# US 12,110,090 B2 · System and methods for heat treatment of ballast fluid

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- Number: US 12,110,090 B2
- Document ID: US12110090B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/197,463
- Filed: 2021-03-10
- Published: 2022-09-15
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2021-03-10
- Assignees: Fineline LLC
- Applicants: Fineline, LLC
- Inventors: Carver Buis; Shane Stillman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110090B2

## CPC

- B63J 4/002: {for treating ballast water}
- B63B 13/00: Conduits for emptying or ballasting; Self-bailing equipment; Scuppers (draining means for hatches B63B19/26; centrifugal bilge-water separators B04; {arrangements of installations for treating ballast water B63J4/002; } pipes in general F16L)
- B63B 79/10: using sensors, e.g. pressure sensors, strain gauges or accelerometers
- C02F 1/008: {Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F}
- C02F 1/02: by heating (methods of steam generation F22B; preheating boiler feed-water or accumulating preheated boiler feed-water F22D)
- C02F 2103/008: {Originating from marine vessels, ships and boats, e.g. bilge water or ballast water}
- C02F 2201/005: Valves
- C02F 2209/006: comprising a software program or a logic diagram
- C02F 2209/02: Temperature
- C02F 2209/42: Liquid level
- C02F 2301/046: Recirculation with an external loop
- C02F 2303/04: Disinfection
- B63J: AUXILIARIES ON VESSELS
- B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06)
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)

## Abstract

Heat treatment system and methods to decontaminate ballast fluid includes ballast tank(s) each having a temperature sensor. A heat source transfers heat to ballast fluid when circulated therethrough. Diverter valves provide selective direction of fluid flow to either the onboard heat source or external auxiliary heat source when connected. A pump moves ballast fluid between the ballast tank(s) and the heat source, recirculating ballast fluid for iterative heating. The temperature sensor provides ballast fluid temperature information in the ballast tank(s). Recirculation is stopped when ballast fluid meets predetermined ballast temperature conditions. A display provides decontamination status to an operator. A control unit monitors all sensors, valves and pumps to coordinate the performance of the heat treatment process and provide history report confirming decontamination.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for decontaminating ballast fluid of a vessel, said system comprising:
at least one ballast tank in said vessel, said at least one ballast tank dimensioned to receive and retain a volume of ballast fluid therein, each of said at least one ballast tank having a temperature sensor detecting and providing ballast fluid temperature information of said respective at least one ballast tank;
an input valve in fluid flow communication with said at least one ballast tank, said input valve selectively positionable between an open position providing flow of said ballast fluid into said at least one ballast tank and a closed position restricting flow of said ballast fluid into said at least one ballast tank;
an output valve in fluid flow communication with said at least one ballast tank, said output valve selectively positionable between an open position providing flow of said ballast fluid out of said at least one ballast tank and a closed position restricting flow of said ballast fluid out of said at least one ballast tank;
an onboard heat source located on said vessel in fluid flow communication with said ballast fluid when said input and output valves are open, said onboard heat source receiving said ballast fluid from said at least one ballast tank and transferring heat to said ballast fluid when received therein;
an auxiliary heat source located exterior to said vessel and selectively connectable to said vessel in fluid communication with said at least one ballast tank, said auxiliary heat source receiving said ballast fluid from said at least one ballast tank and transferring heat to said ballast fluid when received therein;
a first diverter valve in fluid flow communication with and upstream of said onboard heat source and a second diverter valve in fluid flow communication with and downstream of said onboard heat source, said first and second diverter valves selectively positionable to direct said ballast fluid to and away from a selected one of said onboard heat source or said auxiliary heat source;
a pump in fluid flow communication with said at least one ballast tank, said onboard heat source and said auxiliary heat source when selectively connected to said vessel, said pump (i) selectively activated to recirculate said ballast fluid between said at least one ballast tank and said selected heat source and (ii) selectively deactivated to cease recirculation of said ballast fluid, all based on predetermined ballast temperature conditions as detected by said temperature sensor in said at least one ballast tank; and
a control unit of said vessel in electronic communication with each of said temperature sensor, said input valve, said output valve, said first diverter valve, said second diverter valve, said pump, and said auxiliary heat source when selectively connected to said vessel, said control unit configured to:
(iii) detect whether said auxiliary heat source is selectively connected to said vessel;
(iv) provide operative signals to said first and second diverter valves to assume a first configuration directing fluid flow to and from said onboard heat source, and to assume a second configuration directing fluid flow to and from said auxiliary heat source when said auxiliary heat source is detected;
(v) selectively activate and deactivate said pump;
(vi) monitor said ballast temperature conditions within said at least one ballast tank through communication with said temperature sensor; and
(vii) generate at least one of a decontamination log and a decontamination record confirming decontamination of said ballast fluid in said at least one ballast tank.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said predetermined ballast temperature conditions are one of:
(i) said ballast fluid temperature information is 105° F. for at least 5 minutes; or
(ii) said ballast fluid temperature information is 140° F. for at least 10 seconds.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a volumetric indicator associated with said at least one ballast tank, said volumetric indicator providing ballast fluid volume information of said at least one ballast tank.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a tachometer providing engine speed information and an engine temperature sensor providing engine temperature information.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system as recited in claim 4, wherein said onboard heat source is a heat exchanger in communication with an engine of said vessel, said onboard heat source receiving engine cooling fluid from said engine and said ballast fluid from said at least one ballast tank, and transferring heat from said engine cooling fluid to said ballast fluid when said ballast fluid is present within said onboard heat source.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system as recited in claim 5, wherein said engine cooling fluid comprises coolant heated by said engine.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary pump located external to said vessel and in fluid flow communication with said auxiliary heat source.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a display presenting status information of said system to a user and interactively receiving instructions for operating said system from the user.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system as recited in claim 8, wherein said status information of said system is a report of heat treatment activity of said system.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said control unit is further configured to send operative instructions to selectively activate and deactivate said auxiliary heat source when selectively connected to said vessel.

