Device for removing oil-rich liquids from a water surface

Abstract

A device for removing oil-rich liquids from a water surface includes at least one floating body, provision is made such that the floating body has at least one channel body at least in sections in its peripheral areas, the channel wall whereof facing away from the floating body has an edge, which is arranged above the water surface in the floating state of the floating body. With this device, it is possible to remove oil-rich liquids from the water surface by technologically simple means.

Description

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

[0001] The invention relates to a device for removing oil-rich liquids from a water surface, comprising at least one floating body.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Oil-rich liquids can get into bodies of water as a result of ship accidents as well as through inattentiveness, for example when emptying cargo holds in ships or due to accidents on oil pipelines. These bodies of water can be seas, rivers, canals, lakes or other bodies of water.

[0003] To ensure that leaked oil-rich liquids do not lead to a greater environmental burden, devices for removing the oil-rich liquids have already been proposed. These can include suction devices, floating barriers are also used.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The problem underlying the invention is to show a device of the type mentioned at the outset, with which it is possible to remove oil-rich liquids from the water surface by technologically simple means.

[0005] According to the invention, this problem is solved by the fact that the floating body has at least one channel body at least in sections in its peripheral areas, the channel wall whereof facing away from the floating body has an edge which is arranged above the water surface in the floating state of the floating body.

[0006] The device according to the invention comprises at least one floating body. The floating body can be arranged on the surface of the water, it can be approached to a spread of an oil-rich liquid. According to the invention, this floating body is equipped with a channel body, wherein the channel body is arranged in the edge areas of the floating body. These edge areas of the floating body are approached to the water surface, so that the channel body is arranged close to the water surface.

[0007] According to the invention, the channel body is arranged on the floating body at a certain construction height. The construction height is selected such that the channel wall facing away from the floating body has an edge arranged above the water surface. The channel body can be arranged on the floating body in such a way that it is within the water surface. The channel wall facing away from the floating body then emerges from the water surface, its upper edge is arranged above the water surface. The effect of this arrangement is such that wave movements can slosh away over the edge of the channel wall and, when loaded with oil-rich liquid, carry this oil-rich liquid into the channel body. As a result of corresponding natural movement of the water surface, the oil-rich liquid is washed into the channel body, the channel body forms a separator with its channel wall facing away from the floating body. The floating body can also be actively moved in the direction of the oil-rich liquid.

[0008] The edge of the channel wall is preferably arranged a few centimetres above the water surface when the floating body is floating. The water stands with its surface on the outside of the channel body and, as a result of movement of the water surface, liquid with oil-rich liquid components can enter into the channel body via the channel wall.

[0009] For optimum separation of the oil-rich liquids from the water surface, it is advisable for the floating body to lie calmly on the water surface. This is preferably achieved by a raft-like, larger formation of the floating body. For example, it can have dimensions of ten meters by five meters.

[0010] According to a development of the invention, at least one liquid discharge line is attached to the channel body. Oil-rich liquid that has entered into the channel body is removed back out of the channel body through this liquid channel body line and fed for use or disposal. The liquid discharge line is preferably designed as a suction line, it being possible for at least one pump to be connected to this line.

[0011] According to a next development of the invention, provision can also be made such that the floating body comprises fasteners for connection with other, preferably identical constructed, floating bodies. The fasteners can be used to connect one floating body to another floating body, for example to provide a larger, especially longer, channel body. It is however also possible with these fasteners to connect a plurality of floating bodies with each other, in such a way that they surround an area of the water surface. In this area of the water surface, a damaged ship for example can be located, it can also be a leaking oil drilling rig or similar. As with the known floating barriers, a chain of floating bodies with channel bodies is formed with the device according to the invention. On the one hand, to prevent the spread of oil-rich liquids, but on the other hand, to remove these oil-rich liquids with the channel bodies.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Examples of embodiment of the invention are shown in the drawing. They show:

[0013] FIG. 1: a view of the device according to the invention for removing oil-rich liquids in a water surface,

[0014] FIG. 1a: a further sectional view of a device according to the invention,

[0015] FIG. 1b: a plan view of the device according to FIG. 1a,

[0016] FIG. 2: a plan view of numerous devices according to the invention according to FIG. 1 in a framing arrangement around a seagoing ship,

[0017] FIG. 3: a plan view of a plurality of devices according to the invention according to FIG. 1, framing a derrick, andDETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The device according to the invention in FIG. 1 comprises a floating body 1 which is arranged floating on a water surface 2. Floating body 1 comprises a platform 3 on which floating containers 4 immersed in the water are arranged.

[0019] The floating body 1 has a channel body 5 at its right-hand edge area in FIG. 1. The channel body 5 is attached to a floating container 4 of the floating body 1. Like floating container 4, channel body 5 is immersed in the water below water surface 2.

[0020] Channel wall 6 facing away from floating body 1 has an upper edge 7, which is arranged above water surface 2 in the floating state of floating body 1 shown in FIG. 1. This arrangement takes place only a few centimetres above water surface 2, so that oil-rich liquids floating on a water surface 2 can enter channel body 5 according to arrow 8. The oil-rich liquids that have entered can be removed again from channel body 5, for example via a suction tube, but they can also be led into platform 3 via a line 9 and there reach a nozzle 10 to which a suction line can be connected.

[0021] FIG. 1a shows a different extraction of the oil-rich liquid. A pipe 9 is led directly from channel body 5 to an area above the water surface. Floating body 1 carries further lines 9′.

[0022] The plan view in FIG. 1b shows the assignment of floating body 1 and channel body 5 to each other.

[0023] The device according to the invention can be used in a single form, as shown in FIGS. 1, 1a and 1b. FIG. 2, on the other hand, shows that a connection of several floating bodies 1 is possible up to a framing of a seagoing vessel 11. Floating bodies 1 have fasteners for connecting to other floating bodies 1, which are not shown further, they can be connected to each other in a chain-like manner as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows that seagoing vessel 11 is enclosed by a channel body 5. In the same enclosing way, line 9 is assigned to channel body 5 for the extraction of the collected oil, for example. Line 9 leads to a central oil pump 13.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows another case of application, an almost square alignment of a plurality of floating bodies 1 around an oil rig 12. Here too, the detail in FIG. 3a again shows channel body 5 and line 9, which in this case also leads to a central pump 13.

[0025] Both in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a leakage 15 from seagoing vessel 11 or drilling rig 12 is indicated in each case. The leakage of an oil-rich liquid is illustrated in each case by waves 15.

Claims

1. A device for removing oil-rich liquids from a water surface, comprising at least one floating body; wherein the floating body comprises at least one channel body at least in sections in its peripheral areas, channel wall whereof facing away from the floating body has an edge which is arranged above the water surface in the floating state of the floating body.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the edge of the channel wall is arranged a few centimetres above the water surface in the floating state of the floating body3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the floating body has a raft-like formation.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one liquid discharge line is attached to the channel body.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the liquid discharge line is designed as a suction line.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the floating body comprises fasteners for connection with other, preferably identical constructed, floating bodies.

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