Method and system for broadcast sediment capping
AssigneeJ.F. Brennan Co., Inc.
InventorsVictor Joseph Buhr, Greg Smith, Dennis Rosendale, Tyler Lee, Kevin Zenke
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Abstract
Sub-aquatic sediment is covered with capping material by a capping system comprising a template barge and a spreader barge. While the spreader barge is distributing capping material, the template barge guides the spreader barge as it systematically moves over a pre-defined sediment capping region. The spreader barge comprises a spreader pool in which a broadcast spreader accurately and evenly distributes capping material within the pool, which then sinks to the sediment. The capping material is distributed with minimal disturbance to the sediment.
Claims20
A sediment capping system comprising:
- a spreader barge comprising (i) a capping material spreading means, (ii) a spreader pool, and (iii) a positioning means, the spreading means configured to distribute capping material into the spreader pool;
- and
- a template barge for guiding the spreader barge while the capping material is distributed to a sub-aquatic sediment, the template barge comprising a positioning means;
- and
- a capping material providing means, and
- an intake means for receiving the capping material.
A sediment capping system comprising:
- a spreader barge for distributing a capping material over a contaminated sub-aquatic sediment;
- a template barge configured to guide the movement of the spreader barge during distribution of the capping material;
- and
- a sub-aquatic elevation measuring means for acquiring real-time elevation data.
A method for capping a sub-aquatic sediment, the method comprising:
- identifying a sub-aquatic sediment region for distributing a layer of capping material;
- providing a source of capping material to a capping system comprising, the system comprising a template barge, a spreader barge, and a broadcast spreader device positioned on the spreader barge;
- positioning the spreader barge and the template barge proximal to the sub-aquatic region;
- distributing the capping material to form a sub-aquatic sediment cap;
- and
- initiating movement of the spreader barge in response to the distribution of a pre-determined amount of capping material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.