Non-contact oil spill detection apparatus and method

A method for detecting pollutants from the class consisting of diesel/fuel oil, lube oil, motor oil, hydraulic oil, jet fuel, mineral oil and crude oil floating on a water surface, which method comprises:

• mounting a structure about 3 to 5 meters vertically above a target water surface,
• activating a light source carried by said structure to produce pulses of light,
• directing said pulses of light downward toward the water surface through filtering means to produce a pulsed beam of light that is limited to a first set of wavelengths between about 225 and 300 nm, which beam is an outwardly spreading cone of light rays,
• detecting fluorescent light emitted from said pollutants floating on the underlying target water surface using a sensor in combination with filter means that allows direct line of sight passage from said pollutants to the sensor of only light having a wavelength within a second set of wavelengths between about 320 to 400 nm, and
• analyzing data generated by said sensor to determine the presence of even small quantities of floating pollutants within the targeted class that when so activated by such pulsed light will emit fluorescent light within said second set of wavelengths.

Apparatus for detecting floating pollutants from the class consisting of diesel/fuel oil, lube oil, motor oil, hydraulic oil, jet fuel, mineral oil and crude oil floating on a water surface, which apparatus comprises:

• a structure for mounting vertically above the surface of a body of water,
• a pulsed light source supported by said mounting structure,
• means supported by said mounting structure for directing said pulses of light from said source vertically downward toward a target said water surface, and for filtering said pulses to produce a beam of light, limited to wavelengths between about 225 and 300 nm, which beam is an outwardly spreading cone of light rays having an apex angle between about 13 and 15° where the centerline of said cone is aligned within about 7° of vertical,
• a photodetector supported by said structure for detecting fluorescent light that would be emitted from said pollutants floating on said water surface,
• filter means supported by said structure that allows direct line of sight passage from said floating pollutants on said water surface to said photodetector of only light having a wavelength between about 320 to 400 nm,
• means for analyzing data detected by said photodetector to determine the presence of even small quantities of floating pollutants within said class, and
• means for promptly reporting and/or producing a signal or alarm when said analyzed data indicates the presence of any significant amount of one said pollutant.