SEPARATING OIL FROM WATER

TECHNICAL FIELD:

The present invention relates in general to oil spill recovery device but more particularly to a vermiculate centrifuge device for separating oil from water .

BACKGROUND ART:

Oil spill has major negative effects on the environment, especially in marine environments. Oil is hydrophobic, meaning that it is repelled by water and sits on its surface. However, current methods used to filter oil from water like bioremediation or the use of microorganisms or biological agents to break down or remove oil, use of dispersants, skimming, dredging, etc... are inefficient.

Absorbents used to collect oil sink when they attach to oil, thus polluting oceanic environments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: The primary object of the present invention is to provide a centrifuge device wherein oil is filtered in a contained environment, thus preventing pollution of the ocean. Another object is to provide a centrifuge device wherein it makes the filtration process more efficient by speeding up the separation of oil from the water through the combined use of the centrifugal force and vermiculate filters. Still an object is to provide a centrifuge device that serves the purpose of rapidly removing oil from large amounts of water and preparing the water to be reintroduced to the environment. The vermiculate centrifuge should be able to easily clean up oil spills.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING:

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention would be fully appreciated upon reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended lone drawing wherein: Figure 1 is a front view of the present vermiculite centrifuge device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

With reference to the drawing, the present vermiculite centrifuge device for separating oil from water 10 comprises a tubular member 11 being rotated and held on a shaft 12 inserted thereon. It is to be understood that the shaft 12 is being driven by a motor (not shown) . Said tubular member 11 having an upper portion 13 provided with an inlet port 14. The upper portion 13 extends downwardly into two angular side extensions 15 and 16 and a vertical extension 16a. This vertical extension 16a has a closed end 16b. The two angular extensions 15 and 16 merge horizontally to define a central horizontal extension 17. Said central horizontal extension 17 has opposed openings 18 and 19 at the ends thereof. These openings have vermiculite filters 20 attached thereon to close said opening. These vermiculite filters 20 consist of cheese cloth 21 being plugged into the openings 18 and 19 and being held thereon by wire mesh 22 and tightened clamp 23.

The horizontal extension 17 has a vertical central extension 24 aligned with the upper portion 13 and this vertical central extension 24 has two angular side extensions 25 and 26 having outlet ports 27 and 28 at the ends thereof .

The end 29 of the vertical central extension 24 is closed. The shaft 12 traverses the upper portion 13, the vertical extension 16a of the upper portion 13, the central horizontal extension 17 , the vertical central extension 24 and the end 29 of the vertical central extension 24. The opposed openings 18 and 19 of the central horizontal extension 17 lead to a water reservoir (not shown) while the outlet ports 27 and 28 of the angular side extensions 25 and 26 of the vertical central extension 24 leads to an oil reservoir (not shown) . One way that the centrifuge device can function is on ships . Boats will skim the top of the ocean area affected by an oil spill since the oil will float there. The polluted water skimmed from the surface will be pumped through the boat and into the centrifuge machine on the boat.

The oil and water mixture first enters the device through the inlet port 14 and are later carried by the two angular extensions 15 and 16. When the device rotates due to the rotation of the shaft 12, the mixture inside the device rotates . The central horizontal extension 17 spins causing the water to separate from the oil due to strong centrifugal force. Water is spin out from the device and is collected to the water reservoir through the openings 18 and 19 on the horizontal extension 17. Meanwhile, oil flows from the horizontal extension 17 down to the vertical central extension, then to the two angular side extensions 25 and 26 and exit to the outlet ports 27 and 28 and collected to the oil reservoir.

Oil and water naturally separate due to gravity. Oil and water do not mix with each other, and so the denser liquid will sink below the less dense liquid. Oil floats on top of water because it is less dense liquid. The key to this separation is acceleration of the liquid due to gravity. The oil and water mixture would flow down the device and collect at the ends of the device. If those ends were closed, the oil and water would forcefully be separated due to the amount of acceleration the device generates. However, this would not allow the water to leave the device. Because of this, the ends of the device are opened so that water would leave, and put in the vermiculite to serve as filter. Since vermiculite is hydrophilic, it will absorb the oil and prevent it from passing through the filter. The oil will backup until it reaches the vertical central extension 24, then, it will go down into the device into the oil reservoir. There is a limit to the amount of acceleration the device can produce because if there is too much acceleration, the oil will force its way through the filter. Inadequate acceleration will not force the water through the filter. Again, due to the differences in density of oil and water, there will be unequal forces on the two liquids as they are accelerated. Water will have the greater force acting on it, which is what causes it to pass through the filter, while the oil has a lesser force, which is not enough to force it through the filter. The above descriptions and illustrations should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the appended claims. Various modifications, alternate constructions and equivalent made by technicians of the field may be employed without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention .