WO2003062536A1

WO2003062536A1 - Oil protection equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2003062536A1
Application number: PCT/SE2003/000127
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erling Blomberg; Per Nyman
Original assignee: Sydkraft Värme Syd Ab
Priority date: 2002-01-26
Filing date: 2003-01-24
Publication date: 2003-07-31

Abstract

The present invention discloses a device (1) for absorbing matter, such as oil, from an area. The device (1) comprises a sheath (10) covering a core (11) of predominantly sorbent material. The device (1) is partitioned into at least two, at usage, horizontally adjacent absorbing chambers, whereby said partitioning (3) provides further sides (7) there along, which are having vertical extention and are being exposed to said matter. it is also disclosed an arrangement (15) for shielding off a water surface area, such as a boom, which comprises a vertically pendent , flexible shield, thereto vertically, in spaced apart relationship fastened, in relation to the flexible sheild rigid battens, and below the shield hanging ballast. A device (1) for absorbing matter, such as oil, from the water is detachably connected to said arrangement (15) in the vicinity of the waterline of said arrangement (15) to a device (1) for absorbing matter of a kind in any of claims 1 - 17.

Description

OIL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for absorbing matter, such as oil, from an area, comprising a sheath covering a core of predominantly sorbent material. The present invention also relates to an arrangement for shielding off a water surface area, such as a boom. It comprises a vertically pendent, flexible shield, thereto vertically, in spaced apart relationship fastened, in relation to the flexible shield rigid battens, and below the shield hanging ballast.

Technical Background

Oil cleaning on- and offshore is unfortunately still of present interest and an important matter for protection of the environment. To professionally handle oil recovery operations at sea, access to suitable boats and oil recovery systems including booms for containing, gathering and concentrating the oil, skimmers and storage capacity for recovered oil and means for transporting the oil ashore is of outmost importance. These objects must also be adapted to work together under sometimes-harsh conditions. However, not all oil -cleaning operations take place at sea, but also in smaller streams, wells, and lakes or even on land such as on beaches. For each type of operation, certain types of equipment are better suited than other. It would though be advantageous if the equipment were interchangeable or possible to combine in many different ways.

An oil absorbent of the kind known in the prior art - of oil protection usually comprises a long, round casing filled with a sorbent material. The oil absorbent is put in the water or on the land where the oil is to be removed. The oil is soaked into the absorbent through the casing and into the sorbent material . When the absorbent is filled with oil it is removed and if necessary replaced with a new absorbent . Such matters as the casing material, the sorbent material and the properties of the oil itself govern the speed by which the oil is soaked into the absorbent. An oil boom of the kind known in the prior art usually consists of a long slender "curtain" of suitable material which typically has a ballast underneath in the form of a chain laying in a pocket for stabilisation the boom. The boom is often either used as a shield for limiting the spreading of the oil, or as a collector of the oil, for example by holding the boom between two boats, which are passing over a water surface containing oil. The boom must be stiff enough not to collapse during its towing and by doing so letting out the oil above or under the boom, but yet flexible enough to follow the curvature of the waves.

Summary of the Invention The object of the present invention is to provide oil protection means that at least to some extent overcome the above-mentioned problems and that are simple to use, economical and environmentally friendly and yet well adapted for their purpose. These and other objectives are achieved by device for absorbing matter according to the claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in accordance with the dependent claims 2 - 17. An arrangement for shielding off a water surface area according to the invention is also disclosed having two different embodiments in accordance with the claims 18 and 27. Preferred embodiments of the arrangements are given in the dependent claims 19 - 26 and 28 - 34.

According to the first aspect of the invention there is provided a device for absorbing matter, such as oil, from an area. The device is comprising a sheath covering a core of predominantly sorbent material. Said device is partitioned into at least two, at usage, horizontally adjacent absorbing chambers, whereby said partitioning provides further sides there along, which are having vertical extension and are being exposed to said matter. By providing partitioning and thereby further sides that are having vertical extension, the matter to be soaked into the device is in contact with a larger surface of the device than in a traditional one. Instead of being in contact with only the sides along the traditional device, the matter is floating on the water surface and in to the transversal partitionings . The vertical extension is important since the layer of matter often also has a depth and hence the absorbing chambers created by the partitionings are "put into" the matter. Hereby the matter is quicker soaked into the device and the time for cleaning after for instance an oil leakage can be reduced. The sides may naturally also have a horizontal extension as well.

