Oil recovery system and method

Abstract

To provide an oil recovery system and an oil recovery method capable of efficiently recovering oil while suppressing cost.SOLUTION: An oil recovery system 1 includes a flat plate type drain material 9, a suction hose 17, and a vacuum suction unit 39. The drain material 9 is attached to a bottom surface 18 and a side surface 16 of a shovel unit 3 of a retaining member 2. One end of the suction hose 17 is coupled to the drain material 9 and the other end is extended and coupled to a header pipe 19. The header pipe 19 is coupled to the vacuum suction unit 39 through a hose 22. A worker operates a handle 7 of the retaining member 2 and arranges the drain material 9 on an oil layer 29 with a top unit opened so that the extending direction is in the direction along the oil layer 29. Then, oil of the oil layer 29 is suctioned by using the drain material 9 while moving the shovel unit 3 in the horizontal direction by operating the vacuum suction unit 39 and pushing and pulling the retaining member 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an oil recovery system and method. [Background technology]

[0002] When oil spills into a river or ocean due to an accident or the like, an oil film floats on the water surface. As a method for recovering such an oil film, there has been a method in which a device with a suction chamber at the end of a pipe connected to a vacuum pump is used, the position of the suction chamber is adjusted using a float and a weight so that the suction port of the suction chamber opens at the oil surface above the water surface, and the oil is sucked up by the vacuum pump (see, for example, Patent Document 1). There has also been a method in which the suction port of a suction hose is kept above the water surface, and the oil film floating on the water surface is sucked up together with the air above the water surface and the surface water near the water surface by the suction force of a turbofan attached to the base end of the suction hose, and recovered (see, for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-002379 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6392290 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the conventional method, the oil was sucked up through a small suction port, making the recovery work inefficient. In addition, a large amount of water and air was sucked in along with the oil, making it difficult to separate and recover them. Furthermore, the installation and relocation of large-scale oil recovery equipment required a lot of cost and effort.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide an oil recovery system and an oil recovery method that can recover oil efficiently and at reduced cost. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, 1 The invention relates to a flat drainage material disposed in an oil reservoir with an open top such that the extension direction is along the oil reservoir, and a drainage pipe having one end connected to the drainage material and the other end Towards The oil recovery system comprises an extending suction hose, a vacuum suction section connected to the other end of the suction hose, and a holding member having the drain material fixed to its surface, the holding member having wheels.

[0007] No. 1 of In the present invention, a flat drain material is placed in an open-topped oil layer so that the extension direction is along the oil layer, so that the planar suction part of the drain material can be brought into contact with the oil layer. Therefore, compared to the case of suctioning from a small suction port or suction port, oil can be collected efficiently at a lower cost.

[0008] It is desirable that the drain material be arranged so that its width direction is substantially horizontal. This allows most of the suction part of the drain material to easily come into contact with the oil layer even when the oil layer is thin, preventing a large amount of air or water from being sucked in.

[0009] A cross section of the drain material parallel to the extension direction and perpendicular to the width direction may have a curved or bent portion. For example, if the drain material has alternating upward and downward convex sections in the cross section, the surface area of ​​the suction section per length can be increased compared to when the cross section is linear. Also, when the oil layer moves down, the oil can be trapped on the surface of the downward convex section and sucked in.

[0010] No. 2 The invention relates to a flat drain material, a drain pipe having one end connected to the drain material and a drain pipe having the other end TowardsThe drain material is collected by using an oil recovery system having an extended suction hose and a vacuum suction part connected to the other end of the suction hose. The vertical position of the drain material can be adjusted. The drain material is attached to an oil absorption mat, which is a retaining member, and placed in an oil layer with an open top so that the extension direction is along the oil layer, While adjusting the vertical position of the drain material so that the suction portion of the drain material contacts the oil layer, This is an oil recovery method, characterized in that the oil in the oil layer absorbed by the oil absorbent mat is sucked up using the drain material. No. 3 The invention relates to a flat drain material, a drain pipe having one end connected to the drain material and a drain pipe having the other end Towards This oil recovery method is characterized by using an oil recovery system having an extended suction hose and a vacuum suction part connected to the other end of the suction hose, attaching the drain material to a holding member having wheels, placing the drain material in an oil layer with an open top so that the extension direction is along the oil layer, and sucking up oil from the oil layer. No. 4 The invention relates to a flat drain material, a drain pipe having one end connected to the drain material and a drain pipe having the other end Towards The drain material is collected by using an oil recovery system having an extended suction hose and a vacuum suction part connected to the other end of the suction hose. The vertical position of the drain material is adjustable. The drain material is attached to a holding member, and is arranged in an oil layer, which is a layer of waste oil accumulated at the bottom of an oil storage facility and has an open top, so that the extension direction of the drain material is along the oil layer, While adjusting the vertical position of the drain material so that the suction portion of the drain material contacts the oil layer, The oil recovery method is characterized by suctioning the oil in the oil layer. No. 5 The invention relates to a flat drain material, a drain pipe having one end connected to the drain material and a drain pipe having the other end Towards The drain material is collected by using an oil recovery system having an extended suction hose and a vacuum suction part connected to the other end of the suction hose. The vertical position of the drain material is adjustable. The drain material is attached to a retaining member, and is placed in an oil layer with an open top, floating on the liquid surface of a groundwater layer that has infiltrated into a trench provided in the ground, so that the extension direction of the drain material is along the oil layer, While adjusting the vertical position of the drain material so that the suction portion of the drain material contacts the oil layer, The oil recovery method is characterized by suctioning the oil in the oil layer.

