CA2035585A1 - Differential continuous oil separator and its application in pollution control - Google Patents
Differential continuous oil separator and its application in pollution controlInfo
- Publication number
- CA2035585A1 CA2035585A1 CA 2035585 CA2035585A CA2035585A1 CA 2035585 A1 CA2035585 A1 CA 2035585A1 CA 2035585 CA2035585 CA 2035585 CA 2035585 A CA2035585 A CA 2035585A CA 2035585 A1 CA2035585 A1 CA 2035585A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- oil
- water
- separator
- oil separator
- weir
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Landscapes
- Cleaning Or Clearing Of The Surface Of Open Water (AREA)
- Removal Of Floating Material (AREA)
Abstract
DIFFERENTIAL CONTINUOUS OIL SEPARATOR
AND ITS APPLICATION IN POLLUTION CONTROL
ABSTRACT
A continuous self-regulating separator for immiscible phases, which permits collection of spilled oil on a large scale in all weather conditions. It can also be used to polish plant effluents or as a safety trap wherever accidental or unwarranted discharges of hydrocarbons into public body of water may occur.
AND ITS APPLICATION IN POLLUTION CONTROL
ABSTRACT
A continuous self-regulating separator for immiscible phases, which permits collection of spilled oil on a large scale in all weather conditions. It can also be used to polish plant effluents or as a safety trap wherever accidental or unwarranted discharges of hydrocarbons into public body of water may occur.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a continuous gravity differential liquid phase separator and its application in the collection of oil spilled over the water surface in oil drilling operation, from an oil tanker or any accidental discharge. It may also serve to continuously separate any immiscible phases in chemical plants. In suitable form and size it can serve as a safety trap on commercial or industrial sewage discharges.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
The necessity of collecting spilled oil on a large scale became apparent when accidental discharges of large quantities of oil polluted the beaches of environmentally sensitive areas~ One such accident occurred recently in Alaska and became known as the Valdez disaster which cost millions of dollars to clean up and caused inestimable damage to the environment. At present there is no efficient method to collect spilled oil from water surface on a large scale in all weather conditions. If there was such a method, the Valdez fiasco would not have happened. A
number of patents have been issued which are essentially skimming devices similar to those that have been used for years to separate cream from milk. However, skimming of oil from turbulent waters such as the rough sea during strong weather presents insurmountable obstacles to effectively skim off and collect the oil without, at the same time, picking up large amounts of water. Another method of collecting oil from water surface is by means of absorption of oil onto rubber conveyer belts or rotating discs and then scraping the oil off into a collecting pan. Such methods have proven to be ineffective and cumbersome on a large scale, particularly when millions of gallons of oil are spilled and the weather turns out to be rough. Attempts have been made to suck the oil oEf the water surface by vacuum. This is ra~her difficult to do in disturbed waters without sucking rather a lot of water at the same time.
There is also a chemical method oE cleaning up oil slicks, which relies on its dispersal by means of some chemicals. Such a method is, however, environmentally unsound as it merely replaces one problem with another.
SUMMARY OF THE IN~IENTION
The object of my invention is, thereEore, to provide an effective method oE recuperating the lighter fluid, such as oil, from water sur~ace on a larye scale. The speed, all weather conditions, effectiveness and low cost of the operation make it attractive to all parties concerned. My method relies on collecting the oil together with surface water in such a manner that the concentration of oil in collected water of the sea surface is gradually increased as it enters the specially conceived gravity separator. From the said separator, oil is drawn off at the top of the separator dome by means of the gravity differentlal discharge system into a pump and then to storage. Water is continuously withdrawn at the bottom of the separating chamber over the discharge weir and pumped out to sea through a pipe submerged below the oily surface of the sea. The continuous withdrawal of the two streams from the separator causes the water-oil mixture to be drawn into the separator through the open-mouth preskimming collector. The said collector is supported on a float and connected to the separator through a system of pipes with a swivel joint such as a ball valve. In the separating chamber, time is required for the globules of oil to rise to the top oE the separator where they coalesce into one body of oil. This body of oil rises up the discharge dome and over the weir into the oil pump sump. ~ater makes its way under the bottom of the separator baffle and up to the water discharge weir outlet and hence to the pump. The baffle serves the purpose of preventing a lighter liquid, such as oil, entering the water stream. If the separator is used in a stationary system, such as cleanin~-up of plant eEfluent, the retention time is increased and more coalescing plates are added to improve the efficiency o~ oil separation~ The oil discharge weir is raised over that of water discharge to prevent water entering the oil stream. Should water accidentally go over the oil weir, a plug is provided in the bottom o~ the oil pump sump which can be removed to a]low the transfer o~ water back into the separator chamber.
