Environmentally-neutral processing with condensed phase cryogenic fluids
OwnerRonald de Strulleinventor
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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., pollutant biomass 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 biomass, and further having structure for collecting the biomass. Some implementations are environmentally-neutral. Some implementations convert the collected biomass into biofuel. Some implementations initially employ the biomass to remediate an aquatic body.
Claims98
An apparatus for remediating biomass from an aquatic body comprising:
- a source of biomass;
- a cryogenic fluid source providing a substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid;
- a cryogenic fluid transport structure coupled to the cryogenic fluid source that transports the cryogenic fluid in a substantially condensed phase;
- a low pressure applicator coupled to the cryogenic fluid transport structure that dispenses the cryogenic fluid in a substantially condensed phase onto the biomass;
- and
- a collector that retrieves at least some of the biomass from the aquatic body after the biomass is exposed to the cryogenic fluid by the low pressure applicator.
A method for remediating biomass from an aquatic body comprising:
- providing a flow of cryogenic fluid;
- maintaining the cryogenic fluid in a substantially condensed phase;
- applying the cryogenic fluid in a substantially condensed phase onto at least some of the biomass;
- and
- collecting at least some of the biomass after the cryogenic fluid has been applied.
An apparatus for remediating biomass from an aquatic body comprising:
- a cryogenic fluid source providing a substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid;
- a cryogenic fluid transport structure coupled to the cryogenic fluid source that transports the cryogenic fluid in a substantially condensed phase;
- means for dispensing the cryogenic fluid in a substantially condensed phase onto the biomass;
- a collector that retrieves at least some of the biomass from the aquatic body after the biomass is exposed to the cryogenic fluid by the low pressure applicator;
- and
- means for converting at least some of the retrieved biomass into biofuel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.