Contaminant recovery apparatus
A floating pollutant recovery device separates water and contaminants by natural settling, efficiently recovers pollutants like oil and plastic, and is reusable, addressing the limitations of existing methods while reducing environmental impact.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024020722
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-02-14
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-26
- Estimated Expiration
- 2044-02-14
AI Technical Summary
Conventional methods for addressing marine pollution, such as using oil sorbents and absorbent sheets, are costly, resource-intensive, and can cause secondary environmental pollution, and are inadequate for responding to large-scale oil spills.
A pollutant recovery device that floats on contaminated water, separates water and contaminants by natural settling, and uses a water discharge flow path to efficiently extract water while allowing the device to move on the water's surface, utilizing a recyclable container and a handle for ease of use.
The device allows for efficient recovery of contaminants like oil and plastic without causing new pollution, can be reused, and effectively covers large areas, reducing operational costs and environmental impact.
Smart Images
Figure 2025124559000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a pollutant recovery device that is used while floating on contaminated water contaminated with oil or the like (for example, the sea surface or wastewater contaminated with oil or plastic), and while floating on the water surface, takes in the surrounding contaminated water into a container, drains only the water from the taken-in contaminated water, and recovers the remaining contaminants such as oil. [Background technology]
[0002] In recent years, marine pollution has become a major environmental issue. Oceans around the world are becoming polluted due to human waste and wastewater. The problem of marine pollution is not limited to simply polluting the ocean; it has many other effects, such as reducing the habitats of marine life and seafood contaminated with harmful substances entering the human body.
[0003] The main causes of marine pollution are oil and microplastics, which are contained in domestic and industrial wastewater and flow into rivers and waterways, eventually flowing into the ocean, destroying the environment and disrupting the ecosystem. There have also been reports that fuel oil spills from ships and other sources are polluting the ocean.
[0004] Conventionally, recovery methods using oil sorbents and absorbent sheets have been adopted as a countermeasure against environmental pollution caused by oil and other substances. However, the use of oil sorbents and absorbent sheets requires a large amount of resources and is extremely costly, and their recovery is time-consuming. In addition, it is difficult to respond to an oil spill from a ship using oil sorbents and absorbent sheets alone. Furthermore, using large amounts of oil sorbents and absorbent sheets may not only cause secondary environmental pollution, but also pose serious supply and logistics problems due to their recovery, storage, and disposal.
[0005] Therefore, there is a need to propose new environmentally friendly solutions to combat environmental pollution caused by oil and other substances, as an alternative to oil adsorbents and adsorbent sheets. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0006] In view of the problems of the conventional technology described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a new pollutant recovery device that can be used repeatedly, that allows anyone to easily and inexpensively recover pollutants such as oil that cause marine pollution from contaminated water, and that can replace oil adsorbents and adsorbent sheets, without causing any new environmental pollution. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] The object is to provide a contaminant recovery device that is used in a state where it floats on a liquid to be treated, which is contaminated water contaminated with oil, takes in surrounding contaminated water, removes water from the contaminated water, and recovers the remaining oil, a contaminated water intake port for taking in contaminated water around the device into the container; a container for storing the contaminated water taken in through the contaminated water intake port in a state in which the water layer and the oil layer can be separated by natural settling without relying on centrifugal force, and for storing the water layer so that the water layer is located below the water-oil interface and the oil layer is located above the water-oil interface as a result of separation by natural settling; and a water discharge flow path for sucking water located below the water-oil interface from the contaminated water that has separated into a water layer and an oil layer by natural sedimentation in the container and discharging it outside the container. The water discharge flow path is provided in the container so that a suction port at one end thereof is located below the water-oil interface in the container and a discharge port at the other end thereof is located outside the container. This is achieved by a pollutant recovery device characterized by:
[0008] In addition, the contaminated water (e.g., seawater or wastewater contaminated with oil or plastic), which is the liquid to be treated by the contaminant recovery device of the present invention, contains mainly water, but also contains substances that contaminate the water, such as oil and plastic.
[0009] In the pollutant recovery device, the water discharge flow path is provided in the container so that the suction port at one end of the water discharge flow path is located near the bottom surface inside the container.
[0010] In the above-mentioned contaminant recovery device, the water discharge flow path is provided in the container so that the outlet at the other end is located outside the container and in the contaminated water that is the liquid to be treated. The contaminant recovery device, floating on the contaminated water, moves on the contaminated water using the water flow discharged from the outlet of the water discharge flow path as propulsion.