[0011] No.2 From 5 According to the invention, a flat drain material is attached to a holding member and placed in an oil layer with an open top so that the extension direction of the drain material is along the oil layer, so that the planar suction part of the drain material can be brought into contact with the oil layer. Therefore, compared to the case of suctioning oil from a suction port or suction port with a small area, the cost can be reduced and the oil can be efficiently recovered. In particular, if the drain material is placed so that the width direction is approximately horizontal, most of the suction part of the drain material can be easily brought into contact with the oil layer even when the oil layer is thin.

[0012] In the second, fourth and fifth inventions, The holding member is capable of adjusting the vertical position of the drain material, and the drain material is used to suck oil from the oil layer while adjusting the vertical position of the drain material so that the suction portion of the drain material contacts the oil layer. do . This makes it possible, when the oil layer moves up or down, to adjust the vertical position of the drain material so that the drain material can be repositioned in a direction along the oil layer.

[0013] The holding member may be moved horizontally while the drain material is used to suck up the oil in the oil layer. This allows the drain material, which is positioned along the oil layer, to be easily moved horizontally to suck up the oil.

[0014] No. 4 , No. 5 In the invention, the holding member is, for example, a floating body. No. 2 In the invention of , protection The support member is an oil absorbing mat, and the oil in the oil layer absorbed by the oil absorbing mat is sucked up using the drain material. If the retaining member is a float or an oil absorbent mat, the drain material can be easily placed in an open-topped oil layer so that the extension direction is along the oil layer. In addition, if the oil layer moves up or down, the vertical position of the drain material can be made to follow the oil layer. When using only oil absorbent mats to recover oil from an oil layer, it is necessary to gradually replace the oil absorbent mats that have exceeded their oil absorption capacity. However, if a drainage material is attached to the oil absorbent mat as a retaining member, the oil absorbed from the oil layer by the oil absorbent mat can be sucked up and recovered using the drainage material, making replacement of the oil absorbent mat almost unnecessary.

[0015] No. 3 In the invention, the holding member has wheels. If the holding member has wheels, the drain material arranged along the oil layer can be easily moved horizontally by pushing or pulling the holding member.

[0016] No. 4 In the invention, the oil layer is a layer of waste oil accumulated at the bottom of an oil storage facility. No. 4 By using the oil recovery method of the present invention, oil can be efficiently recovered from a layer of waste oil that has accumulated over a wide area, such as the bottom of an oil storage facility.

[0017] No. 2 In the invention, the oil layer may float on the surface of water enclosed inside the oil fence. No. 2 By using the oil recovery method of the present invention, oil can be efficiently recovered from an oil film floating on the water surface inside an oil fence that encloses oil that has spilled into a river or ocean due to an accident or the like.

[0018] No. 2 In the invention, the oil layer may float on the surface of the water accumulated in the oil-water separation tank. No. 2 By using the oil recovery method of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently recover oil from a mixture of water and oils that has flowed into an oil-water separation tank, thereby promoting separation of oil and water.

[0019] No. 5 In the invention, the oil layer floats on the liquid surface of a groundwater layer that has seeped into a trench provided in the ground. No. 5By using the oil recovery method of the present invention, oil that has leaked into the ground can be recovered from within the trench and the oil can be prevented from spreading. Effect of the Invention

[0020] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an oil recovery system and an oil recovery method that can recover oil efficiently and at reduced cost. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows an oil recovery system 1. [Diagram 2] Vertical cross-sectional view of oil storage facility 23. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 shows an oil recovery system 31. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 shows an oil recovery system 41. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 shows an oil recovery system 51. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 shows an oil recovery system 61. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a method of recovering oil using an oil recovery system 75. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a method of recovering oil using an oil recovery system 81. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a method of recovering oil using an oil recovery system 81. [Figure 10] A diagram showing a cross section parallel to the extension direction and perpendicular to the width direction of other drain materials 9c and 9d. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0023] [First embodiment] Figure 1 shows an oil recovery system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1(a) is a side view of the oil recovery system 1, and Figure 1(b) is a bottom view of the oil recovery system 1. Figure 2 shows a vertical cross-section of an oil storage facility 23.

[0024] In the oil storage facility 23 shown in Fig. 2, oil is discharged from a drainage port 27 on the side wall during internal cleaning, but oil deeper than the drainage port 27 remains as a waste oil layer 29 on the bottom slab 25. In the first embodiment, the oil in this oil layer 29 is recovered using the oil recovery system 1 shown in Fig. 1.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 1, the oil recovery system 1 comprises a holding member 2, a drainage material 9, a hose 17, a header pipe 19, a vacuum suction unit 39, etc. The holding member 2 comprises a shovel part 3, wheels 5, a handle 7, etc. The shovel part 3 comprises a bottom surface 18, side surfaces 16 provided on two sides of the bottom surface 18 and increasing in height from the front end 12 to the rear end 14 of the shovel part 3, and a back surface 20 provided continuous with the rear end 14 side of the bottom surface 18. The wheels 5 are attached to the back surface 20 of the shovel part 3. The handle 7 is attached near the rear end 14 of the shovel part 3.

[0026] Drainage material 9 is fixed to the underside and outer side surfaces of the shovel part 3. Of the drainage material 9, drainage material 9a is arranged along the bottom surface 18 and back surface 20 such that the extension direction 6a is a direction from the tip 12 to the rear end 14 of the shovel part 3. Drainage material 9b is arranged along the side surface 16 such that the extension direction 6b is a direction from the tip 12 to the rear end 14 of the shovel part 3.

[0027] The drain material 9 is made of a plate-shaped core material and a nonwoven filter fabric covering the surface of the core material. The drain material 9 is flat. The drain material 9 is based on the material of the nonwoven filter fabric, which has high lipophilicity and is therefore expected to have a relatively water-repellent effect, but it is also possible to use a plastic board drain or paper drain, which have improved water-repellent properties.

