GB2374838A - An oil slick harvesting vessel - Google Patents

An oil slick harvesting vessel Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2374838A
GB2374838A GB0209473A GB0209473A GB2374838A GB 2374838 A GB2374838 A GB 2374838A GB 0209473 A GB0209473 A GB 0209473A GB 0209473 A GB0209473 A GB 0209473A GB 2374838 A GB2374838 A GB 2374838A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
vessel
oil
harvesting
panels
endless belt
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.)
Granted
Application number
GB0209473A
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GB0209473D0 (en
GB2374838B (en
Inventor
Clive Stephen Montague Fisk
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Individual
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Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of GB0209473D0 publication Critical patent/GB0209473D0/en
Publication of GB2374838A publication Critical patent/GB2374838A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2374838B publication Critical patent/GB2374838B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B15/00—Cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water; Apparatus therefor
    • E02B15/04—Devices for cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like floating materials by separating or removing these materials
    • E02B15/10—Devices for removing the material from the surface
    • E02B15/104—Conveyors; Paddle wheels; Endless belts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/32—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for for collecting pollution from open water
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
    • Y02A20/20—Controlling water pollution; Waste water treatment
    • Y02A20/204—Keeping clear the surface of open water from oil spills

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Cleaning Or Clearing Of The Surface Of Open Water (AREA)

