WO2010013903A2

WO2010013903A2 - Multipurpose ozone treatment method and apparatus for a ship

Info

Publication number: WO2010013903A2
Application number: PCT/KR2009/003810
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sung Jin Park; Tae Hoon Lee; Jae Min Hwang
Original assignee: Nk Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2008-07-31
Filing date: 2009-07-11
Publication date: 2010-02-04
Also published as: KR100896337B1; WO2010013903A3

Abstract

Disclosed is multipurpose ozone treatment method and apparatus for a ship, which are capable of performing many treatments such as the purification of using-water used in the ship and wastewater generated during the ship voyage, the purification of harmful gas generated during engine operation of the ship or generated from internal space of the ship, and the refinement of remaining fuels supplied to the engine of the ship, by utilizing the sterilizing power of ozone gas generated from one ozone generator, which is employed for processing and sterilizing ship ballast water. Since the ozone gas generated from the ozone generator can be controlled at a proper concentration and then it can be supplied for treating ship ballast water, using-water, wastewater, noxious gas and remaining fuel due to operation of the mass flow controller, then economic efficiency and economic feasibility of the multipurpose treatment using ozone gas generated from one ozone generator can be highly improved, thereby improving convenience in use for various concentrations of ozonated water as well as significantly reducing the cost and time spent for the treatment.

Description

MULTIPURPOSE OZONE TREATMENT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A SHIP

The present invention relates generally to multipurpose ozone treatment method and apparatus for a ship, which are capable of performing many treatments such as the purification of using-water used in the ship and wastewater generated during the ship voyage, the purification of harmful gas generated during engine operation of the ship or generated from internal space of the ship, and the refinement of remaining fuels supplied to the engine of the ship, by using one ozone generator employed for processing and sterilizing ship ballast water.

Generally, ship ballast water is fresh water or seawater used for controlling the buoyancy of a ship so as to keep the ship's balance. Once a ship has unloaded cargo in a foreign port, the holds within the ship which previously held good and materials are obviously empty or there are relatively small quantity of good and materials. Under this state, if the ship journeys to the waters of another foreign port, the ship may be likely to lose its balance. In order to this problem, ballast tanks provided at both lower sides of the ship are often filled with fresh water or seawater so as to stabilize the ship.

However, a variety of organisms such as pathogenic bacteria and plankton live in fresh water or seawater contained in the ballast tanks. If ship ballast water is discharged in distant waters including Open Ocean and foreign ports without performing any treatment for treating it, this can create ecological problems for both the marine environment and human health.

In view of the foregoing, in 1996, U.S. Government establishes a law aimed to control the immigration and the diffusion of foreign pathogenic bacteria or plankton present in ship ballast water by enacting it as invading bacteria or plankton. The quarantine acts of Australia were revised so as to bring ship ballast water to be included in the quarantine object list. Accordingly, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service has quarantined ship ballast water in direct. If an incoming ship infringes this quarantine law, it is held in quarantine.

In the meantime, the International Maritime Organization enters into an engagement on International Convention for sterilizing and purifying ship ballast water in February 2004. According to this convention, the International Maritime Organization has decided to quarantine every incoming ships from 2009 so as to verify whether an incoming ship is provided with a system for treating ship ballast water or not. This convention is enacted for the purpose of strengthening joint inspection of incoming and outgoing ships so as to prevent epidemics from being brought into or out of the country.

In recent years, a variety of endeavors have been given to develop treatment techniques for treating ship ballast water. One approach is, technique for sterilizing and purifying ship ballast water by using Ozone(O₃) has been proposed. In view of this, the present applicant has developed a plurality of inventions related to treatment systems for treating ship ballast water. For example, Korean Patents No. 10-769834, 10-775238 and 10-802889 issued to the present applicant disclose systems for treating ship ballast water by using Ozone(O₃).

However, one drawback of such known systems is that the only ballast water may be treated by using Ozone(O₃) generated from an ozone generator so that the cost of treating ballast water has substantially increased. Accordingly, the high-priced system has not been used satisfactorily.

Except for the time period until a ship lies at anchor for filling ballast tanks with ballast water, the ballast treatment system employing the ozone generator stops to operate. This has resulted in inefficient utilization of the ballast treatment system.

In all countries of the world, every effort has been made to prevent environmental crisis therefore the treatment of ballast water has become an important social issue. All countries will have to work to develop improved treatment techniques for efficiently treating ship ballast water, and improved purification techniques for economically purifying wastewater or noxious gas generated in the ship during the ships voyage.

As a result of these efforts, more economical and more effective treatment technique for ballast water, wastewater, or noxious gas have been developed. Also, a variety of endeavors for improve life environment and working condition of the crew who reside in the ship have been proposed.

In consideration of the above-mentioned disadvantages or inconveniences of the conventional techniques, a first object of the present invention is to provide multipurpose ozone treatment method and apparatus for a ship, which is capable of positively meeting law's requirements aimed to control the immigration and the diffusion of environmental pollution materials strengthens, and which is capable of sterilizing and purifying a variety of environmental contaminants generated in the ship during the ships voyage at a proper level by using one ozone generator provided for processing ship ballast water.

In addition, a second object of the present invention is to provide multipurpose ozone treatment method and apparatus for a ship, which is capable of further improving life environment and working condition of the crew who reside in the ship by utilizing ozonated water as air conditioning water and drinking water, wherein the ozonated water is sterilized and purified due to operation of the ozone generator, and which is capable of reducing fuel expenses consumed during the ships voyage by improving combustion efficiency of an engine due to ozone treatment for remaining fuel.

