Device for cleaning a fluid contaminated with oil

Abstract

A device (1) for cleaning a liquid (3) contaminated with oil, comprising a filling (7) made of a material that absorbs the oil (2), which filling is located inside a container (4) and is arranged between an inlet and an outlet (5, 6) of the container (4). According to the invention, the absorption property and handling of the filling (7) is increased by virtue of the fact that the filling is formed by a package-type tangle of keratin structures (8) that are randomly arranged and stochastically distributed in all three dimensions, which in the operating state of the device (1), comprise a closed container edge (9) between the inlet and the outlet (5, 6), and rest thereon in a liquid-tight manner.

Claims

1. A device for cleaning a liquid contaminated with oil, comprising a container having an inlet for a contaminated liquid and an outlet for a cleaned liquid and at least one valve disposed in the inlet or outlet, wherein the container contains a packing of a material that can absorb the oil, through which material the contaminated liquid can flow to leave the contaminants behind, the packing comprises a package-like tangle of keratin structures that are randomly distributed in all three dimensions, the keratin structures are enclosed by a closed container edge between the inlet and the outlet and fit against it in a liquid-tight way the package-like tangle of keratin structures is essentially uniformly compacted along the path of the liquid between the inlet and outlet, wherein the compaction is such that the keratin structures absorb at least 6.5 times their own weight of oil from the fluid before saturation of the keratin structures with oil occurs, the packing is formed by the first absorption unit within a reception space of the container, wherein the first absorption unit present in the reception space can be replaced automatically with a second absorption unit in the reception space of the container by an exchange device assigned to the container, wherein the replacement takes place when the first absorption unit exhibits a predetermined degree of oil saturation, wherein the degree of saturation of the absorption unit is determined automatically by an optical recognition device attached to the container or to the outlet, wherein the recognition device is connected to a programmable logic controller, which addresses the exchange device through a respective connection for the automated exchange of absorption units and optionally stops the continuous in-flow or out-flow of liquid by addressing the respective valve in the inlet or outlet, wherein the respective first absorption unit is automatically supplied to a collection point through a transport device after the exchange has taken place.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said exchange device comprises a revolver-like system with at least two drums.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first absorption unit shapes the keratin structures in a bale form, which has an outer shape with a design complementary to the inner shape of the reception space.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the first absorption unit comprises a net having a mesh size that is smaller than a predetermined minimum length for the keratin structures, wherein the net is used to shape the keratin structures into the bale form.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the compaction of the keratin structures is such that they absorb at least 12 times their own weight of oil from the liquid before saturation of the keratin structures with oil occurs.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the keratin structures are formed from natural fibrous proteins.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device is mobile.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is incorporated in a stationary flow process for cleaning sea water and fresh water.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers denote like method steps and/or system components, respectively, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a functional representation of the device according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the device according to the invention in an exemplary case of mobile use;

(4) FIG. 3a shows an application example of the invention;

(5) FIG. 3b shows the application example according to FIG. 3a in a sectional representation;

(6) FIG. 3c shows another application example of the invention.

(7) In the following, unless stated otherwise, the following description always applies to all Figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) FIGS. 1, 2 and 3b respectively show Examples of a device (1) according to the invention for cleaning a liquid (3) contaminated with oil (2).

(9) FIG. 1 shows a device (1) according to the invention in a schematic representation, in which the cleaning process according to the invention is shown in an exemplary automated implementation variant.

(10) In particular, FIG. 2 shows a concrete case of application of the invention, the device (1) here being shown in a case of mobile use. Here, the device (1) is installed in a sea-going vessel (23), which sucks up oil (2) floating on seawater, which is enclosed by a barrier (19) here, together with the seawater, and is recycled into the sea as waste water cleaned from oil (2) by means of the device (1). For a simplified representation, the device (1) is represented here merely in its basic principle as non-automated, wherein preferably an automated device (1) designed according to FIG. 1 is employed inside the vessel (23), in which it is also possible to clean the liquid (3) supplied to the device (1) in several stages before it is recycled into the seawater.

