ES2224833B1 - COVERAGE STRUCTURE FOR DETENTION AND STORAGE OF FLUID LEAKS DISPOSED BY A SUNKEN VESSEL IN THE MARINE FUND. - Google Patents

Abstract

Cover structure for detention and storage of fluid leaks spilled by a ship sunk in the seabed. It is a transportable structure that can be launched from the surface of the sea to the seabed that is mainly constituted by a large tarp (1) used as a means of stopping and storing the spillage of fluid released by a ship (7), which It is anchored to mooring blocks (2) of heavy material at different points of the canvas (1) constituting a bell-like structure that houses inside the fluid spill (3) that is retained inside the bell based on the higher water pressure and lower fluid weight (3).

Description

Cover structure for detention and storage of fluid leaks spilled by a sunken ship On the seabed.

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a structure cover that has been specially designed to store directed way of leaking spills of a lower density fluid that water caused by ships sunk in the seabed and prevent its spread to prevent contamination of the environment.

It is the object of the invention that the structure fundamentally incorporate a cover canvas linked to some mooring blocks constituting an easily transportable assembly that can be launched from the sea surface towards the seabed until surrounding the ship, with said means of mooring sufficiently heavy and a canvas strong enough in order to withstand the pressure to be subjected to the seabed in which it will be located constituting a bell-like structure that retains the fluid discharged by the vessel.

Background of the invention

The wide impact of the sinking of a vessel loaded with polluting fluid such as the case of the tankers that will normally break the hull leading to to oil leaks causing an ecological catastrophe of considerable magnitude.

These facts, although isolated, give rise to a huge problem to the extent that balance is affected ecological of the closest environment that can be an extension thousands of miles, aggravated by the fact that the winds and the tides extend the contaminating fluid to greater distances if possible causing serious damage to the entire ecosystem and the economy of the affected places.

In order to recover the spilled fluid, it is usually resort to moving specialized ships that incorporate means of extraction specially designed for fluid recovery when it is in high concentrations in the proximity and on the surface of the sea.

When the discharge is of a considerable magnitude it is very difficult to control the entire amount of fluid with the only performance of these vessels so the fluid can be expand reaching the coasts. In order to prevent the fluid penetrates the estuaries the use of barriers designed for this purpose that can limit an area determined avoiding the spread of oil.

The use of specialized vessels or the use of barriers constitute a very limited solution to the extent that do not avoid the root problem since the spill is followed producing

Occasionally and when the escape route of the dumping is not excessive those sectors of the hull can be repaired in which the break occurred tried to cover the openings avoiding in this way that the fluid continues to flow out.

However in cases where the openings they are of considerable size and distributed in different sectors of the helmet is not easy to do this work, even more the problem is aggravated if the vessel is submerged to a depth considerable not being possible to execute these works.

It is contemplated however that for large depths the oil can cool down and solidify as a result of the low temperatures, however this situation is difficult to predict as a result of temperature variations

The possibility of covering the entire ship It constitutes a possible solution so that the spilled fluid remain stored and controlled avoiding its dispersion.

A possible solution in this regard could go through the development in situ of a structure around the vessel that covered it and that left it buried with all the oil inside, however the existence of material means to perform these tasks is unknown. at great depths, especially at 3,500 m.

The constitution of a covering structure that could be transported and launched from the surface to the ship sunk in order to cover and store inside all fluid discharged by the vessel constitutes a possible solution for eradicate the problem described, this being the object of the invention described below.

Description of the invention

The cover structure object of this invention It is conceived for stopping and storing fluid leaks discharged by a ship on the seabed, resulting from application in the case that the spilled fluid is of lower density than the water density

This cover structure is located essentially constituted by a large canvas of geometry according to the extent of the contaminant remains of the vessel to fully cover the pollutant foci of the ship and its closest surroundings, and by some mooring blocks of material heavy as can be concrete that constitute the points of fixing of said canvas and which are thrown together with the canvas from the surface to the bottom where they will form a bell-like structure in which the fluid will be retained discharged by the ship avoiding its expansion.

Through this cover structure, get to quickly and easily cancel leaks during a indeterminate time in the course of which it could reach solidify the fluid, or once the spill has stopped have the necessary means to seal that bell with the fluid inside and bring it to the surface for subsequent extraction and treatment.

It is contemplated that the assembly is already transportable mounted and that can be thrown into the sea so that the blocks of heavy weight tie down the canvas as it descends to the bottom until contacting the surface, it is also expected that the canvas have stiffening or lift elements that maintain the bell shape during the descent of the structure and while remains operatively arranged in the background for the purpose of facilitate the accumulation of the spilled fluid that ascends towards above.

The principle of fluid storage in the bell inside is based on the pressure difference between the fluid and water.

In the case of a bell submerged in water, the pressure at which it was subjected depends on the height at which it finds, resulting in matching pressure inside and in the Exterior. However, if inside the bell is the pollutant fluid of lower density than water, its weight it will be lower and will tend to rise naturally accumulating in the inside the bell in which it will be distributed, then it will create a difference in weight between the inside (fluid), and the outside (water), until a balance is reached.

