A system for collecting oil spills on the surface of water bodies

Abstract

A system (100) for collecting oil (116) spills from water bodies is provided. The system (100) comprises a spiral-shaped coil (102) configured to come in contact with the oil (116) spill on surface (118) of the water body and trap the oil (116) between a plurality of spiral loops of the spiral-shaped coil (102). The system (100) also comprises a truss structure (104) around which the spiral-shaped coil (102) is bound, the truss structure (104) is arranged to be rotated through a rotating mechanism (110) such that it facilitates the spiral-shaped coil (102) to come in contact with the oil (116) spill on the water. An air knife (106), mounted on a housing (120) is configured to discharge pressurized air on the bounded spiral- shaped coil (102) to dislodge the oil (116) trapped between the plurality of spiral loops such that it falls into an oil-collecting container (108).

Description

A SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING OIL SPILLS ON THE SURFACE OF WATER BODIESFIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to environmental cleanup. In particular, the present invention relates to a system for collecting oil spills on the surface of water bodies.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Oil spills pose a significant environmental threat and are primarily caused by accidents involving tankers, barges, pipelines, refineries, drilling rigs, and storage facilities. These incidents have severe implications for the ecosystem of rivers, bays, and the ocean. The oil exhibits a buoyant behavior in both saltwater bodies, such as the ocean, and freshwater environments, including rivers and lakes. While heavy oil can occasionally sink in freshwater, it typically spreads rapidly across the water's surface, resulting in the formation of a thin layer referred to as an oil slick.

[0003] The impact of oil spills on marine wildlife is severe, particularly for birds, mammals, fish, and shellfish. The insulating properties of fur -bearing mammals, such as sea otters, are destroyed by oil, while bird feathers lose their water-repellent abilities, leaving these creatures exposed to harsh environmental conditions. Additionally, many birds and animals inadvertently ingest oil while attempting to clean themselves, which can lead to poisoning. The extent of damage caused by oil spills varies depending on the location and timing of the incident, potentially resulting in the death or injury of numerous birds and mammals, ranging from a few to hundreds or even thousands.

[0004] Efforts have been made to develop various cleaning methods to mitigate the effects of oil spills. Existing techniques include the use of booms, which are floating barriers deployed to contain and collect spill oil, often placed around a leakingtanker. Skimmers, specialized waterborne vessels designed to scoop spill oil from the water surface, are also employed. Sorbents, large sponges capable of absorbing oil, are used as an alternative cleaning approach. Chemical dispersants and biological agents are utilized to break down the oil into its chemical constituents, aiding in its degradation. In situ burning is another method where freshly spill oil is burned while floating on the water. Beach cleaning involves the use of high- pressure or low-pressure hoses to wash the oil off the shores, while vacuum trucks are employed to suction spill oil from beaches or the water surface.

[0005] While these existing cleaning methods have been used to tackle oil spills, each of these techniques has one or the other limitations. Booms and skimmers can be ineffective in rough seas or with thin oil slicks. Sorbents and chemical dispersants may introduce additional environmental concerns. In situ burning produces air pollution and is only effective for fresh oil spills. Moreover, most of these methods rely on passive oil collection or attraction, which can be slow and less efficient in various environmental conditions.

[0006] Thus, there remains a need for an improved technique that is more efficient, environmentally friendly, and capable of handling various spill scenarios.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a system for collecting oil spills on the surface of water bodies is provided. The system comprises a spiral- shaped coil configured to come in contact with the oil spill on the surface of the water body and trap the oil between a plurality of spiral loops of the spiral- shaped coil. The spiral- shaped coil is made up of galvanized iron wire with a thickness of 1.2 mm, a diameter of 0.5 cm, and a pitch of 0.1 cm.

[0008] The system further comprises a truss structure around which the spiralshaped coil is bound. The truss structure is arranged to be rotated through a rotating mechanism such that it facilitates the spiral-shaped coil to come in contact with theoil spill on the surface of the water. In an embodiment of the present invention, the spiral-shaped coil bound on the truss structure is partially submerged in the water with crude oil floating on its surface by employing a pair of floaters. As the spiralshaped coil gets submerged in the water it creates a localized sinking effect that sucks the spill oil inside the spiral- shaped coil resulting in the trapping of spill oil inside the spiral loops of the spiral-shaped coil.

[0009] Further, the truss structure comprises a plurality of bearings. The bore of each of the ball bearings receives a fixed axle enabling the rotation of the truss structure around the fixed axle. The truss structure also comprises a plurality of nuts welded on the periphery of each of the ball bearings providing threaded receptacles. Further, there are a plurality of long bolts mechanically engaged by threading into the threaded receptacles provided by the plurality of nuts. There are also a plurality of spokes longitudinally connected to the plurality of long bolts such that one spoke is coupled to a first long bolt at one end and a second long bolt at a second end of the spoke.

[0010] The rotating mechanism of the system comprises a belt and pulley system that comprises a driving pulley, a driven pulley and a belt. The belt and pulley system is driven by a 12V DC motor. Further, there are a plurality of horizontal bolts connecting the belt and pulley system to the truss structure for facilitating the transfer of rotational force from the driven pulley to the truss structure resulting in rotation of the truss structure and the spiral-shaped coil bound on it.

[0011] An air knife is mounted on the housing and is configured to discharge pressurized air on the bounded spiral- shaped coil such that the pressurized air forces the oil trapped between the plurality of spiral loops to fall into an oil-collecting container. The oil-collecting container is extruded and integrated into an axle such that it forms a part of it. Further, the axle has a first end that is closed and a second end that is open for draining out the collected oil.In an embodiment of the present invention, the oil-collecting container is positioned within the spiral-shaped coil for efficient collection of spill oil dislodged from the spiral-shaped coil. Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, a drain pipe is connected at the second end of the oil-collecting container to drain out collected oil from the oil-collecting container. The drain pipe is connected to an air-operated double diaphragm pump to drain out the collected oil from the oil-collecting container. In another embodiment of the present invention, the drain pipe is connected at the second end of the oil- collecting container to drain out collected oil from the oil-collecting container by way of gravity.

[0012] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The present invention is described by way of embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0014] Figures 1A, IB and 1C illustrate different views of a system for collecting oil spill on the surface of a water body in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] Figures 2A to 21 illustrate various components of the system in detail for collecting the oil spill on the surface of the water body in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figures 3 A to 3G illustrate the working principle of cleaning the spill oil from the surface of the water in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0017] Figure 4 illustrates the operation of the present invention for collecting spill oil from the surface of the water in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The following disclosure is provided to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention. Exemplary embodiments are provided only for illustrative purposes and various modifications will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art. The general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Also, the terminology and phraseology used are for the purpose of describing exemplary embodiments and should not be considered limiting. Thus, the present invention is to be accorded the widest scope encompassing numerous alternatives, modifications, and equivalents consistent with the principles and features disclosed. For clarity, details relating to technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.

[0019] The present invention would now be discussed in the context of embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0020] Figures 1A to 1C illustrate different views of a system (100) for collecting oil (116) spill on the surface (118) of a water body in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figures 2A to 21 further illustrate various components of the system (100) in detail for collecting the oil (116) spill on the surface (118) of the water body in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. To maintain the brevity of the specification, Figures 1A to 21 have been appropriately discussed together. The system (100) may be employed in a plurality of water bodies where oil spills occur due to intentional or unintentional oil discharge during offshore operations, maritime accidents, or natural disasters. The water bodies may comprise rivers, lakes, oceans, and other water sources affectedby oil spills. In embodiments of the present invention, the viscosity of the spill oil may be 1500-2300 cSt and density 0.92-0.98g / ml. Further, the system (100) comprises a plurality of components such as a spiral-shaped coil (102), a truss structure (104), an air knife (106), an oil-collecting container (108) and a rotating mechanism (110) to rotate the truss structure (104). The system (100) also comprises a pair of floaters (112), an air compressor hose pipe (114) and a housing (120) supporting the various components of the system (100).

