PROCESS FOR BIOFOULING COHIBITION IN MARINE ENVIRONMENTS

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of technology for preventing the bio-fouling of floating equipment in marine environments and other structures, and particularly the use of electronic devices that assist in the cleaning process. It comprises the steps of: Step 1) Identification; Sub-step 1a) Location; Sub-step 1b) Sizing; Step 2) Cleaning; Step 3) Measuring; Step 4) Partitioning; Step 5) Coupling; Step 6) Inspection; and Step 7) Resizing. By means of the aforementioned steps, the method disclosed in the present invention makes it possible to create electric fields that create environmental disturbances capable of inhibiting fouling by sessile organisms within parcels of sea water in dynamic and/or static conditions, on vessels, oil exploration platforms, jetties, etc.

Claims

1. Process to prevent biofouling in marine, fluvial and lake environments characterized in that it creates electrical fields that generate environmental disturbances, capable of inhibiting incrustation of sessile organisms inside maritime, fluvial and lake waters under dynamic and/or static conditions, comprising the steps of: Step 1) Identification; Step 2) Cleaning; Step 3) Measurement; Step 4) Compartmentation; Step 5) Coupling; Step 6) Inspection, and Step 7) Resizing wherein step 1) comprises the substeps of: Substep 1a) Localization, and Substep 1b) Dimensioning.

2. Process, according to claim 1, characterized in that in step 1) the target surfaces or bodies are selected.

3. Process, according to claim 1, characterized in that in substep 1a) the structure to be covered is analyzed jointly with a responsible operator, in order to identify its location and coverage.

4. Process, according to claim 1, characterized in that in substep 1b) the measurements in 3 dimensions are verified.

5. Process, according to claim 1, characterized in that in step 2) the exclusion of previously adhered organisms occurs.

6. Process, according to claim 1, characterized in that in step 3) the impedance measurement of the continent volumes of the clean surfaces is carried out, between the intended location for equipment generating the electric fields and the resistive coupling points, inductive or capacitive; wherein said measurement occurs by means of multimeters when planning the installation, with the intended location defined between in situ or remote, while the coupling points comprise locations identified according to the characteristics of the structure, compatible with access for inspection, highest infestation of sessile organisms in which the structure can operate, and the power of the necessary equipment.

7. Process, according to claim 1, characterized in that in step 4) the structure to be protected is divided into blocks to be individually covered by equipment, segmenting areas or volumes to be covered by equipment, in accordance with the structure to be worked on.

8. Process, according to claim 1, characterized in that in step 5) is performed the inductive or capacitive coupling of the equipment available depending on the compartmentalization, the power and the impedances found, obtaining electric fields of the order of +0.7 to −0.7 Volt/meter, optionally varying according to the dimensions of the structure to be worked.

9. Process, according to claim 1, characterized in that in step 6) the inspection of the target surfaces of the process is carried out every 30 months+/−6 months, with the target surfaces being defined according to the characteristic of the structure to be worked.

10. Process, according to claim 1, characterized in that in step 7) the compartmentalization or power of equipment is carried out according to the results.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the present invention, in which a flowchart illustrating the steps followed in the process disclosed here is presented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The present invention relates to a process for inhibiting biofouling by sessile organisms in marine environments, comprising the steps of:

[0025] Step 1) Identification;

[0026] Substep 1a) Localization;

[0027] Substep 1b) Dimensioning;

[0028] Step 2) Cleaning;

[0029] Step 3) Measurement;

[0030] Step 4) Compartmentation;

[0031] Step 5) Coupling;

[0032] Step 6) Inspection, and

[0033] Step 7) Resizing.

[0034] Through the abovementioned steps, the process revealed in the present invention allows the implementation of electric fields that create environmental disturbances, capable of inhibiting incrustation of sessile organisms inside portions of marine waters under dynamic and/or static conditions, of ships, platforms of oil exploration, jetties etc.

[0035] For a perfect understanding of the invention, the steps abovementioned will be described in detail:

[0036] Step 1) Identification

[0037] The identification step 1) involves selecting the target surfaces or bodies.

[0038] This stage results from the choice, in a pragmatic way, by those responsible for the structure (jetty, ship, platform etc.) of which areas, sectors, or pipes of that structure should be the target of the technique.

[0039] In addition, stage 1) is segmented into two substeps, which are:

[0040] Substep 1a) Localization

[0041] Wherein the structure to be covered by the technique is analyzed together with its responsible operator, in order to identify the location and coverage of the technique.

[0042] Substep 1b) Dimensioning

[0043] Wherein such dimensioning will depend on the structure located in step 1a, with measurements in 3 dimensions being verified.

[0044] Step 2) Cleaning

[0045] It comprises the cleaning of bodies or surfaces, excluding previously adhered biofouling.

[0046] The application of the technique requires a surface free of sessile. As an example, in case of ships and other vessels, the hull must be cleaned in the floating or dry condition (docking), following the usual good techniques practiced by the operators of the structures.

[0047] Step 3) Measurement

[0048] In the referred step 3), the impedance measurement of the continent volumes of the clean surfaces is carried out between the intended location for equipment generating the electric fields and the coupling points, inductive or capacitive.

[0049] The impedance measurement is carried out between the coupling points by means of multimeters when planning the installation. It is necessary to determine the power that the equipment should provide. This measurement does not need to be constant, in real time, but it may be the subject of further sophistication for future equipment.

[0050] By the intended location for the equipment, it must be understood that it is according to the discretion of the operators, whether in situ or remote.

[0051] Equipment generating the electric fields must have points for power take-off, according to the availability of the operator.

[0052] By coupling points, it must be understood that these are the locations identified according to the characteristics of the structure, compatible with access for inspection, the highest level of sessile organism infestation in which the structure can operate and the power of the necessary equipment.

[0053] Step 4) Compartmentation

[0054] Wherein the surface of the submerged bodies is divided according to the power of the available equipment and the impedances found in step 3).

[0055] Compartmentation is understood as the division of the structure to be protected into blocks to be individually covered by equipment, as a segmentation of areas and/or volumes to be covered by equipment, depending on the structure to be worked.

[0056] Step 5) Coupling

[0057] In step 5) the coupling (resistive, inductive or capacitive) of the available equipment is carried out depending on the compartmentalization, the power of these and the impedances found in order to obtain electric fields of the order of +0.7 to −0.7 Volt/meter, which may vary depending on the dimensions of the structure to be worked.

[0058] Step 6) Inspection

[0059] Wherein the inspection of the target surfaces of the process is carried out every 30 months+/−6 months. The inspections to be carried out depend on the type of structure to be worked, accessibility, operational performance, and aggressiveness of the environment, and must be defined depending on the case.

[0060] Target surfaces are defined according to the characteristic of the structure to be worked.

[0061] Step 7) Resizing

[0062] Wherein the compartmentalization or power of equipment is resized according to the results.

[0063] Tests and Results that derive from the verification of fouling appearance within the period defined in paragraph

[0064] If this occurs, the compartmentalization or the increase in the power of the equipment, or even replacements, must be redone.

[0065] The present invention is described here in terms of its preferred modality, and it should be noted that changes made will still be included in the same scope of protection.