~ f~/
The offset of the oil .'ischarge weir over that of water discharge outlet can be calculated from the formula:
E3 - h ~)w - Jo~
where ~w is specific gravity of water go is specific gravity of oil or -other immiscible flui~l being separated h is the effective height of oil trapped in the upper part of the separator chamber.
The effective height varies with the rate of water-oil mixture inflow and the rate of oil being pumped out to storage.
A level controller could be installed on the oil pump sump to prevent the pump running dry. Th;~ may be required when the oil separator is a part of effluent treatment system. In the case of oil spillage, a suitable self regulatlng pump can be provided to handle the dynamics of the system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
-Fig. 1 shows a schematic arrangement of equipment necessary to collect the oil-water mixture from the surface of the water, deliver it to the concentric oil separator, pump out the water to the sea and transfer the separated oil to storage.
Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-section of a stationary oil separator illustrating the principle of its operation.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the gravity differential separator is in the form of a tank 16 which has an elevated column 14 attached at the top. The said tank has a main oil separating chamber 10 and a baffle 15 which traps the oil inside the said chamber. I'he oil-water mixture enters the chamber through the inlet 9, it strikes the first coalescing p]ate 5 which serves also as a striking plate to cut the entrance velocity causing thus to split the mixture into liyhter fract:ion (i.e., oil which rises to the top and the heavier fraction, i.e., water, which makes its way underneath the said coalesciny plates under the said baffle 15 and up the water side of the elevated column 13, to , . ~ . ..... . . . . .
the water outlet 12 where from it joins the main body of water or undergoes further treatment. Oil being lighter rises to the top of the separating chamber, aided by its up 510ping roof 25 enters the oil side of the e~evated column. When enougll oil is collected in the column and the upper part of the said separating chamber, it over~lows over the top of the oil weir 11 into the oil pump out chamber 14. The plug 26 serves as a drain for any water that may enter the said oil pump ~hamber. Pump 6 transfers the oil into storage Eor disposal or further treatment.
Another embodiment of this invention is as shown on Fig. l, where the oil separator is made in a cylindrical form. The separating chamber 27 with a conical top has the elevated column ~4 attached at the apex oE the truncated cone. A large pipe 21 is inserted in the said column concentrically so as to reach nearly the bottom of the said chamber, so that it serves as a circular baffle. Another smaller pipe 20 is inserted concentrically into the said baffle pipe 21 so that its top forms an overflow weir. Water entering the said baffle pipe 21 can overflow down into the said overflow pipe 20 which is connected to the suction of the pump-out system 7 and hence through the discharge ~ to the surrounding sea. The floating oil is skimmed ofE the surface of the sea by means of a collecting mouth 3, which supported on the float 18 has its mouth made in a form of a flat funnel which is positioned horizontally, partially immersed in water. Due to forward movement of the boat, to which the suction mouth is attached, the floating oil is directed toward the outlet of the said funnel, however, the bottom side of the said funnel has a water escape outlet 19 which allows some water to disengage back to sea. This feature of the said collecting mouth concentrates the oil-water mixture. The said collection mouth is connected with the said cylindrical separator chamber 27 by means of a pipe which has a swivel joint 4 attached to the ship's hull 2. The pump 23 generates a suction head so as to move the oil-water mixture into the said separator~ The said cylindrical oil separator is placed in the center of the oil collecting vessel 2 so as to reduce the disturbance to the discharg~s of oil and water over their respective weirs. At least one collectillg mouth is placed at each side of the said vessel, preferab]y to the front so that the ploughing action of the hull will help push the floating oil into the said collecting mouth. A means is provided to raise and lower the said collecting mouth, so that it can be raised and swung to the side of the vessel, where it can be secured above the deck when not in use.