### Claim 11

A method for heat treating ballast fluid of at least one ballast tank of a vessel having an onboard heat source, said method comprising:
determining, by a control unit of said vessel, whether an auxiliary heat source is connected to said vessel;
selecting, by said control unit, one of (a) said onboard heat source when said auxiliary heat source is not determined, by said control unit, to be connected to said vessel, or (b) said auxiliary heat source when said auxiliary heat source is determined, by said control unit, to be connected to said vessel;
providing operative instructions by said control unit to diverter valves to direct fluid flow toward said selected heat source;
providing operative instructions by said control unit to input and output valves associated with said at least one ballast tank to open;
activating a pump in fluid flow communication with said at least one ballast tank and at least one of said onboard heat source and said auxiliary heat source;
recirculating said ballast fluid between said at least one ballast tank and said selected heat source;
receiving ballast fluid temperature information at said control unit from a ballast temperature sensor associated with said at least one ballast tank as said ballast fluid recirculates;
comparing, by said control unit, said ballast fluid temperature information to a predetermined temperature condition;
providing operative instructions by said control unit to said input and output valves to close and to said pump to deactivate when said ballast fluid temperature information matches said predetermined temperature condition; and
providing, by said control unit, at least one of a decontamination log and a decontamination record confirming decontamination of said ballast fluid in said at least one ballast tank.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said predetermined temperature condition is one of:
(i) said ballast fluid temperature information is 105° F. for at least 5 minutes; or
(ii) said ballast fluid temperature information is 140° F. for at least 10 seconds.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising receiving ballast fluid volume information of said at least one ballast tank at said control unit from a volumetric indicator associated with said at least one ballast tank, and providing operative instructions by said control unit to said input and output valves to open and to said pump to activate when said ballast fluid volume information indicates ballast fluid is present within said at least one ballast tank.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising:
(i) receiving engine speed information at said control unit from a tachometer associated with an engine of said vessel;
(ii) receiving engine temperature information at said control unit from an engine temperature sensor associated with said engine; and
(iii) providing operative instructions by said control unit to said input and output valves to open and to said pump to activate when said engine speed information indicates said engine is running and said engine temperature information meets a predetermined engine temperature threshold.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said predetermined engine temperature threshold is one of 115° F. or 150° F.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising ignoring said engine speed information and said engine temperature information, by said control unit, when said auxiliary heat source is connected to said vessel.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said method is performed when said vessel is out of a body of water.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising providing operative instructions by said control unit to selectively activate and deactivate said auxiliary heat source when said auxiliary heat source is selected.