Technical Field

[0001] The present invention is related to a device for collecting pollutants floating on the water surface and method thereof.

Background Art

[0002] For separation of pollutants floating on the water surface, several devices and methods are presently used, which require the polluted water to be poured or pumped into the device, which subsequently separates the pollutants from water, either chemically or physically.

[0003] In cases when the pumping or pouring over is complicated or even impossible (a tank, a swimming pool, a lake, a river, a sea) or the polluting substance is another liquid, following methods are used:

[0004] An absorbing substance of a suitable structure is scattered over the water surface with a layer of pollutant. After the absorption, the absorbing substance must be collected mechanically (a sieve with the mesh size according to the fraction of the absorbing substance, a shovel, any container, etc.). Further treatment of the absorbing substance is problematic; it is usually disposed of by incineration, which is ecologically inappropriate. The contaminated absorbing substance is a hazardous waste.

[0005] A special floating (fire) pump with a collecting container and an adjustable overflow level is put on the surface of water with a layer of pollutant. The mixture of water and the pollutant flows from the water surface through the overflow crest into the collecting tank and is pumped from it into a reservoir. Together with the pollutant, a great amount of water (50 % to more than 90 %) flows through the overflow level. Their ratio is dependent on the thickness of the pollutant and the degree of waving of the water surface. This device is not able to operate in very thin layers of water or with very thin layers of pollutant, especially, if the pollutant is another liquid. The proportion of water in such mixture is high, therefore additional separation is necessary. It is usually not possible to perform this separation on the spot, therefore great volumes of water need to be transported to the place of additional treatment, which means high expenses besides other disadvantages.

[0006] A special watercraft constructed for this purpose only sails on the surface of water with the layer of pollutant. The watercraft has a collecting chamber into which the mixture of water and the pollutant flows through the overflow level located on the prow of the watercraft. The mixture is pumped from the collecting chamber into a separator which forms a part of the watercraft. The separated pollutants and water have each their own tank and it is possible to pump them from the watercraft into another tank or tanker and to discharge the water from the watercraft. A large amount of water (50 % to more than 90 %) is flows through the overflow level together with the pollutant. Their ratio is dependent on the thickness of the pollutant and the degree of waving of the water surface. This device is not able to operate in waters lower than the draught of the watercraft (usually more than 1 ,5 m) and its operation is very restricted if the layers of pollutant are very thin. It is dangerous to operate with the device near the shore of a river. The whole watercraft has to follow the moving pollution of water surface and orientate its prow in the direction against the movement of pollution.

[0007] Very thick layers of pollutant floating on the water surface are collected by conventional pumping. It is not possible to pump away all pollutant by this method. Thin layers of pollutant can be removed only by pumping a great volume of water.

Summary of the Invention

[0008] The introduced deficiencies and limitations are removed by the present invention, a device for collecting pollutants floating on the water surface and the method for collecting pollutants floating on the water surface. The device for collecting pollutants floating on the water surface contains a vacuum pump, a collecting tank and a suction element, which contains a positioning element, an outlet and a suction opening. The suction element further contains an inclined plane touching the draught level or intersecting the draught level inside or outside the suction element. The water side of the inclined plane and the draught level form an angle a of measure from 95° to 180° above the of draught level. The vacuum pump is connectable to the outlet of the suction element either directly or by means of a connecting element in such manner that the vacuum pump is able to create underpressure inside the suction element. The outlet is either above the draught level, in that part of the suction element where the inclined plane is above the draught level or is below the inclined plane. The positioning element ensures the ability of the suction element to be positioned towards the water surface in such manner, that the draught level identical with the surface of polluted water traverses the suction opening or that the draught level touches the lower edge of the suction opening.

[0009] With such configuration, a vacuum pump of a common construction creates underpressure in the suction element, which is necessary for reaching an intensive air-flow through the suction element over the water surface. If the suction element is placed on water polluted by floating substances, the underpressure in the suction element causes streaming of the air through the suction opening over the pollutants on the water surface, the pollutants are slid over the. water surface. by-the influence of aerodynamic forces towards fhe inclined plane of the suction element.

[0010] It is preferable if the inclined plane traverses the lower edge of the suction opening or begins at the lower edge of the suction opening and/or the inclined plane traverse the lower edge of the outlet or ends at the lower edge of the outlet.