In addition, a third object of the present invention is to provide multipurpose ozone treatment method and apparatus for a ship, which is capable of further improving an efficiency of ozone treatment by controlling the concentration of ozone generated from the ozone generator at a proper level for treating ballast water, using-water and wastewater and for treating noxious gas and remaining fuels due to operation of a mass flow controller, and which capable of making good use of ozonated water by obtaining various concentrations of ozonated water.

Finally, a fourth object of the present invention is to provide multipurpose ozone treatment method and apparatus for a ship, which is capable of inhibiting scales from being occurred along an outer wall surface of a sea-chest and of preventing microorganisms, shellfish and seaweeds from being attached to the outer wall surface of the sea-chest by spraying a part of ballast water treated by ozone into the sea-chest, and which is capable of processing various environmental contaminants at a proper level adapted to meet law's requirements within the ship before their discharge there from by performing ozone treatment and additional purifying treatment at once in the treatment of wastewater and environmental contaminants.

In order to achieve the objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a multipurpose ozone treatment method for sterilizing and purifying ship ballast water supplied from a sea-chest in a ship to a ballast tank using ozone generated from an ozone generator, the method comprising the steps of:

producing ozone due to operation of the ozone generator; and

distributing ozone produced by the ozone generator to a water treatment line for processing ship ballast water, using-water and wastewater, a gas treatment line for processing noxious gas generated from an interior of the ship, and a fuel treatment line for supplying a fuel from a fuel tank to an engine;

whereby the water treatment and the gas treatment can be performed at once by using one ozone generator.

The step of distributing ozone comprises the steps of introducing ozone generated from the ozone generator into a mass flow controller controlled by a controller; and of distributing ozone on the basis of ozone's concentration from the mass flow controller to the water treatment line, the gas treatment line and the fuel treatment line.

The step of operating the water treatment line comprises the steps of supplying ballast water exhausted from the sea-chest into an injector, mixing ballast water with ozone gas exhausted from the ozone generator or the mass flow controller by means of the injector, and thereafter introducing it into a ballast tank. Ballast water introduced into the sea-chest may be sterilized and purified due to the mix with ozone gas within the ballast tank. Ballast water stored in the ballast tank is exhausted to the outside of the ship in accordance with the process cycle.

Furthermore, according to other aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a multipurpose ozone treatment apparatus for sterilizing and purifying ship ballast water supplied from a sea-chest of a ship to a ballast tank by using ozone generated from an ozone generator, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of branch pipes for supplying ozone, the branch pipes extending from the ozone generator;

a part of branch pipes among the branch pipes being connected to a water treatment line for processing ballast water, using-water and wastewater by using the ozone;

a part of branch pipes among the branch pipes being connected to a gas treatment line for processing noxious gas; and

a branch pipe being connected to a fuel treatment line for processing a fuel supplied from a fuel tank to an engine by using the ozone.

The ozone generator is connected to a mass flow controller via a main supply pipe. The mass flow controller is connected to a controller via the ozone generator and a cable. The branch pipes branch from the mass flow controller and they are connected to the water treatment line, the gas treatment line and the fuel treatment line.

A separating tank and an activated carbon filter are installed at a middle portion of a wastewater supply pipe in sequence. An oil detector monitor is installed at a middle portion of a processed-water exhaust pipe extending from a contactor. A return pipe extends from the oil detector monitor to the bilge tank. A neutralization reactor and a collection system are installed between an ozone reactor and an exhaust fan in sequence.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform various water treatment processes in the ship for processing ship ballast water, using-water and wastewater and for purifying noxious gas and fuels by utilizing the sterilizing power caused by oxidation of ozone gas, and so that the multipurpose treatment using ozone gas generated from one ozone generator can be effectively conducted, thereby improving convenience in use as well as significantly reducing the cost and time spent for the treatment.

In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to positively meet law's requirements aimed to control the immigration and the diffusion of environmental pollution materials strengthens, and is possible to sterilize and purify a variety of environmental contaminants generated in the ship during the ships voyage at a proper level by utilizing the sterilizing power caused by oxidation of ozone gas.

Furthermore, it is possible to improve life environment and working condition of the crew who reside in the ship by utilizing ozonated water as air conditioning water and drinking water, which is sterilized and purified due to the sterilizing power caused by oxidation of ozone gas. In addition, it is possible to reduce the fuel expenses consumed during the ships voyage by improving the combustion efficiency of the engine.

Since the ozone gas generated from the ozone generator can be controlled at a proper concentration and then it can be supplied for treating ship ballast water, using-water, wastewater, noxious gas and remaining fuel due to operation of the mass flow controller, economic efficiency and economic feasibility of the multipurpose treatment using ozone gas generated from one ozone generator can be highly improved, thereby improving convenience in use for various concentrations of ozonated water.

Since a part of ship ballast water processed by the sterilizing power caused by oxidation of ozone gas can be sprayed into the sea-chest, it is possible to provide inhibit scales from being occurred along an outer wall surface of the sea-chest and to prevent microorganisms, shellfish and seaweeds from being attached to the outer wall surface of the sea-chest, so that it can prevent clogging in pipes for introducing ship ballast water and can reduce the load caused by treating ship ballast water.

By performing ozone treatments and additional purifying treatments in the wastewater treatment and the noxious gas treatment, it is possible to positively meet national law's requirements aimed to control the immigration and the diffusion of environmental pollution materials strengthens.

The above object and other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows total piping of multipurpose ozone treatment process and apparatus for a ship according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows piping for processing using-water by using the sterilizing power of ozone gas in water treatment line;

FIG. 3 shows piping for processing wastewater by using the sterilizing power of ozone gas in water treatment line;

FIG. 4 shows piping for processing ballast water by using the sterilizing power of ozone gas in water treatment line;

FIG. 5 shows piping for processing noxious gas by using the sterilizing power of ozone gas;

FIG. 6 shows piping for processing fuel by using the sterilizing power of ozone gas; and

FIGS. 7A and 7B are a plan view and a side view, for showing a state that the multipurpose ozone treatment apparatus according to the present invention is applied to the ship.