[0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, the spiral-shaped coil (102) (hereinafter interchangeably referred to as ‘coil (102)’), as illustrated in Figs. 1A- 1C and 2 A is made up of galvanized iron wire. It may be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that any metal that may provide a similar strength, corrosion resistance, and suitability as galvanized iron may be utilized to construct the coil (102). Further, in exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the coil (102) may have a thickness of up to 1.2 mm, a diameter of up to 0.5 cm and a pitch of up to 0.1 cm. The specific configuration of the coil (102), with its arrangement of loops and gaps, is optimized to effectively trap oil. This configuration, combined with the motion of the water, allows for active and efficient oil capture. The coil (102) is bound around the truss structure (104) which facilitates the rotation of the coil (102) through the rotating mechanism (110). As the coil (102) rotates, it is arranged to come in contact with the spill oil (116) and effectively trap the oil (116) floating on the surface (118) of the water body between its spiral loops thus, facilitating the separation and collection of oil (116) from the water surface (118).

[0022] In an embodiment of the present invention, the spiral-shaped coil (102) is configured to create a localized sinking effect or a localized vortex effect when submerged in water. This effect generates a downward force in the immediate vicinity of the coil (102). Due to the lower density of oil compared to water, this sinking effect actively draws the oil towards the coil (102) as a result of the water movement. This active oil entrapment and collection mechanism enables the coil (102) to potentially collect more oil in a shorter amount of time compared to passive methods. The system (100) thus becomes highly effective in turbulent surface waterconditions, in water with thin oil layers, and with various types of spilled oil. Unlike passive collection methods that rely on oleophilic properties or absorbent materials, the spiral-shaped coil (102) actively engages with the spilled oil. This active collection mechanism is independent of surface coatings and remains unaffected by the material properties of the oil, providing a more adaptable and durable solution for oil spill recovery across various environmental conditions.

[0023] Referring now to Figs. 1A-1C and 2B-2C, the truss structure (104) serves as the framework around which the spiral-shaped coil (102) is bound. It facilitates necessary support and stability for the rotational movement of the coil (102). The truss structure (104) is arranged to be rotated through a rotating mechanism (110) such that it facilitates the coil (102) to come in contact with the oil spill on the surface of the water. As shown in detail in Figs 2A, 2B and enlarged Fig. 2C, the truss structure (104) comprises a plurality of interconnected components, including ball bearings (202a and 202b), a plurality of nuts (204), a plurality of long bolts (206) and a plurality of spokes (208). An inner ring or bore of each of the ball bearings (202a and 202b) receives a fixed axle (210) which is part of the oilcollecting container (108). This arrangement enables the rotation of the truss structure (104) around the fixed axle (210) with minimal friction and maximum stability.

[0024] Further, as shown in Figs. 2B and 2C, the plurality of nuts (204) are welded on the periphery of each of the ball bearings (202a and 202b), providing threaded receptacles for the plurality of long bolts (206). The plurality of spokes (208) are longitudinally connected to the plurality of long bolts (206). As shown in Figs. 2B and 2C, it may be apparent to a person of skilled in the art that one spoke (208) is coupled to a first long bolt (206) at one end and a second long bolt (206) at a second end of the spoke (208). The plurality of spokes (208) along with the plurality of long bolts (206) provide a framework for binding the coil (102). The coil (102) is tightly wrapped around the spokes (208), ensuring secure attachment and proper alignment.

[0025] Further, as shown in Figs. 1A-1C and 2D-2E, the air knife (106) is mounted on the housing (120) to discharge pressurized air onto the coil (102). The air knife (106) facilitates the separation of the oil (116) from the coil (102), allowing it to fall into the oil- collecting container (108). The air compressor hose pipe (114) is fed with the compressed air from the compressor which is then used by the air knife (106) to dislodge the trapped oil from the coil (102)'s spiral loops. Fig. 2D illustrates a flow (211) of pressurized air that is received from an air compressor via the air compressor hose pipe (114). Fig. 2D also illustrates a pressurized flow (212) of air which is then directed towards the trapped oil (116), to dislodge it from the coil (102)'s spiral loops. It may be apparent to a person of skill in the art that the air compressor hose pipe (114) may be connected to the air compressor through appropriate known in art tubing and control valves.

