Collection and separation of liquids of different densities utilizing fluid pressure level control
AssigneeEnvironmental Systems & Services, Inc.
InventorJohn DeMichael
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and associated methods of operation for the collection, separation and recovery of a contaminant from a body of water are provided which include as an essential element a collection tank which receives ingested liquids such as oil and water from one or more intake devices. The level of oil/water within the tank is controlled by means of pressurized gas, preferably air, which is selectively introduced into the tank, above the oil/water collection therein. The compressed air may also be utilized to remove the collected oil and to transmit the oil to storage.
Claims40
Apparatus for collecting and separating two liquids having different densities, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a main tank including a bottom wall, a top wall, and a peripheral side wall, at least one liquid inlet opening for said two liquids and one liquid outlet means for the liquid of lesser density, said tank incorporating means for separating the two liquids;
- b) at least one free-floating intake device remote from said main tank, said intake device having at least one conduit extending from said intake device to said inlet of said main tank, to thereby permit the two liquids to enter the main tank to a variable level;
- and
- c) means for introducing a pressurized gas from a source of gas under pressure into said tank to control said variable level within said tank.
Apparatus for clean-up of contaminant spills on waterways comprising:
- a main tank having a bottom wall, a peripheral side wall, and a top wall, said side wall including at least one contaminant/water inlet;
- a first pump located within said tank and a siphon float adapted to float on the surface of said contaminant/water within said tank and connected by a conduit to said first pump;
- a free floating intake device for ingesting contaminant/water from the surface of said waterway, said intake device connected to said at least one contaminant/water inlet by at least one conduit;
- and
- means for supplying compressed air from a source of compressed air to said tank for controlling the contaminant/water level in said main tank.
In a system for collecting, separating and recovering a first liquid of lesser density floating on a second liquid of greater density which utilizes a substantially enclosed main tank for receiving ingested first and second liquids from a floating intake device and separating said liquids, the improvement comprising means for introducing pressurized gas from a source of gas under pressure into the tank to control the level of the first and second liquids in the tank.
A method of collecting liquids of different density and separating and recovering the liquid of lower density comprising the steps of:
- a) collecting the liquids of different density and introducing said liquids into a lower portion of a tank where the liquid of lower density rises to a surface level within the tank;
- b) separating the liquid of lower density from the surface level and transferring the liquid of lower density to storage;
- and
- c) controlling the level of liquids within the tank by introducing a compressed gas into an upper portion of the tank above the level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.