[0028] A cap 15 is attached to the end of the drain material 9 on the rear end 14 side. A seal material 13 is provided at the boundary between the drain material 9 and the cap 15. The seal material 13 prevents air and the like from entering through the gap between the drain material 9 and the cap 15. A seal material 11 is provided at the end of the drain material 9 on the tip 12 side. The seal material 11 prevents air and the like from entering from the end of the drain material 9 on the tip 12 side. The entire length of the portion of the drain material 9 between the seal material 11 and the seal material 13 functions as the suction section 10.

[0029] One end of the suction hose 17 is connected to the tip of the cap 15 of the drain material 9, and the other end extends along the handle 7. Each hose 17 is provided with a valve 21. The other end of the hose 17 is connected to a header pipe 19 attached to the handle 7, and the end of the header pipe 19 is connected to a vacuum suction unit 39 via a hose 22.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 2, the oil layer 29 of the waste oil accumulated on the bottom slab 25 of the oil storage facility 23 is open at the top. When recovering oil from the oil layer 29 using the oil recovery system 1, as shown in Fig. 2, an operator adjusts the angle of the shovel part 3 by holding the handle 7 of the holding member 2 with the wheels 5 attached to the bottom slab 25. With the wheels 5 attached to the bottom slab 25, the width direction 8a of the drainage material 9a shown in Fig. 1(b) is parallel to the bottom slab 25, i.e., approximately horizontal. Also, the width direction 8b of the drainage material 9b shown in Fig. 1(a) is parallel to the vertical plane.

[0031] The operator adjusts the angle and height of the shovel part 3 to arrange the drainage materials 9a and 9b so that the extension directions 6a and 6b are along the oil layer 29. The extension directions 6a and 6b along the oil layer 29 are directions in which most of the suction parts 10 of the drainage materials 9a and 9b are located in the oil layer 29, and are, for example, directions in which the extension direction 6a of the part of the drainage material 9a along the bottom surface 18 and the extension direction 6b of the drainage material 9b form an angle of 0 degrees to 45 degrees with respect to the liquid surface of the oil layer 29. Also, preferably, the direction forms an angle of 0 degrees to 30 degrees with respect to the liquid surface of the oil layer 29. By arranging the drainage materials 9a and 9b in such a direction, the suction parts 10 of the drainage materials 9a and 9b can be brought into contact with the oil layer 29 over a wide area.

[0032] After the drainage materials 9a, 9b are arranged so that their extension direction is along the oil layer 29, an operator pushes and pulls the holding member 2 on the bottom slab 25 of the oil storage facility 23 to move the shovel part 3 in the horizontal direction, while activating the vacuum suction part 39 to suck oil from the oil layer 29 through the drainage materials 9a, 9b. At this time, for those of the multiple drainage materials 9a, 9b where only a part (e.g., less than 1 / 2) of the surface area of ​​the suction part 10 is in contact with the oil layer 29, it is desirable to close the valve 21 of the hose 17 and not perform suction. This is because if most of the surface area of ​​the suction part 10 is exposed to the air without contacting the oil layer 29, a lot of air will be sucked in.

[0033] Thus, according to the first embodiment, the flat drain material 9 is attached to the shovel part 3 of the holding member 2, and the drain material 9 is arranged in the oil layer 29 with the top open so that the extension direction is along the oil layer 29, so that the planar suction part 10 of the drain material 9 can be brought into contact with the oil layer 29. Therefore, compared to the case of suction from a small-area suction port or suction port, oil can be collected efficiently at a reduced cost. In particular, if the width direction 8a is approximately horizontal like the drain material 9a, most of the suction part 10 of the drain material 9a can be easily brought into contact with the oil layer 29 even when the oil layer 29 is thin. When the oil layer 29 is thick, it is also effective to supplementarily use a drain material such as the drain material 9b whose width direction 8b is parallel to the vertical plane.

[0034] In the first embodiment, the drain material 9 is attached to the shovel part 3 of the holding member 2 having wheels 5, so that the drain material 9 arranged in a direction along the oil layer 29 can be easily moved horizontally to suck up the oil by moving the holding member 2 horizontally by human power. Therefore, oil can be efficiently recovered from a layer of waste oil that has accumulated over a wide area such as the bottom slab 25 of the oil storage facility 23. In the first embodiment, the shovel part 3 can also be used to scoop and recover oil from the oil layer 29.

[0035] In the first embodiment, the drain material 9 may be attached to the upper and inner surfaces instead of the lower and outer surfaces of the shovel part 3. Also, if the drain material 9 is attached to the upper and inner surfaces of the shovel part 3 in addition to the lower and outer surfaces, the oil recovery efficiency can be further improved. In the first embodiment, the holding member 2 having the wheels 5 is used, but the holding member is not limited to this.

[0036] Figure 3 is a diagram showing an oil recovery system 31. Figure 3(a) is a perspective view showing a part of the oil recovery system 31, and Figure 3(b) is a diagram showing a method of recovering oil using the oil recovery system 31. The oil recovery system 31 differs from the oil recovery system 1 mainly in that the retaining member 32 does not have wheels.

[0037] 3, the holding member 32 is composed of a scoop portion 33 and a handle 37 attached to the scoop portion 33. A hole 35 is provided in the scoop portion 33. The drain material 9 is fixed to the lower surface of the scoop portion 33. The hose 17 is arranged along the handle 37 and is connected to a vacuum suction portion (not shown) without a header pipe.

