WO1999036198A1 - Method for collecting a viscous and sticky material - Google Patents

Method for collecting a viscous and sticky material Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1999036198A1
WO1999036198A1 PCT/SE1998/000051 SE9800051W WO9936198A1 WO 1999036198 A1 WO1999036198 A1 WO 1999036198A1 SE 9800051 W SE9800051 W SE 9800051W WO 9936198 A1 WO9936198 A1 WO 9936198A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
collecting
oil
crude oil
sticky
viscous
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/SE1998/000051
Other languages
French (fr)
Swedish (sv)
Inventor
Karl T. Haugen
Gert Lövgren
Original Assignee
Disab Vacuum Technology Ab
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to SE9602786A priority Critical patent/SE507594C2/en
Priority claimed from SE9602786A external-priority patent/SE507594C2/en
Application filed by Disab Vacuum Technology Ab filed Critical Disab Vacuum Technology Ab
Priority to EP98907298A priority patent/EP1054742A1/en
Priority to PCT/SE1998/000051 priority patent/WO1999036198A1/en
Priority to AU63139/98A priority patent/AU6313998A/en
Publication of WO1999036198A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999036198A1/en
Priority to NO20003573A priority patent/NO311410B1/en
Priority to US09/614,869 priority patent/US6332474B1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
    • B08B9/08—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
    • B08B9/093—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by the force of jets or sprays
    • B08B9/0933—Removing sludge or the like from tank bottoms
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B57/00—Tank or cargo hold cleaning specially adapted for vessels
    • B63B57/02—Tank or cargo hold cleaning specially adapted for vessels by washing
    • 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
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
    • Y10T137/0318—Processes
    • Y10T137/0391—Affecting flow by the addition of material or energy

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for collecting a highly viscous and sticky material.
  • SE-B-432, 274 discloses a method for collecting a layer of crude oil from an area covered therewith.
  • water vapour is used to break up the oil layer and to heat the same, thereby reducing its viscosity.
  • This method of collecting oil still involves the problem that settled oil tends to stick to the collecting equipment although the oil has been heated and broken up.
  • An object of the invention is to provide a relatively uncomplicated method for efficient combating of crude oil pollution.
  • a specific object is to provide an improved method for collecting a highly viscous and sticky material from an area covered with such material in the form of a layer.
  • a specific object is to provide an improved method for collecting settled oil layers, which permits efficient cleaning of crude oil tanks. According to the invention, the objects are achieved by a method according to the appended claims .
  • the invention is based on the surprising discovery that the removal of an undesired oil can be facilitated by the paradoxical addition of a further oil. It is assumed that the lubricating function of the supplied liquid fluid facilitates the passing of the collected oil material through ducts in the collecting equipment and, thus, prevents adhesion and depositing in the collecting equipment.
  • This improved capacity of transporting crude oil and similar substances dramatically increases the collecting capacity of existing collecting equipment since the number of shutdowns, planned and unplanned, decreases. Besides the cost of service and maintenance will decrease.
  • An advantage of the inventive method is that it is not necessary to heat the fluid supplied to the material which is to be removed.
  • a further advantage is that it is not necessary to supply the material under pressure either, but the supply can be effected in an arbitrary manner.
  • the lubricating fluid comprises an oil, which in itself is advantageous since no further polluting substances, which can make the disposal difficult, are thus supplied to the crude oil material.
  • the invention is applicable not only to the combat- ing of oil and collecting of oil from e.g. oil depots, but also to the collecting, from areas or depots, of other sticky and highly viscous materials, such as bituminous products, mud etc.
  • the invention has been found particularly advanta- geous when cleaning oil tanks, in which settled crude oil material containing impurities, such as precipitates, mud and sand, is deposited and possibly sticks to bottom and walls .
  • crude oil material by which, in connection with the invention, is meant crude oil and similar highly viscous and sticky materials.
  • crude oil material is intended to comprise materials settled in the storage and/or transport of crude oil.
  • a lubricating fluid consisting of hydrocarbon compounds is supplied to the material which is to be removed.
  • the actual removal is carried out by means of vacuum via collecting equipment with collecting ducts.
  • the collecting equipment usually comprises tubes, nozzles, couplings and pump equipment, through which the crude oil material is pumped.
  • the oil or a similar product which is to be removed is pumped through a tube, the opening or nozzle of which is placed adjacent to or in the oil. From the tube, the oil is passed to a collecting vessel for disposal or further treatment.
  • the adding of the lubricating fluid can be carried out separately before and/or during the collecting procedure.
  • lubri- eating fluid is added in connection with the collecting via a combined nozzle for sucking up crude oil material and supplying a lubricating fluid.
  • the proportions between lubricating fluid and col- lected oil material depend on a number of different factors, such as temperature, transport distance, choice of lubricating fluid and properties of the oil that is to be collected.
  • the choice of lubricating fluid is not critical as long as the lubricating function is achieved. What is decisive of a good function thus is above all that the lubricating fluid, in the existing circumstances, such as temperature, pressure, material to be collected and material in the collecting equipment, is capable of reducing the friction between the material that is being collected and the collecting equipment, such that there is but a negligible degree of adhesion.
  • a type of fluid which has been found very useful is various types of lubricating liquids, such as oils, e.g. motor oil, hydraulic oil and waste oil.
  • waste oil also gives the advantage that a residual product of little value that must be disposed of in any case, can be used and then be disposed of together with the collected crude oil material.
  • a great advantage of the method according to the invention is that when collecting viscous and sticky materials, it is possible to control the collecting procedure to fit the material concerned.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Lubricants (AREA)
  • Fats And Perfumes (AREA)

Abstract

When collecting a crude oil material or a similar highly viscous and sticky material, a lubricating fluid is supplied and vacuum is applied.

