VESSEL AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AQUATIC PLANT SPECIES

Abstract

A vessel for control of aquatic plant species (100) in seas, rivers and lakes that is configured to extract from the surface of the water and hoist to a deck of the vessel (100) a plurality of plant remains of a given aquatic ecosystem by means of an elevator belt (101); and/or receive from a coastal installation a plurality of aquatic plant remains mixed with grey water from coastal human settlements; and that is characterized in that the remains of aquatic plant species extracted from the surface of the water and/or received from coastal human settlements are deposited in a cooking chamber (102) where they are subjected to controlled temperature conditions configured to modify, ferment and rot said remains preventing their reproduction.

Claims

1. A vessel for control of aquatic plant species (100) in seas, rivers, and lakes that is configured to: remove from the surface of the water and hoist to a deck of the vessel (100) a plurality of plant debris from a given aquatic ecosystem by means of an elevator belt (101); and/or receive from a coastal facility a plurality of aquatic plant debris mixed with grey water from coastal human settlements; and that is characterized in that the remains of aquatic plant species extracted from the surface of the water and/or received from coastal human settlements are deposited in a cooking chamber (102) where they are subjected to controlled temperature conditions configured to modify, ferment and rot said remains, preventing their reproduction.

2. The vessel (100) of claim 1 wherein the vessel (100) comprises a plurality of digesters (103 to 106) configured to extract methane gas from the plant debris already subjected to the action of heat in the cooking chamber (102).

3. The vessel (100) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the digesters are heated to temperatures between 40° C. and 70° C.

4. The vessel (100) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the elevator belt (101) comprises floats configured to adjust the depth of the elevator belt with respect to the surface of the water; and means for aligning the plant debris with respect to the inlet of the elevator belt (101).

5. The vessel (100) of claim 1 or 2 wherein the crushing means (101a) of the elevator belt (101) is disposed at the top of the elevator belt or at the height of the water surface itself.

6. The vessel (100) according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a collection and loading compartment for organic materials from land.

7. The vessel (100) according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a rear drag rake configured to bring closer clusters of vegetables that have not been collected in the first step of the vessel.

8. The vessel (100) according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a plurality of satellite vessels configured for collecting the remains in low draught areas and being able to deposit them on the front of the elevator belt.

9. The vessel (100) according to any one of the preceding claims comprising an aerostatic balloon or drone with a remote-controlled camera configured to visualize the low draught area and supervise and direct the collection of the satellite vessels.

10. The vessel (100) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fermented residues, digested and once the methane gas has been extracted, are returned to the water and serve as food to the surrounding fish farms.

11. The vessel (100) according to any one of the preceding claims comprising an on-board laboratory.

12. The method of control of aquatic plant species in seas, rivers and lakes comprising the steps of: extracting from the surface of the water and hoisting to a deck of the vessel (100) a plurality of plant debris from a given aquatic ecosystem by means of an elevator belt (101) at the front of the vessel configured to extract said plant debris from the aquatic surface; and wherein the elevator belt (101) conveys the debris extracted from the water to grinding means (101a) configured to fragment the debris; and/or receiving from a coastal facility a plurality of aquatic plant debris mixed with grey water from coastal human settlements; and that it is characterized in that the remains of aquatic plant species extracted from the surface of the water and/or received from coastal human settlements are deposited in a cooking chamber (102) of the vessel (100) where they are subjected to controlled temperature conditions configured to modify, ferment and rot said remains preventing their subsequent reproduction; and wherein the vessel (100) comprises a plurality of digesters (103 to 106) configured to extract methane gas from the fermented and/or rotten plant remains by the action of heat in the cooking chamber (102).

13. The method according to claim 12 comprising the steps of: using the methane gas to heat the cooking chamber (102) and/or heat the digesters (103 to 106) or as fuel of the vessel (100); and/or storing and compressing the methane gas for subsequent use.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the organic residue, already subjected to the action of heat, is used as nutrient for fish and other living beings in fish farms near the vessel (100).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Next, a series of drawings are described in a very brief manner which help to better understand the invention, and which expressly relate to an embodiment of said invention that is presented as a non-limiting example thereof.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the system of collection and pre-treatment of plant remains in coastal areas.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the vessel for control of aquatic plant species in seas, rivers and lakes object of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the bow of the vessel for control of aquatic plant species in seas, rivers and lakes object of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the internal operation of the vessel for control of aquatic plant species in seas, rivers and lakes object of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the bow of the vessel (100).

[0025] FIG. 6 shows a view of the digesters and heating systems.

[0026] FIG. 7 shows a view of the storage motorization system for the unused methane gas and its subsequent compression.

[0027] FIG. 8 shows the fish farm adjacent to the vessel

[0028] FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of the positioning of the vessel object of the present invention with respect to the coast where the different hotels that it would serve in a practical example are located.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0029] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the method of control of aquatic plant species begins with the collection on land of aquatic plant species. For example, if we think of the sargassums so common in warm-water seas, such as the Caribbean, this collection is carried out on the beach itself, so the plant species are very mixed with the beach sand. This collection is carried out by mechanical means 1 that deposit the plant residue together with the sand in a hopper 2 that passes to a first tank 3, where the sand is separated from the plant residue by washing and shaking them in said first tank 3. The sand, due to its greater density, precipitates at the bottom of the first tank 3 and through mechanical means 3.1, for example, a worm screw, will be returned to the beach.

[0030] This structure has the advantage that it facilitates the collection, since it does not matter that the plant remains arrive mixed with the sand and, in addition, minimizes the environmental impact on the beach, because the sand that is extracted mixed with the plant remains will be returned practically immediately.

[0031] In a second reservoir 4, adjacent to the first reservoir 3, the plant remains will be removed, for example, by suction 3.2. In this second reservoir 4, the plant remains are mixed with the used grey water of the hotels and/or nearby towns that are poured 4.1 over this second reservoir 4 to: (i) contribute to the fermentation and decomposition of the plant remains; (ii) complete the purification of the waters offshore in the vessel that is the object of the present invention, thus avoiding any discomfort and/or bad smell to the inhabitants and guests of the coastal areas. Finally, from this second tank 4, and through extraction means 4.2, the plant species mixed with the grey waters will be sent to the vessel 100 object of the present invention.

[0032] Parallel to the process described for FIG. 1, aquatic plant species are also controlled offshore by the vessel 100 schematically shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. As seen in these figures, the vessel 100 can extract the aquatic plant species and hoisting them on board by means of a mechanized elevation belt 101. These plant species can be invasive or annoying species, crushing them where, subject to the time necessary to the action of heat, their properties are modified, destroying their plant structure and preventing them from reproducing and being returned to the sea as nutrients even in farms adjacent to the vessel 100, thus complying with the biological cycle and control of the invasive species.

[0033] Thanks to the vessel of the invention, two basic by-products can be obtained: (a) food for the microorganisms that are at the base of the marine food chain; and (b) the plant debris passes through a cooking chamber 102 and a plurality of digesters 103 to 106 in the same way as in a biogas plant, where at high temperatures methane gas is extracted allowing to: (i) continue feeding the combustion means of the cooking chamber 102 and the digesters 103 to 106; (ii) use it as fuel in an electric cogeneration plant for operating the vessel 100 and the electrical subsystems thereof; and (iii) store 125 and compress 127 the excess methane gas for use on land, for example, in hotels or homes.

[0034] The cooking chamber 102 in a practical embodiment also receives the plant remains mixed with the grey waters coming from the coast, as described in reference to FIG. 1.

[0035] In a particular embodiment, the mechanized elevator belt 101 may be provided with floats so that the depth of the extractor belt can be adjusted with respect to the surface. In another particular embodiment, the elevator belt 101 may have mechanisms in front of it that bring the floating plants located on both sides closer to it so that they are aligned towards the center, improving the cleaning efficiency.

[0036] The vessel 100 comprises, as mentioned above, a crusher mechanism 101a arranged at the top of the elevator belt 101. This crushing mechanism can be of any of the types known in the state of the art, such as fixed or oscillating blades or hammers mounted on rotors, so that the extracted materials are fragmented, and their fermentation and decomposition is faster. In another practical embodiment, the shredder mechanism 101a may be at the same level as the water surface, such that the shredded debris is sent to the subsequent modules of the vessel 100 mixed with water.

[0037] The collected and crushed plant remains pass to a cooking boiler 102—which in a non-limiting practical embodiment is hermetically sealed—so that the process of cooking and destruction of the reproductive capacity of the plants is faster and more effective. This cooking will also generate steam that can drive a steam turbine that, in turn, moves an electric generator. The steam may also be used to generate the heat required for cooking the extracted and crushed plant debris, as well as the heat required for the digesters 103 to 106.

[0038] The collected plant remains, crushed and already subjected to high temperatures, is deposited in digesters 103 to 106 of large dimensions with a controlled temperature—between 40° and 70°—and equally controlled pressure conditions, in such a way that methane gas can be extracted from said remains. The digesters 103 to 106 in a practical embodiment, will be provided with motorized agitators to optimize the generative yield of the gas. The methane gas obtained because of the fermentation and putrefaction of the collected and degraded plant remains will be used as fuel for any type of thermal engine, either by pistons or by gas turbines.

[0039] The gas obtained in the process performed in the vessel of the invention, in a particular embodiment, may be compressed 125 and stored 127 to be consumed subsequently when no plant remains are extracted or to be used as a commercial product to be used on land, and where the heat produced by the compression of the gas is used to heat the digesters (103 to 106). It can also be used for the internal services of the ship 120.

[0040] The vessel 100 in a particular embodiment comprises a laboratory capable of evaluating the complete rotting and corresponding sterilization of the collected plant remains and the characteristics of the gases obtained and the quality of the digested materials to return them to the sea, river or lake with full guarantees. Thus, the decomposed plant remains can be returned to the water 145 to serve as food in fish farms 140 or in areas with wild fish stock.

[0041] In another practical embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the vessel 100 of the invention is a mother-type vessel that has associated smaller vessels 110 with less draught configured to collect vegetables in areas where the draught is shallower and the density of vegetables is also lower, where the discharge point is in front of the trajectory of the mother vessel, thus ensuring that areas of lower draught or with lower density of plants or invasive species can be efficiently cleaned.

[0042] The auxiliary vessels 110 may also serve, in addition, as transport to bring the sargassums or waters coming from hotels or neighboring urban centers, more efficiently and safely than by floating tubes, thus being able to reach a greater radius of action with the mother ship 100.

[0043] In another practical embodiment, the vessel of the invention comprises an aerostatic balloon that reaches sufficient height so that, with a remote-control camera, the surrounding area can be visualized to direct the smaller auxiliary vessels to collect the lower concentrations of algae or invasive species, where this is difficult, impossible or inefficient for the mother vessel.

[0044] Once the residue has been fermented, digested, the biogas extracted and the appropriate values verified in the laboratory, it can be poured next to the driving propellers for the optimal diffusion of the residue in the seabed and its best use by the living organisms resident in the ecosystem.

[0045] In another practical embodiment, the vessel comprises a rear drag rake configured to bring low-density clusters of vegetables closer to the vessel. Likewise, auxiliary vessels may incorporate a rear rake.

[0046] In another practical embodiment, the vessel comprises a compartment for organic materials coming from the inland and susceptible of fermentation, to be processed and decomposed to generate gas, and that after being processed are left inert and tested by the laboratory and, therefore, not harmful to the ecosystem where the intervention is carried out.

[0047] In another practical embodiment, two or more vessels may collaborate with each other to collect the plant debris processed by a vessel to continue the fermentation in the same manner as explained above until obtaining the methane gas.