Hereinafter, the constitution and the operation of a multipurpose ozone treatment apparatus for a ship according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings FIGS. 1 to 7B.

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention, it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding of the invention identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the different views which are illustrated in each of the attached drawing Figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates a process for sterilizing and purifying ship ballast water by using ozone gas according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the process for sterilizing and purifying ballast water by using ozone gas comprises the steps of operating a water treatment line 110 for processing ship ballast water, using-water and wastewater, a gas treatment line 120 for processing noxious gas such as SO_x, NO_x, VOCs generated from an interior of the ship 140, and a fuel treatment line 130 for supplying a fuel from a fuel tank 27 to an engine 32.

In other words, ship ballast water may be processed by using one conventional ozone generator 1 installed at a ship. With considering the process cycle for ship ballast water, a variety of water treatment processes including the treatment processes for using-water and wastewater and the treatment process for noxious gas can be performed at once by using only one ozone generator 1.

By performing above processes, economic efficiency and economic feasibility of the multipurpose treatment using ozone gas generated from one ozone generator 1 can be highly improved, thereby improving convenience in use. In addition, it is possible to purify environmental contamination materials within the ship at a desired level by using excellent sterilizing and purifying powers of ozone gas. By using using-water processed by using sterilizing and purifying powers of ozone gas, so called ozonated water, as air conditioning water or a drinking water, life environment and working condition of the crew can be improved.

In addition, if ozone gas is mixed with the fuel supplied to the engine 32 of the ship, the ozone gas purifies the fuel, so that combustion efficiency of the engine 32 is improved. Based on this principle, if the process by using ozone gas is used for operating the fuel treatment line of the ship, economic feasibility of the ozone generator 1 is highly enhanced and the fuel efficiency of the ship is also improved.

Meanwhile, ozone gas generated from the ozone generator 1 is introduced into a mass flow controller 3 controlled by a controller 2 and thereafter it may be distributed due to operation of the mass flow controller 3 in accordance with ozone's concentration required by a water treatment line 110, a gas treatment line 120 and a fuel treatment line 130.

As described above, if the ozone's concentration is controlled by the mass flow controller 3 and then ozone is supplied to individual section equivalent to the treatment line, an oversupply or an insufficient supply of ozone can be prevented. Thereby, desired results of water treatment, noxious gas treatment and fuel treatment can be accomplished successfully. In addition, it is possible to separately store ozonated water used as air conditioning water or a drinking water in accordance with the ozone's concentration and is possible to provide it to where it's needed.

In the multipurpose ozone treatment method by using one ozone generator 1 as described above, the step of operating the water treatment line 110 comprises the steps of treating ballast water, mixing using-water and wastewater with ozone, sterilizing and purifying using-water and wastewater.

The step of operating the water treatment line 110 comprises the steps of supplying ballast water exhausted from the sea-chest 17 to an injector 7, mixing ballast water with ozone gas exhausted from the ozone generator 1 or the mass flow controller 3 by means of the injector 7, and thereafter introducing it into a ballast tank 18.

Due to performing of this process, ballast water introduced into the sea-chest 17 may be sterilized and purified due to the mix with ozone gas within the ballast tank 18. Ballast water stored in the ballast tank 18 is exhausted to the outside of the ship in accordance with the process cycle.

Together with the process of treating ballast water, the step of operating the water treatment line 110 further comprises the steps of re-spraying, so-called an anti-fouling process, a part of ballast water, which is supplied from the sea-chest through the injector 7 to the ballast tank 18, into the sea-chest 17.

Due to completion of the above processes, it is possible to inhibit scales from being occurred along an outer wall surface of the sea-chest 17 and of preventing microorganisms, shellfish and seaweeds from being attached to the outer wall surface of the sea-chest 17 by spraying a part of ballast water processed by means of ozone gas into the sea-chest 17 so as to prevent the pipe for introducing seawater from being clogged. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the load caused by treating ship ballast water.

Meanwhile, the step of processing rein-water comprises the steps of supplying using-water from exhausted from a using-water tank 6 to an ozonated water tank 8 by means of an injector 7, and mixing using-water with ozone gas exhausted from the ozone generator 1 or the mass flow controller 3 by means of an injector 7, and thereafter using-water may be sterilized and purified due to the mix with ozone gas within the ozonated water tank 8.

If the ozonated water stored in the ozonated water tank 8 is sprayed into internal space such as a cabin, a restaurant or a toilet of the ship by means of a spray nozzle 9, it is possible to provide everything necessary to maintain complete comfort in a closed residential environment including humidity control, deodorization, and antifungal activity. If ozonated water stored in the ozonated water tank 8 is supplied through a using-water supply pipe 10 having a filter 10a installed in the cabin or the restaurant, the ozonated water can be used as a drinking water for the crew.

In the meantime, using-water can be supplied from the using-water tank 6 through a plurality of injectors 7 for ozone treatment of using-water. Different concentrations of ozone gases are supplied to the injectors 7 by means of the mass flow controller 3. Thereafter, the using-water is mixed with ozone gas and then it is stored in the ozonated water tank 8. Consequently, the ozonated water having different ozone's concentration can be used as air conditioning water, drinking water or sterilized water.

Meanwhile, the step of operating the water treatment line 110 comprises the steps of supplying an injector 7 with wastewater exhausted from the bilge tank 11 for storing various wastewater, mixing wastewater exhausted from the bilge tank 11 with ozone gas exhausted from the ozone generator 1 or the mass flow controller 3 by means of the injector 7, and storing it in a contactor 15. Due to completion of the above processes, it is possible to sterilize and purify wastewater by using ozone gas.