[0011] In addition, in the above-mentioned contaminated material recovery device, the contaminated water intake port is provided so as to take in contaminated water near the liquid surface around the device into the container.
[0012] In addition, in the above-mentioned pollutant recovery device, a float is provided in the pollutant recovery device so that the contaminated water intake port maintains a state in which contaminated water near the liquid surface around the device is taken into the container.
[0013] In addition, in the above-mentioned contaminated material recovery device, the contaminated water intake port is formed so as to form an opening having an inverted triangle shape when viewed from the front.
[0014] In addition, in the above-mentioned pollutant recovery device, a water outlet for discharging water from the contaminated water that has separated into a water layer and an oil layer within the container, and a valve body for opening and closing the water outlet are provided at the bottom of the container.
[0015] Furthermore, the container of the pollutant recovery device can be, for example, a recyclable PET bottle.
[0016] The pollutant collection device also has a handle (grab bar) extending upward from the device. [Effects of the Invention]
[0017] The pollutant recovery device of the present invention is a wastewater tank or purification tank that stores contaminated water (e.g., water contaminated with oil or microplastics) that is the liquid to be treated. tank It can be used by simply floating it on the surface of rivers, waterways, oceans, lakes, etc. contaminated with oil and microplastics, so it is hassle-free and easy for anyone to use. Furthermore, it can be reused multiple times, so it does not cause new environmental pollution like disposable oil absorbents and absorbent sheets.
[0018] Furthermore, in the contaminant recovery device of the present invention, the water discharge flow path is positioned within the container so that the suction port at one end of the water discharge flow path is located near the bottom of the container. This allows only the lower water to be reliably extracted from the upper and lower oil and water layers within the container. As a result, only the water can be efficiently drained from the contaminated water (the upper and lower oil and water layers) within the container, and accordingly, the amount of oil in the container (the proportion of oil in the contaminated water within the container) increases relatively. This is shown in Figures 2(a) to 2(c) in order. Therefore, by using the contaminant recovery device of the present invention, it is possible to ultimately recover oil that is fully filled to the container.
[0019] Furthermore, in the contaminant recovery device of the present invention, the water discharge flow path is provided in the container so that the outlet at the other end is located outside the container (below the bottom of the container) and submerged in the contaminated water to be treated. With this configuration, the contaminant recovery device floating on the contaminated water can move on the contaminated water using the water flow discharged from the outlet of the water discharge flow path as propulsion. As a result, it is possible to continuously (without effort) recover contaminants such as oil over a wide area, rather than remaining in the same position. For example, in the event of an oil spill from a ship, a large amount of fuel oil that has spilled over a wide area can be efficiently recovered by the contaminant recovery device, which continues to move on the water.
[0020] In the contaminated material recovery device of the present invention, the contaminated water intake port is provided so as to take in contaminated water near the liquid surface around the device into the container. tank In ponds, rivers, oceans, etc., oil and plastic, which have low specific gravity, float to the surface (or near the surface). Therefore, by concentrating on collecting contaminated water near the surface of the liquid to be treated (i.e., near the surface that contains a large amount of contaminants), the oil and plastic contaminants can be efficiently collected in a container.
[0021] The contaminant recovery device of the present invention is also provided with a float, which allows the contaminated water intake port to continue to draw in contaminated water near the liquid surface around the device (e.g., near the sea surface) into the container.
[0022] Furthermore, in the contaminated material recovery device of the present invention, the contaminated water intake is formed to have an opening that is an inverted triangle when viewed from the front. By making the contaminated water intake in an inverted triangle shape in this manner, the amount of contaminated water taken in can be changed depending on the liquid level (water surface position) relative to the contaminated water intake. For example, when the top of the inverted triangular contaminated water intake is below the liquid level (water surface position), contaminated water can be taken into the container at a relatively large flow rate. On the other hand, when the bottom of the contaminated water intake is at approximately the same position as the liquid level (water surface position), contaminated water can be taken into the container at a minimum flow rate.
[0023] Furthermore, the pollutant recovery device of the present invention is provided with a water outlet at the bottom of the container and a switch-type valve body for opening and closing the outlet. This allows only the lower water of the oil layer (upper) and water layer (lower) separated into upper and lower layers in the container to be reliably removed through the water outlet. Furthermore, by operating the switch-type valve body at the bottom of the container, only the water (separated water portion) can be removed from the container at any time.
