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US 7,674,373 B2Granted
Environmentally-neutral processing with condensed phase cryogenic fluids
OwnerRonald de Strulleinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
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.
Claims36
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.
6 more elements
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.
4 more elements
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.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.