An oil containment system aboard a vessel includes a pneumatic system to provide power to a winch and reel assembly containing boom whereby the pneumatic supply is capable of simultaneously powering the winch-reel assembly for boom deployment through inflatable gas fed to a pneumatic motor while also inflating the boom. The inflation of the boom is accomplished by diverting, all or any portion thereof, the inflatable gas from a pneumatic supply through a hose that runs concurrently on the outside of the boom. The pneumatic supply originates from a single pneumatic system powering both the winch and reel assembly as well as associated brake and feeding inflatable gas pressure to the inflation hose running concurrently with the boom. The system can be utilized to confine a discharge of a floating material such as hydrocarbons floating on the surface from a vessel or structure.

The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for using foam fractionation to remove non-polar waste molecules, including, but not limited to, sewage bacteria, environmental contaminants, and/or sediment/turbidity caused by dredging activities, from open-water aquatic environments. Some foam fractionation systems disclosed herein generally include a plurality of partially submerged foam fractionation devices, each foam fractionation device including a foam collection reservoir positioned above a waterline and a reaction chamber positioned at least partially below the waterline. In some embodiments, the partially submerged foam fractionation device is supported by a base structure, such as a barge, boat, skiff, or the like. In other embodiments, the partially submerged foam fractionation device is a free-floating device.

A water-oil separation device uses a difference in density between water and oil. The water-oil separation device can easily and quickly separate oil by using a polymer film floating at interface between water and oil. The water-oil separation device easily and quickly collects oil of various viscosities with a simple structure by using differences in density between materials without using a conventional lyophilic/lyophobic film, thus solving the drawbacks of conventional filter-based and adsorption-based methods, and enabling quick and effective responses to actual oil spill situations.

A floating-oil recovery device includes: a bubble-curtain generation mechanism configured to discharge air into water to generate a bubble curtain in the water so as to increase a thickness of a film of floating oil while regulating spread of the floating oil; and an ejector configured to recover an oil-water mixed fluid having the floating oil and the water mixed with each other by jetting high-velocity water toward the film of floating oil enclosed with the bubble curtain to destroy the film of floating oil.

A float assembly that can generate its inflowing water current for collecting water surface debris in a water body. Float assembly can be mounted to a fixed structure at the water body and includes a basket supported by a pair of floats buoyant in water. The basket includes a pump housed in a perforated housing, wherein the pump can be operated to suck water through the inlet also carrying the debris into the basket. The debris of a suitable size can be retained in the basket while the water is pumped out through an outlet. The basket can be switched from an operating state i.e., submerged in water to a stowed state outside the water upon the fixed structure.

The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for using foam fractionation to remove non-polar waste molecules, including, but not limited to, sewage bacteria, environmental contaminants, and/or sediment/turbidity caused by dredging activities, from open-water aquatic environments. Some foam fractionation systems disclosed herein generally include a plurality of floating foam fractionation devices, each floating foam fractionation device including a floating body, a submerged hood coupled to the body, and at least one submerged air conduits for releasing bubbles into the surrounding water. Other foam fractionation systems disclosed herein generally include a submerged bubble generation device and a floating intake unit positioned remotely from the submerged bubble generation device.

A separating arrangement for a device for collecting waste material floating on or near the surface of water is disclosed. The separating arrangement includes a first basin and a separating means. The water containing waste is led to the first basin by a transfer arrangement, such as a pipe. The device is configured in such a way that the water coming from the transfer arrangement has a speed gradient, namely, the cross section of the transfer arrangement has areas where the speeds of the water flow are different. The fastest speed component of the water has the highest concentration of waste. The first basin and the separating means are configured in such a way that when the water arrives at the first basin, most of the waste reaches the separating means and does not clog the walls of the first basin.

A method for absorbing liquids, such as liquid hydrocarbons, includes applying recycled carpet material to the liquid. The recycled carpet material is prepared by shredding carpet and removing fibers from the shredded carpet to obtain carpet backing material. The carpet backing material may be further treated to remove fibers. The carpet backing material is then applied to the liquid.

Embodiments disclosed here include a containment system and methods of containment which may include a segmented buoyant rim. Certain embodiments also include an inflatable rim with at least one inflation/deflation valve in the rim segments and ballast in the rim segments. Additionally, certain embodiments include material connected to the rim segments, to enclose a void created in the rim and to hang below the buoyant rim.

A float assembly that can generate its inflowing water current for collecting water surface debris in a water body. Float assembly can be mounted to a fixed structure at the water body and includes a basket supported by a pair of floats buoyant in water. The basket includes a pump housed in a perforated housing, wherein the pump can be operated to suck water through the inlet also carrying the debris into the basket. The debris of a suitable size can be retained in the basket while the water is pumped out through an outlet. The basket can be switched from an operating state i.e., submerged in water to a stowed state outside the water upon the fixed structure.