Description

METHOD FOR COLLECTING A VISCOUS AND STICKY
MATERIAL
The present invention relates to a method for collecting a highly viscous and sticky material.
The combating of oil pollution on the open sea and on land is a constant problem to which a large number of more or less inefficient solutions have been found, such as chemical means of combating, drag nets, mechanical beaters etc. A great difficulty in the combating of crude oil -is, as is known, the highly viscous and sticky state of the crude oil, making it difficult to collect and transport.
Moreover, a discharge of crude oil can in itself be polluted with various solid particles, dirt and litter, which make the collecting procedure difficult. When storing and transporting crude oil, for instance in tankers, crude oil sediment forms, which may contain both mud and sand. Also when cleaning oil tanks for e.g. crude oil, considerable difficulties arise when removing such settled crude oil residues. A special problem is that settled crude oil material and other highly viscous and sticky materials, when being sucked up, tend to stick to collecting equipment, such as tubes, nozzles and pump equipment .
There is today a great need for an efficient method of cleaning crude oil tanks in e.g. tankers since clean- ing on the open sea with sea water, which is presently a common method, results in the discharge of oil and constitutes an environmental hazard.
SE-B-432, 274 discloses a method for collecting a layer of crude oil from an area covered therewith. In the method described, water vapour is used to break up the oil layer and to heat the same, thereby reducing its viscosity. This method of collecting oil, however, still involves the problem that settled oil tends to stick to the collecting equipment although the oil has been heated and broken up. An object of the invention is to provide a relatively uncomplicated method for efficient combating of crude oil pollution.
A specific object is to provide an improved method for collecting a highly viscous and sticky material from an area covered with such material in the form of a layer.
In this connection a specific object is to provide an improved method for collecting settled oil layers, which permits efficient cleaning of crude oil tanks. According to the invention, the objects are achieved by a method according to the appended claims .
In summary, the invention is based on the surprising discovery that the removal of an undesired oil can be facilitated by the paradoxical addition of a further oil. It is assumed that the lubricating function of the supplied liquid fluid facilitates the passing of the collected oil material through ducts in the collecting equipment and, thus, prevents adhesion and depositing in the collecting equipment. This improved capacity of transporting crude oil and similar substances dramatically increases the collecting capacity of existing collecting equipment since the number of shutdowns, planned and unplanned, decreases. Besides the cost of service and maintenance will decrease. An advantage of the inventive method is that it is not necessary to heat the fluid supplied to the material which is to be removed. A further advantage is that it is not necessary to supply the material under pressure either, but the supply can be effected in an arbitrary manner.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the lubricating fluid comprises an oil, which in itself is advantageous since no further polluting substances, which can make the disposal difficult, are thus supplied to the crude oil material.
The invention is applicable not only to the combat- ing of oil and collecting of oil from e.g. oil depots, but also to the collecting, from areas or depots, of other sticky and highly viscous materials, such as bituminous products, mud etc.
The invention has been found particularly advanta- geous when cleaning oil tanks, in which settled crude oil material containing impurities, such as precipitates, mud and sand, is deposited and possibly sticks to bottom and walls .
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described. Reference is made to crude oil material, by which, in connection with the invention, is meant crude oil and similar highly viscous and sticky materials. In particular, the designation crude oil material is intended to comprise materials settled in the storage and/or transport of crude oil.
In a preferred method of collecting a crude oil material or a similar highly viscous and sticky material, a lubricating fluid consisting of hydrocarbon compounds is supplied to the material which is to be removed. The actual removal is carried out by means of vacuum via collecting equipment with collecting ducts. The collecting equipment usually comprises tubes, nozzles, couplings and pump equipment, through which the crude oil material is pumped. In the collecting procedure, the oil or a similar product which is to be removed is pumped through a tube, the opening or nozzle of which is placed adjacent to or in the oil. From the tube, the oil is passed to a collecting vessel for disposal or further treatment. The adding of the lubricating fluid can be carried out separately before and/or during the collecting procedure. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, lubri- eating fluid is added in connection with the collecting via a combined nozzle for sucking up crude oil material and supplying a lubricating fluid.
If there is a long transport distance and/or a great resistance in suction ducts in the collecting equipment, it may be advantageous to supply lubricating oil along the ducts, between the crude oil material that is to be transported and the duct wall.
The proportions between lubricating fluid and col- lected oil material depend on a number of different factors, such as temperature, transport distance, choice of lubricating fluid and properties of the oil that is to be collected.
The choice of lubricating fluid is not critical as long as the lubricating function is achieved. What is decisive of a good function thus is above all that the lubricating fluid, in the existing circumstances, such as temperature, pressure, material to be collected and material in the collecting equipment, is capable of reducing the friction between the material that is being collected and the collecting equipment, such that there is but a negligible degree of adhesion.
A type of fluid which has been found very useful is various types of lubricating liquids, such as oils, e.g. motor oil, hydraulic oil and waste oil.
The use of a waste oil also gives the advantage that a residual product of little value that must be disposed of in any case, can be used and then be disposed of together with the collected crude oil material. A great advantage of the method according to the invention is that when collecting viscous and sticky materials, it is possible to control the collecting procedure to fit the material concerned.