Abstract

An oil slick harvesting vessel 10 has an endless belt conveyer 14 for conveying spilled oil from one side of the vessel to the other and deployable hinged panels 11A, 11B, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B and 13C which extend along both ends of and said other side of the vessel. The panels are deployable so that they encompass an area on said other side of the vessel within which the spilled oil can be collected. Pump means may be provided on the vessel for drawing water and oil towards the vessel and into contact with the endless belt such that it can then be transferred into the encompassed area. The discharge outlets of the pump means may be located below the vessel and arranged for rotation to provide steerable thrust. A method for the use of the vessel is also disclosed.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1>
OIL SLICK HARVESTING Field of the Invention This invention relates to methods and means for the harvesting of oil slicks.
In British Patent Specification No. 2 310 381 there is described an oil slick harvesting vessel which has a mid-mounted endless belt conveyor for conveying spilled oil from one side of the other and deployable hinged end panels which can be connected to the end panels of other like vessels to encompass an area into which the spilled oil can be directed in operation of the endless belt conveyors of the interconnected harvesting vessels.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and means for harvesting oil slicks.
Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of harvesting an oil slick, which method includes :- a) providing an oil slick harvesting vessel which has an endless belt conveyor for conveying spilled oil from one side of the
<Desc/Clms Page number 2>
vessel to the other and depioyable hinged panels which extend along both ends and said other side of the vessel, b) deploying the hinged panels so that they encompass an area on said other side of the vessel and within which the spilled oil can be collected, and c) operating the endless belt conveyor to transfer the spilled oil into the encompassed area.
The endless belt conveyor is preferably so arranged that the end thereof at said one side of the vessel is at a lower level than the other end thereof so that, during operation of the endless belt conveyor, spilled oil contacted by the endless belt conveyor will be lifted and transferred into the encompassed area.
Pump means may also be provided for drawing water towards said endless belt conveyor and into the vessel from said one side thereof and discharging it downwardly from the vessel.
The pump means (if provided) and the endless conveyor will thus be operated in such manner that the flow of water into or towards the vessel produces a flow of the spilled oil into contact with the endless belt conveyor for transfer thereof into the encompassed area.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an oil slick harvesting vessel which has an endless belt conveyor for conveying spilled oil from one side of the vessel to the other, and deployable hinged panels which extend along both ends
<Desc/Clms Page number 3>
and said other side of the vessel and which are deployable so that they encompass an area on said other side of the vessel and within which the spilled oil can be collected.
The hinged panels are preferably provided with sealing means in the form of gaskets to stop any egress of oil from the encompassed or circumscribed area.
The hinged panels preferably comprise two hinged panels at each end of the vessel, each of which has a length substantially equal to the width of the vessel. The hinged panels preferably also comprise three hinged panels at said other side of the vessel, each of which has a length substantially equal to the length of the vessel.
Pump means may be provided for drawing water towards and into the vessel from said one side thereof and discharging it downwardly from the vessel, the arrangement being such that, on operating the pump means and the endless conveyor, a flow of water is produced into the vessel so as to produce a flow of the spilled oil into contact with the endless belt conveyor for transfer thereof into the encompassed area.
The discharge outlets of the pump means are preferably located below the vessel and arranged for rotation to provide steerable thrust.
The endless belt conveyor preferably includes a number of parallel flat belts which extend side by side within the vessel and,
<Desc/Clms Page number 4>
A 91 1 unlike the conveyor of the harvesting vessel described in British Patent Specification No. 2 310 381, do not include scoops. The arrangement is thus such that the oil is transferred from one side of the vessel to the other, i. e. to the encompassed area, due to the natural viscosity of the oil. The picked up oil is preferably scraped off the endless belts by means of blades or bars, each of which extends for the full width of the associated belt and is located at or adjacent the uppermost end of the belt. An access platform is preferably provided above the vessel.
The harvesting vessel preferably has a length of the order of 20 metres and a width of the order of 10 metres, with two hingedly connected panels at each end of the vessel and pivotally connected to the ends of said other side of the vessel. The free ends of the hingedly connected panels at the ends of the vessel are then pivotally connected to the three hingedly connected panels which each extend for substantially the length of the other side of the vessel.
The panels will preferably have a height (or depth) of the order of 9 metres with the arrangement such that the water line will be about 3 metres below the tops of the panels, giving a depth of about 6 metres below the water line.
The vessel will preferably have a Global Positioning System (GPS) for communication and control purposes and, in an emergency, several vessels will normally be transported to an oil slick by means of helicopters and dropped at strategic points,
<Desc/Clms Page number 5>
working independently of each other while maintaining communication with one another.
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an oil slick harvesting vessel with its panels fully deployed, Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the oil slick harvesting vessel of Figure 1 with its panels fully folded, and Figures 3 and 4 are diagrammatic plan views of the oil slick harvesting vessel if Figure 1 with its panels partially deployed.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment The vessel 10 shown in the drawings is of rectangular form in plan view and has a length of the order of 20 metres and a width of the order of 10 metres, with two hingedly connected panels 11 A and 11B or 12A and 12B at each end of the vessel 10. The panels 11A and 12A are pivotally connected to the ends of one of the sides of the vessel 10 and the panels 11B and 12B are pivotally connected to the ends of the panels 11 A and 12A. Each of the panels 11A, 11B, 12A and 12B has a length which is substantially equal to the width of the vessel 10 so that, when the panels 11A, 11B, 12A and 12B are in their compact storage or travelling positions, they are located against the ends of the vessel 10 and extend substantially parallel to the adjacent end of the vessel 10.
<Desc/Clms Page number 6>
The free ends of panels 118 and 12B are then pivotally connected to three hingedly connected panels 13A, 13B and 13C which each extend for substantially the length of a side of the vessel 10. Panel 13A is pivotally connected to panel 11B, panel 13B is pivotally connected to panel 13A and panel 13C is pivotally connected at its one vertical edge to panel 13B and at its other vertical edge to panel 12B. When the panels 13A, 13B, and 13C are in their compact storage or travelling positions, they are located against the side of the vessel 10 and extend substantially parallel to the adjacent side of the vessel 10.
When the vessel 10 reaches a location at which there is an oil slick which requires collection, the panels 11A, 11B, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B and 13C are moved under the action of hydraulic piston and cylinder mechanisms (not shown) from the positions shown in Figure 2 into the positions shown in Figure 3, and then into the positions shown in Figure 4, and finally into the positions shown in Figure 1, such movements of the panels being carried out progressively under the control of the piston and cylinder mechanisms such that, when the panels are in the positions shown in Figure 1, a substantial area is encompassed or circumscribed by the panels and by the side of the vessel 10 to which panels 11 A and 12A are pivotally connected. The panels will typically be provided with sealing means in the form of gaskets fitted to the hinged or pivotal connections between adjacent panels and between panels 11A and 12A and the side of the vessel 10.
<Desc/Clms Page number 7>
A series of endless belt conveyors 14 are mounted on the vessel 10, with the belts of the conveyors 14 extending parallel to one another from side to side of the vessel 10. The belts of the conveyors 14 are inclined to the horizontal with the lower ends of the conveyor runs on the side of the vessel 10 remote from the area encompassed by the panels. During operation of the conveyors 14, the oil which comes into contact with the belts of the conveyors 14 is transferred from the side of the vessel 10 remote from the encompassed area to the other side of the vessel 10 due to the natural viscosity of oil. The picked up oil is scraped off the endless belts by means of a series of blades or bars, each of which extends for the full width of the associated belt and is located at or adjacent the uppermost end of the associated belt.
Pumps (not shown) can be provided for drawing water towards and into the vessel 10 from the side thereof remote from the deployed panels and discharging it downwardly from the vessels, the arrangement being such that, on operating the pumps and the endless conveyors 14, a flow of water is produced into the vessel 10 so as to produce a flow of the spilled oil into contact with the endless belt conveyors 14 for transfer thereof into the encompassed area.
The discharge outlets of the pumps will be located below the vessel 10 and arranged for rotation to provide steerable thrust to facilitate suitable positioning of the vessel 10.
<Desc/Clms Page number 8>
The harvesting vessel 10 typically has a length of the order of 20 metres and a width of the order of 10 metres, while the panels 11A, 11B, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B and 13C will typically have a height (or depth) of the order of 9 metres with the arrangement such that the water line will be about 3 metres below the tops of the panels, giving a depth of about 6 metres below the water line. To enable the vessel to sit two thirds below the water line and, at the same time, to be as light as possible for transport purposes, the majority of the required ballast will be provided by allowing water to flood tanks within the vessel. The hingedly connected panels will have buoyancy for the top third, while the outer skin of each panel facing away from the encompassed or confined area will be perforated with holes allowing water to fill the void and act as ballast.
If harvesting a volatile mixture, such that there is a high risk of explosion either through the production of an inflammable vapour by evaporation or as a result of the mixture itself being of a highly inflammable nature, a foam barrier containing a fire preventative agent is preferably sprayed onto the surface within the encompassed area. The foam barrier will have a composition such that it floats on the surface of the harvested oil. The oil and water mix will have a density greater than that of the foam barrier so that the oil and mixture conveyed into the encompassed area will travel downwardly through the fire barrier. The mixture will then separate allowing the oil to build up below the fire barrier while the water will sink to below the layer of oil.
<Desc/Clms Page number 9>
Harvesting of the oil slick will be continued such that the oil within the encompassed area will build up to a level approaching the full depth of the vessel 10, at which time a conventional tanker can be used to surface pump the collected and separated oil from within the encompassed area. With a vessel having end and side panels of the size described above, the encompassed area will be of sufficient size to enable 5 million litres of oil to be harvested. Most of the harvested oil will have been unaffected by the recovery process and can, therefore, be recycled.

