GB2160190A

GB2160190A - Apparatus for spraying dispersant onto an oil spill

Info

Publication number: GB2160190A
Application number: GB08414176A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Bruce Standring
Original assignee: Ayles & Associates Ltd Fra; MARINE SAFETY SERVICES Ltd
Current assignee: Ayles & Associates Ltd Fra; MARINE SAFETY SERVICES Ltd
Priority date: 1984-06-04
Filing date: 1984-06-04
Publication date: 1985-12-18
Also published as: GB2160190B; GB8414176D0

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a spray arm (10), a support (12) for mounting the spray arm on the deck of a ship so that the arm projects from the side of the ship, a flexible hose (16) connected to the spray arm so that part of the hose hangs from the end of the arm, a pump (18) for supplying dispersant to the hose, and a spray nozzle (14) fixed to the end of the hose. The hose can be payed out and drawn in to adjust the height of the nozzle above the water. The spray arm may be provided with a counterbalance in the form of a water tank (34) having an inlet (36) and outlet (38) to enable the amount of water in the tank to be adjusted. A reel (40) for paying out and drawing in the hose may be mounted on the counterbalance tank (34). The spray arm (10) may be mounted for movement about a vertical axis and for limited movement about a horizontal axis. The pump (18) may be driven by a water turbine (44) connected to the ship's firemain. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for spraying dispersant onto an oil spill This invention relates to appratus for spraying dispersant onto an area of oil spillage from a ship.

Oil spillages from ships are usually dealt with by spraying the oil slick with a dispersant composition from a specially adapted tug or boat equipped with booms carrying spray members. For example, published International Patent Application WO 81/ 02693 describes a boat fitted with fixed booms extending from each side of the boat and carrying a number of spray nozzles. Whilst this method is suitable for dealing with large oil slicks, it is not always convenient to deal with small oil spillages from a ship, for example due to a berthing accident or minor collision or to spillage during cargo operations.

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus which can be carried by a ship such as a tanker to provide it with its own capacity for dealing with minor oil spillages.

This invention consists in apparatus for spraying dispersant over an area of oil spillage, comprising a spray arm, support means for mounting the spray arm on the deck of a ship so that the arm projects from the side of the ship, a flexible hose connected to the spray arm so that part of the hose extending from the end of the arm hangs freely above the water, a spray nozzle fixed to the end of the hose, means for supplying dispersant under pressure to the hose, and means for paying out and drawing in the flexible hose so as to adjust the height of the nozzle above the water.

The means for paying out and drawing in the hose may be a hose reel mounted on the spray arm.

The spray arm is preferably adapted to be mounted on the ship so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis, to enable the spray nozzle to be positioned as required. It may also be pivotable to a limited extent about a horizontal axis, a locking device being provided to lock the arm in the desired position.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a counterbalance may be fixed to the spray arm on the side of the pivotal axis opposite the outer end of the arm, the counterbalance comprising a tank which can be filled with water, the tank having inlet and outlet means to enable the amount of water in the tank to be adjusted so as to adjust the weight of the counterbalance. The hose reel for the flexible hose may be mounted on the counterbalance tank.

The means for supplying dispersant to the hose may be a water-turbine driven pump, powered for example from the ship's firemain.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a spray arm of apparatus in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the spray arm, and Figure 3 shows the apparatus in use.

Referring to the drawings, apparatus for spraying a dispersant onto an area of oil spillage comprises a spray arm 10 mounted on a support post 12 adapted to be fixed to the side of a ship, a spray nozzle 14 supported from the arm 10 by a hose 16, and a pump 18 for supplying dispersant to the nozzle.

The spray arm 10, which is approximately six metres in length, is made from two sections 20 and 22 of a lightweight material, such as the GRP material sold under the trade mark MATHWEB. The sections 20 and 22 are hinged together at 24 to enable the arm to be folded for storage purposes.

The arm 10 is supported at its rear end on a column 26, which is rotatably mounted on the support post 12, to enable the arm to pivot about a vertical axis. The arm 10 can also pivot on the column 26 about a horizontal axis 28, and a locking device 30 is provided to lock the arm in position.

The support post 12 is, in use, fixed by suitable clamps to the guard rail of the ship, so that the spray arm 10 projects outwards over the water as shown in Figure 3.

An arm 32 fixed to the spray arm 10 and extending rearwards beyond the pivot 28 carries a counterbalance in the form of a tank 34 which can be filled with water. The tank 34 has an inlet 36 and an outlet 38 through which water can be drained from the tank to adjust the amount of water in the tank or to empty the tank when the apparatus is not in use.

A hose reel 40 is rotatably mounted on the side of the counterbalance tank 34. The hose 16 extends from the reel 40, to the spray arm 10 and is guided along the spray arm to its outer end. At the outer end of the hose 16 is trained over a guide roller 42 from which, in use, the end portion of the hose hangs freely.

Fixed to the free end of the hose 16 is a spray nozzle 14, designed to produce a downwardly directed conical spray pattern. The nozzle may, for example, be similar to the nozzle described in published Internatonal Patent Application No. 81/ 02693.

After passing around the reel 40, the hose 16 extends to the pump 18. The pump 18 is driven by a water turbine 44 connected by a fire hose 46 to the ships firemain 48. The pump 18 draws neat concentrate oil dispersant from a drum 50 through a suction hose 52.

In use, the support post 12 is fixed to the ship's guardrail at a suitable position near the oil spillage.

The spray arm 10 is pivoted about the horizontal axis to the desired position and locked by the locking device 30. The hose reel 40 is turned manually to pay out the hose 16 until the nozzle 14 is at the desired height above the water. The pump 18 is then operated to supply dispersant under pressure to the nozzle 14 and the spray arm is rotated to move the nozzle over the surface of the water, to spray the dispersant over the oil slick. The width of the swath sprayed by dispersant can be adjusted by paying out or drawing in the hose 16 to change the height of the nozzle 14 above the water. After a swath has been sprayed, the spray arm 10 can be set to another angular position, so as to spray another swath nearer to or further from the side of the ship.

When it is not in use, the apparatus can be dismantled and stored in a relatively small space.

The apparatus thus enables the ship to deal on its own with minor oil spillages, without the need to call on the aid of a specialised vessel.

It will be appreciated that modifications could be made in the described embodiment. For example, the spray arm could be made in more than two sections, depending on the desired length of the arm.

Claims

1. Apparatus for spraying dispersant over an area of oil spillage, comprising a spray arm, support means for mounting the spray arm on the deck of a ship so that the arm projects from the side of the ship, a flexible hose connected to the spray arm so that part of the hose extending from the end of the arm hangs freely over the water, a spray nozzle fixed to the end of the hose, means for supplying dispersant under pressure to the hose, and means for paying out and drawing in the flexible hose so as to adjust the height of the nozzle above the water.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for paying out and drawing in the hose comprises a hose reel mounted on the spray arm.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the support means for mounting the spray arm comprises a support member adapted to be fixed to the deck of a ship, the spray arm being pivotably mounted on the support member for rotation about a vertical axis.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the spray arm is also pivotable to a limited extent about a horizontal axis, and a locking device is provided to lock the arm in position after adjustment about the horizontal axis.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, in which a counterbalance is fixed to the spray arm on the side of the pivotal axis opposite the outer end of the arm, the counterbalance comprising a tank which can be filled with water, the tank having inlet and outlet means to enable the amount of water in the tank to be adjusted so as to adjust the weight of the counterbalance.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which a hose reel for the flexible hose is mounted on the counterbalance tank.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the means for supplying dispersant to the hose comprises a water-turbine driven pump.