[0038] When recovering oil from the oil layer 29 using the oil recovery system 31, an operator holds the handle 37 of the holding member 32, adjusts the angle and height of the scoop part 33, and positions the drainage material 9 so that its extension direction is along the oil layer 29. Then, the operator moves the holding member 32 to move the scoop part 33 horizontally, while activating the vacuum suction part to suck the oil from the oil layer 29 from the drainage material 9. The drainage material 9 mainly sucks oil from the surface facing the bottom slab 25, but also sucks oil through the hole 35 from the surface fixed to the scoop part 33.

[0039] In the first embodiment and the oil recovery system 31 shown in Fig. 3, when the oil recovery progresses and the oil layer 29 becomes shallow, the operator moves the shovel part 3 of the holding member 2 or the scoop part 33 of the holding member 32 to adjust the vertical position of the drainage material 9. This makes it possible to reposition the drainage material 9 so that its extension direction is along the oil layer 29, and to suck up the oil.

[0040] In the first embodiment, an example was shown in which only oil had accumulated on the bottom slab 25 of the oil storage facility 23, but there are also cases in which an oil layer floats on the surface of the water accumulated on the bottom slab 25 of the oil storage facility 23. When recovering oil from such an oil layer, the vertical position of the drain material 9 can be adjusted by adjusting the height of the shovel part 3 of the oil recovery system 1 or the scoop part 33 of the oil recovery system 31 so that the suction part 10 does not come into contact with the water below the oil layer as much as possible.

[0041] Hereinafter, other examples of the present invention will be described as the second to seventh embodiments. Each embodiment will be described with respect to the differences from the previously described embodiments, and the same configurations will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings and the like, and the description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the configurations described in each embodiment, including the first embodiment, can be combined as necessary.

[0042] [Second embodiment] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an oil recovery system 41. Fig. 4(a) is a perspective view showing the oil recovery system 41, and Figs. 4(b) and (c) are diagrams showing a method of recovering oil using the oil recovery system 41. The oil recovery system 41 differs from the oil recovery system 1 of the first embodiment mainly in that the retaining member 42 is cart-shaped. In the second embodiment, the oil recovery system 41 is used to recover oil from the oil layer 29 accumulated on the bottom slab 25 of the oil storage facility.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 4, the holding member 42 comprises a loading platform 43, and wheels 45 and handles 47 attached to the loading platform 43. The loading platform 43 is a frame with an opening in the center. The wheels 45 move up and down relative to the loading platform 43, making it possible to change the height of the loading platform 43. The drainage materials 9 are fixed to the upper surface of the loading platform 43 and to two side surfaces of the loading platform 43 that are parallel to the traveling direction of the wheels 45. The hoses 17 connected to each drainage material 9 are arranged along the handles 47 and connected to the header pipes 19.

[0044] When recovering oil from the oil layer 29 using the oil recovery system 41, an operator adjusts the height of the platform 43 of the holding member 42 to adjust the vertical position of the drain material 9, and arranges the drain material 9 so that its extension direction is along the oil layer 29, as shown in FIG. 4(b). In the oil recovery system 41, the drain material 9 is linear and its extension direction is approximately horizontal. Therefore, by arranging the drain material 9 so that its extension direction is along the oil layer 29, the entire suction section 10 can be positioned within the oil layer 29.

[0045] After the drain material 9 is positioned so that its extension direction is along the oil layer 29, the worker moves the holding member 42 with the handle 47 to move the loading platform 43 in the horizontal direction, while activating the vacuum suction part 39 to suck the oil in the oil layer 29 from the drain material 9. Since the loading platform 43 is a frame, the drain material 9 fixed to the upper surface of the loading platform 43 sucks the oil from the upper and lower surfaces of the suction part 10.

[0046] When oil recovery progresses from the state shown in Figure 4(b) and the oil layer 29 becomes shallower as shown in Figure 4(c), the distance between the platform 43 and the wheels 45 is shortened to adjust the vertical position of the drain material 9. Then, the drain material 9 is repositioned so that its extension direction is along the oil layer 29, and the entire suction part 10 is positioned within the oil layer 29.

[0047] In the second embodiment, the flat drain material 9 is attached to the platform 43 of the holding member 42, and the drain material 9 is arranged in the oil layer 29 with the open top so that the extension direction is along the oil layer 29, so that the planar suction part 10 of the drain material 9 can be brought into contact with the oil layer 29. In particular, if the width direction is approximately horizontal like the drain material 9 fixed to the upper surface of the platform 43, most of the suction part 10 of the drain material 9 can be easily brought into contact with the oil layer 29 even when the oil layer 29 is thin. When the oil layer 29 is thick, it is also effective to supplementarily use a drain material 9 fixed to the side of the platform 43 whose width direction is parallel to the vertical plane.

[0048] In the second embodiment, the drain material 9 is attached to the platform 43 of the holding member 42 having wheels 45, so that the drain material 9 arranged in a direction along the oil layer 29 can be easily moved horizontally to suck up the oil by moving the holding member 42 horizontally by human power. In addition, since the wheels 45 can move vertically with respect to the platform 43, when the thickness of the oil layer 29 changes, the vertical position of the drain material 9 can be adjusted to follow the oil layer 29, and the drain material 9 can be repositioned so that the extension direction is along the oil layer 29. Therefore, oil can be efficiently collected from a layer of waste oil that has accumulated in a wide area such as the bottom slab 25 of the oil storage facility 23.

[0049] [Third embodiment] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an oil recovery system 51. FIG. 5(a) is a plan view of the oil recovery system 51. FIG. 5(b) and (c) are cross-sectional views taken along line AA shown in FIG. 5(a), showing a method of recovering oil using the oil recovery system 51. The oil recovery system 51 differs from the oil recovery system 1 of the first embodiment mainly in that the retaining member 52 is a floating body. In the third embodiment, the oil recovery system 51 is used to recover oil from an oil layer 29 accumulated on the bottom slab 25 of an oil storage facility.