[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, the oil-collecting container (108) is extruded and integrated into the axle (210) such that it forms a part of it. In an embodiment of the present invention, the oil-collecting container (108) is positioned within the bounded spiral-shaped coil (102) for efficient collection of spill oil (116) dislodged from the coil (102). Further, a first end (213) of the axle (210) of the oil-collecting container (108) is closed and a second end (214) of the axle (210) of oil-collecting container (108) is open for draining out the collected oil (116). A drain pipe may be connected to the second end (214) of the oil-collecting container (108) to drain out the collected spill oil (116) from the oil-collecting container (108). In an embodiment of the present invention, the drain pipe is connected to an air controlled double diaphragm pump to drain out the collected oil (116). In another embodiment of the present invention, the drain pipe drains out the collected oil by way of gravity. The oil-collecting container (108) also comprises a first flange (216) and a second flange (218) to provide support and stability to the oil-collecting container (108).

[0027] Further, as shown in Figs. IB and 2G-2I, the rotating mechanism (110) comprises a belt and pulley system (220) driven by a 12V DC motor (222). It maybe apparent to a person of skilled in the art that the belt and pulley system may comprise a driving pulley, a driving belt and a driven pulley. The motor (222) serves as the power source, providing the necessary rotational force to drive the rotational movement of the truss structure (104). When the motor (222) is activated, it transfers rotational power to the driving pulley. The belt then drives the rotation of the driven pulley, which in turn, rotates the truss structure (104). In an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in detailed Fig. 21, a plurality of horizontal bolts (224) may be used to connect the belt and pulley system (220) and the truss structure (104). The plurality of horizontal bolts (224) facilitate in transferring of the rotational force of the driven pulley to the truss structure (104). As a result, the truss structure (104), with the spiral- shaped coil (102) bound around it, rotates in a controlled and synchronized manner, ensuring maximum contact between the coil (102) and the oil (116) spill on the water's surface (118). In an embodiment of the present invention, the rotational speed of the motor (222) may be adjusted based on the specific requirements of the oil spill situation, ensuring optimal performance and oil cleaning.

[0028] Figures 3 A to 3G illustrate the working principle of cleaning the spill oil (116) from the surface (118) of the water in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figs. 3A and 3B illustrate the coil (102) and its going inside (by dotted arrows) the water that has oil (116) spill on its surface (118). As can be seen from Figs. 3C-3E, the area (302) of the spill oil (116) gets reduced indicating it is getting trapped by the spiral coil (102). In an embodiment of the present invention, as the coil (102) gets submerged in the water it creates a localized sinking effect that sucks the spill oil (116) inside the coil (102). This localized sinking effect or vortex generates a downward force in the immediate vicinity of the coil (102). Due to oil's lower density compared to water, this sinking effect actively draws the oil towards the coil (102), facilitated by the resulting water movement. The specific design of the coil (102), with its optimized arrangement of loops and gaps, ensures efficient oil capture. As the oil (116) gets sucked, because of its high viscosity and surface tension, it gets trapped inside the spiral loops of the coil (102). This activeoil entrapment mechanism allows the coil (102) to collect oil more efficiently than passive methods, particularly in turbulent water conditions or with thin oil layers. Thereafter, as shown in Figs. 3F-3G, the coil (102) is pulled out (shown by dotted arrows) of the water. As it can be seen, the surface (118) of the water is clean when the coil leaves the surface (118) of the water with the oil (116) trapped in it. The effectiveness of this mechanism is independent of the oil's material properties or the need for oleophilic coatings, making it a versatile solution for various types of oil spills.

