Oil spill confining and directing apparatus and method using water spray booms

An oil spill sweep or confinement apparatus for operation on open water, comprising nozzle means configured and arranged to discharge water as a fine spray from at least one line of successively spaced discrete spray source locations, thereby to form effectively at least one cross-sectionally elongated spray curtain pattern of successively overlapping individual sprays, means for positioning the nozzle means, with the line of spray source locations defined thereby disposed generally horizontally at an elevation above the water's surface and with the spray curtain pattern extending at an incline to such surface, and pump and associated conduit means operatively connected to deliver water to the nozzle means under pressure that projects force of the spray and with it air entrained by the spray against the water's surface sufficient to move the oil across the water without substantial dispersement or emulsification of the oil.

In combination, oil spill recovery apparatus operable on open water by relative movement between the apparatus and the surface oil and associated surface water to effect passage of the latter into and through the apparatus, and means supported and operated in physical association with said apparatus to guide and direct the surface oil and associated surface water into the apparatus comprising nozzle means configured and arranged to discharge water in substantially parallel directions as a fine spray from at least one line of successively spaced discrete spray source locations, thereby to form effectively at least one cross-sectionally elongated spray curtain pattern, means for positioning the nozzle means, with the line of spray source locations defined thereby disposed in positional relationship with the recovery apparatus generally horizontally at an elevation above the water's surface and with the spray curtain pattern extending at an incline to such surface, and pump and associated conduit means operatively connected to deliver water to the nozzle means under pressure that projects force of the spray and with it air entrained by the spray against the water's surface sufficient to move the oil across the water into position for entering the recovery apparatus without substantial dispersement or emulsification of the oil.

Means for sweeping or confining an oil spill on open water without substantial dispersal or emulsification of the oil, comprising downwardly directed nozzle means, means maintaining the nozzle means above the water's surface, and an associated source of water under pressure supplying said nozzle means, operable to discharge through the nozzle means a fine water spray cross-sectionally of a substantially uninterrupted elongated pattern directed at an incline against the oil spill of such volume and velocity and made up of droplets predominantly in such a size range as to inductively entrain flow of air with the spray in a composite flow carried by momentum to the water's surface for moving the oil, but with insufficient droplet impact effect to produce substantial dispersal or emulsification of the oil.

Oil spill recovery apparatus operable to sweep the surface of a body of water and recover floating oil therefrom, said apparatus comprising a self-propelled surface vessel, oil-water separation means disposed on said surface vessel to be traversed by water at the surface in a swath of limited width during progressive advancement of the surface vessel, elongated water spray discharge means forming a line of discharge which line extends forwardly and laterally outward from the bow of the surface vessel at an elevation above the water's surface, said spray discharge means being formed and operable to direct transversely downwardly from said line of discharge an elongated substantially uninterrupted curtain of water spray inclined laterally inward toward the path of advancement of the surface vessel, and water pressure supply means on the surface vessel drawing from the surrounding water and operatively connected to the spray discharge means so as to provide, through said spray discharge means, a spray curtain of water droplets which entrain air effectively to sweep floating oil into said swath from regions laterally beyond the forward projection thereof without materially dispersing the oil in minute droplets or emulsifying the oil.

Oil spill recovery apparatus operable to sweep the surface of a body of water and recover floating oil therefrom, said apparatus comprising oil-water separation means disposed and operable to be traversed by water at the surface in a swath of limited width during progressive relative movement between the water along the surface thereof and said recovery means elongated water spray discharge means mounted in positional relation to said recovery means and forming a line of discharge which line extends forwardly and laterally outward from the recovery means in relation to the swath ahead of said recovery means, said spray discharge means being supported at an elevation above the water's surface and being formed and operable to direct transversely downwardly from said line of discharge an elongated substantially uninterrupted curtain of water spray inclined laterally inward toward the swath, and water pressure supply means operatively connected to the spray discharge means so as to provide, through said spray discharge means, a spray curtain of water droplets which entrain air effectively to sweep floating oil into said swath from regions laterally beyond the forward projection thereof without materially dispersing the oil in minute droplets or emulsifying the oil.