Plastic waste collection vessel Device and method for collecting plastic waste from different water depths by means of suction pipe openings in the bow of a seagoing vessel on the seas, lakes and inland waters

Abstract

Vessel for collecting plastic waste on seas, lakes and inland waters with at least one suction pipe opening (5) in the foreship (1) through which the plastic waste can be sucked in, with at least one injector pump and with at least one suction pipe with which the plastic waste can be pumped onto the deck via the suction pipe, with ultrasonic transmitters on an external ring (4) on the suction pipe opening (5), which are intended to keep fish and other marine animals at a distance.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for collecting plastic waste floating on or at the water surface. Small plastic particles (microplastics smaller than or equal to 5 mm) floating below the water surface are sucked in.

[0002] In the foreship area (1) of a seagoing vessel, sealable suction pipes (5) are arranged in the waterline on both sides of the outer hull. The suction pipes (5) have a diameter of 2000 mm.

[0003] Injector pumps are mounted on the suction pipes (5) inside the ship, directing their jets in the direction of flow. Each suction pipe (5) has an external collar (4) at its mouth. Ultrasonic transmitters are mounted inside this collar (4), emitting sound waves in a directed manner to keep fish and other marine animals at a distance so they are not sucked in.

[0004] The water contaminated with plastic waste flows through the suction pipes (4) into large filter systems (2) located on the main deck. The water, which has been purified by the filter systems to remove plastic parts and plastic particles / microplastics down to the nanoscale, flows into the cargo tank (3) for further processing. The plastic waste is shredded on board and recycled into hydrogen in an ultra-high-temperature hydrolysis plant. The hydrogen is used on board to generate energy. By trimming the ship (using ballast water / weight gain in the foreship (1)), the openings of the suction pipes are brought to different water depths.

[0005] The state of the art is a method and device for the disposal of waste located on and under water surfaces, in which the wastewater contaminated by the waste is sucked in and the waste is removed from the wastewater, as well as a device for carrying out this method, which has a floating body with a cleaning system (DE 22 36 448 A).

[0006] Furthermore, a method and device for the disposal of oily and other waste floating on the water surface are known. In this method, the top layer of contaminated water is peeled off and placed in a floating body with a cleaning device. However, the known method and device are only suitable for the disposal of waste that has a lower specific gravity than water, such as oil. Waste that floats below the water surface and is distributed throughout the water is not covered (DE 16 34 022 A).

[0007] Furthermore, a vehicle for removing oil from water is known, which uses a combined mechanical and chemical method of removing the oil. For this purpose, an oil removal agent, such as an emulsifier, is introduced into the water to be cleaned using a dosing device (DE 21 20 381 A). This known device is also intended to shear off contaminants on the water surface. Furthermore, there is a risk that the emulsifier could contaminate the clean water.

[0008] Suction pipes are located in the bow of a ship. The suction pipes have closable openings in the outer skin in the bow on both sides of the ship (carrier ship) with a diameter of 2000 mm. An injector pump is installed in the suction pipes. The suction pipe, or rather the suction pipe outlet to the outside, contains a metal collar. This collar houses ultrasonic transmitters that emit sound waves in a directed manner.

[0009] Using suction pipes in the bow of a ship, floating plastic waste, ranging from plastic bags to fishing nets, in the oceans, lakes, and inland waters is to be sucked in. An injector pump is installed behind the suction pipe opening and pumps seawater into the entire suction pipe system. This creates a vacuum effect through the suction pipe opening, sucking in plastic waste in the water and transporting it through the suction pipe system to the deck of the carrier vessel, where it is filtered and separated in a large filter bowl with fine sieve inserts.

[0010] The world's oceans, lakes, and inland waters are filled with plastic waste. Scientists estimate that approximately 270 million tons of plastic waste are floating in the world's oceans alone (as of December 2014); this could amount to as much as 15 billion cubic meters of plastic waste. According to the ocean current system, the plastic waste is believed to be concentrated in five gigantic plastic waste gyres / ocean eddies worldwide. This plastic waste endangers aquatic life and enters the food chain, which ends with humans consuming fish and other marine animals. Other marine animals die from ingesting plastic waste or small marine creatures that have plastic waste in their stomachs. Seabirds die from swallowing small pieces of plastic. According to scientific findings, the populations of some marine animals are already severely affected.

[0011] The plastic waste collection vessel removes plastic waste from the water via suction pipes and filters it in large filter systems on the ship's deck. The plastic waste is separated, compacted in big bags, and transported to land for proper recycling.

[0012] Scientists speak of a global catastrophe.

[0013] Humans are increasingly polluting the oceans with plastic waste. Pollution from shipping is relatively small, accounting for approximately 10% according to scientists. The largest amount of waste entering the oceans comes from illegal land-based dumping.

[0014] Plastic waste absolutely does not belong in the oceans, where it endangers the lives of marine animals, organisms and, secondarily, the lives of humans.

[0015] Plastic has a long lifespan; it breaks down into smaller pieces but remains intact.

[0016] Officially, there are two methods to remove garbage from the oceans: 1. Fishing for garbage using kilometers-long barriers at sea. 2. Fishing for plastic waste on flowing inland waters using nets.

[0017] Using the method developed here, the plastic waste on the ocean gyres is sucked in through suction pipe openings, pumped onto the deck of the carrier vessel, and filtered there. The suction pipes are located in the bow of a ship (the carrier vessel). This allows for optimal removal of the floating plastic waste from the water.

[0018] Ultrasonic transmitters are located at the beginning of the suction pipe openings; they emit sound waves and cause fish and other marine life to stay away from the carrier ship and the suction pipe openings to a distance of approximately 2,000 meters.

[0019] The carrier vessel is extremely seaworthy and can operate even in rough seas and bad weather conditions, as the suction pipes are located in the bow.

[0020] The plastic waste collection ship is currently the practical solution.

[0021] Plastic waste is being compacted on a double-hull tanker (carrier vessel) with approx. dimensions of length: 350 m, width: 60 m, draft: 22 m, deadweight: 350,000 t. The plastic waste is sucked in through suction pipe openings located in the bow of the carrier vessel and pumped onto the deck. The suction pipe openings, with a diameter of 2000 mm, are located in the bow. Injector pumps are installed in the suction pipes, which pump the plastic waste via an injector jet via the pipeline to the deck of the carrier vessel. Two large filters are installed in the pipelines on deck and are used alternately. As soon as one filter is full, the second filter is activated so that the first can be cleaned. Ultrasonic transmitters are attached to the suction pipe openings to keep fish and other marine animals at a distance of 2000 m.

[0022] The double-hulled tanker (carrier vessel) (1) enters the plastic waste vortex containing the plastic waste. The suction pipe openings are opened. The injector pumps pump water into the pipes leading to the deck, creating a vacuum that causes the suction pipes to suck in floating plastic waste. The plastic waste flows through the suction pipe openings (5) via the suction pipes into a large filter (2) on the main deck of the carrier vessel (1), where it is filtered. The plastic waste is removed from the filter, compacted, and packed in big bags. List of reference symbols 1 ship / foreship 2 filter systems on the main deck 3 cargo tank 4 ring with ultrasonic transmitters 5 Suction pipe opening 6 Double bottom tank scale not specified

Claims

[1] Vessel for collecting plastic waste on seas, lakes and inland waters with at least one suction pipe opening (5) in the foreship (1) through which the plastic waste can be sucked in, with at least one injector pump and with at least one suction pipe with which the plastic waste can be pumped onto the deck via the suction pipe, with ultrasonic transmitters on an external ring (4) on the suction pipe opening (5), which are intended to keep fish and other marine animals at a distance.

Images