It is advantageous that said partition is accomplished by directing a first part and a second part of said sheath into connection along vertically facing, joint boundaries. The joint boundary can for instance be a seam or weld boundary and be a narrow line as well as having a somewhat horizontal extension at usage. To be most effective each absorbing chamber is having a length-width ratio of a circumscribed rectangle of preferably 3:1 or less, more preferably 2:1 or less and most preferably 1:1. The absorbing chambers may be triangular, rectangular or have a comparable form. In order to gain the best soaking effect it is desirable to get the most surface turned towards the matter in relation to the volume of the absorbing chambers. Therefore, it is most preferable to have a length-width ratio of 1:1, though this in not always possible. In a space such as a well or other pipe like arrangement in which matter is to be collected, the inner form of the well directs the form of the device and indirect the form of the absorbing chambers. Thus it in not always possible to reach the most effective form. Due to this optimal form, said absorbing chambers are pillow-shaped.

It is suitable that said sheath is a non-woven material. Such a material is open enough for the matter to penetrate into the sorbent material, and closed enough for containing the sorbent material as well as the oil after entry.

It is preferable that said sheath is double walled. Thereby the effect of the sheath material is increased.

For instance, the capillary forces are increased and more matter can be contained within the sheath.

Suitably said core further comprises buoyancy means. As long as the core material and the matter have a density that is lower than water, the device will float in the water. Nevertheless, to further increase the buoyancy of the device the core can be supplied with buoyancy means. The buoyancy means can be used to control the behaviour of the device in the water. Said buoyancy means suitably comprises cellular plastic lumps. These can be mixed with the core material for easy filling of the sheath.

It is further suitable that said sorbent material is principally a non-expanding material . To gain an environmentally friendly device said sorbent material is predominantly a cellulose material. Very good absorption properties are gained if said cellulose material predominantly is pine bark. The best absorption effect is reached if said pine bark is dried to a dry content of preferably 90 % or more, more preferably 93 % or more and most preferably 95 % or more.

For easy handling purposes, the device is alongside supplied with handles, whereby the device easily is removed from the water after it has served its purpose. To easily elongate the device to cover a longer distance and not have to have many different sections of different length, said device at its ends is supplied with detachable interconnection means. A convenient and fast way to connect and again disconnect the device said interconnection means are hook-and-loop fasteners.

To improve the serviceability of the device and to make it possible to use in connection with a boom, said device alongside is supplied with detachable connecting means. It is suitable that said connecting means are spring hooks .

The present invention also discloses a second aspect, an arrangement for shielding off a water surface area, such as a boom. It comprises a vertically pendent, flexible shield, thereto vertically, in spaced apart relationship fastened, in relation to the flexible shield rigid battens, and below the shield hanging ballast. It also has a device for absorbing matter, such as oil, from the water detachably connected to said arrangement in the vicinity of the waterline of said arrangement. By attaching a device for absorbing matter, an easy to use and flexible arrangement is created. The boom cannot only be used to shield off the water surface area or to be towed between boats to gather the matter, but in a stationary mood also collect and remove the matter from the surface. The device is suitably connected to the arrangement at the vicinity of the waterline since it will affect the behaviour of the arrangement the least there. When the device is newly attached and not containing any matter, the device will slightly lift the arrangement, whereas when the device is filled with matter it will drag the arrangement further down into the water. The shield may be constructed of a rubber cloth and the battens of any material having stiffness and strength properties that can withstand the forces from the waves . To increase the stability of the arrangement said ballast is in rigid relationship connected to said battens. A traditional boom has a loosely hanging pocket at its bottom in which a chain or other type of elongate structure is used as ballast. The ballast will then always be hanging vertical in the waves of the water, whereas the boom itself if anything will oscillate with the waves, which may lead to oil slipping underneath the boom and reduce its capability of gathering or shielding off the oil . The traditional boom can be compared with a sailing boot having a keel that is hinged. Instead, the present arrangement having the rigid ballast reacts more direct to again guide the battens and the boom straight upward .

It is suitable that said ballast is connected so said batten by a pin. It is further suitable that said ballast is divided into separate units, each connected to a batten. For handling purposes, this is advantageous since the ballast is concentrated to certain points along the arrangement .

In order to give the arrangement suitable floating properties it further comprises buoyancy means within said flexible shield. The buoyancy means may take the form of thick panels of rectangle form, distributed along the shield.

It is advisable that the device is detachable to become replaceable and therefore said arrangement further comprises connecting means for connection to said device for absorbing matter. Said connecting means are placed at said battens to use the strength of the battens to reinforce the area of connection to avoid unnecessary ruptures of the shield. To further improve the simplicity by which the device is being replaced, said connecting means are spring hooks and buckles.