This invention relates to a continuous gravity differential liquid phase separator and its application in the collection of oil spilled over the water surface in oil drilling operation, from an oil tanker or any accidental discharge. It may also serve to continuously separate any immiscible phases in chemical plants. In suitable form and size it can serve as a safety trap on commercial or industrial sewage discharges.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
The necessity of collecting spilled oil on a large scale became apparent when accidental discharges of large quantities of oil polluted the beaches of environmentally sensitive areas~ One such accident occurred recently in Alaska and became known as the Valdez disaster which cost millions of dollars to clean up and caused inestimable damage to the environment. At present there is no efficient method to collect spilled oil from water surface on a large scale in all weather conditions. If there was such a method, the Valdez fiasco would not have happened. A
number of patents have been issued which are essentially skimming devices similar to those that have been used for years to separate cream from milk. However, skimming of oil from turbulent waters such as the rough sea during strong weather presents insurmountable obstacles to effectively skim off and collect the oil without, at the same time, picking up large amounts of water. Another method of collecting oil from water surface is by means of absorption of oil onto rubber conveyer belts or rotating discs and then scraping the oil off into a collecting pan. Such methods have proven to be ineffective and cumbersome on a large scale, particularly when millions of gallons of oil are spilled and the weather turns out to be rough. Attempts have been made to suck the oil oEf the water surface by vacuum. This is ra~her difficult to do in disturbed waters without sucking rather a lot of water at the same time.
There is also a chemical method oE cleaning up oil slicks, which relies on its dispersal by means of some chemicals. Such a method is, however, environmentally unsound as it merely replaces one problem with another.
SUMMARY OF THE IN~IENTION
The object of my invention is, thereEore, to provide an effective method oE recuperating the lighter fluid, such as oil, from water sur~ace on a larye scale. The speed, all weather conditions, effectiveness and low cost of the operation make it attractive to all parties concerned. My method relies on collecting the oil together with surface water in such a manner that the concentration of oil in collected water of the sea surface is gradually increased as it enters the specially conceived gravity separator. From the said separator, oil is drawn off at the top of the separator dome by means of the gravity differentlal discharge system into a pump and then to storage. Water is continuously withdrawn at the bottom of the separating chamber over the discharge weir and pumped out to sea through a pipe submerged below the oily surface of the sea. The continuous withdrawal of the two streams from the separator causes the water-oil mixture to be drawn into the separator through the open-mouth preskimming collector. The said collector is supported on a float and connected to the separator through a system of pipes with a swivel joint such as a ball valve. In the separating chamber, time is required for the globules of oil to rise to the top oE the separator where they coalesce into one body of oil. This body of oil rises up the discharge dome and over the weir into the oil pump sump. ~ater makes its way under the bottom of the separator baffle and up to the water discharge weir outlet and hence to the pump. The baffle serves the purpose of preventing a lighter liquid, such as oil, entering the water stream. If the separator is used in a stationary system, such as cleanin~-up of plant eEfluent, the retention time is increased and more coalescing plates are added to improve the efficiency o~ oil separation~ The oil discharge weir is raised over that of water discharge to prevent water entering the oil stream. Should water accidentally go over the oil weir, a plug is provided in the bottom o~ the oil pump sump which can be removed to a]low the transfer o~ water back into the separator chamber.
~ f~/
The offset of the oil .'ischarge weir over that of water discharge outlet can be calculated from the formula:
E3 - h ~)w - Jo~
where ~w is specific gravity of water go is specific gravity of oil or -other immiscible flui~l being separated h is the effective height of oil trapped in the upper part of the separator chamber.
The effective height varies with the rate of water-oil mixture inflow and the rate of oil being pumped out to storage.
A level controller could be installed on the oil pump sump to prevent the pump running dry. Th;~ may be required when the oil separator is a part of effluent treatment system. In the case of oil spillage, a suitable self regulatlng pump can be provided to handle the dynamics of the system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
-Fig. 1 shows a schematic arrangement of equipment necessary to collect the oil-water mixture from the surface of the water, deliver it to the concentric oil separator, pump out the water to the sea and transfer the separated oil to storage.
Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-section of a stationary oil separator illustrating the principle of its operation.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the gravity differential separator is in the form of a tank 16 which has an elevated column 14 attached at the top. The said tank has a main oil separating chamber 10 and a baffle 15 which traps the oil inside the said chamber. I'he oil-water mixture enters the chamber through the inlet 9, it strikes the first coalescing p]ate 5 which serves also as a striking plate to cut the entrance velocity causing thus to split the mixture into liyhter fract:ion (i.e., oil which rises to the top and the heavier fraction, i.e., water, which makes its way underneath the said coalesciny plates under the said baffle 15 and up the water side of the elevated column 13, to , . ~ . ..... . . . . .
the water outlet 12 where from it joins the main body of water or undergoes further treatment. Oil being lighter rises to the top of the separating chamber, aided by its up 510ping roof 25 enters the oil side of the e~evated column. When enougll oil is collected in the column and the upper part of the said separating chamber, it over~lows over the top of the oil weir 11 into the oil pump out chamber 14. The plug 26 serves as a drain for any water that may enter the said oil pump ~hamber. Pump 6 transfers the oil into storage Eor disposal or further treatment.
Another embodiment of this invention is as shown on Fig. l, where the oil separator is made in a cylindrical form. The separating chamber 27 with a conical top has the elevated column ~4 attached at the apex oE the truncated cone. A large pipe 21 is inserted in the said column concentrically so as to reach nearly the bottom of the said chamber, so that it serves as a circular baffle. Another smaller pipe 20 is inserted concentrically into the said baffle pipe 21 so that its top forms an overflow weir. Water entering the said baffle pipe 21 can overflow down into the said overflow pipe 20 which is connected to the suction of the pump-out system 7 and hence through the discharge ~ to the surrounding sea. The floating oil is skimmed ofE the surface of the sea by means of a collecting mouth 3, which supported on the float 18 has its mouth made in a form of a flat funnel which is positioned horizontally, partially immersed in water. Due to forward movement of the boat, to which the suction mouth is attached, the floating oil is directed toward the outlet of the said funnel, however, the bottom side of the said funnel has a water escape outlet 19 which allows some water to disengage back to sea. This feature of the said collecting mouth concentrates the oil-water mixture. The said collection mouth is connected with the said cylindrical separator chamber 27 by means of a pipe which has a swivel joint 4 attached to the ship's hull 2. The pump 23 generates a suction head so as to move the oil-water mixture into the said separator~ The said cylindrical oil separator is placed in the center of the oil collecting vessel 2 so as to reduce the disturbance to the discharg~s of oil and water over their respective weirs. At least one collectillg mouth is placed at each side of the said vessel, preferab]y to the front so that the ploughing action of the hull will help push the floating oil into the said collecting mouth. A means is provided to raise and lower the said collecting mouth, so that it can be raised and swung to the side of the vessel, where it can be secured above the deck when not in use.
Claims (8)
1. A continuous differential oil separator comprising: A
separating chamber having an elevated column at one end which is divided into two halves by means of a baffle extending from the top of the said elevated column to the bottom of the said separating chamber but not completely so as to allow water to underflow the said baffle and be discharged over the water weir at the top of the said elevated column, while trapping oil at the top of the separating chamber and up the first half of the elevated column from which it is forced out over the oil overflow weir, which is located higher than the said water discharge weir by the gravity differential described above, finally entering the oil sump and be pumped out to storage.
separating chamber having an elevated column at one end which is divided into two halves by means of a baffle extending from the top of the said elevated column to the bottom of the said separating chamber but not completely so as to allow water to underflow the said baffle and be discharged over the water weir at the top of the said elevated column, while trapping oil at the top of the separating chamber and up the first half of the elevated column from which it is forced out over the oil overflow weir, which is located higher than the said water discharge weir by the gravity differential described above, finally entering the oil sump and be pumped out to storage.