[0011] It is also preferable if the connecting element includes a collecting tank, which is connected to the outlet of the suction element and the inlet of the vacuum pump.

[0012] In the most preferred embodiment the water side of the inclined plane and the draught level form an angle a of measure from 145° to 170° above the draught level.

[0013] The positioning element of the suction element towards the water surface can be floats, fastened to the suction element or floats that are component part of the suction element, or a mechanical joint with another floating element or watercraft, or a mechanical joint with a firm object whose position towards the polluted water surface is stable, or a handle for seizing by human operating stuff, or a stand located on the bottom under the polluted water surface on which stand the suction element is located. Several suction elements can be connected in parallel to the vacuum pump or collecting tank.

[0014] It is preferable if the suction opening contains at least one aerodynamic element located on the upper edge of the suction opening, extending the suction opening above the polluted water surface.

[0015] The intersection of the suction opening of the suction element and the draft level can have the form of a line segment, any open curve or any closed curve.

[0016] It is preferable if the inlet of the air-liquid separator is connected to the outlet of the suction element, the outlet for liquid of the air-liquid separator is connected to the collecting tank and the outlet for air is connected to the vacuum pump.

[0017] At the outlet for liquid of the separator, a separator separating water from the pollutants sucked together with water, having two outlets, can be located. One outlet, for water, leads to a water collecting tank and the other outlet leads to a collecting tank for pollutants collected from the water surface. In the preferred embodiment, the suction element, the collecting tanks, the air- liquid separator, the separator separating water from the pollutants and the vacuum pump form one unit floating on the water surface.

[0018] The method for collecting pollutants floating on the water surface uses the described device for collecting pollutants, which is adjustable towards the water surface in such manner, that the draught level identical with the polluted water surface traverses the suction opening or that the draught level touches the lower edge of the suction opening and/or the inclined plane. [0019] The suggested invention has several advantages and properties impossible to reach using the present state of art solutions.

[0020] The pollutants floating on the water surface can be collected with no need of any additional materials and with minimal proportion of water in the collected liquid (0 to 50% according to the thickness of the layer on the surface and degree of waving of the water) even from very shallow water (several mm deep) and even in case of one-molecule layer of liquid on the water surface.

[0021] The device operating using the present invention does not require any further devices except for devices for transporting the collected pollutant. Their operation can be automatized to a great degree and they are able to operate constantly and automatically, under supervision only. For those reasons the expenses and the time needed for performing the operation in question are minimalized.

[0022] The device according to this invention can be used on running water using only one scum-board, as the suction of the pollutant floating on the water surface near the wall prevents flowing of the collected pollutant underneath the scum-board, this being a common phenomenon when using the present state of art technology, and thus it is necessary to build several scum- boards downstream. If the suction element is floating, it is possible to use this device even on waving water surface without considerable rise of the proportion of water in the collected liquid. It is possible to perform an operation in question even on a heavy sea by using a set of floating suction elements.

[0023] Usage of the device according to this invention is technically possible in a great extent of performances stating the amount of separated and removed liquid from the water surface - from several 1/h to thousands m /h, wherein the ratio between the electric energy consumption necessary for device operation and its power is very favourable, approximately 0,5 kW of consumption for the power of 1 m ³ /h i. e. 0,5 kWh/m ³ of separated and removed liquid spilt on the water surface.

Overview of the Figures in the Drawings

[0024] The nature of the invention is further explained in the examples of its embodiments, which are described on the basis of attached drawings, that show:

fig. 1 presents a block scheme of the device for collecting pollutants floating on the water surface containing a vacuum pump 3, a collecting tank 2 and a suction element \, containing a positioning element 13, an outlet 14, a suction opening ϋ and an inclined plane 12, which crosses the draught level H inside the suction element J_, the vacuum pump 3 is connected to the outlet 14 of the suction element 1 by means of a connecting element 6 and the outlet 14 is above the draught level H in that part of the suction element j_, where the inclined plane 12 is above the draught level H.

fig. 2 presents a block scheme of the device according to the example 1 ,

fig. 3 presents a block scheme of the device according to the example 2,

fig. 4 presents a block scheme of the device according to the example 3,

fig. 5 presents a block scheme of the device according to the example 4,

fig. 6 presents a block scheme of the device according to the example 5,

fig. 7 presents a block scheme of the device according to the example 5 and detail of the intersection of the suction opening 1_1 on the suction element 1 with the draught level H, fig. 8 presents a block scheme of the device according to the example 6 and detail of the intersection of the suction opening JJ. on the suction element I with the draught level H, fig. 9 presents a block scheme of the device according to the example 7 and detail of the intersection of the suction opening 1_1 on the suction element 1 with the draught level H, fig. 10 presents a block scheme of the device according to the example 8.