Water will put pressure on the fluid housed inside the bell that will be accumulated in its inside avoiding its exit.

The space that would remain between the canvas and the bottom and the mooring blocks would not require any sealing at the beginning previously commented since the fluid would always be housed in a upper level inside the hood.

The canvas would be conveniently ballasted on the mooring blocks constituting a covering structure by way of of bell that would not be affected by the great pressures existing at these depths, since in regard to pressures the whole would be in perfect balance.

It is also noteworthy that at large depths the seabed is stable and the mechanical safety of the hood.

For mooring blocks, the possibility of using steel component materials together with the concrete or instead of it, since there will be no problems of corrosion as a result of water pressure and temperature at this depth, there is practically no oxygen.

The constituent fibers of the canvas are of material strong enough to withstand the pressures to which may be subject and will be adequate to support the conditions of the marine environment for a long time.

The canvas is made of flexible material and at the same time resistant, as well as airtight in order to prevent the passage of fluid that comes directly from the vessel or other fluids that they could be released by natural decomposition of said fluid. Also the canvas will be able to withstand the storage of corrosive products such as heavy fuels, gasoline and others.

The canvas will preferably use materials such as nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like, and may go reinforced on its surface with braided resistant material such as stainless steel or high nylon threads resistance, definitive materials that allow high periods of permanence on the seabed.

Also the canvas may incorporate a mouth of discharge to which mechanical extraction means can be coupled for the controlled evacuation of the fluid stored in the Bell.

Description of the drawings

To complement the description that is being performing and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to an example preferred practical implementation of it, is accompanied as integral part of that description, a set of drawings where with an illustrative and non-limiting nature, what has been represented next:

Figure 1.- Shows an illustrative view of the cover structure object of this invention in a situation of descent from the surface and reaching the seabed observing the mooring blocks and the canvas around the wreckage submerged forming a bell around the ship.

Figure 2.- Shows a figure of the structure cover for stopping and storing fluid leaks discharges by a ship sunk in the seabed in the situation operational with mooring blocks located on said bottom with the spilled fluid contained inside the hood.

Figure 3.- shows a perspective view of the Cover structure object of this invention operatively arranged on the seabed around the sunken ship.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

In view of the figures described then a preferred embodiment of a structure cover for stopping and storing fluid leaks discharged by a ship sunk in the seabed, applicable to fluids with lower density than water.

More specifically it is a structure transportable that can be launched from the sea surface towards the seabed, which is essentially constituted by a large canvas (1) of flexible, resistant, resistant material corrosion and hermetic used as a means of detention and storage of the discharge of fluid released by a ship or other fluids resulting from its decomposition, which is anchored to mooring blocks (2) of heavy material at different points of the canvas (1) constituting a structure to bell mode that surrounds the ship (7) and houses inside the discharge of fluid (3) that is retained inside the hood based on higher water pressure and lower fluid weight (3).

It is contemplated that the mooring blocks incorporate anchoring means (4) to the canvas, as well as having means of lift (5) for its descent from the sea surface to Your deposit on the seabed.

On the other hand the canvas (1) will have elements of stiffening and lift (6) that will enable the constitution of the bell-like structure during its descent and support on the seabed.

Also the canvas will have a mouth of discharge (8) to which extraction means can be attached mechanics to evacuate the stored fluid in a controlled manner (3).

Claims (6)

1. Cover structure for stopping and storing fluid leaks discharged by a ship sunk in the seabed, applicable for fluids with a lower density than water, essentially characterized in that it consists of a large tarp (1) of flexible material, resistant, resistant to corrosion and hermetic used as a means of stopping and storing the spillage of fluid released by a ship or other fluids resulting from its decomposition, which is anchored to mooring blocks (2) of heavy material in different points of the canvas (1) that are thrown from the surface of the sea and deposited on the seabed constituting a bell-like structure that surrounds the ship (7) and houses inside the fluid spill (3) that It is retained inside the hood based on the higher water pressure and lower fluid weight (3). 2. Cover structure for stopping and storing fluid leaks discharged by a ship sunk in the seabed according to previous claims characterized in that the canvas (1) has stiffening and support elements (6) that configure the structure as a bell during its descent and its location on the seabed. 3. Cover structure for stopping and storing fluid leaks discharged by a ship sunk in the seabed according to previous claims characterized in that the canvas (1) has a discharge mouth (8) to which mechanical extraction means can be attached to evacuate the stored fluid in a controlled manner (3). 4. Cover structure for stopping and storing fluid leaks discharged by a ship sunk in the seabed according to previous claims characterized in that the canvas (1) incorporates in its surface a braided reinforcement of highly resistant material. 5. Cover structure for stopping and storing fluid leaks discharged by a ship sunk in the seabed according to previous claims characterized in that the mooring blocks (2) incorporate anchoring means (4) to the canvas. 6. Cover structure for stopping and storing fluid leaks discharged by a ship sunk in the seabed according to claims 1 and 5 characterized in that the mooring blocks (2) incorporate support means (5) for their descent from the surface of the sea to its deposit on the seabed.