Environmentally-neutral processing with condensed phase cryogenic fluids

• US 7,658,856 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2007
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ronald De Strulle
• Original Assignee: Ronald De Strulle
• Inventors: de Strulle, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Upton; Christopher
• Application Number:
  US11/839,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20090045148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 210/742, 210/744, 210/747, 210/774, 210/776, 210/242.3, 210/923, 62/66, 625/33, 625/40
• US Class Current: 210/742
• 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. A method for remediating an immiscible pollutant comprising:

providing a flow of cryogenic fluid;

maintaining the cryogenic fluid in a substantially condensed phase;

applying the substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid to at least some of the immiscible pollutant;

collecting at least some of the immiscible pollutant after the cryogenic fluid has been applied;

storing the collected immiscible pollutant;

detecting the thickness of the immiscible pollutant; and

adjusting the rate at which the substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid is applied based at least in part on the detecting.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising inducing viscous agglomeration of the immiscible pollutant.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising inducing accretion and encapsulation of the immiscible pollutant.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising inducing sequestration via lattice uptake of the immiscible pollutant.

5. A method for remediating an immiscible pollutant comprising:

providing a flow of cryogenic fluid;

maintaining the cryogenic fluid in a substantially condensed phase;

applying the substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid to at least some of the immiscible pollutant;

collecting at least some of the immiscible pollutant after the cryogenic fluid has been applied;

storing the collected immiscible pollutant;

detecting the thickness of the immiscible pollutant;

storing data representative of the detected thickness in a data store;

detecting the temperature of the immiscible pollutant;

adjusting the rate at which the substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid is applied based on the temperature and at least some of the data in the data store.

6. The method of claim 5 comprising inducing viscous agglomeration of the immiscible pollutant.

7. The method of claim 5 comprising inducing accretion and encapsulation of the immiscible pollutant.

8. The method of claim 5 comprising inducing sequestration via lattice uptake of the immiscible pollutant.