Examples of Embodiments

Example 1

[0025] The device for collecting pollutants floating on water surface according to this invention, designed for disposal of local water pollution by liquids of lower density than water, especially by oil products, was constructed.

[0026] The device consists of two separate construction units - the suction unit 1 and the machine room. The machine room contains a collecting tank 2 with a security switch for repletion and an electrically powered vacuum pump 3, resistant to admixture of aggressive liquids. The vacuum pump 3 is connectable to the output 14 of the suction element 1 by means of the connecting element 6. The connecting element 6 is a hose with quick couplings.

[0027] The suction element 1 is equipped with the positioning element 13 _. - the handle to be held by a human operator. Human operator by means of handle ensures that the suction element 1 is positionable towards the water surface in such manner, that the draught level H identical with the polluted water surface traverses the suction opening j l_ or that the draught levelJJ touches the lower edge of the suction opening 1_1. For this purpose, the upper and the lower limit of possible draught level H is marked on the suction element L The intersection of the suction opening Π _. of suction element 1 and the draught level H has a shape of a line segment. [0028] The suction element 1 contains an inclined plane 12, which crosses the draught level H inside the suction element 1, and the water side of the inclined plane 12 and the draught level H forms an angle a 165° above the draught level H. The inclined plane traverses the lower edge of the suction opening !_L The lowest point of the inclined plane 12 is 3 mm below the draught level H and the highest point of the inclined plane 12 is 22 mm above the draught level H. To increase the efficiency, the suction opening H is equipped with aerodynamic element 1_5 located on the upper edge of the suction opening IT .

[0029] The output 14 has a horizontal axis. The output 14 is above the draught level H in that part of the suction element 1, where the inclined plane 12 is above the draught level H.

[0030] If the amount of the collected pollution exceeds the volume of the collecting tank 2, it is possible to empty the collecting tank 2 through the outlet valve after the suction is switched off and continue in collecting pollution. Using the suction element 1 it is possible to collect the pollution from any water area accessible to the human operator by its manual positioningor to collect pollution from very little depth of water (from 3 mm) by putting it on the bottom.

[0031] Operation of the device requires access to electrical network or a portable generator. The device can be realized for any network voltage and frequency, according to the country of using. The power of the device is 2 000 lit./h of pollution collected from the water surface. The installed power is 0.8 kW. The device is designed for transport to the place of pollution in a common motorcar, type combi, pick up, van, offroad, etc.

Example 2

[0032] The device for collecting pollutants floating on water surface according to the Example 1 was constructed. The inclined plane 12 of the suction element 1 begins on the lower edge of the suction opening H. The inclined plane 12 touches the draught level H and the water side of the inclined plane 12 and the draught level H form an angle a 180° above the draught level H. The output 14 has a horizontal axis and the inclined plane 12 ends at the lower edge of the outlet 14. The connecting element 6 includes the collecting tank 2 connected to the outlet 14 of the suction element and with the inlet of the vacuum pump 3.

Example 3

[0033] The device for collecting pollutants floating on water according to the Example 1 was constructed. The vacuum pump 3 is directly connected to the outlet 14 of the suction element 1. The vacuum pump 3 is connected to the collecting tank 2 by the hose. Example 4

[0034] The device for collecting pollutants floating on water according to the Example 1 was constructed. The inclined plane 12 of the suction element I traverses the lower edge of the suction opening Π. and crosses the draught level H outside the suction element 1 namely in front of the entry of the inclined plane 12 into the suction element L The suction opening JJ_ is not equipped with the aerodynamic element 15.