[0024] Furthermore, the pollutant recovery device of the present invention can use recyclable plastic bottles as containers, which allows for more effective use of resources and further protection of the global environment.
[0025] Furthermore, the contaminant recovery device of the present invention has a handle that extends upward, making it possible to easily install and remove the device from the contaminated water, which is the liquid to be treated, even in cases where the liquid surface of the contaminated water is difficult to reach. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view (perspective view) that schematically shows the configuration of a pollutant recovery device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 2(a) and 2(b) are side views (perspective views) showing the state of the contaminant recovery device according to the first embodiment when in use (when recovering contaminants such as oil). FIG. 2(a) shows the initial state of contaminated water being taken into the container of the contaminant recovery device. FIG. 2(b) shows the state after further contaminated water has been taken in from the state shown in FIG. 2(a). FIG. 2(c) shows the state after further contaminated water has been taken in from the state shown in FIG. 2(b). In FIGS. 2(a) to 2(c), the contaminated water in the container is separated into a water layer and an oil layer due to the difference in specific gravity. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side view (perspective view) that schematically shows a modified example of the pollutant recovery device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a side view (perspective view) that schematically shows the configuration of a pollutant recovery device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a side view (perspective view) that schematically shows the state of the pollutant collection device according to the second embodiment when in use (when collecting pollutants such as oil). [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a side view (perspective view) that schematically shows the state of the pollutant collection device according to the second embodiment when in use (when collecting pollutants such as oil). [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a side view (perspective view) that schematically shows the configuration of a pollutant recovery device according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] (First embodiment of pollutant recovery device / large device) A first embodiment of the pollutant recovery device will be described below with reference to FIG. This pollutant collection device is an example of a large pollutant collection device.
[0028] As shown in Figure 1, the pollutant recovery device 1 is used by floating it on contaminated water contaminated with oil or the like (for example, the sea surface contaminated with oil or plastic), and it takes in the surrounding contaminated water into a container 17, drains the water from the taken-in contaminated water, and recovers the remaining contaminants such as oil.
[0029] The contaminated water, which is the liquid to be treated by the contaminant recovery device 1, mainly contains water, but also contains oil and plastic as substances that contaminate the water. Specific examples of contaminated water here include drainage tanks and purification tanks that store water contaminated with oil and microplastics. tank In addition, these include rivers, waterways, oceans and lakes contaminated with oil and microplastics.
[0030] Typical examples of contaminated water that can be treated using the present invention include seawater contaminated with fuel oil, cooking oil, microplastics, etc. In other words, the contaminant recovery device of this embodiment is used by floating it on the sea surface polluted with oil, etc. The place of use is not limited to the sea, and it can also be used in drainage tanks that store domestic or business wastewater or purification tanks. tank It can also be used in rivers, waterways, lakes, etc. It can also be used by filling a household sink with water contaminated with oil, etc., and floating it on the sink.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, the pollutant recovery device 1 has the following features. A contaminated water intake 13 for drawing contaminated water around the floating device 1 into a container 17. A container 17 for storing contaminated water taken in through the contaminated water intake port 13. A water discharge flow path 19 that sucks and discharges water from the contaminated water that has separated into water and oil in the container 17. A motor 21 for applying suction and discharge action to the water discharge passage 19. A float 23 for floating the pollutant recovery device 1 on the contaminated water, which is the liquid to be treated.
[0032] The contaminated water intake port 13 serves to take in the contaminated water around the device 1 that is floating on the liquid to be treated (e.g., seawater contaminated with oil) into the container. The contaminated water intake port 13 is provided so as to take in the contaminated water near the liquid surface around the device 1 (particularly the contaminated water near the water surface around the device) into the container 17. In other words, the contaminated water intake port 13 is provided in the container 17 so as to be located at approximately the same height as the liquid surface of the liquid to be treated around the device (e.g., seawater contaminated with oil), or slightly below the liquid surface.
[0033] Container 17 is a container that looks like a drum. This container 17 stores the contaminated water taken in through the contaminated water intake port 13 in a state where it can be separated into a water layer and an oil layer by natural sedimentation. Hereinafter, the contaminated water taken in container 17 (the contaminated water in the container) will be referred to as "taken contaminated water."
