GB2473734A

GB2473734A - Method of controlling spillages by applying polyurethane foam as a barrier in the path of liquids

Info

Publication number: GB2473734A
Application number: GB1015560A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Chesterman; Nicholas Mullen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-09-18
Filing date: 2010-09-17
Publication date: 2011-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 2030-09-17
Also published as: GB2473734B8; GB201015560D0; GB0916371D0; GB2473734B; GB2473734A8

Abstract

The method involves applying a rapid curing and expanding polyurethane polymer in advance of the flowing liquid while the polymer is in an adherent and mouldable state, and shaping the polymer during application such that the polymer creates a continuous elongate closed-cell foam barrier in the path of the flowing liquid when set. The material may be used to rapidly create an effective bund 7 around a drain 2 or other receptor or divert the flow of a liquid.

Description

METHOD OF CONTROLLING SPILLAGES

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates o a method of controlling spillages of oils or other hydrocarbons, some solvents, water, some aqueous chemicals, and a number of other flowable liquids and polluans.

BACKGROUND

Environmental proecion is now recognised o be very imporan. Many drains, gulleys and systems lead direcdy or indirectly into receptors such as waterways or aquifers, and a large number of poIIuion incidents are caused by spillages or leakages of oil or other hazardous substances entering the drainage system.

Existing solutions intended W alleviate this problem in an emergency include a putty based rug that is used o seal drains, a neoprene based ma which covers drains, mouldable putty which can be apphed in the path of a liquid to form a bund around a drain, and clamp systems ha create a seal over the drain. However, these produces can be relaiveIy expensive, ineffective, heavy and bulky o store, and slow o apply.

The present invention seeks o provide a new and inventive method of rapidly controlling spillages which is easy o apply, cost effective o use, and simple o remove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invenUon proposes a method of controlling spillages of liquids flowing over a level or inclined surface, which comprises applying a rapid setting expanding foam material o the surface in advance of the flowing liquid while the material is in an adherent and deformable sae, and shaping the material during application such as o create a continuous non-yielding elongated barrier upstanding from the said surface in he path of the flowing liquid, such that the barrier acts to divert or contain the flow of liquid across said surface when see.

The material used in the invention is convenient o store as i occupies a relatively small storage volume prior o use and can easily be kept a location or ranspored.

The material may be provided as one or more components which react W form the rapid seWng maeriaI. A preferred form of the rapid sethng material incorporates a polymer such as polyurethane.

ft is also a significant advantage that the rapid sewng material expands during application o form a closed cell srucure. The material tends o expand o fill any voids formed during application, adheres o the ground surface, rapidly hardens o form a solid, and the volume of the material is relatively small prior o use.

The material may conveniently be applied using a physical, mechanical, pneumatically or self-propelled dispensing system.

The material may be applied in a ring o form a protective bund around a receptor or object, or the maeriaI can be used o form a barrier which diverts or contains the flow of liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description and the accompanying drawings referred o therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order o illusrae how the invention may be pu into practice.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a general view of a bund formed around a drain by a method in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a similar view of a diverting barrier formed by the method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The methods o be described below make use of a rapid expanding and curing foamed polyurethane produce formed from one or more chemical components. The wo-componen polyurethane chemical components are housed within dispensing containers and are combined by forcing them a measured ratios through a mixing nozzle. When the components intermix they undergo a reaction and dispense from the end of he mixing nozzle as a rapid curing and expanding foam which can be applied in various shapes. The preferred characerisics of the polyurethane foam include a strong propensity o adhere o most surfaces. After a period of about one minute the preferred foam will have se sufficiently with a predominantly closed cell structure having a continuous non-cellular tough and fluid repellent outer skin. After five minutes the preferred material should be strong enough o be cu with a knife.

Fig. 1, shows the material being used o form a bund 1 around a drain 2 in a level or slightly inclined surface following spillage of oil or other hydrocarbon or aqueous chemicals. The tubes 3 containing the chemical components are dispensed by physical, mechanical, pneumatically or self-propelled means through the mixing nozzle 6. The expanding foam 7 issuing from the nozzle is applied rapidly o form a continuous ring around the drain 2 which strongly adheres o the surrounding surface. The material continues o expand after application, forcing itself into any voids which may be present. After about one minute the material 7 has se sufficiently o form a non-yielding bund around the drain, upstanding from the surrounding surface, which is subsanially impenetrable o the advancing liquid 8.

If necessary, the size of the bund can be built up by applying further layers of foam on op of, behind or o the sides of the se material.

As illusraed in Fig. 2, in addition o forming a continuous bund surrounding a drain or other area requiring proecion from the spillage, the foam could also be laid in such a way as to form a diverting barrier 9 o control the direction or contain the flow of the liquid 8.

The method would not of course be suitable for controlling spillages of chemicals which could react adversely with the produce, bu spillages of many liquids can be conrolIed using the method as specified in the Material Safety Data Sheet.

Whilst the above description places emphasis on the areas which are believed o be new and addresses specific problems which have been identified, i is intended that the features disclosed herein may be used in any combination which is capable of providing a new and useful advance in the are.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of controlling spillages of liquids flowing over a level or inclined surface, which comprises applying a rapid seWng expanding foam material o the surface in advance of the flowing liquid while the material is in an adherent and deformable sae, and shaping the material during application such as o create a continuous non-yielding elongate barrier upstanding from the said surface in the path of the flowing liquid, such that the barrier aces o divert or contain the flow of liquid across said surface when see.
2. A method according o Claim 1 in which the expanding foam material incorporates a polyurethane.
3. A method according o Claim 1 or 2 in which the applicator system is manually operated.
4. A method according o Claim 1 or 2 in which the applicator system is elecro-mechanically operated.
5. A method according o Claim 1 or 2 in which the applicator system is pneumatically operated.
6. A method according o Claim 1 or 2 in which the applicator system is self-propelled or aerosol operated.
7. A method according o any preceding claim in which the material is applied such as o form an endless proecive bund around an object.
8. A method according o Claim 7 in which the object is a drain.
9. A method of controlling spillages of liquids flowing over a level or inclined surface subsanially as described with reference o the drawings.* * * * * * * *