[0050] As shown in Fig. 5, in the oil recovery system 51, a holding member 52 has a frame 53, a float 54, and a handle 55. The frame 53 is a frame body with an opening in the center, and functions as a floating body by attaching the float 54. The vertical position of the frame 53 can be adjusted by adjusting the buoyancy of the float 54. The handle 55 is attached to the frame 53. The drain material 9 is fixed to the upper surface of the frame 53. The hose 17 is connected to a header pipe 19 provided on the frame 53.

[0051] When recovering oil from the oil layer 29 using the oil recovery system 51, an operator adjusts the buoyancy of the float 54 and arranges the drain material 9 so that its extension direction is along the oil layer 29, as shown in FIG. 5(b). In the oil recovery system 51, the drain material 9 is linear, and its extension direction and width direction are approximately horizontal. Therefore, by arranging the drain material 9 so that its extension direction is along the oil layer 29, the entire suction section 10 can be positioned within the oil layer 29.

[0052] After the drain material 9 is positioned so that its extension direction is along the oil layer 29, the operator moves the holding member 52 horizontally by holding and moving the handle 55, while activating the vacuum suction part 39 to suck the oil in the oil layer 29 from the drain material 9. Since the frame 53 is a frame body, the drain material 9 fixed to the upper surface of the frame 53 sucks the oil from the upper and lower surfaces of the suction part 10.

[0053] Here, the retaining member 52 to which the drain material 9 is attached floats on the surface of the oil layer 29 due to the buoyancy of the float 54, so as the oil recovery progresses from the state shown in Fig. 5(b) and the oil layer 29 becomes shallower as shown in Fig. 5(c), the retaining member 52 descends together with the surface of the oil layer 29 while its vertical position relative to the surface of the oil layer 29 remains unchanged. Therefore, the drain material 9 also descends together with the surface of the oil layer 29 while being disposed along the oil layer 29. If necessary, the vertical position of the drain material 9 relative to the surface of the oil layer 29 may be changed by adjusting the buoyancy of the float 54.

[0054] In the third embodiment, too, the flat drain material 9 is attached to the frame 53 of the retaining member 52, and the drain material 9 is arranged in the oil layer 29 with the open top so that the extension direction of the drain material 9 is along the oil layer 29, thereby making it possible to bring the planar suction part 10 of the drain material 9 into contact with the oil layer 29 and efficiently suck up the oil. Since the drain material 9 is attached to the retaining member 52 so that the width direction is approximately horizontal, most of the suction part 10 of the drain material 9 can be easily brought into contact with the oil layer 29 even when the oil layer 29 is thin.

[0055] In the third embodiment, the drain material 9 is attached to the holding member 52 having the float 54, so that the drain material 9 arranged in a direction along the oil layer 29 can be easily moved horizontally to suck up the oil by moving the holding member 52 horizontally by human power. In addition, since the holding member 52 having the float 54 is used, the vertical position of the drain material 9 can be made to follow the liquid surface of the oil layer 29 when the thickness of the oil layer 29 changes, and the vertical position of the drain material 9 relative to the liquid surface of the oil layer 29 can be adjusted. Therefore, oil can be efficiently collected from a layer of waste oil that has accumulated in a wide area such as the bottom slab 25 of the oil storage facility 23.

[0056] In the second and third embodiments, a net may be attached to the frame-shaped loading platform 43 or the frame 53 to prevent the drainage material 9 from falling. In the second and third embodiments, the drainage material 9 is fixed to the upper surface of the frame-shaped loading platform 43 or the frame 53, but it may be fixed to the lower surface.

[0057] [Fourth embodiment] Figure 6 is a diagram showing an oil recovery system 61. Figure 6(a) is a plan view of the oil recovery system 61. Figure 6(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB shown in Figure 6(a), showing a method of recovering oil using the oil recovery system 61. The oil recovery system 61 differs from the oil recovery system 1 of the first embodiment mainly in that the retaining member is a floating body.

[0058] The oil layer 29a shown in Fig. 6 is formed when oil that has spilled into a river, the ocean, or the like due to an accident or the like floats on the liquid surface 49 of the river or the ocean. An oil fence 57 consisting of a float 59 and a skirt portion 63 is installed on the liquid surface 49, and the diffusion of the oil layer 29a to the outside of the oil fence 57 (to the right in Figs. 6(a) and (b)) is blocked. In the fourth embodiment, an oil recovery system 61 is used to recover the oil in the oil layer 29a.

[0059] As shown in Fig. 6, an oil recovery system 61 uses an oil sorbent mat 62 as a retention member. The oil sorbent mat 62 is a floating body that floats in an oil layer 29a. The drain material 9 is embedded in the oil sorbent mat 62. The hose 17 is connected to a header pipe 19 provided near the oil sorbent mat 62.

[0060] When recovering oil from the oil layer 29a using the oil recovery system 61, an oil absorbent mat 62 with the drain material 9 embedded therein is floated on the oil layer 29a as shown in Fig. 6, and the drain material 9 is arranged so that its extension direction is along the oil layer 29a. In the oil recovery system 61, the drain material 9 is linear, and its extension direction and width direction are approximately horizontal. Therefore, if the drain material 9 is arranged so that its extension direction is along the oil layer 29a, the entire suction section 10 can be positioned within the oil layer 29a.