2. A continuous differential oil separator operating on the same principle as in Claim No. 1 but comprising: Cylindrical separating chamber with a conical top at the apex of which a cylindrical column is attached which has a concentric wall inside to form an annular space with a circular weir so that oil only can overflow into it from the said conical top of the said separating chamber, while water is separated from oil by means of another concentric pipe placed inside the said elevated column so as to stretch from the top of the said elevated column to the bottom of the said separating chamber, but not completely as to form a circular baffle under which water can underflow and discharge into a circular weir, this being the top of the water discharge pipe placed lower than the oil weir, this offsets the gravity differential as defined in the text.
3. A continuous differential cylindrical oil separator as described in Claim No. 2 installed in the center of the vessel which is equipped with oil scooping mouth supported on a float, which has a forwardly inclined and horizontally positioned top-pushing blade and a parallel mounted scooping bottom blade, having all four sides converging to form a flat funnel, which has the water escape discharge outlet further away from the said funnel entrance, the said mouth being attached to a pipe which has a swivel valve at the ship's hull connected to the section of a lifting pump, which pumps the oil-water mixture into the said separator from which oil is pumped to storage while water is poured back to sea.
4. A continuous differential oil separator as described in Claim No. 2 installed in the center of an oil collecting vessel as described in Claim No. 3 equipped with one or a plurality of scooping mouths supported on floats and positioned on both sides of ship's hull, the floats being secured by means to lower and raise them as required.
5. A continuous differential oil separator mounted on a barge or a ship as described in Claim No. 2 and No. 3, but having water discharge from the said separator mounted at the back of the ship in such a manner as to achieve forward motion of the said barge into the oil slick.
6. A continuous differential oil separator as described in Claim No. 1 but installed in any effluent treatment system which may have to accept continuous or accidental discharge of immiscible lighter than water polluting liquids.
7. A continuous differential oil separator as described in Claim No. 1 installed as a safety trap on a sewer discharge from any industrial or commercial building where accidental or unauthorized discharges of immiscible polluting liquids may occur.
8. An oil separator as described in Claim No. 2 and installed on a special barge in a similar manner as described in Claim No. 3 but having the scooping mouth mounted on a boom in such a manner that it rides in front of the said barge on floats and scoops the oil-water mixture off the surface of the sea into a special compartment, this being a part of the said barge, from which said compartment the upper layer of water and oil is pumped into the said oil separator as described in Claim No. 2 and Claim No. 3 so as to allow the said barge to move into the oil slick and swallow the oil-water mixture in front of it, separate the oil and send it to storage while allowing the water to be returned to the sea from the said oil separator and the said special front compartment, the bottom of which communicates with the sea by means of a pump controlled by means of a level controller allowing thus preseparation of the oil-water mixture before entering the said oil separator.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2035585 CA2035585A1 (en) | 1991-02-01 | 1991-02-01 | Differential continuous oil separator and its application in pollution control |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2035585 CA2035585A1 (en) | 1991-02-01 | 1991-02-01 | Differential continuous oil separator and its application in pollution control |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2035585A1 true CA2035585A1 (en) | 1992-08-02 |
Family
ID=4146944
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2035585 Abandoned CA2035585A1 (en) | 1991-02-01 | 1991-02-01 | Differential continuous oil separator and its application in pollution control |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2035585A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN103924424A (en) * | 2013-01-15 | 2014-07-16 | 海尔集团技术研发中心 | Dry washer |
| CN115990587A (en) * | 2023-01-19 | 2023-04-21 | 中国神华煤制油化工有限公司 | Cleaning equipment |
-
1991
- 1991-02-01 CA CA 2035585 patent/CA2035585A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN103924424A (en) * | 2013-01-15 | 2014-07-16 | 海尔集团技术研发中心 | Dry washer |
| CN103924424B (en) * | 2013-01-15 | 2017-06-30 | 青岛海尔滚筒洗衣机有限公司 | Dry cleaner |
| CN115990587A (en) * | 2023-01-19 | 2023-04-21 | 中国神华煤制油化工有限公司 | Cleaning equipment |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |