Environmentally-neutral processing with condensed phase cryogenic fluids
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
E02B-015/04
출원번호
UP-0839233
(2007-08-15)
등록번호
US-7674373
(2010-04-21)
발명자
/ 주소
de Strulle, Ronald
대리인 / 주소
Fish & Richardson P.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
29
초록▼
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▼
What is claimed is: 1. A buoyant immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus for use in a body of water comprising: a deck having a first end and a second end; a cryogenic fluid source adapted for providing a cryogenic fluid, the cryogenic fluid source supported by the deck; a cryogenic fluid dispen
What is claimed is: 1. A buoyant immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus for use in a body of water comprising: a deck having a first end and a second end; a cryogenic fluid source adapted for providing a cryogenic fluid, the cryogenic fluid source supported by the deck; a cryogenic fluid dispenser structure coupled to the cryogenic fluid source and supported over the body water at a first end of the deck, the cryogenic fluid dispenser structure comprising at least one cryogenic fluid dispenser adapted for dispensing cryogenic fluid in a substantially condensed phase; a conveyor belt adapted to receive and transport at least some immiscible pollutant that was exposed to substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid by the cryogenic fluid dispenser structure, wherein the conveyor belt causes a belt to travel in a direction from the first end of the deck toward the second end of the deck; transport structure, disposed proximate to the second end of the deck, adapted for transporting the immiscible pollutant from the conveyor belt to the waste tank; a waste tank adapted for storing collected immiscible pollutant; 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. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a plow coupled proximate to the first end of the cryogenic fluid dispenser structure. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors includes an infrared sensor. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors includes an optoacoustic sensor. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors includes a temperature sensor. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising wireless communication structure. 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the wireless communication structure includes GPS, RF or IR receivers. 8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the wireless communication structure includes GPS, RF or IR transmitters. 9. 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. 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the cryogenic fluid transport means comprises one or more pressure release valves adapted to open at a predetermined threshold pressure. 11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser and cryogenic fluid transport means are arranged such that the cryogenic fluid does not reach its saturation point within the transport structure. 12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one cryogenic fluid dispenser dispenses the cryogenic fluid at about atmospheric pressure. 13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one cryogenic fluid dispenser comprises a sparger bar. 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the sparger bar is constructed of a sintered metal. 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the metal comprises brass, bronze or stainless steel. 16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the sparger bar is constructed of a sintered composite. 17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the sparger bar is constructed of a sintered material comprising silicon carbide. 18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the mean porosity of the sparger bar is between about 1 micron and 10 microns. 19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser comprises a spray bar comprising at least one nozzle. 20. The apparatus of claim 19 comprising means for adjusting an aperture size of at least one nozzle. 21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser comprises a drizzle bar comprising at least one hole array. 22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the at least one hole array comprises holes having a diameter equal to or greater than about 0.1 millimeters. 23. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transport structure comprises a ramp coupled to the waste tank. 24. The apparatus of claim 23 comprising a secondary waste tank coupled to the waste tank. 25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the transport structure comprises: a sleuth well disposed proximate to the second end of the deck and adapted to the receive the immiscible pollutant from the conveyor belt; one or more rotating scoops adapted to capture at least some of the contents of the sleuth well and transport the contents to the waste tank. 26. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conveyor belt is cooled with cryogenic fluid. 27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the conveyor belt comprises at least one cryogenic fluid dispenser. 28. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pressure within the cryogenic fluid dispenser is at approximately atmospheric pressure. 29. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser dispenses cryogenic fluid in droplets. 30. A buoyant immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus for use in a body of water comprising: a deck having a first end and a second end; a cryogenic fluid source adapted for providing a cryogenic fluid, the cryogenic fluid source supported by the deck; a cryogenic fluid dispenser structure coupled to the cryogenic fluid source and supported over the body water at a first end of the deck, 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; a conveyor belt adapted to receive and transport at least some immiscible pollutant that was exposed to substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid by the cryogenic fluid dispenser structure, wherein the conveyor belt causes a belt to travel in a direction from the first end of the deck toward the second end of the deck; transport structure, disposed proximate to the second end of the deck, adapted for transporting the immiscible pollutant from the conveyor belt to the waste tank; and a waste tank adapted for storing collected immiscible pollutant. 31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the at least one hole array comprises holes having a diameter equal to or greater than about 0.1 millimeters. 32. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the pressure within the cryogenic fluid dispenser is at approximately atmospheric pressure. 33. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser dispenses cryogenic fluid in droplets. 34. A buoyant immiscible pollutant remediation apparatus for use in a body of water comprising: a deck having a first end and a second end; a cryogenic fluid source adapted for providing a cryogenic fluid, the cryogenic fluid source supported by the deck; a cryogenic fluid dispenser structure coupled to the cryogenic fluid source and supported over the body water at a first end of the deck, the cryogenic fluid dispenser structure comprising at least one cryogenic fluid dispenser adapted for dispensing cryogenic fluid in a substantially condensed phase; a conveyor belt adapted to receive and transport at least some immiscible pollutant that was exposed to substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid by the cryogenic fluid dispenser structure, wherein the conveyor belt causes a belt to travel in a direction from the first end of the deck toward the second end of the deck; transport structure, disposed proximate to the second end of the deck, adapted for transporting the immiscible pollutant from the conveyor belt to the waste tank, the transport structure comprising a sleuth well disposed proximate to the second end of the deck and adapted to the receive the immiscible pollutant from the conveyor belt; one or more rotating scoops adapted to capture at least some of the contents of the sleuth well and transport the contents to the waste tank; and a waste tank adapted for storing collected immiscible pollutant. 35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the pressure within the cryogenic fluid dispenser is at approximately atmospheric pressure. 36. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the cryogenic fluid dispenser dispenses cryogenic fluid in droplets.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (29)
Lint Christian L. (P.O. Box 9884 Seattle WA 98109), Apparatus and method for minimizing and recovering fluid cargo spills.
Acker Jan R. (4402 Dwight Dr. Madison WI 53711) Braton Norman R. (457 Agnes Dr. Madison WI 53711) Koutsky James A. (3116 Gregory St. Madison WI 53711) Wendt Robert F. (2649 Mason St. Madison WI 53711, Cryogenic beach cleaner.
Wendt Robert F. (2649 Mason St. Madison WI 53705) Acker Jan R. (4402 Dwight Dr. ; #B Madison WI 53701) Braton Norman R. (457 Agnes Dr. Madison WI 53711), Cryogenic beach cleaner.
Wendt Robert F. (2649 Mason St. Madison WI 53705) Acker Jan R. (4402 Dwight Drive ; No. B Madison WI 53704) Braton Norman R. (457 Agnes Drive Madison WI 53711), Cryogenic beach cleaner.
Ross Sigmund L. (1 Cornell St. New York NY) Shuffman ; deceased Oscar (1 Cornell St. late of Scarsdale NY) Shuffman ; executrix Rose (1 Cornell St. Scarsdale NY 10583), Cryothermal manipulation of petroleum.
Ross Sigmund L. (1280 E. 53rd St. Brooklyn NY 11234) Shuffman ; deceased Oscar (1 Cornell St. LATE OF Scarsdale NY) Shuffman ; executrix by Rose (1 Cornell St. Scarsdale NY 10583), Cryothermal manipulation of petroleum.
Ross Sigmund Lance (2761 Sedgwick Ave. New York NY 10001) Shuffman ; deceased Oscar (1 Cornell St. LATE OF Scarsdale NY) Shuffman ; executrix Rose (1 Cornell St. Scarsdale NY 10583), Cryothermal manipulation of petroleum spills on water.
Littlejohn Lee A. (Houston TX) Kruk Keith F. (Sugar Land TX) Williams Robert E. (Houston TX) Bailey Thomas F. (Houston TX), Method and apparatus employing oleophilic brushes for oil spill clean-up.
Bennett John A. (5660 Westhaven Road West Vancouver ; British Columbia CA) McAllister Ian R. (3578 Quesnel Drive Vancouver ; British Columbia CA) Welsh Howard (1276 Premier St. North Vancouver ; Brit, Oil recovery apparatus and method.
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