Claims

1. A method for collecting a highly viscous and sticky crude oil material from a tank, in which method a fluid is supplied to the material and vacuum is applied, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that a lubricating fluid in the form of waste oil is supplied to the crude oil material adjacent to an inlet of collecting equipment, and that the waste oil is sucked through a collecting duct together with the crude oil material for the purpose of preventing adhesion to the collecting equipment.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the waste oil is supplied without any preceding heating.
3. Use of a waste oil when collecting a highly viscous and sticky crude oil material from a tank, for the purpose of preventing adhesion between the crude oil material and collecting equipment.
PCT/SE1998/000051 1996-07-15 1998-01-14 Method for collecting a viscous and sticky material WO1999036198A1 (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE9602786A SE507594C2 (en) 1996-07-15 1996-07-15 Methods and uses when extracting a crude oil material from a tank
EP98907298A EP1054742A1 (en) 1998-01-14 1998-01-14 Method for collecting a viscous and sticky material
PCT/SE1998/000051 WO1999036198A1 (en) 1996-07-15 1998-01-14 Method for collecting a viscous and sticky material
AU63139/98A AU6313998A (en) 1998-01-14 1998-01-14 Method for collecting a viscous and sticky material
NO20003573A NO311410B1 (en) 1998-01-14 2000-07-12 Process for the collection of a viscous and tacky crude oil material, as well as the use of waste oil for the collection
US09/614,869 US6332474B1 (en) 1998-01-14 2000-07-12 Method for collecting a viscous and sticky material

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE9602786A SE507594C2 (en) 1996-07-15 1996-07-15 Methods and uses when extracting a crude oil material from a tank
PCT/SE1998/000051 WO1999036198A1 (en) 1996-07-15 1998-01-14 Method for collecting a viscous and sticky material

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/614,869 Continuation US6332474B1 (en) 1998-01-14 2000-07-12 Method for collecting a viscous and sticky material

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999036198A1 true WO1999036198A1 (en) 1999-07-22

Family

ID=20409836

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/SE1998/000051 WO1999036198A1 (en) 1996-07-15 1998-01-14 Method for collecting a viscous and sticky material

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US6332474B1 (en)
EP (1) EP1054742A1 (en)
AU (1) AU6313998A (en)
NO (1) NO311410B1 (en)
WO (1) WO1999036198A1 (en)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB199090A (en) * 1922-03-10 1923-06-11 Herbert Alexander Thompson Improvements in or relating to ejector apparatus for the removal of liquid and other refuse in ships
NO130389B (en) * 1968-11-15 1974-08-26 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd
SE464804B (en) * 1987-10-07 1991-06-17 Electrolux Ab HOSE NOZZLE FOR SUCCESSFUL DISSOLUTION AND RESTRICTED SHEET REMAINS
DE4101184A1 (en) * 1991-01-17 1992-07-23 Sobinger Dietrich METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CLEANING FLOOR ROOF TANKS FOR STORING RAW OIL
DE4222873A1 (en) * 1992-07-11 1994-01-13 Bernhard Wessels Dirty bottom surface cleaner with front dirt reception aperture - has dirt collector with top open guide fin extension for admission of collected dirt

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB199090A (en) * 1922-03-10 1923-06-11 Herbert Alexander Thompson Improvements in or relating to ejector apparatus for the removal of liquid and other refuse in ships
NO130389B (en) * 1968-11-15 1974-08-26 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd
SE464804B (en) * 1987-10-07 1991-06-17 Electrolux Ab HOSE NOZZLE FOR SUCCESSFUL DISSOLUTION AND RESTRICTED SHEET REMAINS
DE4101184A1 (en) * 1991-01-17 1992-07-23 Sobinger Dietrich METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CLEANING FLOOR ROOF TANKS FOR STORING RAW OIL
DE4222873A1 (en) * 1992-07-11 1994-01-13 Bernhard Wessels Dirty bottom surface cleaner with front dirt reception aperture - has dirt collector with top open guide fin extension for admission of collected dirt

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO20003573L (en) 2000-09-13
US6332474B1 (en) 2001-12-25
EP1054742A1 (en) 2000-11-29
AU6313998A (en) 1999-08-02
NO311410B1 (en) 2001-11-26
NO20003573D0 (en) 2000-07-12

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