초록 ▼

The present invention is an oil recovery system designed to work in conjunction with a vessel. Forming a part of the system is a floating boom structure which confines oil laying at or just below the water\s surface and directs the same to an independently mounted nozzle. Oil and water at the nozzle

The present invention is an oil recovery system designed to work in conjunction with a vessel. Forming a part of the system is a floating boom structure which confines oil laying at or just below the water\s surface and directs the same to an independently mounted nozzle. Oil and water at the nozzle are induced into the nozzle by a vacuum. The depth and attitude of the nozzle are adjustable and the nozzle is movable up and down and side to side. Wave and weather sensors measure various parameters including water temperature, wave amplitude, wave velocity, wave direction, vessel speed, air temperature, and oil layer thickness. The sensors provide input to a computer which continuously generates a cyclic wave profile. The nozzle is automatically controlled and moved in accordance with this wave profile. In this way, the nozzle is maintained at an optimal depth for oil skimming irrespective of changing surface conditions such as wave amplitude, wave velocity, and wave direction. Resultantly, oil at the surface of the body of water is quickly and efficiently collected. Collected oil and water are separated by a series of oil-water separators stationed on the vessel.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for collecting and removing oil from the surface of a body of water using an oil removal system adapted for use with a vessel and having a suction nozzle, comprising the steps of: (a) sensing a plurality of water surface variables; (b) inputting the water surface variables to a computer mea

A method for collecting and removing oil from the surface of a body of water using an oil removal system adapted for use with a vessel and having a suction nozzle, comprising the steps of: (a) sensing a plurality of water surface variables; (b) inputting the water surface variables to a computer means; (c) generating a water surface profile using the computer means; (d) generating a vacuum at the nozzle for inducing oil laying at the surface of the body of water into the nozzle; and (e) continuously controlling the movement of the nozzle in accordance with the water surface profile created by the computer means such that the nozzle may effectively skim the surface of the water irrespective of changes in oil layer depth, wave amplitude, wave velocity, wave direction, and water temperature.