenic fluid dispenser coupled to the cryogenic fluid source adapted for dispensing the cryogenic fluid in a substantially condensed phase upon an immiscible pollutant, wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser comprises a drizzle bar comprising at least one hole array;

a vacuum uptake, disposed proximate to the cryogenic fluid dispenser, adapted for collecting at least some of the immiscible pollutant; and

a waste tank, coupled to the vacuum uptake, adapted for storing the collected immiscible pollutant;

wherein at least some of the immiscible pollutant is collected after being exposed to substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid.

2. The immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus of claim 1 comprising at least one rotating brush proximate to the vacuum uptake.

3. The immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser and the vacuum uptake are structurally coupled to a wand.

4. The immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus of claim 3 wherein the wand is sized to be hand held by a human operator.

5. The immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus of claim 1 wherein cryogenic fluid source and waste tank are sized to between about 10 and 50 gallons.

6. The immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vacuum intake comprises two inflow ports adapted for receiving at least some of the immiscible pollutant.

7. The immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus of claim 1 further comprising cryogenic fluid transport means, coupled between the cryogenic fluid source and the cryogenic fluid dispenser, for maintaining the pressure of the cryogenic fluid transported to the cryogenic fluid dispenser at less than about 50 psi.

8. The immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus of claim 7 wherein the cryogenic fluid transport structure comprises one or more pressure release valves adapted to open at a predetermined threshold pressure.

9. The immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus of claim 7 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser and the cryogenic fluid transport structure are arranged such that the cryogenic fluid does not reach its saturation point within the cryogenic fluid transport structure.

10. The immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser dispenses the cryogenic fluid at about atmospheric pressure.

11. The immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one hole array comprises holes having equal to or greater than about 0.1 millimeters.

12. The immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pressure within the cryogenic fluid dispenser is at approximately atmospheric pressure.

13. The immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser dispenses cryogenic fluid in droplets.

14. An immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus comprising:

a cryogenic fluid source adapted for providing a cryogenic fluid;

a cryogenic fluid dispenser coupled to the cryogenic fluid source adapted for dispensing the cryogenic fluid in a substantially condensed phase upon an immiscible pollutant;

a vacuum uptake, disposed proximate to the cryogenic fluid dispenser, adapted for collecting at least some of the immiscible pollutant;

a waste tank, coupled to the vacuum uptake, adapted for storing the collected immiscible pollutant;

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

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;

wherein at least some of the immiscible pollutant is collected after being exposed to substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 herein the one or more sensors includes an infrared sensor.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 comprising wireless communication structure.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the wireless communication structure includes a GPS, RF or IR receiver or transmitter.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising cryogenic fluid transport means, coupled between the cryogenic fluid source and the cryogenic fluid dispenser, for maintaining the pressure of the cryogenic fluid transported to the cryogenic fluid dispenser at less than about 50 psi.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the cryogenic fluid transport structure comprises one or more pressure release valves adapted to open at a predetermined threshold pressure.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser and the cryogenic fluid transport structure are arranged such that the cryogenic fluid does not reach its saturation point within the cryogenic fluid transport structure.

21. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser dispenses the cryogenic fluid at about atmospheric pressure.

22. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser comprises a sparger bar.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the sparger bar is constructed of a sintered metal.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the metal comprises brass, bronze or stainless steel.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the sparger bar is constructed of a sintered composite.

26. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the sparger bar is constructed of a sintered material comprising silicon carbide.

27. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the mean porosity of the sparger bar is between about 1 micron and 10 microns.

28. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser comprises a spray bar comprising at least one nozzle.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 comprising means for adjusting an aperture size of at least one nozzle.

30. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein at least one cryogenic fluid dispenser comprises a drizzle bar comprising at least one hole array.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the at least one hole array comprises holes having a diameter equal to or greater than about 0.1 millimeters.

32. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the pressure within the cryogenic fluid dispenser is at approximately atmospheric pressure.

33. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser dispenses cryogenic fluid in droplets.

34. The apparatus of claim 14 comprising at least one rotating brush proximate to the vacuum uptake.

35. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser and the vacuum uptake are structurally coupled to a wand.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the wand is sized to be hand held by a human operator.

37. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein cryogenic fluid source and waste tank are sized to between about 10 and 50 gallons.

38. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the vacuum intake comprises two inflow ports adapted for receiving at least some of the immiscible pollutant.