In order to completely process wastewater within the ship, it is preferable to perform first purification treatment comprising the steps of separating using-water by using the gravity, cohering and filtering for removing oil components and foreign materials included in wastewater, before introducing wastewater supplied from the bilge tank 11 into the injector 7.

If the wastewater exhausted from the bilge tank 11 is subjected to processes for separating, cohering and filtering, it becomes first process water without having oil components or foreign materials. If this first process water is processed again by using the sterilizing power of ozone, then it is finally purified due to destruction of Emulsion components and sterilizing action of ozone. Consequently, it is possible to purify wastewater at a desired level for allowing it to be exhausted to the outside of the ship during the ships voyage.

Furthermore, a small quantity of oil components and suspended particles discharged from the wastewater are periodically collected and then moved to the land so as to disuse them while the ship is being in port. In the case of the processed water finally exhausted after performing the first purifying treatment and the ozone treatment, inadmissible processed water (that is, it has the concentration of foreign materials, particularly oil components, more than 15ppm that is the standard concentration level set by the International Maritime Organization)may return to the bilge tank 11.

As described above, the multipurpose ozone treatment technique according to the present invention can be applied to not only the water treatment line 110 but also the gas treatment line 120. Regarding to the gas treatment line 120, this technique comprises the steps of purifying oxides of sulfur (SOx) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) generated from an exhaust duct of an engine of the ship, and of purifying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated from the internal space of the ship for containing organic solvents or liquid fuels.

Any noxious gas affecting the human body may be generated from oxides of sulfur (SOx), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). If this noxious gas is discharged to the air during the ships voyage, it is likely to induce air pollution and disruption of the ozone layer and thereby it causes to global warming. Accordingly, it is important that the noxious gas is purified within the ship in the light of improvement for life environment and working condition of the crew who reside in the ship and prevention for environmental contamination.

In the gas treatment line 120, noxious gas such as oxides of sulfur (SOx), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated from the engine room or the internal space of the ship may be introduced into an ozone reactor 23 together with ozone gas generated from the ozone generator 1. In the ozone reactor 23, a chemical process for producing a stable compound from the noxious gas may be proceeded and the chemical formula is as follows:

1) SO₂ + O₃ → SO₃ + O₂

　　 SO₂ + H₂O → H₂SO₃

　　　SO₃ + H₂0 → H₂SO₄

　　　H₂SO₄ + NH₂ → NH₄HSO₄

　　　2SO₂ + 4NH₃ + 2H₂O +O₂ → 2(NH₄)2SO₄ ↓

2)　NO + O₃ → NO₂ + O₂

　　　2NO₂ + H₂O → HNO₃ + HNO₂

　　　HNO₂ + NH₃ → NH₄NO₃ ↓

3) O₃ + UV light → O + OH·

　 VOCs + OH· → photolysis

Alternatively, it is possible to simultaneously perform the processes for purifying noxious gas by introducing individual noxious gases into one ozone generator 1. Alternatively, it is possible to separately perform the processes for purifying noxious gas by introducing individual noxious gases into the corresponding ozone reactor 23 in accordance with the sort of noxious gases. The ozone reactor 23 is a reaction tank for causing a reaction during the stay of noxious gas and ozone gas therein. As needed, any reaction catalytic means such as an ultraviolet generator can be employed in the ozone generator 23.

Although the harmfulness of the various noxious gases generated during the ships voyage may be attenuated at a certain level or may be removed by making it to react with ozone gas, it is preferable to proceed the processes for neutralizating the purified gas generated from the ozone reactor 23, collecting the neutralized gas and thereafter finally exhausting the processed gas.

The neutralizating process comprises the step of finally removing the toxicity of harmful gas by reacting it with a counteragent after introducing the purified gas processed by means of ozone gas into a neutralization reactor 24. Preferably, the counteragent comprises an ammonia gas. In the step of collecting the neutralized gas, neutralized solid sediments may be removed by means of an electrical dust collector or a bag filter.

Finally, in the fuel treatment line 130 of the multipurpose ozone treatment technique according to the present invention, an injector 7 is installed at a route for supplying the engine 32 from the fuel tank 27 of the ship with a fuel. The ozone generated from the ozone generator 1 is introduced into the injector 7 and then it is mixed with the fuel therein.

When the fuel supplied to the engine 32 of the ship is mixed with the ozone gas, the fuel may be purified by means of the ozone gas. As a result, the combustion efficiency of the engine 32 is highly improved and thereby resulting in maximization of utilization for ozone generator 1. In addition, the fuel efficiency of the ship is also improved.

In order to further improve the fuel treatment effect by using ozone as described above, the humidity contained in the fuel during mixing the fuel with ozone gas is removed by means of a flowing water separator 28 before supplying the fuel processed by means of ozone gas to the engine 32. The foreign materials contained in the fuel are removed by means of a fuel filter 31, so that this process may be called as a secondary process for the fuel.

It will readily be understood that the flowing water separator 28 and the fuel filter 31 should preferably be such that they can be used for the fuel system of the engine 32 of the ship. Conventionally, any product which is capable of simultaneously separating flowing waters during the process of filtering the fuel will do. A small quantity of water separated from the fuel during the process of flowing water separation may return the bilge tank 11 via an activated carbon filter 29 so as to allow it to be re-used in the water treatment line 110. Alternatively, it is stored in another bilge tank and then it is transferred to the land so as to perform further treatment after the ship arriving in a port.