[0034] Immediately after being taken into container 17, the ingested contaminated water is a mixture of water and oil, but after being taken into the container, it separates into a water layer and an oil layer by natural settling due to the difference in specific gravity. That is, the lighter oil (specific gravity: approximately 0.9) is located above the ingested contaminated water in container 17, while the heavier water (specific gravity: 1) is located below the ingested contaminated water in container 17. Between the separated oil and water layers, there is a water-oil interface (horizontal surface). After separation, the oil layer will be located above the water-oil interface (horizontal surface), and the water layer will be located below the water-oil interface (horizontal surface). Note that if the ingested contaminated water contains tiny plastics or plastic fragments such as microplastics, the lighter plastics will be contained in the oil layer above the water layer.
[0035] In this embodiment, no water currents, such as vortex flows or swirling flows, are generated in the contaminated water taken into vessel 17 to generate centrifugal force. That is, in this embodiment, the contaminated water taken into vessel 17 is separated into a water layer and an oil layer using only natural sedimentation without relying on centrifugal sedimentation. Therefore, in this embodiment, no motors or blades are required to generate centrifugal force, such as vortex flows or swirling flows, and therefore the operating noise is quieter.
[0036] Water discharge flow path 19 is provided in container 17 so that suction port 31 at one end is located below the water-oil interface (horizontal plane) inside container 17, and discharge port 33 at the other end is located outside container 17. Water discharge flow path 19 is also provided in container 17 so that suction port 31 at one end is located near the bottom surface inside container 17. In other words, water discharge flow path 19 is provided in container 17 with a small gap between suction port 31 and the bottom surface of container 17. Water discharge flow path 19 sucks water (the water portion of the separated oil and water layers) from contaminated water that has separated into a water layer and an oil layer inside container 17 through suction port 31, and discharges it outside container 17.
[0037] As described above, in the contaminant recovery device 1 of this embodiment, the water discharge flow path 19 is positioned within the container 17 so that the suction port 31 at one end of the water discharge flow path 19 is located near the bottom of the container 17. This makes it possible to reliably extract only the lower water portion from the oil layer (upper) and water layer (lower) separated into upper and lower layers within the container 17. As a result, only the water can be efficiently drained from the contaminated water (separated upper and lower oil and water layers) within the container 17, and accordingly, the amount of oil in the container 17 (the proportion of oil in the contaminated water within the container 17) increases relatively. This is shown in Figures 2(a) to 2(c) in order. Therefore, by using the contaminant recovery device 1 of this embodiment, it is possible to eventually recover oil that is fully filled into the container.
[0038] 1 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the water discharge flow path 19 may be provided in the container 17 so that the outlet 33 at the other end is outside the container 17 (outside the bottom surface of the container) and is located in the contaminated water that is the liquid to be treated. In this case, the contaminant recovery device 1 floating on the contaminated water can move on the contaminated water using the water flow discharged from the outlet 33 of the water discharge flow path 19 as a propulsive force.
[0039] The motor 21 serves to apply suction and discharge action to the water discharge flow path 19 to move the water to be discharged. Although not shown, an ON / OFF switch for the motor 21 and a battery for driving the motor are provided on the upper surface of the container 17. A pump such as an air lift pump can also be used instead of this motor.
[0040] The float 23 not only floats the contaminant recovery device 1 in the contaminated water to be treated, but also serves to position the contaminated water intake port 13 near the liquid surface around the device (near the sea surface). This allows the contaminated water intake port 13 to maintain a state in which it takes in contaminated water near the liquid surface around the device into the container.
[0041] (Second embodiment of pollutant recovery device / medium-sized device) Next, a second embodiment of the pollutant recovery device will be described with reference to FIGS. This pollutant collection device is an example of a medium-sized pollutant collection device.
[0042] Note that the same features as those in the first embodiment described above will be referred to by the same reference numerals in the accompanying drawings, and the explanation for the first embodiment will be used. Furthermore, the explanation for the principle of water-oil separation in the container will be referred to by the explanation for the first embodiment.
[0043] The following describes features that differ from the first embodiment described above.
[0044] 4, in the contaminated material recovery device 2 according to the second embodiment, the contaminated water intake port 13 is formed to have an opening that is an inverted triangle when viewed from the front. By making the contaminated water intake port 13 in this inverted triangle shape, the amount of contaminated water taken in can be changed depending on the liquid level (water surface position) relative to the contaminated water intake port. For example, as shown on the left side of Figure 5, when the "top" of the inverted triangular contaminated water intake 13 is at approximately the same position as the liquid level (water surface position) or even lower, contaminated water can be taken into the container 17 at a relatively large flow rate. On the other hand, for example, as shown on the right side of Figure 5, when the "bottom" of the inverted triangular contaminated water intake 13 is at approximately the same position as the liquid level (water surface position), contaminated water can be taken into the container 17 at a minimum flow rate.
[0045] The container 17 is made from a recycled plastic bottle, which allows for more effective use of resources and further protection of the global environment.
[0046] 4, the bottom of container 17 is provided with a water outlet 41 (drain hole) for discharging the water portion (the layer below the contaminated water) from the contaminated water that has separated into a water layer and an oil layer inside container 17, and a switch-type valve body 43 for opening and closing this water outlet 41. This makes it possible to reliably drain only the lower water portion of the oil layer (upper) and water layer (lower) that have separated into upper and lower layers inside container 17 through water outlet 41 at the bottom of the container. Furthermore, by operating switch-type valve body 43 at the bottom of the container, it is possible to drain only the water from inside container 17 at any time.
[0047] 4, in this embodiment, a handle 51 extending upward from the contaminant recovery device 2 is provided on the top of the container 17. An ON / OFF switch 53 for the motor 21 is provided at the handle 51's handle.
[0048] For example, as illustrated in Figure 6, even if the contaminated water to be treated is in a location that is out of reach (or difficult to reach), the contaminant recovery device 1 is equipped with a handle 51, so that the device 2 can be easily installed and removed from the contaminated water to be treated using the handle 51.
[0049] (Third embodiment of pollutant collection device / small device) Next, a third embodiment of the pollutant recovery device will be described with reference to FIG. This pollutant collection device is an example of a small pollutant collection device.
[0050] Note that the same features as those in the first embodiment described above will be referred to by the same reference numerals in the accompanying drawings, and the explanation for the first embodiment will be used. Furthermore, the explanation for the principle of water-oil separation in the container will be referred to by the explanation for the first embodiment.
[0051] The following describes features that differ from the first and second embodiments described above.
[0052] In the contaminant recovery device 3 of this embodiment, the container 17 is configured as a pot-shaped container used for cooking. The bottom of the pot-shaped container 17 is provided with a water outlet 41 (drain hole) for discharging water (the layer below the contaminated water) from contaminated water that has separated into an aqueous layer and an oil layer inside the container, and a switch-type valve body 43 for opening and closing this water outlet 41. This makes it possible to reliably drain only the water located at the bottom of the oil layer (upper) and water layer (lower) that have separated into upper and lower layers inside the container 17 through the water outlet 41 at the bottom of the container. In addition, by operating the switch-type valve body 43 at the bottom of the container, it is possible to drain only the water from inside the container 17 at any time. [Explanation of symbols]
[0053] 1. Pollutant recovery equipment (oil recovery equipment) 2. Pollutant recovery equipment (oil recovery equipment) 3. Pollutant recovery equipment (oil recovery equipment) 13 Contaminated water intake 17 Container 19 Water discharge channel 21 Motor 23 Float 31 Suction port 33 Outlet 41 Water outlet (drain hole) 43 Switch type valve body 51 Handle 53 ON / OFF switch
Claims
1. A contaminant recovery device that is used in a floating state in contaminated water contaminated with oil, takes in surrounding contaminated water, removes water from the contaminated water, and recovers oil, a contaminated water intake port for taking in contaminated water around the device into the container; a container for storing the contaminated water taken in through the contaminated water intake port in a state in which the water layer and the oil layer can be separated by natural settling without relying on centrifugal force, and for storing the water layer so that the water layer is located below the water-oil interface and the oil layer is located above the water-oil interface as a result of separation by natural settling; and a water discharge flow path for sucking water located below the water-oil interface from the contaminated water that has separated into a water layer and an oil layer by natural sedimentation in the container and discharging it outside the container. The water discharge flow path is provided in the container so that a suction port at one end thereof is located below the water-oil interface in the container and a discharge port at the other end thereof is located outside the container. A pollutant recovery device characterized by:
2. The water discharge flow path is provided in the container so that a suction port at one end thereof is located near a bottom surface inside the container.
2. The pollutant recovery device according to claim 1.
3. The contaminated water intake port is provided to take in contaminated water near the water surface around the device into the container.
2. The pollutant recovery device according to claim 1.
4. At the bottom of the container, a water outlet for discharging water from the contaminated water that has separated into a water layer and an oil layer in the container; a valve body for opening and closing the water outlet; 2. The pollutant recovery device according to claim 1, further comprising: