Method and apparatus for mechanical recovery of hydrocarbons in broken ocean ice conditions

Abstract

A system for collecting oil from mixed ice and water conditions. The system uses suction pods that are welded along the hull of a vessel. These pods are elongated vertically and have a vertical slit opening that allow oiled water to enter into the suction box during wave action. Each vertical opening is covered with stainless steel mesh layers to inhibit smaller ice from entering the suction box. Inside each of the suction boxes is a horizontal floating suction bar that is connected to a flexible suction hose. The suction bar is free floating within the suction box so that collection always occurs at the water's surface. The collection line from the suction box leads to a collection and separation area. The suction boxes are protected by heavy-duty metallic bumper that are welded to the hull to protect the suction box arrays.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mechanical recovery of hydrocarbons in broken ocean ice conditions comprising: a) at least one suction pod, having an outer wall and a hollow interior, fixedly attached to an exterior surface of a hull of a vessel such that it remains in one position on said vessel, said at least one suction pod having an opening formed in said outer wall; b) a horizontal floating suction bar, installed within said suction pod, said horizontal floating suction bar having at least one input opening and one output opening formed therein; and c) an expandable suction hose, attached to the output opening of said horizontal floating suction bar.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one suction pod has a shape selected from the group of elongated, rounded, oval and linear.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the opening formed in said outer wall is a slit opening, running vertically in said outer wall.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the opening is covered with stainless steel mesh screen.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising at least one heating element attached to said mesh screen.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the expandable suction hose has an outlet end and further wherein the outlet end connects to the vessel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a heavy-duty metallic bumper is fixedly attached to the exterior of said hull over the outer wall of said at least one suction pod to protect the at least one suction pod.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said horizontal floating suction bar further comprises a plurality of input opening formed therein.

9. An apparatus for mechanical recovery of hydrocarbons in broken ocean ice conditions comprising: a) a plurality of suction pods, each having an outer wall and a hollow interior, each of said plurality of suction pods being fixedly attached to the exterior of a hull of a vessel such that each of said plurality of suction pods remains in one position on said vessel, each of said plurality of suction pods also having an opening formed in said outer wall; b) a horizontal floating suction bar, installed within each of said plurality of suction pods, each of said horizontal floating suction bars having at least one input opening and one output opening formed therein; and c) an expandable suction hose, attached to the output opening of each of said horizontal floating suction bars.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each of said plurality of suction pods has a shape selected from the group of elongated, rounded, oval and linear.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the opening formed in said outer wall of each of said plurality of suction pods is a slit opening, running vertically in said outer wall.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the slit opening formed in each of said plurality of suction pods is covered with stainless steel mesh screen.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising at least one heating element attached to each of said mesh screens.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each expandable suction hose has an outlet end and further wherein the outlet end connects to a main line, which leads to a collection and separation area.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein a heavy-duty metallic bumper is fixedly attached to the exterior of said hull over the outer wall of each of said plurality of suction pods to protect the plurality of suction pods.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each horizontal floating suction bar further comprises a plurality of input opening formed therein.

17. A method of mechanical recovery of hydrocarbons in broken ocean ice conditions comprising the steps of: a) fixedly attaching a plurality of suction pods to the exterior of a hull of a vessel, such that each of said plurality of suction pods remains in one position on said vessel, each of said plurality of suction pods having an outer wall and a hollow interior, and also having an opening formed in said outer wall and further wherein each of said plurality of suction pods has a horizontal floating suction bar installed within, and further wherein each of said horizontal floating suction bars having at least one input opening and one output opening formed therein; and further wherein an expandable suction hose, is attached to the output opening of each of said horizontal floating suction bars; b) placing said vessel in a location having a mix of ice and oily water, such that the oily water enters each of said plurality of suction pods, thereby causing each of said horizontal floating suction bars to float on said oily water; c) causing said oily water to enter said horizontal floating suction bars; d) transferring said oily water from said horizontal floating suction bars through said expandable suction hoses, into a storage vessel; and e) repeating steps a-e until said oily water is removed from the location.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a side view of the invention assembled on the side of a vessel.

(2) FIG. 2 is a detail of the intake port and protective screen for the suction boxes.

(3) FIG. 3 is a detail view of the horizontal suction bar and expandable hose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(4) Referring now to FIG. 1, a side view of the invention 1 assembled on the side of a vessel 100. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of suction pods or elongated suction boxes 10, which are welded along the hull of a barge or a vessel 100, are shown. Note that the pods can also be non-permanently attached, if desired. These pods 10 are designed in elongated, rounded, oval or linear fashion depending on the ice conditions (Here they are shown in a box-like structure. The pods are vertically disposed and have a slit opening 11 (see FIG. 2), running vertically, along the middle of the pods 10. The vertical openings allow oiled water to enter into the pods during wave action. Each vertical opening 11 is covered with stainless steel mesh layers 12 (see FIG. 2) to inhibit smaller ice pieces from entering the pods 10.

(5) The pods are arranged side by side and are protected by heavy-duty metallic bumpers 13, e.g., steel tubing and/or similar barriers that are welded to the hull 100 to protect the pod array. As shown, the bumpers have two horizontal members and several vertical members making a fence in front of the pod array.

(6) FIG. 2 is a detail of the intake port and protective screen for the suction boxes. Here the opening 11 is shown behind a mesh screen 12. Each pod mesh section has independent heating elements 14 to prevent clogging during slush ice conditions. As noted above, the vertical opening allows water and oil to enter the pod with normal wave action. The large size of the opening also ensures the water and oil will enter the pods regardless of the level of the hull in the water. Thus, an empty ship or barge sits higher in the water so the lower portion of the pod opening 11 will be submerged, as shown in the figure. Note the water line 110 shown about the center of the opening 11. As the vessel or barge fills with oil, the vessel sits lower in the water and more of the pod opening will be submerged. Once inside the pod, the oil is removed using a horizontal suction bar and expandable hose, as shown in FIG. 3.

(7) FIG. 3 is a detail view of the horizontal suction bar 15 and expandable hose 16 that is placed inside each of the pods. The horizontal floating suction bar 15 is free floating within the suction box so that collection always occurs at the water's surface. Note again, the water line 110. A number of holes 17 are formed in the side of each horizontal suction bar 15 to collect the oil from the water. The horizontal suction bar 15 has the high grade, expandable/contractible flexible suction hose 16 attached that provides a suction to remove oil/water 18 from the horizontal floating suction bar 15. The suction hose 16 extends from inside the horizontal suction bar 15 (through hole 19 in the horizontal suction bar) and leads upwards to the vessel, where it feeds into a main line, (not shown). The main line then leads to a collection and separation area (also not shown) located either in the vessel or on shore. The oil 18 is shown being removed from within the high grade, expandable/contractible flexible suction hose 16 that attaches to the horizontal floating suction bar 15 and extends upwards out of the pod to a port 20 within the side of the hull of the vessel 100, as shown in FIG. 1.

(8) In this way, oil can be continuously pulled from the water under icy conditions with a minimum of difficulty and a maximum of efficiency.

(9) The present disclosure should not be construed in any limited sense other than that limited by the scope of the claims having regard to the teachings herein and the prior art being apparent with the preferred form of the invention disclosed herein and which reveals details of structure of a preferred form necessary for a better understanding of the invention and may be subject to change by skilled persons within the scope of the invention without departing from the concept thereof.