(11) The FIGS. 1 and 2 and 3b show that the device (1) according to the invention comprises a container (4), which has an inlet and outlet (5, 6) for the respective liquid (3). Between the inlet and outlet (5, 6), a packing (7) of a material absorbing the oil (2) is provided in the container (4), through which material a liquid (3) contaminated with oil (2) can flow in the intentional use state of the device (1).

(12) According to the invention, the absorption property and handling of the packing (7) with respect to its placement within the container (4) is increased because the packing (7) is formed by a package-like tangle of keratin structures (8) that have a three-dimensionally irregular orientation and are randomly distributed in all three dimensions. The irregular distribution of the keratin structures (8) is represented, in particular, in the detail view I in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 3b.

(13) Further, FIG. 1 and FIG. 3b, in particular, show that the keratin structures (8) are enclosed by a closed container edge (9) between the inlet and outlet (5, 6) and fit against said container edge in a liquid-tight way in the use state of the device (1).

(14) The packing (7) is formed by a separate absorption unit (11) that can be employed in a predetermined reception space (10) of the container (4).

(15) In the Example shown in FIG. 2, the absorption unit (11) can be inserted from above into a funnel-shaped container (4), and for this purpose, it has an outer shape with a design complementary to the inside shape of the container (4).

(16) In contrast, the device (1) installed inside a vessel (23) can also be operated automatically. Thus, FIG. 1 shows that a respective first absorption unit (11) present in the reception space (10) is replaced from the reception space (10) of the container (4) by means of an exchange device (12) assigned to said container (4) automatically by a respectively succeeding second absorption unit (11).

(17) The changing device (12) is formed here by a revolver-like system with at least two drums (15), into each of which an absorption unit (11) can be inserted. The drums (15) function as containers (4) and have a straight cylindrical tubular shape. The drums (15) each have a longitudinal axis (24), by which they rotate on a common circular path (26) about a common rotational axis (25), wherein the respective drum (15) on the left side is operated for cleaning the liquid (3) in an intentional use state. For this purpose, the left drum (15) with its absorption unit (11) is engaged between the inlet and outlet (5, 6).

(18) The right drum (15) is provided below a piston cylinder (18) and has an opening (27) assigned to the inlet (5). The piston cylinder (18) serves to free the respective right drum (15) from an oil-saturated absorption unit (11) and to replace it with a virgin absorption unit (11). For this purpose, virgin absorption units are automatically fed to the piston cylinder (18) by means of a transport device (17). The piston cylinder (18) serves as a charging station and drives a virgin absorption unit (11) into the reception space (10) of the right drum (15) by means of its extended piston, while the virgin absorption unit (11), while it is driven in, drives out the oil-saturated absorption unit (11) represented below the right drum (15) through a drum opening (28) assigned to the outlet (6), and feeds it to a transport device (13) by which the respective used absorption units (11) saturated with oil (2) can be supplied to a collection point (14).

(19) For an easy process of driving the respective absorption units (11) in and out, the latter are formed while the keratin structures (8) are in the form of bales having an outer shape designed to be complementary to the inner shape of the reception space (10), which is tubular here. In order to form the bale form of the keratin structures (8), a net (16) is used by which the keratin structures (8) are wrapped and compacted together. The net (16) has a mesh size that is smaller than a predetermined minimum length for the keratin structures (8).

(20) As soon as the absorption unit (11) of the left drum is saturated with oil, it is automatically moved on the circular path (26) towards the piston cylinder (18), while a drum (15) succeeding it on the circular path (26) immediately takes its place. Preferably, more than two drums (15) are provided on the circular path (26), especially in order to increase the safety of the device (1) in view of a continuous operation. It is conceivable that such drums (15) are lined up and moved on closed curve paths of a predetermined path length, wherein one or even more drums (15) are charged with absorption units (11) simultaneously within one charging station, while one or even more drums (15) are in intentional operation within one charging station.

