IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
UP-0839196
(2007-08-15)
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등록번호 |
US-7645378
(2010-02-22)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
29 |
초록
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Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for utilizing a substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid for the purpose of remediation and retrieval of, e.g., spilled crude oil and other “oil spill”-related products from marine/aquatic and terrestrial environments. In some implementa
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for utilizing a substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid for the purpose of remediation and retrieval of, e.g., spilled crude oil and other “oil spill”-related products from marine/aquatic and terrestrial environments. In some implementations, systems and apparatus are provided for applying a substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid to a volume of spilled oil, and further having structure for collecting the spilled oil. Some implementations are environmentally-neutral. Substances other than oil may be remediated as well.
대표청구항
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What is claimed is: 1. A buoyant immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus for use in a body of water comprising: a primary section comprising: a cryogenic fluid source adapted for providing a cryogenic fluid, the cryogenic fluid source supported by a deck; a cryogenic fluid dispenser structure co
What is claimed is: 1. A buoyant immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus for use in a body of water comprising: a primary section comprising: a cryogenic fluid source adapted for providing a cryogenic fluid, the cryogenic fluid source supported by a deck; a cryogenic fluid dispenser structure coupled to the cryogenic fluid source, the cryogenic fluid dispenser structure comprising at least one cryogenic fluid dispenser adapted for dispensing cryogenic fluid in a substantially condensed phase, wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser comprises a drizzle bar comprising at least one hole array, and wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser structure is proximate to the water at a first end and coupled to at least a portion of the perimeter of the deck on a second end; a waste section comprising: a waste tank adapted for storing collected immiscible pollutant; a buoyant deck adapted for supporting the waste tank; at least one guide screen for guiding the immiscible pollutant exposed to substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid toward the waste tank; a conveyor belt, coupled to the waste tank, adapted to receive and transport at least some immiscible pollutant that was exposed to substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid and guided by the guide screen and dispose immiscible pollutant in the waste tank. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising: at least one secondary section disposed between the primary section and the waste section, the secondary section comprising: a secondary cryogenic fluid source adapted for providing a cryogenic fluid, the cryogenic fluid source supported by a secondary deck; a secondary cryogenic fluid dispenser structure coupled to the cryogenic fluid source, the secondary cryogenic fluid dispenser structure comprising at least one secondary cryogenic fluid dispenser adapted for dispensing cryogenic fluid in a substantially condensed phase, and wherein the secondary cryogenic fluid dispenser structure is proximate to the water at a first end and coupled to at least a portion of the perimeter of the secondary deck on a second end. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising cryogenic fluid transport means, coupled between the secondary cryogenic fluid source and the at least one secondary cryogenic fluid dispenser, for maintaining the pressure of the cryogenic fluid transported to the secondary cryogenic fluid dispenser at less than about 50 psi. 4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising cryogenic fluid transport means, coupled between the cryogenic fluid source and the at least one cryogenic fluid dispenser, for maintaining the pressure of the cryogenic fluid transported to the cryogenic fluid dispenser at less than about 50 psi. 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one secondary cryogenic fluid dispenser dispenses the cryogenic fluid at about atmospheric pressure. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising: one or more sensors disposed proximate to the immiscible pollutant adapted to generate one or more data signals; a controller coupled to the sensors and cryogenic fluid source, wherein the controller is adapted to control the cryogenic fluid source in response to the one or more data signals. 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the one or more sensors includes an infrared sensor. 8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the one or more sensors includes an optoacoustic sensor. 9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the one or more sensors includes a temperature sensor. 10. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising wireless communication structure. 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the wireless communication structure includes GPS, RF or IR receivers. 12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the wireless communication structure includes GPS, RF or IR transmitters. 13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising cryogenic fluid transport means, coupled between the cryogenic fluid source and the at least one cryogenic fluid dispenser, for maintaining the pressure of the cryogenic fluid transported to the cryogenic fluid dispenser at less than about 50 psi. 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the cryogenic fluid transport means comprises one or more pressure release valves adapted to open at a predetermined threshold pressure. 15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser and the cryogenic fluid transport means are arranged such that the cryogenic fluid does not reach its saturation point within the cryogenic fluid transport means. 16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one cryogenic fluid dispenser dispenses the cryogenic fluid at about atmospheric pressure. 17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one hole array comprises holes having a diameter greater than or equal to about 0.1 millimeters. 18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the at least one hole array comprises holes having a diameter from about 0.1 millimeters to about 0.5 millimeters. 19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pressure within the cryogenic fluid dispenser is at approximately atmospheric pressure. 20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser dispenses cryogenic fluid in droplets. 21. A buoyant immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus for use in a body of water comprising: a primary section comprising: a cryogenic fluid source adapted for providing a cryogenic fluid, the cryogenic fluid source supported by a deck; a cryogenic fluid dispenser structure coupled to the cryogenic fluid source, the cryogenic fluid dispenser structure comprising at least one cryogenic fluid dispenser adapted for dispensing cryogenic fluid in a substantially condensed phase, and wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser structure is proximate to the water at a first end and coupled to at least a portion of the perimeter of the deck on a second end; a waste section comprising: a waste tank adapted for storing collected immiscible pollutant; a buoyant deck adapted for supporting the waste tank; at least one guide screen for guiding the immiscible pollutant exposed to substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid toward the waste tank; a conveyor belt, coupled to the waste tank, adapted to receive and transport at least some immiscible pollutant that was exposed to substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid and guided by the guide screen and dispose immiscible pollutant in the waste tank; and at least one secondary section disposed between the primary section and the waste section, the secondary section comprising: a secondary cryogenic fluid source adapted for providing a cryogenic fluid, the cryogenic fluid source supported by a secondary deck; a secondary cryogenic fluid dispenser structure coupled to the cryogenic fluid source, the secondary cryogenic fluid dispenser structure comprising at least one secondary cryogenic fluid dispenser adapted for dispensing cryogenic fluid in a substantially condensed phase, and wherein the secondary cryogenic fluid dispenser structure is proximate to the water at a first end and coupled to at least a portion of the perimeter of the secondary deck on a second end. 22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein at least one of the cryogenic fluid dispenser and the secondary cryogenic fluid dispenser comprises a sparger bar. 23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the sparger bar is constructed of a sintered metal. 24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the metal comprises brass, bronze or stainless steel. 25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the sparger bar is constructed of a sintered composite. 26. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the sparger bar is constructed of a sintered material comprising silicon carbide. 27. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the mean porosity of the sparger bar is between about 1 micron and 10 microns. 28. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein at least one of the cryogenic fluid dispenser and the secondary cryogenic fluid dispenser comprises a spray bar comprising at least one nozzle. 29. The apparatus of claim 28 comprising means for adjusting an aperture size of at least one nozzle. 30. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein at least one of the cryogenic fluid dispenser and the secondary cryogenic fluid dispenser comprises a drizzle bar comprising at least one hole array. 31. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the at least one of the cryogenic fluid dispenser and the secondary cryogenic fluid dispenser dispenses the cryogenic fluid at about atmospheric pressure. 32. A buoyant immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus for use in a body of water comprising: a primary section comprising: a cryogenic fluid source adapted for providing a cryogenic fluid, the cryogenic fluid source supported by a deck; a cryogenic fluid dispenser structure coupled to the cryogenic fluid source, the cryogenic fluid dispenser structure comprising at least one cryogenic fluid dispenser adapted for dispensing cryogenic fluid in a substantially condensed phase, and wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser structure is proximate to the water at a first end and coupled to at least a portion of the perimeter of the deck on a second end; a waste section comprising: a waste tank adapted for storing collected immiscible pollutant; a buoyant deck adapted for supporting the waste tank; at least one guide screen for guiding the immiscible pollutant exposed to substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid toward the waste tank; a conveyor belt, coupled to the waste tank, adapted to receive and transport at least some immiscible pollutant that was exposed to substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid and guided by the guide screen and dispose immiscible pollutant in the waste tank; the apparatus further comprising: one or more sensors disposed proximate to the immiscible pollutant adapted to generate one or more data signals; and a controller coupled to the sensors and cryogenic fluid source, wherein the controller is adapted to control the cryogenic fluid source in response to the one or more data signals. 33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the at least one cryogenic fluid dispenser dispenses the cryogenic fluid at about atmospheric pressure. 34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the at least one cryogenic fluid dispenser comprises a sparger bar. 35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the sparger bar is constructed of a sintered metal. 36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the metal comprises brass, bronze or stainless steel. 37. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the sparger bar is constructed of a sintered composite. 38. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the sparger bar is constructed of a sintered material comprising silicon carbide. 39. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the mean porosity of the sparger bar is between about 1 micron and 10 microns. 40. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser comprises a spray bar comprising at least one nozzle. 41. The apparatus of claim 40 comprising means for adjusting an aperture size of at least one nozzle. 42. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser comprises a drizzle bar comprising at least one hole array. 43. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the at least one hole array comprises holes having a diameter from about 0.1 millimeters to about 0.5 millimeters. 44. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the pressure within the cryogenic fluid dispenser is at approximately atmospheric pressure. 45. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser dispenses cryogenic fluid in droplets. 46. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the one or more sensors includes an infrared sensor. 47. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the one or more sensors includes an optoacoustic sensor. 48. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the one or more sensors includes a temperature sensor.
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