[0061] Once the drain material 9 has been positioned so that its extension direction is along the oil layer 29a, the vacuum suction unit (not shown) is activated. Since the oil adsorption mat 62 has absorbed the oil in the oil layer 29a, when the vacuum suction unit is activated, the drain material 9 sucks up the oil absorbed in the oil adsorption mat 62 from the upper and lower surfaces of the suction unit 10. Since the oil adsorption mat 62 floats on the surface of the oil layer 29a due to buoyancy, as the oil recovery progresses and the oil layer 29a becomes thinner, the oil adsorption mat 62 descends, following the surface of the oil layer 29a.

[0062] In the fourth embodiment, a flat drain material 9 is embedded in an oil adsorption mat 62, which is a retaining member, and the drain material 9 is arranged in the oil layer 29a with the open top so that the extension direction of the drain material 9 is along the oil layer 29a, so that the oil absorbent mat 62 can suck up the oil absorbed from the oil layer 29a from the surface of the drain material 9 that contacts the oil adsorption mat 62. Since the drain material 9 is embedded in the oil adsorption mat 62 so that the width direction is approximately horizontal, most of the suction part 10 of the drain material 9 can be easily brought into contact with the oil layer 29a even when the oil layer 29a is thin.

[0063] In the fourth embodiment, by using the oil recovery system 61 in combination with the oil fence 57, it is possible to simultaneously prevent the oil layer 29a from spreading and recover the oil. When recovering oil from the oil layer 29a using only the oil absorbing mats 62, it is necessary to successively replace the oil absorbing mats 62 that have exceeded their oil absorption capacity, but by using the oil recovery system 61, the oil absorbed by the oil absorbing mats 62 can be recovered from the drain material 9, making it unnecessary to replace the oil absorbing mats 62. Alternatively, it is not necessary to frequently replace the oil absorbing mats 62.

[0064] In the fourth embodiment, the oil recovery system 61 is installed so that the extension direction of the drainage material 9 is perpendicular to the oil fence 57, but the direction of the drainage material 9 relative to the oil fence 57 is not limited to this, and for example, the extension direction of the oil fence 57 and the drainage material 9 may be parallel. Also, in the fourth embodiment, the drainage material 9 is embedded in the oil adsorption mat 62, but the drainage material 9 may be attached to the upper surface or lower surface of the oil adsorption mat 62.

[0065] [Fifth embodiment] 7 is a diagram showing a method of recovering oil using an oil recovery system 75. The oil recovery system 75 differs from the oil recovery system 1 of the first embodiment mainly in that the retaining member is a floating body. In the fifth embodiment, the oil recovery system 75 is used to recover oil from an oil layer 29a floating on a liquid surface 49 of a river, ocean, etc.

[0066] As shown in Fig. 7, in the oil recovery system 75, a boat hull 77 is used as a retaining member. The hull 77 is a floating body that floats on the liquid surface 49. The drain material 9 is fixed to the bottom and sides of the hull 77. The hose 17 is connected to a header pipe 19 provided on the hull 77.

[0067] When recovering oil from the oil layer 29a using the oil recovery system 75, the hull 77 to which the drain material 9 is fixed is floated on the liquid surface 49 as shown in FIG. 7, and the drain material 9 is arranged so that its extension direction is along the oil layer 29a. The extension direction along the oil layer 29a is a direction in which most of the suction part 10 of the drain material 9 is located in the oil layer 29a. In the oil recovery system 75, the extension direction of the drain material 9 is bent halfway, but the extension direction of the drain material 9 along the oil layer 29a is a direction in which the extension direction of the drain material 9 forms an angle of 0 degrees to 45 degrees (preferably 0 degrees to 30 degrees) with respect to the liquid surface of the oil layer 29a, as in the first embodiment, in the range along the bottom surface of the hull 77 of the drain material 9.

[0068] After the drainage material 9 is arranged so that its extension direction is along the oil layer 29a, an operator operates the boat to move the hull 77 horizontally while activating a vacuum suction unit (not shown) to suck oil from the oil layer 29a using the drainage material 9. At this time, for those of the multiple drainage materials 9 in which only a portion (e.g., less than 1 / 2) of the surface area of ​​the suction part 10 is in contact with the oil layer 29a, it is desirable to close the valve 21 of the hose 17 and not perform suction. This is because if most of the surface area of ​​the suction part 10 is exposed to the air or water without contacting the oil layer 29, a lot of air and water will be sucked in.

[0069] Thus, according to the fifth embodiment, the flat drain material 9 is attached to the hull 77, which is a retaining member, and the drain material 9 is arranged in the oil layer 29a with the open top so that the extension direction of the drain material 9 is along the oil layer 29a, thereby making it possible to bring the planar suction part 10 of the drain material 9 into contact with the oil layer 29a and efficiently suck up the oil. In particular, with the drain material 9 attached to the hull 77 so that the width direction is approximately horizontal, it is possible to easily bring most of the suction part 10 of the drain material 9 into contact with the oil layer 29a even when the oil layer 29a is thin.

[0070] In the fifth embodiment, the drain material 9 arranged in a direction along the oil layer 29a can be easily moved horizontally to suck up the oil by operating the boat to move the hull 77 horizontally. Therefore, oil can be efficiently recovered from the oil layer 29a floating over a wide area such as the liquid surface 49 of the ocean or river. In the fifth embodiment, too, by using the oil recovery system 75 in combination with an oil fence (not shown), it is possible to simultaneously prevent the oil layer 29a from spreading and recover the oil.

[0071] [Sixth embodiment] Figure 8 shows a method of recovering oil using an oil recovery system 81. The oil recovery system 81 differs from the oil recovery system 1 of the first embodiment mainly in that the retaining member is a floating body.

[0072] The oil-water separation tank 65 shown in FIG. 8 is a tank for separating a liquid in which oil and water are mixed. In the oil-water separation tank 65, first, a liquid in which oil and water are mixed is taken into the tank 67-1 from the pipe 69-1 as shown by the arrow. In the tank 67-1, the oil dispersed in the liquid is separated to become the oil layer 29b-1 which floats on the liquid level 49b-1, and the liquid below the liquid level 49b-1 moves to the tank 67-2 via the pipe 69-2. In the tank 67-2, the oil dispersed in the liquid is separated to become the oil layer 29b-2 which floats on the liquid level 49-2, and the liquid below the liquid level 49b-2 moves to the tank 67-3 via the pipe 69-3. As the liquid moves, the amount of oil contained in the liquid decreases, and water is taken out from the tank 67-3 via the pipe 69-4. In the sixth embodiment, an oil recovery system 81 is installed in tanks 67-1, 67-2 to recover oil from oil layers 29b-1, 29b-2 floating on liquid levels 49b-1, 49b-2 in an oil-water separation tank 65.

[0073] In the oil recovery system 81, a float 79, which is a floating body, is used as a retaining member, and a drain material 9 is fixed to the float 79. The hose 17 may be connected to a header pipe (not shown), or may be connected to a vacuum suction section without a header pipe.

[0074] When recovering oil from the oil layers 29b-1, 29b-2 using the oil recovery system 81, the drain material 9 is arranged so that its extension direction is along the oil layers 29b-1, 29b-2. In the oil recovery system 81, the drain material 9 is linear, and its extension direction and width direction are approximately horizontal. Therefore, when the drain material 9 is arranged so that its extension direction is along the oil layers 29b-1, 29b-2, the entire suction section 10 can be positioned within the oil layers 29b-1, 29b-2.

[0075] After the drain material 9 is arranged so that the extension direction is along the oil layers 29b-1 and 29b-2, the vacuum suction unit (not shown) is operated to suck the oil in the oil layers 29b-1 and 29b-2 from the upper and lower surfaces of the suction unit 10 of the drain material 9. As the oil recovery progresses and the oil layers 29b-1 and 29b-2 become thinner, the float 79 descends together with the levels of the oil layers 29b-1 and 29b-2 while the vertical position relative to the levels of the oil layers 29b-1 and 29b-2 remains unchanged. Therefore, the drain material 9 also descends together with the levels of the oil layers 29b-1 and 29b-2 while being arranged along the oil layers 29b-1 and 29b-2.

[0076] Thus, according to the sixth embodiment, the flat drain material 9 is arranged in the oil layers 29b-1 and 29b-2 with the top open so that the drain material 9 extends in the direction along the oil layers 29b-1 and 29b-2, so that the planar suction portion 10 of the drain material 9 can be brought into contact with the oil layers 29b-1 and 29b-2 to suck up the oil. Since the drain material 9 is attached to the float 79 so that the width direction is approximately horizontal, most of the suction portion 10 of the drain material 9 can be easily brought into contact with the oil layers 29b-1 and 29b-2 even when the oil layers 29b-1 and 29b-2 are thin.

[0077] In the sixth embodiment, the oil is sucked from the oil layers 29b-1 and 29b-2, so that the oil can be removed from the liquid in the tanks 67-1 and 67-2 and the ratio of oil to the liquid can be reduced, so that the oil-water separation tank can be separated efficiently. In addition, the oil can be removed to reduce the volume of the liquid, so that the oil-water separation tank can be made smaller.

[0078] [Seventh embodiment] Figure 9 is a diagram showing an oil recovery method using an oil recovery system 81. Figure 9(a) is a plan view of the site of the oil storage facility 23a, and Figure 9(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC shown in Figure 9(a).

[0079] In the oil storage facility 23a shown in Fig. 9, a trench 71 is formed in the ground 73 within the site. The trench 71 is formed near the site boundary downstream of the groundwater flow. When oil leaking from the oil storage facility 23a spreads over the groundwater in the ground 73, the oil seeps into the trench 71 from the ground 73, and an oil layer 29c floats on a liquid level 49c (groundwater layer) accumulated in the trench 71. In the seventh embodiment, the oil in the oil layer 29c floating on the liquid level 49c is recovered using an oil recovery system 81.

[0080] When recovering oil from the oil layer 29c using the oil recovery system 81, the drain material 9 is arranged so that its extension direction is along the oil layer 29c as shown in Fig. 9. As described above, in the oil recovery system 81, the drain material 9 is linear and its extension direction and width direction are approximately horizontal, so that if the drain material 9 is arranged so that its extension direction is along the oil layer 29c, the entire suction section 10 can be positioned within the oil layer 29c.

[0081] Once the drain material 9 is positioned so that its extension direction is along the oil layer 29c, the vacuum suction unit 39 is operated to suck oil from the oil layer 29c from the upper and lower surfaces of the suction unit 10 of the drain material 9. As the oil recovery progresses and the oil layer 29c becomes thinner, the drain material 9, positioned along the oil layer 29c, descends together with the liquid level of the oil layer 29c. In addition, when the liquid level 49c rises and falls due to an increase or decrease in groundwater, the float 79 rises and falls, causing the drain material 9, positioned along the oil layer 29c, to rise and fall together with the liquid level of the oil layer 29c.

[0082] In this way, even in the seventh embodiment, the flat drain material 9 is arranged in the oil layer 29c with the top open so that the extension direction of the drain material 9 is along the oil layer 29c, so that the planar suction part 10 of the drain material 9 can be brought into contact with the oil layer 29c to suck up the oil. Since the drain material 9 is attached to the float 79 so that the width direction is approximately horizontal, most of the suction part 10 of the drain material 9 can be easily brought into contact with the oil layer 29c even when the oil layer 29c is thin.