Claims (15)

  1. Claims :- 1. A method of harvesting an oil slick, which method includes :- a) providing an oil slick harvesting vessel which has an endless belt conveyor for conveying spilled oil from one side of the vessel to the other and deployable hinged panels which extend along both ends and said other side of the vessel, b) deploying the hinged panels so that they encompass an area on said other side of the vessel and within which the spilled oil can be collected, and c) operating the endless belt conveyor to transfer the spilled oil into the encompassed area.
  2. 2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, in which the endless belt conveyor is so arranged that the end thereof at said one side of the vessel is at a lower level than the other end thereof so that, during operation of the endless belt conveyor, spilled oil contacted by the endless belt conveyor will be lifted and transferred into the encompassed area.
  3. 3. A method as claimed in either of the preceding claims, in which pump means are provided for drawing water towards said endless belt conveyor and into the vessel from said one side thereof and discharging it downwardly from the vessel.
    <Desc/Clms Page number 11>
  4. 4. A method as claimed in Claim 3, in which the pump means and the endless conveyor are operated in such manner that the flow of water into or towards the vessel produces a flow of the spilled oil into contact with the endless belt conveyor for transfer thereof into the encompassed area.
  5. 5. A method of harvesting an oil slick substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  6. 6. An oil slick harvesting vessel which has an endless belt conveyor for conveying spilled oil from one side of the vessel to the other, and deployable hinged panels which extend along both ends and said other side of the vessel and which are deployable so that they encompass an area on said other side of the vessel and within which the spilled oil can be collected.
  7. 7. An oil slick harvesting vessel as claimed in Claim 6, in which the hinged panels are provided with sealing means in the form of gaskets to stop any egress of oil from the encompassed or circumscribed area.
  8. 8. An oil slick harvesting vessel as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, in which the hinged panels comprise two hinged panels at each end of the vessel, each of which has a length substantially equal to the width of the vessel.
    <Desc/Clms Page number 12>
  9. 9. An oil slick harvesting vessel as claimed in Claim 8, in which the hinged panels also comprise three hinged panels at said other side of the vessel, each of which has a length substantially equal to the length of the vessel.
  10. 10. An oil slick harvesting vessel as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 9, in which pump means are provided for drawing water towards and into the vessel from said one side thereof and discharging it downwardly from the vessel, the arrangement being such that, on operating the pump means and the endless conveyor, a flow of water is produced into the vessel so as to produce a flow of the spilled oil into contact with the endless belt conveyor for transfer thereof into the encompassed area.
  11. 11. An oil slick harvesting vessel as claimed in Claim 10, in which the discharge outlets of the pump means are located below the vessel and are arranged for rotation to provide steerable thrust.
  12. 12. An oil slick harvesting vessel as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 11, in which the endless belt conveyor includes a number of parallel flat belts which extend side by side within the vessel.
  13. 13. An oil slick harvesting vessel as claimed in Claim 9, which has a length of the order of 20 metres and a width of the order of 10 metres, with two hingedly connected panels at each end of the vessel and pivotally connected to the ends of said other side of the vessel.
    <Desc/Clms Page number 13>
  14. 14. An oil slick harvesting vessel as claimed in Claim 13, in which the free ends of the hingedly connected panels at the ends of the vessel are pivotally connected to the three hingedly connected panels which each extend for substantially the length of the other side of the vessel, and in which the panels have a height (or depth) of the order of 9 metres with the arrangement such that the water line will be about 3 metres below the tops of the panels, giving a depth of about 6 metres below the water line.
  15. 15. An oil slick harvesting vessel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
GB0209473A 2001-04-27 2002-04-25 Oil slick harvesting Expired - Fee Related GB2374838B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0110381.1A GB0110381D0 (en) 2001-04-27 2001-04-27 Oil slick harvesting