Hereinafter, the constitution and the operation of the multipurpose ozone treatment system 100 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings FIGS. 1 to 7.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of branch pipes 3a~3f for supplying ozone extend from the ozone generator 1 for processing ballast water. A part of branch pipes 3a~3c among the branch pipes 3a~3f are connected to a water treatment line 110 for processing ballast water, using-water and wastewater by using the sterilizing power of ozone gas.

Furthermore, a part of branch pipes 3d~3e among the branch pipes 3a~3f are connected to a gas treatment line 120 for processing noxious gas, and a branch pipe 3f are connected to a fuel treatment line 130 for processing a fuel supplied from a fuel tank 27 to an engine 32 by using the sterilizing power of ozone gas.

To complement the description being made and for the purpose of aiding to better understand the features of the invention according to a preferred practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description in which the following is shown with an illustrative and non-limiting character. Even to total six pipes including the first branch pipe 3a to the sixth branch pipe 3f are shown in the drawing where the branch pipes 3a to 3f may be shown as still being of somewhat larger or smaller numbers, for the sake of clarity. The branch pipes 3a to 3f may be employed at individual treatment lines required to using ozone treatment under the necessity.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprising the majority of ozone treatment line required for the ship is described with reference to FIG. 1, following description will be explained on a basis of six branch pipes 3a to f, and the principles of the invention, as defined by the claims appended herein, can obviously be applied beyond the specifically described embodiment of the invention described herein with regard to the structure of pipes.

With regard to the ozone generator 1, any product will do as long as it can generate ozone gas. Typically, there are two types of ozone generator, that is, the Plate-type and the Tube-type. These ozone generators make compressed air generated from a compressor to be purified by using a filter, and supply the purified air along a discharge tube installed between cooling water passageways. Oxygen contained in cooling fresh air passing through the discharge tube comes into collision with an electrical energy and then it may be decomposed or re-combined and resulting in formation of ozone gas.

Although ozone gas generated from the ozone generator 1 has good sterilizing and purifying powers and good reactivity, it is likely to harmful to a person under a certain concentration larger than a recommended concentration of ozone gas. According to a thesis in the title of "Use of ozone for improving the purity in a food factory (Bo-ram Kim/issued by "A food safety R&D team of The Korea Food Information Institute"), the ozone's concentration must be controlled at a level below 0.6ppm in a room and also it must be controlled at a level below 0.08ppm in an indoor parking place.

Since ozone gas generated from the ozone generator 1 may be used as a drinking water or be used for air conditioning, it is preferable to control the ozone's concentration at a proper level at first and then to transfer it to corresponding treatment line.

For this purpose, the ozone generator 1 is connected to a mass flow controller 3 via a main supply pipe 5, in which the mass flow controller 3 is connected to a controller 2 via the ozone generator 1, wherein the branch pipes 3a~3f branch from the mass flow controller 3 and they are connected to the water treatment line 110, the gas treatment line 120 and the fuel treatment line 130.

The main supply pipe 5 has function to act as an inlet port for introducing ozone gas into the mass flow controller 3 and the branch pipes 3a~3f have function to act as an outlet port for discharging ozone gas from the mass flow controller 3. The mass flow controller 3 distributes total quantity of ozone gas introduced from the ozone generator 1 to the branch pipes 3a~3f at a desired concentration. Application examples of ozone's concentration are as follow as below Table 1.

Table 1

Ozone's concentration relative to treatment line

Process line	Ozone's concentration
Ballast water treatment	2.5ppm
Noxious gas treatment	60Nm³(discharge gas) per 1g(ozone)
Wastewater treatment	1.0ppm
using-water treatment	0.5ppm
Anti-fouling process	0.5ppm
Fuel treatment	1.0ppm

(ozone's output : 10Kg/hr)

As described above, the water treatment line 10 for using ozone gas supplied from the ozone generator 1 through the mass flow controller 3 in water treatment of the ship is mainly divided into the using-water treatment line, the wastewater treatment line and the ballast water treatment line.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the using-water treatment line, a first branch pipe 3a extending from the mass flow controller 3 is connected to the injector 7. A using-water tank 6 is connected to the injector 7 via a using-water supply pipe 6a having a pump (P).

The injector 7 may comprise a conventional injector for mixing two certain fluids or a venturi-type mixer illustrated in the Korean patent application number 10-2007-0017653 and in the Korean Patent number 10-775238. The first branch pipe 3a is possible to be inserted into the using-water supply pipe 6a at the type of nozzle. This combining structure between the injector 7 and the using-water supply pipe 6a can be applied to junctures of other injectors 7 and other supply pipes.

An ozonated water supply pipe 8a extends between the injector 7 and an ozonated water tank 8. This ozonated water tank 8 has function to act as a reactor in which using-water reacts with ozone gas therein, and has function to act as a storing tank for storing ozonated water generated due to this reaction.

An ozonated water distribution pipe 8b having a pump (P) extends from the ozonated water tank 8 toward certain internal space of the ship such as a cabin 33, a toilet 34 or a restaurant 35. A spray nozzle 9 is connected to a one end of the ozonated water distribution pipe 8b by means of a valve. This spray nozzle 9 functions to spray ozonated water in fines into internal space for the purpose of air conditioning such as humidity control, deodorization and antibacterial action. Also, a using-water supply pipe 10 having a filter 10a and a valve (V) is connected to the one end of the ozonated water distribution pipe 8b.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in the wastewater treatment line, a second branch pipe 3b extending from the mass flow controller 3 is connected to an injector 7. A bilge tank 11 for storing various wastewater or sewage generated from the ship is connected to the injector 7 via a wastewater supply pipe 11a having a pump (P). A processed-water supply pipe 15a extends between the injector 7 and a contactor 15. Also, a processed-water discharge pipe 16 extends from the contactor 15 and a pump (P) is installed at a middle portion thereof. The contactor 15 has function to act as a reaction tank in which wastewater reacts with ozone gas therein. The wastewater processed by means of ozone may be exhausted from the outside of the contactor 15 through the processed-water discharge pipe 16 as needed.