[0083] In the seventh embodiment, oil leaked from the oil storage facility 23a can be collected within the site boundary by sucking up the oil from the oil layer 29c in the trench 71, thereby preventing the oil from leaking outside the site.

[0084] In the sixth and seventh embodiments, the float 79 is used as the retaining member, but other jigs may be used. For example, a jig that can be hooked onto the partition walls of each tank of the oil-water separation tank or the wall surface of the groove 71 may be used as the retaining member.

[0085] In each embodiment, the drain material 9 is used in which the cross section parallel to the extension direction and perpendicular to the width direction is linear or gently curved, but the shape of the drain material 9 is not limited to this. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing cross sections parallel to the extension direction and perpendicular to the width direction of other drain materials 9c and 9d. Fig. 10(a) is a diagram showing a cross section of the drain material 9c, and Fig. 10(b) is a diagram showing a cross section of the drain material 9d.

[0086] The drainage material 9c shown in Fig. 10(a) has a wavy cross section parallel to the stretching direction and perpendicular to the width direction, with alternating upward and downward convex curved portions. The drainage material 9d shown in Fig. 10(b) has a triangular wave cross section parallel to the stretching direction and perpendicular to the width direction, with alternating upward and downward convex curved portions.

[0087] Here, the extension direction of the drain materials 9c, 9d shown in Fig. 10 does not refer to the direction in which each of the uneven surfaces extends, but refers to the overall length direction of the drain materials 9c, 9d, that is, the left-right direction in Fig. 10. Arranging the drain materials 9c, 9d in a direction along the oil layer means arranging the drain materials 9c, 9d so that the overall length direction is along the oil layer.

[0088] Comparing the surface area of ​​the suction part per length of the drain materials 9c and 9d and the normal drain material 9, the drain materials 9c and 9d are larger than the normal drain material 9. Therefore, if the vacuum suction part is used to suction when there is a sufficient amount of oil in the oil layer, the drain materials 9c and 9d can collect the oil more efficiently. In addition, if the drain materials 9c and 9d are used, the oil can be trapped on the surface of the downward convex part and sucked up when the position of the oil layer descends.

[0089] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to such an example. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can come up with various modified or altered examples within the scope of the technical ideas disclosed in this application, and it is understood that such examples also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0090] 1, 31, 41, 51, 61, 75, 81………Oil recovery system 2, 32, 42, 52...Holding members 3. Shovel section 5, 45……wheels 7, 37, 47, 55………Handle 9, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d...Drainage material 10……Suction part 11, 13: Sealing material 12...Tip 14……Rear end 15...Cap 16...Side 17, 22………Hose 18………Bottom 19...Header pipe 20……Back side 21... Valve 23, 23a………Oil storage facility 25……Bottom plate 27... Drain port 29, 29a, 29b-1, 29b-2, 29c……Oil layer 33………Shovel section 35……hole 39……Vacuum suction part 43………Cargo bed 49, 49b-1, 49b-2, 49b-3, 49c……liquid level 53………Frame 54, 59, 79………Float 57...Oil boom 62...Oil absorbent mat 63... Skirt section 65……Oil water separation tank 67-1, 67-2, 67-3...tank 69-1, 69-2, 69-3, 69-4……tube 71……groove 73……ground 77………Hull

Claims

1. A flat drainage material is disposed in an oil layer having an open top such that the extension direction is along the oil layer; a suction hose having one end connected to the drain material and extending toward the other end; a vacuum suction unit connected to the other end of the suction hose; A holding member having the drainage material fixed to its surface; Equipped with 13. An oil recovery system, comprising: a retaining member having wheels;

2. A flat drain material; a suction hose having one end connected to the drain material and extending toward the other end; a vacuum suction unit connected to the other end of the suction hose; An oil recovery system comprising: An oil recovery method characterized by attaching the drainage material to an oil absorption mat, which is a holding member that can adjust the vertical position of the drainage material, placing the drainage material in an oil layer with an open top so that its extension direction is along the oil layer, and using the drainage material to suck up the oil in the oil layer that has been absorbed by the oil absorption mat while adjusting the vertical position of the drainage material so that the suction part of the drainage material contacts the oil layer.

3. A flat drain material; a suction hose having one end connected to the drain material and extending toward the other end; a vacuum suction unit connected to the other end of the suction hose; An oil recovery system comprising: An oil recovery method characterized by attaching the drainage material to a holding member having wheels, placing the drainage material in an oil layer with an open top so that the extension direction of the drainage material is along the oil layer, and sucking up oil from the oil layer.

4. A flat drain material; a suction hose having one end connected to the drain material and extending toward the other end; a vacuum suction unit connected to the other end of the suction hose; An oil recovery system comprising: An oil recovery method characterized by attaching the drain material to a holding member that allows the vertical position of the drain material to be adjusted, placing the drain material in an oil layer which is a layer of waste oil accumulated at the bottom of an oil storage facility and has an open top so that the extension direction of the drain material is along the oil layer, and sucking up oil from the oil layer while adjusting the vertical position of the drain material so that the suction part of the drain material contacts the oil layer.

5. A flat drain material; a suction hose having one end connected to the drain material and extending toward the other end; a vacuum suction unit connected to the other end of the suction hose; An oil recovery system comprising: An oil recovery method characterized by attaching the drain material to a retaining member that can adjust the vertical position of the drain material, placing the drain material in an oil layer floating on the liquid surface of a groundwater layer that has penetrated into a trench in the ground and with the top open so that the extension direction of the drain material is along the oil layer, and sucking up oil from the oil layer while adjusting the vertical position of the drain material so that the suction part of the drain material contacts the oil layer.

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