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0209473D0 GB0209473D0 (en) 2002-06-05
GB2374838A true GB2374838A (en) 2002-10-30
GB2374838B GB2374838B (en) 2004-05-12

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GBGB0110381.1A Ceased GB0110381D0 (en) 2001-04-27 2001-04-27 Oil slick harvesting
GB0209473A Expired - Fee Related GB2374838B (en) 2001-04-27 2002-04-25 Oil slick harvesting

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB0110381.1A Ceased GB0110381D0 (en) 2001-04-27 2001-04-27 Oil slick harvesting

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004003300A1 (en) * 2002-07-01 2004-01-08 Clive Stephen Montague Fisk Oil slick harvester
FR2859700A1 (en) * 2003-09-15 2005-03-18 Michel Creton Object e.g. shipwreck, recovering device for aquatic medium e.g. sea, has capture net connected to motorized sliding door for opening or closing device according to different operating phases
GB2422580A (en) * 2005-01-28 2006-08-02 Oil Ltd Oil containment boom formed from a plurality of hingedly connected moulded plastic panels

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3700108A (en) * 1971-02-04 1972-10-24 Frank A Richards Oil skimmer
US4264444A (en) * 1978-07-04 1981-04-28 Ateliers Generaux De Mecanique De L'ouest Apparatus for recovering material floating on a body of water and a barge for carrying such apparatus
GB2310381A (en) * 1996-02-26 1997-08-27 Clive Stephen Montague Fisk Oil Slick Harvester

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3700108A (en) * 1971-02-04 1972-10-24 Frank A Richards Oil skimmer
US4264444A (en) * 1978-07-04 1981-04-28 Ateliers Generaux De Mecanique De L'ouest Apparatus for recovering material floating on a body of water and a barge for carrying such apparatus
GB2310381A (en) * 1996-02-26 1997-08-27 Clive Stephen Montague Fisk Oil Slick Harvester

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004003300A1 (en) * 2002-07-01 2004-01-08 Clive Stephen Montague Fisk Oil slick harvester
FR2859700A1 (en) * 2003-09-15 2005-03-18 Michel Creton Object e.g. shipwreck, recovering device for aquatic medium e.g. sea, has capture net connected to motorized sliding door for opening or closing device according to different operating phases
GB2422580A (en) * 2005-01-28 2006-08-02 Oil Ltd Oil containment boom formed from a plurality of hingedly connected moulded plastic panels

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0110381D0 (en) 2001-06-20
GB0209473D0 (en) 2002-06-05
GB2374838B (en) 2004-05-12

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Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20080425