(21) Such complex systems can be readily installed on large sea-going vessels, such as cargo ships, for mobile use on bodies of water, to be employed, for example, in oil catastrophes. As mentioned above, FIG. 2, in particular, shows a case in which oil (2), which floats on the liquid (3), which is sea water here, after an oil catastrophe and is enclosed by a barrier (19), together with the liquid (3) through a suction cup (22) and a pump (20), and supplied to the inlet (5). The liquid (3) cleaned according to the invention is drained through the outlet (6). The outlet (6) comprises a sight glass (21), through which the state of the liquid (3) can be supervised optically.

(22) An alternative or supplement to a complex device (1) incorporated within a vessel (23) is conceivable in which the device (1) is also a part of a barrier (19) floatable on the sea water, comprising at least a reception space for receiving the packing (7) of keratin structures (8) according to the invention, an inlet (5) respectively facing towards the oil (2) floating on the sea water, an outlet (6) respectively facing away from the oil (2) floating on the sea water, and a circumferential barrier edge provided between the inlet and outlet, which is the container edge (9) of the thus formed device (19) in this case and ensures that the liquid-tight fit of the keratin structures according to the invention prevents oil (2) present within the device (1) between the inlet and outlet (5, 6) from leaking outside. In order to form the barrier (19), a net (16) as described above can be used to form the container (3) of the barrier (19), in particular, and thus the reception space for the packing (7).

(23) Along the path of the liquid (3) between the respective inlet and outlet (5, 6), the tangle of the keratin structures (8) is essentially uniformly compacted, wherein the compaction is so high that the keratin structures absorb at least 6.5 times their own weight of oil (2) from the liquid (3) before saturation of the keratin structures with oil occurs. Preferably, natural fibrous proteins from wool, hair or feathers are formed for the keratin structures (8). For example, sheep wool from sheep breeds from Mediterranean countries and/or goose feathers may be employed. Thus, it can be achieved that the compaction of the keratin structures is so high that they absorb at least 12 times to even 28 times their own weight of oil (2) from the liquid (3) before saturation of the keratin structures (8) with oil (2) occurs.

(24) Especially FIGS. 3a, b and c show that the device (1) according to the invention can be incorporated within canal or effluent systems (29). Thus, FIG. 3a in connection with FIG. 3b shows that the device (1) may be part of a manhole provided in a road (30). FIG. 3b shows that the manhole has a basket embodied as a container (4) according to the invention. The basket or the container (4) has a container edge (9) against which the keratin structures (8) are fitting liquid-tightly. The container is open at the top and covered by a cover (31), which has openings for the inlet (5) of liquids (3). When the cover (31) has been opened, the container (4) can be easily freed from the keratin structures after the saturation thereof because of their cohesion according to the invention, and fresh unsaturated keratin structures can be refilled. The bottom of the container has a sieve-like design to form an outlet (6) for the liquid (3). FIG. 3c shows the floor (32) of a workshop in which a collection groove with a sieve-like bottom is inserted that is designed as a device (1) according to the invention and covered by a sieve-like or grid-like cover (31).

(25) At any rate, the invention offers an almost unlimited potential of possible applications. In particular, when the packing according to the invention is provided in liquid-permeable bags, sacks or other fabrics, it is altogether possible to take up oil present on the ground, for example, on roads, in pipeline areas, in refinery areas, and dispose of it in a most ecological way.

(26) Experiments so far have shown that the collection devices according to the invention, including floating ones, can be used to free harbor areas from floating oil films very effectively, or that the uptake of oil-containing materials in the vehicle field works excellently.

(27) Also, marine birds with oil-soaked feathers can be saved, because the affinity of the oil in the feathers for the packing material according to the invention is higher than the affinity for the feathers, which is also soaked with water.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(28) 1 device 2 oil 3 liquid 4 container 5 inlet 6 outlet 7 packing 8 keratin structures 9 container edge 10 reception space 11 absorption unit 12 exchange device 13 transport device 14 collection point 15 drum 16 net 17 transport device 18 piston cylinder 19 barrier 20 pump 21 sight glass 22 suction cup 23 vessel 24 longitudinal axis 25 rotational axis 26 circular path 27 opening (5) 28 opening (6) 29 canal system 30 road 31 cover 32 floor