To gain the best performance of the arrangement in combination with a device said device for absorbing matter is of a kind according to the first aspect of the present invention. In a third aspect of the present invention, an arrangement for shielding off a water surface area, such as a boom is disclosed. This arrangement comprises a vertically pendent, flexible shield, thereto vertically, in spaced apart relationship fastened, in relation to the flexible shield rigid battens, and below the shield hanging ballast. According to this aspect of the invention, said arrangement is adapted for being detachably connected in the vicinity of the waterline of said arrangement to a device for absorbing matter of a kind according to the first aspect of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A currently preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device for absorbing matter according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of a circular device for absorbing matter according to the present invention together with cross-sections along two lines of the device .

Fig. 3a, 3b and 3c are cross-sections of the device for absorbing matter according to the present invention. Fig. 4a and 4b are perspective views of the arrangement for shielding off a water surface area according to the present invention, of which fig. 4a shows one lengthwise side and fig. 4b the other lengthwise side.

Fig. 4c to 4f are cross-sections of the arrangement and device according to the present invention, of which fig. 4c is showing only the arrangement and fig. 4d to 4f the arrangement in connection with the device. Fig. 5a is a perspective view of the arrangement for shielding off a water surface area according to the present invention. Fig. 5b and 5c are showing a cross-section of a part at the waterline of an arrangement to which a device according to the present invention is connected.

Fig. 6a is a top view over an arrangement and device according to the present invention.

Fig. 6b is top view over an arrangement and device according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment A preferred embodiment of the invention related to first a device for absorbing matter and then an arrangement for shielding off a water surface area will be described in more detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a device 1 for absorbing matter such as oil. The device 1 has a sheath 10 of a non-woven material, for instance made of polypropylene that is needled or thermo bonded, and having a thickness of approx. 1.2 - 1.3 mm and a pore size (d₉₀%) of approx. 85 - 90 microns. Such a sheath 10 ensures that the core material 11 is kept within the sheath and at the same time that the oil is let through into the absorbing chambers 2. The sheath 10 is double walled, i.e. having two layers of the non-woven material to increase the speed of the oil uptake. The core material 11 is pine bark mixed with cellular plastic lumps of polypropylene to control the buoyancy properties of the device 1. A joint boundary line 3 partitions the device 1, by sewing, into two absorbing chambers 2 each containing the bark and lumps core 11. The chambers 2 are filled to approx. 100 % since it is not to expect that the core material 11 is going to expand due to submerging in water or oil. The device 1 is supplied with a handle 4 at one end in order to make the handling thereof easy. The device 1 is intended to float in water as it is shown in the fig., by having either one of the facing sides directed vertically upwards. In this embodiment, having the buoyancy means distributed in the entire core material, it does not matter which of the sides that are directed upwardly. In an embodiment having for instance a floating element, the device 1 is getting a top face and an under face. Along the outer edges of the device 1, it is having vertically extending sides, numbered 5 along the longer sides and 6 along the shorter sides. Due to the joint boundary 3, two new vertically extending sides 7 are created that constitute the 4^th side of each absorbing chamber 2. The absorbing chambers 2 are thus given the form of a pillow. In this embodiment, the longer sides of the absorbing chambers 2 are approx. twice as long as the shorter sides thereof . In fig. 2 a similar device 1 is shown, which is having four absorbing chambers 2 and having a circular outer shape. The device 2 is shown in a perspective view and from underneath, lying in a circular well 8 in oil 9. What is seen as white rounded triangles in the fig. are the parts of the absorbing chambers 2 that submerged in the water/oil 9. It becomes clearer from the cross- sections along lines I-I and II-II. These cross-sections are however drawn stylised for the sake of simplicity. It also becomes clear from this fig. that the joint boundaries 3 provide further vertically extending sides 7 in order to improve the oil uptake properties of the device 1.

In fig. 3a, 3b and 3c, a device 1 is shown that is having lengthwise distributed joint boundaries 3 and hence lengthwise distributed absorbing chambers 2. The sheath 10 is covering the core material 11. Underneath the device 1 is in this embodiment provided with a sinker 14 in the form of a pocket 13 in which a chain 12 is used as ballast. At first when the device 1 is put into the water as shown in fig. 3a, the oil 9 is normally only a thin layer on top of the water. The oil 9 first penetrates the sheath 10. Thereafter the oil 9 penetrates in to the interior of the absorbing chambers 2 and flows or trickles along the sides downwards and builds up at the bottom of the device 1. Later, as shown in fig. 3b, the oil 9 is starting to be absorbed by the core bark 11 and pushes the water aside. Since oil has a lower density than water, this process is further helped by the buoyancy effect. At the time when the device 1 is filled with oil 9 up until the waterline, as in fig. 3c, the process is slowed down since the oil 9 must work against gravity. Now the device 1 becomes heavier and is further submerged into the water until it is completely filled with oil 9 and must be replaced.

Fig. 4 shows a second aspect of the invention, the arrangement 15 for shielding off a water surface area. The arrangement comprises a boom 15 having a flexible shield 17 of a rubber/plastic material. The shield 17 is flexible in order to follow the movements of the water, but needs stiffening battens or laths 18 in the transversal direction of the arrangement 15 in spaced apart relationship, in order not to collapse. The material of the battens 18 may be any material that is resistive to the corrosive environment in the water and that provides adequate stiffness to the boom 15. The battens 18 may be placed within the flexible shield 17. To keep the boom 15 in its upright position, ballast 21 is needed at the bottom of the shield 17, and buoyancy means 24 within the shield 17. The buoyancy means 24 comprise buoyancy elements 25 of principally rectangular form that are spread along the shield 17. A mantle of shield material covers the buoyancy elements 25. The ballast 21 has the form of a chain 22 that is lying within a pocket of the shield 17. The chain 22 is tightly and rigidly secured to the battens 18 by a pin 26, so that it oscillates in stiff relationship with the battens 18 and shield 17 in the water. At the top end of the battens 18 there is provided handles 23 for easy launching and pick-up. To the arrangement 15, an absorbent 16 is connected for collecting the oil that is being gathered by the arrangement 15. The absorbent 16 is having a sheath 10 of double layered, non-woven material and a core of pine bark mixed with cellular plastic lumps of polypropylene to control the buoyancy properties. The absorbent 16 is connected to the arrangement 15 by connection means 19 at the battens at the waterline. Since the connection of the absorbent 16 to the arrangement 15 is slightly affecting the buoyancy of the arrangement 15, and the filling ratio of oil in turn is affecting the buoyancy of the absorbent 16, it is suitable to place the connection means 19 at the waterline of the arrangement 15 calculated in its state without the absorbent 16. Finally, the absorbent 16 is supplied with straps 16 to be connected to the connections means 19 of the boom 15.

In fig. 4c, the arrangement 15 is shown in cross- section at a batten 18 without the absorbent 16 connected thereto. However, the arrangement 15 is prepared for reception of a device 1 by having connection means 19 at the waterline. In this fig., a carbine hook is placed at the arrangement 15. It is however, possible that such means instead are placed on the device 1. The carbine hook may be replaced by such fastening means as Velcro tape in order to the ease of use. Fig. 4d, 4e and 4f show the same arrangement 15 having the absorbent 16 connected thereto at the waterline. In fig. 4d, the absorbent 16 is filled only with water up to the waterline and is therefore relatively light weight. In fig. 4e, a later stage is shown in which the oil has penetrated into the absorbent 16 and pushed away most of the water. Finally, a device 1 that is filled with oil is shown in fig. 4f .

The difference between the arrangement 15 in fig. 5a and fig. 4a and 4b is that the ballast 21 in fig. 5a has the form of separate sinkers, each connected by a pin to a batten 18. In fig. 5b and 5c the device 1, which in these cases is connected to a boom 15, is of the kind having partitionings 3 and absorbing chambers 2. The device is floating on the water and oil 9 but has not yet absorbed any oil. In fig. 5c however, the device 1 is filled with oil and needs to be replaced. In fig. 6a and 6b, the device 1 connected to an arrangement 15 is shown in use. Fig. 6a shows two boats 26 towing in the first case an arrangement 1 having only one device 1, but two devices 1 connected in the second case. The device 1 is kept on the side of the arrangement 15 that faces the oil. In the second case, one of the devices 1 is already filled with oil, whereas the other device 1 still can absorb oil. In fig. 6b the device 1 and arrangement 15 is stretched across a stream to avoid that the oil passes further away. If only one device 1 is not long enough to bridge the stream, several devices 1 can be interconnected by for example hook-and-loop fasteners, such as Velcro tape at its ends.

It is to be understood that the manifestations of the form in the figures of the device and the arrangements according to the present invention are only schematic representations. A person skilled in the art would easily use the concept of the present application and design further embodiments that would lie within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device (1) for absorbing matter, such as oil, from an area, comprising a sheath (10) covering a core (11) of predominantly sorbent material, c ha ra c t e r i s e d in that said device (1) is partitioned into at least two, at usage, horizontally adjacent absorbing chambers (2) , whereby said partitioning (3) provides further sides (7) there along, which are having vertical extension and are being exposed to said matter.

2. A device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said partition (3) is accomplished by directing a first part and a second part of said sheath (10) into connection along vertically facing, joint boundaries (3) .

3. A device (1) according to any of claims 1 - 2, wherein each absorbing chamber (2) is having a length- width ratio of a circumscribed rectangle of preferably

3 : 1 or less, more preferably 2:1 or less and most preferably 1:1.

4. A device (1) according to any of claims 1 - 3, wherein said absorbing chambers (2) are pillow-shaped.

5. A device (1) according to any of claims 1 - 4, wherein said sheath (10) is a non-woven material.

6. A device (1) according to any of claims 1 - 5, wherein said sheath (10) is double walled.

7. A device (1) according to any of claims 1 - 6, wherein said core (11) further comprises buoyancy means.

8. A device (1) according to any of claims 1 - 7, wherein said buoyancy means comprises cellular plastic lumps .

9. A device (1) according to any of claims 1 - 8, wherein said sorbent material is principally a non- expanding material .

10. A device (1) according to any of claims 1 - 9, wherein said sorbent material predominantly is a cellulose material.

11. A device (1) according to claim 10, wherein said cellulose material predominantly is pine bark.

12. A device (1) according to claim 11, wherein said pine bark is dried to a dry content of preferably 90 % or more, more preferably 93 % or more and most preferably 95 % or more .

13. A device (1) according to any of claims 1 - 12, wherein said device (1) alongside is supplied with handles (4) .

14. A device (1) according to any of claims 1 - 13, wherein said device (1) at its ends is supplied with detachable interconnection means.

15. A device (1) according to claim 14, wherein said interconnection means are hook-and-loop fasteners.

16. A device (1) according to any of claims 1 - 15, wherein said device (1) alongside is supplied with detachable connecting means (19) for connection to a boom.

17. A device (1) according to claim 16, wherein said connecting means (19) are spring hooks.

18. An arrangement (15) for shielding off a water surface area, such as a boom (15) , comprising a vertically pendent, flexible shield (17), thereto vertically, in spaced apart relationship fastened, in relation to the flexible shield rigid battens (18) , and below the shield (17) hanging ballast (22) , c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that a device (1) for absorbing matter, such as oil, from the water is detachably connected to said arrangement (15) in the vicinity of the waterline of said arrangement.

19. An arrangement (15) according to claim 18, wherein said ballast is in rigid relationship connected to said battens (18) .

20. An arrangement (15) according to claim 19, wherein said ballast is connected so said batten (18) by a pin (26) .

21. An arrangement (15) according to any of claims 18 - 20, wherein said ballast (22) is divided into separate units, each connected to a batten (18) .

22. An arrangement (15) according to any of claims 18 - 21, wherein said arrangement (15) further comprises buoyancy means (24) within said flexible shield (17) .

23. An arrangement (15) according to any of claims 18 - 22, wherein said arrangement (15) further comprises connecting means (19) for connection to said device (1) for absorbing matter.

24. An arrangement (15) according to claim 23, wherein said connecting means (19) are placed at said battens (18) .

25. An arrangement (15) according to any of claims 23 - 24, wherein said connecting means (19) are spring hooks and buckles .

26. An arrangement (15) according to any of claims 18 - 25, wherein said device (1) for absorbing matter is of a kind in any of claims 1 - 17.

27. An arrangement (15) for shielding off a water surface area, such as a boom (15) , comprising a vertically pendent, flexible shield (17), thereto vertically, in spaced apart relationship fastened, in relation to the flexible shield rigid battens (18) , and below the shield (17) hanging ballast (22) , c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that said arrangement (15) is adapted for being detachably connected in the vicinity of the waterline of said arrangement (15) to a device (1) for absorbing matter of a kind in any of claims 1 - 17.

28. An arrangement (15) according to claim 27, wherein said ballast is in rigid relationship connected to said battens (18) .

29. An arrangement (15) according to claim 28, wherein said ballast (22) is connected so said batten (18) by a pin (26) .

30. An arrangement (15) according to any of claims 27 - 29, wherein said ballast (22) is divided into separate units, each connected to a batten (18) .

31. An arrangement (15) according to any of claims 27 - 30, wherein said arrangement (15) further comprises buoyancy means (24) within said flexible shield (17) .

32. An arrangement (15) according to any of claims 27 - 31, wherein said arrangement (15) further comprises connecting means (19) for connection to said device (1) for absorbing matter.

33. An arrangement (15) according to claim 32, wherein said connecting means (19) are placed at said battens (18) .

34. An arrangement (15) according to any of claims 32 - 33, wherein said connecting means (19) are spring hooks and buckles .