In order to certainly perform the process for purifying wastewater together with ozone treatment of wastewater, a separating tank 12 and an activated carbon filter 14 are installed at a middle portion of the wastewater supply pipe 11a in sequence. An oil detector monitor 13, which has function to act as a sensor and a valve, is installed at a middle portion of the processed-water discharge pipe 16 at a position in the rear of the pump (P).

It is preferable to use the typical gravity separation in the separating tank 12. According to the gravity separation, oil, floating matters and water are separated from each other due to the difference of specific gravity. Alternatively, the electrical separation can be used in the separating tank 12 as needed. The oil detector monitor 13 detects a concentration of foreign materials of processed water, more particularly, oil components and controls a discharging direction of processed water toward the processed-water exhaust pipe 16 and a return pipe 11b. The return pipe 11b extends from the oil detector monitor 13 to the bilge tank 11.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, in the ballast water treatment line, a third branch pipe 3c extending from the mass flow controller 3 is connected to an injector 7. A seawater intake pipe 17a having a pump (P) extends from a sea-chest 17 and it is connected to the injector 7 together with the third branch pipe 3c.

A seawater supply pipe 18a having a pump (P) extends between the injector 7 and a ballast tank 18. Also, a seawater discharge pipe 20 extends from the ballast tank 18 and a pump (P) and a valve (V) are installed at a middle portion thereof in sequence. The seawater processed by means of ozone may be exhausted from the outside of the ballast tank 18 through the seawater discharge pipe 20 as needed.

In the ballast water treatment line, it is preferable to employ an anti-fouling system for inhibiting scales from being occurred along an outer wall surface of the sea-chest 17 and of preventing microorganisms, shellfish and seaweeds from being attached to the outer wall surface of the sea-chest 17 by spraying a part of ballast water processed by using the sterilizing power of ozone into the sea-chest 17. Due to operation of the anti-fouling system, it is possible to prevent the pipe for introducing seawater from being clogged and is possible to reduce the load caused by treating ship ballast water.

In the anti-fouling system as described above, a spray pipe 19 having a pump (P) extends from a middle portion of the seawater supply pipe 18a, in which a one end of the spray pipe 19 is inserted into the sea-chest 17, wherein a spray nozzle 21 is installed at the one end of the spray pipe 19 within the sea-chest 17. Due to this structure, it is possible to spray a part of ballast water processed by means of ozone into the outer wall surface of the sea-chest 17.

Herein below, the gas treatment line 120 for purifying noxious gas such as SOx, NOx and VOCs will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, together with the water treatment line 110 for processing using-water used in the ship and wastewater water and ballast water generated from the ship during the ships voyage.

In the gas treatment line 120, a supply duct 22a for sucking a noxious gas extends from an engine room or an internal space of the ship 140 is connected to an ozone reactor 23. The

branch pipes

3d,3e extending from the mass flow controller 3 are connected to the ozone reactor 23 together with the supply duct 22a. A supply fan 22 is installed at a middle portion of the supply duct 22a.

Accordingly, a noxious gas generated from the ship and ozone gas generated by the ozone generator 1 are introduced into the ozone reactor 23 through the supply duct 22a and

branch pipes

3d,3e. Within the ozone reactor 23, the noxious gas reacts with the ozone gas and thereby resulting in formation of stable compounds. These compounds may be exhausted to the outside of the ozone reactor 23 through an exhaust duct 26a of which an exhaust fan 26 is installed at a middle portion thereof.

Although the ozone reactor 23 has function to act as a reaction tank in which the noxious gas reacts with the ozone gas, it is preferable to employ any reaction catalytic means in the ozone reactor 23 as needed. More preferably, noxious gas processed in the ozone reactor 23 at first is further purified by it passing through a neutralization reactor 24 and a collection system 25.

For this purpose, a connecting duct 23a extends between the ozone reactor 23 and exhaust duct 26a. The neutralization reactor 24 and the collection system 25 are installed at a middle portion of the connecting duct 23a in sequence. The neutralization reactor 24 has function to act as a reaction tank in which the noxious gas processed by means of ozone gas at first reacts with a neutralizating agent therein. Preferably, the collection system 25 comprises an electrical gas collector or a bag filter.

Although a variety of neutralizating gases can be used for neutralizating the noxious gas in accordance with a type of noxious gas, it is more preferable to employ an ammonia gas. A neutralizating agent charging pipe 24a for charging a neutralizating agent into the neutralization reactor 24 is connected to the top of the neutralization reactor 24.

Now referring to FIG. 1, the gas treatment line 120 is constituted of two treat lines, which are capable of separately processing noxious gas (SOx, NOx) exhausted from the engine room and noxious gas (VOCs) generated due to use of an organic solvent or generated from the internal space of the ship for storing a liquid fuel. Alternatively, it is possible to employ a single treatment line for purifying various harmful gases (SOx, NOx, VOCs) by using one ozone generator 23.

Finally, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, in the fuel treatment line 130 for processing the fuel of the ship, a fuel tank 27 is connected to an injector 7 via a fuel intake pipe 27a having a pump (P) installed at a middle portion thereof. The injector 7 is installed at the juncture of the branch pipe 3f extending from the mass flow controller 3 and the fuel intake pipe 27a. A fuel supply pipe 32a extends between the injector 7 and the engine 32 of the ship 140.

Due to this structure, if an ozone gas is mixed with a fuel supplied into the engine 32 of the ship, the ozone gas purifies the fuel and thereby resulting in enhancement of combustion efficiency in engine 32. Accordingly, it is possible to further maximize capabilities of the ozone generator 1 and to reduce the fuel efficiency of the ship.

In order to further improve the effect of fuel treatment by using ozone, a flowing water separator 28 for removing moisture contained in the fuel during the introduction of ozone gas and a fuel filter 31 for removing foreign materials contained in fuel are installed at a middle portion of a fuel supply pipe 32a as secondary processing means. A pump (P) for supplying the fuel processed at second is installed at a position adjacent to an inlet port of the engine 32.

For the flowing water separator 28 and the fuel filter 31, any products will do as long as adapted they may be used for a fuel system in the engine 32 of the ship. Typically, some product for simultaneously performing a process for filtering a fuel and a process for separating flowing water may be applied. A small quantity of water separated from the fuel in the flowing water separator returns through an activated carbon filter 29 and a return pipe 30 into the bilge tank 11. This water may be processed in the water treatment line 110, or it may be stored in the bilge tank and then it may be transferred to the land after the ship arriving at the port.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show a state that the multipurpose ozone treatment system 100 is stalled at a ship 140.

As shown in FIG. 7A, under state that the controller 2, the ozone generator 1 and the mass flow controller 3 are installed at a lower portion of the ship 140, pipes extending from the sea-chest 17 formed at both rear sides of the body of a ship are connected to branch pipes extending from the mass flow controller 3 by means of the injectors 7. A pipe having a pump (P) extends from a pipe extending through the injector 7 and the ballast tank 18. This pipe is inserted into the sea-chest 17.

Under state that the injector 7 is installed at the pipe for supplying the engine 32 with a fuel from the fuel tank 27, other branch pipe extending from the mass flow controller 3 is connected to the pipe. Under state that the ozone reactor 23, the neutralization reactor 24 and the collection system 25 are installed at pipes for discharging the gas, another branch pipe extending from the mass flow controller 3 is connected to the ozone reactor 23.

As shown in FIG. 7B, the branch pipe extending from the mass flow controller 3 is connected to the ozonated water tank 8 via the injector 7. The ozonated water supply pipes extend from the ozonated water tank 8 toward the cabin 33, the restaurant 35 and the toilet 34 so as to supply ozonated water due to operation of pump (P). Sewage discharge pipes extend between the cabin 33, the restaurant 35 and the toilet 34 and the bilge tank 11 installed at the lower portion of the ship.

The separating tank 12 and the activated carbon filter 14 are installed at wastewater discharge pipes extending from the bilge tank 11. Another branch pipe extending from the mass flow controller 3 is installed to an injector 7 in which wastewater is introduced there into via the activated carbon filter 14. A pipe extends between the injector 7 and the contactor 15.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the above description or illustrated in the drawings. More particularly, the structure of installing the multipurpose ozone treatment 100 according to the present invention in the ship 140 is not limited to the type shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways by modifying the structure of piping in accordance with a kind of the ship 140. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

In addition, in the above description for explaining the present invention, it is described that the process of purifying ballast water and other processes of purifying wastewater, noxious gas and fuel are operated on a basis of the delayed time control technique. However, it is possible to operate these processes employing the ozone generator 1 at the same time or at other times due to operation of the controller 2 as needed.

While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

This present invention is applicable to performing many treatments such as the purification of using-water used in the ship and wastewater generated during the ship voyage, the purification of harmful gas generated during engine operation of the ship or generated from internal space of the ship, and the refinement of remaining fuels supplied to the engine of the ship, by using one ozone generator employed for processing and sterilizing ship ballast water.

Claims

A multipurpose ozone treatment method for sterilizing and purifying ship ballast water supplied from a sea-chest 17 in a ship 140 to a ballast tank 18 by using ozone generated from an ozone generator 1, the method comprising the steps of:

producing ozone due to operation of the ozone generator 1; and

distributing ozone produced by the ozone generator 1 to a water treatment line 110 for processing ship ballast water, using-water and wastewater, a gas treatment line 120 for processing noxious gas generated from an interior of the ship 140, and a fuel treatment line 130 for supplying a fuel from a fuel tank 27 to an engine 32;

whereby the water treatment and the gas treatment can be performed at once by using one ozone generator 1.
The multipurpose ozone treatment method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of distributing ozone comprises the steps of introducing ozone generated from the ozone generator 1 into a mass flow controller 3 controlled by a controller 2, and of distributing ozone from the mass flow controller 3 to the water treatment line 110, the gas treatment line 120 and the fuel treatment line 130 on the basis of ozone s concentration.
The multipurpose ozone treatment method as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the step of operating the water treatment line 110 comprises the steps of mixing ballast water exhausted from the sea-chest 17 with ozone gas exhausted from the ozone generator 1 by means of an injector 7, mixing using-water from exhausted from a using-water tank 6 with ozone gas exhausted from the ozone generator 1 by means of an injector 7, and mixing wastewater exhausted from a bilge tank 11 with ozone gas exhausted from the ozone generator 1 by means of an injector 7, and thereafter storing ballast water, using-water and wastewater in a ballast tank 18, an ozonated water tank 8 and a contactor 15, in which ballast water stored in the ballast tank 18 and wastewater stored in the contactor 15 may be exhausted to the outside of the ship 140 as needed, in which ozonated water stored in the ozonated water tank 8, that is, using-water may be used as a spraying water for air conditioning or as a drinking water.
The multipurpose ozone treatment method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step of operating the water treatment line 110 comprises the steps of separating and filtering wastewater prior to introducing wastewater exhausted from the bilge tank 11 into the contactor 15, and wherein wastewater exhausted from the contactor 15 may be exhausted to the outside of the ship 140 or re-charged into the bilge tank 11 on the basis of concentration of foreign materials contained in the wastewater.
The multipurpose ozone treatment method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step of operating the water treatment line 110 comprises the steps of re-spraying, so-called an anti-fouling process, a part of ballast water, which is supplied from the sea-chest through the injector 7 to the ballast tank 18, into the sea-chest 17.
The multipurpose ozone treatment method as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the step of operating the gas treatment line 120 comprises the steps of introducing noxious gas generated from the interior or an engine room of the ship 140 into an ozone reactor 23 together with ozone generated from the ozone generator 1 so as to purify noxious gas.
The multipurpose ozone treatment method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the step of operating the gas treatment line 120 further comprises the steps of neutralizating the purified gas generated from the ozone reactor 23, collecting the neutralized gas and thereafter finally exhausting it.
The multipurpose ozone treatment method as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the step of operating the fuel treatment line 130 comprises the step of mixing ozone generated from the ozone generator 1 with a fuel within the injector 7, in which the injector 7 is installed at a fuel supplying line extending from the fuel tank 27 to the engine 32.
The multipurpose ozone treatment method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the step of operating the fuel treatment line 130 further comprises the step of removing moisture and foreign materials contained in the fuel, prior to supplying the fuel including ozone passing through the injector 7 to the engine 32.
A multipurpose ozone treatment apparatus for sterilizing and purifying ship ballast water supplied from a sea-chest 17 of a ship 140 to a ballast tank 18 by using ozone generated from an ozone generator 1, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of branch pipes 3a~3f for supplying ozone, the branch pipes extending from the ozone generator 1;

