초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for recovering oil from an oil spill on the surface of a body of water. The method is operative for recovering an oil having a viscosity in excess of 80 centipoise and it includes the steps of drawing an oil-water mixture from the surface of a body of water, adjusting the visc

A method and apparatus for recovering oil from an oil spill on the surface of a body of water. The method is operative for recovering an oil having a viscosity in excess of 80 centipoise and it includes the steps of drawing an oil-water mixture from the surface of a body of water, adjusting the viscosity of the oil in the oil-water mixture to a level below approximately 80 centipoise and passing the resultant adjusted oil-water mixture through an oil-water coalescer to separate the oil in the adjusted oil-water mixture from the water therein. The viscosity of the oil in the feed oil-water mixture is preferably adjusted by adding a low viscosity hydrophobic hydrocarbon solvent to the oil-water mixture. The apparatus includes a skimmer for withdrawing feed oil-water mixture from the surface of a body of water, a solvent system for adding solvent to the oil in the feed oil-water mixture to reduce the viscosity of the oil in the feed oil-water mixture to below approximately 80 centipoise and an oil-water coalescer for separating the solvent and oil in the viscosity adjusted feed oil-water mixture to below approximately 80 centipoise.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of recovering a hydrophobic hydrocarbon oil from the surface of a body of water, said body of water having a water temperature, said oil having a specific gravity which is less than the specific gravity of the water in said body of water and a viscosity which is greater than approximately 8

A method of recovering a hydrophobic hydrocarbon oil from the surface of a body of water, said body of water having a water temperature, said oil having a specific gravity which is less than the specific gravity of the water in said body of water and a viscosity which is greater than approximately 80 centipoise at said water temperature, said method comprising the steps of: a. continuously withdrawing a feed oil-water mixture from the surface of said body of water; b. continuously adjusting the viscosity of the oil in said feed oil-water mixture to a level below approximately 80 centipoise to form an adjusted oil-water mixture; and c. continuously passing said adjusted oil-water mixture through an oil-water coalescer to separate the oil in said adjusted oil-water mixture from the water in said adjusted oil-water mixture.