Example 5

[0035] The device for collecting pollutants floating on water according to the Example 1 was constructed. The output 14 has a horizontal axis and is above the inclined plane 12, in the part above the draught level H, wherein the end of the inclined plane 12 is not connected to the outlet 14. The positioning element 13 _. is the stand located on the bottom under the polluted water surface, on which stand the suction element 1, the vacuum pump 3 and the collecting tank 2 are mounted.

Example 6

[0036] The device for collecting pollutants floating on water according to this invention designed for disposal of oil disasters on medium-sized water areas and water flows was constructed.

[0037] The device consists of a floating suction element i and the machine room as a superstructure of a lorry.

[0038] Floats function as the positioning element 1_3 of the suction element L The intersection of the suction opening i! of the suction element I and the draught level H has the shape of a quarter-circle. The suction element i contains the inclined plane \ 2 crossing the draught level H inside the suction element 1 in the height of 20 cm above the lowest point of the inclined plane 12 and the water side of the inclined plane 12 and the draught level H form an angle a 158° above the draught level H. The suction opening JJ_ is equipped with the aerodynamic element 15 located on the upper edge of the suction opening IT .

[0039] The outlet 14 has an axis parallel with the draught level H and the inclined plane 12 touches the lower edge of the outlet 14 in the uppermost part above the draught level H, namely in the height of 20 cm above the draught level H. The outlet 14 of the suction element 1 is equipped with the quick coupling for connecting the suction hose. The suction element is designed for a still water surface or for mild waves up to the height of 20 cm.

[0040] The machine room is one construction unit that automatically equalizes in a horizontal position, regardless of the position of vehicle, which is necessary for the operation of the separator 5. The machine room contains the air-liquid separator 4^ which has the quick coupling on the inlet for connection with the connecting element 6 - the suction hose from the suction element I, the engine-powered vacuum pump 3 _^ whose inlet is connected to the air outlet of the separator 4 and its outlet leads to the air by a louvre, the separator 5 separating water from the collected pollutants. The separator 5 separating water from the pollutants sucked together with water is located at the outlet for liquid on the separator 4; the separator 5 has two outlets, one of them, for water, leading to the collecting tank 21 and the other leading to the collecting tank 22 for pollutants.

[0041] The collecting tanks 21 and 22 are part of the machine room and they are equipped with pumps for continuous pumping over into external tanks, so the device can operate continuously even if the volume of collected pollution is larger than the volume of the collecting tank 22.

[0042] The machine room is the superstructure of a lorry designed for difficult terrain conditions, it is autonomous, powered by 50 kW diesel engine. The technological power of the device is 100 000 lit./h of oil products separated and collected from the water surface. A combustion engine of the superstructure drives the vacuum pump 3 and an 24 V DC alternator directly through the coupling. The electrical system of the superstructure is designed for equalizing the superstructure and a controlling system of the technology. The technological process is automatic, controlled by the PLC system with operation states and values sensors.

[0043] Operation of the whole technology is automatic and does not require any human operator. Manpower is needed only before the beginning of the operation for positioning of the suction element I to appropriate place of the water area, connection of the suction element 1 to the separator 4 inlet by the hoses and connection of the discharge hoses to the collecting tanks 21 and 22., during the operation for possible relocation of the discharge hoses and transport of the full tanks, and after finishing the operation for loading the suction nozzle, the suction and discharge hoses on the vehicle. On water flows of large width it is convenient to use scum- boards.

Example 7

[0044] The device for collecting pollutants floating on water according to the Example 6 was constructed. The suction element I and the machine room containing the collecting tanks 21 and 22, the separator 4, the separator 5 and the vacuum pump 3 are one unit floating on the water surface. This unit is equipped with a common positioning element ]_3, namely floats. Example 8

[0045] The device for collecting pollutants floating on water designed for disposal of large oil disasters distant from the shore, on large water areas with small waving up to 10 cm and minimal depth of 30 cm was constructed. The device is identical to that in the Example 6 with a different suction element h

[0046] The suction element 1_ has floats as the positioning element 13. The intersection of the suction opening Π. of the suction element I and the draught level H is in a shape of a circle. The water side of the inclined plane 12 and the draught level H form an angle a 165° above the draught level H and they cross in the height of 10 cm above the lowest point and 10 cm beneath the highest point of the inclined plane 12. The outlet 14 has a vertical axis, with the outlet in a downward direction in the middle of the suction element1, in the spot of the highest edge of the inclined plane 12. The outlet 14 continues in a shaped pipe line which ends by a horizontal axis at the height of the draught level H and by a quick coupling to be connected to the suction hose. The suction element i is equipped with lifting eyes for connecting ropes, by means of which the suction element1 can be moved by the human operator from the shore or from the rescue vessel (i. e. the mechanic connection to a solid object or other floating element (watercraft) and the floats function as the positioning element 13).

Example 9

[0047] The device for collecting pollutants floating on water designed for disposal of oil disasters on sea or ocean with waving up to the height of 6 m was constructed..

[0048] The device contains the machine room and six floating suction elements \ connected to the machine room in parallel by connecting elements 6. Each of the six suction elements i is constructionally built into a separate floating container ISO 1C in such manner that the container itself is also a positioning element 13 of the suction element land has a built-in hydromechanical position stabilizer, keeping the position of the draught level H towards the polluted water surface.

[0049] The suction element I has a suction opening J_l , whose intersection with the draught level H has a shape of a line segment with the same length as the container. The suction element \ contains the inclined plane 12 that traverses the draught level H inside the suction element1. The lower edge of the inclined plane 12 is 0.75 m below the draught level H. The water side of the inclined plane 12 and the draught level H form an angle a 145° above the draught level H. [0050] The outlet 14 has a horizontal axis in the middle of the back wall of the container, opposite to the suction opening IT, at the height of the draught level H and it is equipped with the quick coupling to connect the suction hose.

[0051] The suction element I has on both sides of the suction opening 11 at the height of the draught level H lifting eyes for fastening the scum-board and/or a haulage rope for transporting the suction elements1 over the sea surface by tugboats or winches.

[0052] The machine room contains the separator 4, to which six suction elements 1 are connected in parallel, and the vacuum pump 3. The air outlet of the separator 4 is directly connected to the inlet of the vacuum pump 3 and the outlet of the vacuum pump 3 leads through the labyrinth louvre to the outside environment. The outlet for liquid of the separator 4 is equipped with the hose quick coupling to be connected to the inlet of the separator 5. The machine room contains a combustion engine, powering the vacuum pump 3 directly through the coupling, and the generators of the electrical systems 3x400W AC and 24V DC, the accumulators for starting of the machine room and the control system of the whole device. The machine room is installed into a container ISO 1AA and has an external fuel tank inside the container ISO 1C with volume of 27 000 lit. of fuel. The separator 5 has five separate separation chambers connected one after another, each of them is built into the separate container ISO 1 AA. The outlets and the inlets of the chambers of the separator 5 are equipped with hose quick couplings. The inlet of the first chamber of the separator 5 is connected to the outlet for liquid of the separator 4 by the hose and the two outlets of the last chamber of the separator 5 are connected to the two separate inlets of the collecting container. The collecting container contains the collecting tanks 21 and 22 together with the pumps for emptying the collecting tank 21 to the sea surface and the collecting tank 22 into a salvage tanker.

[0053] The device is realized as a construction set of containers ISO 1AA and ISO 1C, designed for placing and mounting on the deck of a salvage ship and for action from the deck of the salvage ship.

[0054] Technological power of the device is 2 000 m ³ /h of oil products separated and collected from the water surface. The installed power is 2 000 kW. The technological process is automatic, controlled by the PLC system with sensors of operation states and values. Manpower is needed before the beginning of the operation for positioning of the suction elements I towards the water surface, connecting them by the scum-boards, connecting them to assisting tugboats or winches by ropes, connecting the suction elements ! to the inlets of the separator 4 by hoses, connecting the machine room to the separator 5, the containers of the separator 5 one after another and connecting the last collecting container at the inlets to the collecting tanks 21 and 22. , connecting the discharge hoses with collecting tanks 21 and 22, during operation for moving the suction devices 1 over the water surface and supervision of an engine operator, after finishing the operation disassembling of the whole device and loading it to the rescue vessel.

Industrial Applicability

[0055] The presented invention can be used for disposal of ecologic disasters on water surfaces, caused by any substance, especially liquid not compoundable with water and of lesser specific weight than water, or alternatively for other processes where similar separation of two liquids is necessary, while it is not necessary for either liquid to be water.