a part of branch pipes 3a~3c among the branch pipes 3a~3f being connected to a water treatment line 110 for processing ballast water, using-water and wastewater by using the ozone;

a part of branch pipes 3d~3e among the branch pipes 3a~3f being connected to a gas treatment line 120 for processing noxious gas; and

a branch pipe 3f being connected to a fuel treatment line 130 for processing a fuel supplied from a fuel tank 27 to an engine 32 by using the ozone.
The multipurpose ozone treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the ozone generator 1 is connected to a mass flow controller 3 via a main supply pipe 5, in which the mass flow controller 3 is connected to a controller 2 via the ozone generator 1 and a cable 4, wherein the branch pipes 3a~3f branch from the mass flow controller 3 and they are connected to the water treatment line 110, the gas treatment line 120 and the fuel treatment line 130.
The multipurpose ozone treatment apparatus as claimed in claims 10 or 11, wherein the water treatment line 110 includes a plurality of injectors 7 which are connected to the branch pipes 3a~3c respectively extending from the ozone generator 1 or the mass flow controller 3; a sea-chest 17 which is connected to the injector 7 via a seawater intake pipe 17a having a pump (P); a using-water tank 6 which is connected to the injector 7 via a using-water supply pipe 6a having a pump (P); a bilge tank 11 which is connected to the injector 7 via a wastewater supply pipe 11a having a pump (P); a ballast tank 18 for storing ballast water supplied from the injector 7 through a seawater supply pipe 18a; an ozonated water tank 8 for storing using-water supplied from the injector 7 through an ozonated water supply pipe 8a; a contactor 15 for storing wastewater supplied from the injector 7 through a processed-water supply pipe 15a; a seawater discharge pipe 20 having a pump (P) being connected to the ballast tank 18; a processed-water exhaust pipe 16 having a pump (P) being connected to the contactor 15; an ozonated water distribution pipe 8b having a pump (P) being connected to the ozonated water tank 8; a spray nozzle 9 being connected to a one end of the ozonated water distribution pipe 8b by means of a valve; and a using-water supply pipe 10 being connected to the one end of the ozonated water distribution pipe 8b by means of a valve.
The multipurpose ozone treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein a separating tank 12 and an activated carbon filter 14 are installed at a middle portion of a wastewater supply pipe 11a in sequence, and wherein an oil detector monitor 13 is installed at a middle portion of a processed-water exhaust pipe 16 extending from the contactor 15, and wherein a return pipe 11b extends from the oil detector monitor 13 to the bilge tank 11.
The multipurpose ozone treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein a spray pipe 19 having a pump (P) extends from a middle portion of the seawater supply pipe 18a, in which a one end of the spray pipe 19 is inserted into the sea-chest 17, wherein a spray nozzle 21 is installed at the one end of the spray pipe 19 within the sea-chest 17.
The multipurpose ozone treatment apparatus as claimed in claims 10 or 11, wherein the gas treatment line 120 includes a supply duct 22a for sucking a noxious gas, the supply duct 22a extending from an engine room or an internal space of the ship 140; a supply fan 22 installed at a middle portion of the supply duct 22a; an ozone reactor 23 installed at the juncture of the branch pipes 3d,3e extending from the ozone generator 1 or the mass flow controller 3 and the supply duct 22a; an exhaust duct 26a extending from the ozone reactor 23; and an exhaust fan 26 installed within the exhaust duct 26a.
The multipurpose ozone treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein a neutralization reactor 24 of which a neutralizating agent charging pipe 24a is connected thereto and a collection system 25 are installed between the ozone reactor 23 and the exhaust fan 26 in sequence.
The multipurpose ozone treatment apparatus as claimed in claims 10 or 11, wherein the fuel treatment line 130 includes a fuel intake pipe 27a having a pump (P), the fuel intake pipe 27a extending from the fuel tank 27 of the ship 140; an injector installed at the juncture of the branch pipe 3f extending from the ozone generator 1 or the mass flow controller 3 and the fuel intake pipe 27a; and a fuel supply pipe 32a for connecting the injector 7 with the engine 32 of the ship 140.
The multipurpose ozone treatment apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein a flowing water separator 28 and a fuel filter 31 are installed at a middle portion of the fuel supply pipe 32a.