[0029] Fig. 4 illustrates the operation of the present invention for collecting spill oil (116) from the surface (118) of the water in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The figure shows the system (100) for removing oil (116) spill on the surface (118) of the water body. The Fig. 4 also shows a waterborne vessel (402) comprising an air compressor (404), an air-operated double diaphragm pump (406) and oil storage tank (408). The system (100) is positioned in the vicinity of the oil spill on the water’s surface (118) with the help of the floaters (112). The truss structure (104), with the spiral-shaped coil (102) bounded on it remains partially submerged in the water that has the crude oil (116) floating on its surface (118). The system (100) is connected to an appropriate power source to activate the rotating mechanism (110) and air knife (106). In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the power source like a portable power generator (not shown) may be placed in the waterborne vessel (402).

[0030] Upon turning ‘ON’ of the power source, the rotating mechanism (110), driven by the 12V DC motor, starts rotating the truss structure (104) and the bound spiral-shaped coil (102). As the truss structure (104) rotates, the spiral-shaped coil (102) continues to come in contact with the oil (116) spill on the water surface (118). As the coil 102 comes in contact of the spill oil (116), the spiral loops of the coil (102) trap the oil, preventing it from dispersing further. In an embodiment of the present invention, as the coil (102) gets submerged in the water it creates a localized sinking effect that sucks the spill oil (116) inside the coil (102). As the oil(116) gets sucked, because of its high viscosity and surface tension, it gets trapped inside the spiral loops of the coil (102).

[0031] Thereafter, the air knife (106), mounted on the housing (120), is activated and it starts discharging pressurized air onto the bounded spiral- shaped coil (102). The pressurized air for the air knife (106) is received from the air compressor 404 via the air compressor hose pipe (114). The flow of the air from the air compressor hose pipe (114) to the air knife (106) has been depicted by dotted lines (410). The pressurized air from the air knife (106) forces the trapped oil between the spiral loops to loosen and fall into the oil-collecting container (108).

[0032] The oil-collecting container (108), positioned within the spiral-shaped coil (102), collects the oil falling from the coil (102) as a result of the pressurized air from the air knife (106). In an embodiment of the present invention, the oil is stored within the oil-collecting container (108) until it is ready for removal. In another embodiment of the present invention, the collected oil (116) is removed from the oil-collecting container (108) continuously. Removal of the oil (116) from the oilcollecting container (108) is achieved by employing the air-operated double diaphragm pump (406). The airflow for the air-operated double diaphragm pump (406) is obtained from the air compressor (404) and has been illustrated by dotted lines (410). The removal of the oil oil-collecting container (108) is done through the open end of the oil-collecting container (108) and has been illustrated by the dotted lines (412). The cleaned oil (116) is stored in the oil storage tank (408), as illustrated by the dotted lines (412) and is appropriately disposed of or treated using the known in the art environment-friendly techniques. The illustrated operation continues until all the spill oil (116) gets cleaned from the surface (118) of the water.

[0033] Accordingly, the present invention provides the following effects and advantages over traditional methods, including efficient and targeted oil trapping with the spiral-shaped coil (102) and rotating truss structure (104). The coil's unique design and configuration creates a localized sinking effect that actively draws oil towards it, allowing for more effective oil collection compared to passive methods.This active oil entrapment mechanism makes the system highly effective in various challenging conditions, including turbulent waters and thin oil layers. The air knife (106) enhances oil collection by facilitating oil descent into the oil-collecting container (108). The spiral-shaped coil (102) also forms a thin layer of oil around it during operation that in turn prevents its corrosion. The system's effectiveness is independent of the oil's material properties or the need for oleophilic coatings, making it versatile for various types of oil spills. This active collection mechanism potentially allows for faster oil recovery compared to passive methods, which is crucial in minimizing environmental damage. Further, it may be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that the dimensions and materials of the present invention may be customized to adapt to different oil spill scenarios. Further, the truss structure (104)’s robust construction ensures reliability in challenging environments, making it a valuable tool for mitigating the environmental impact of oil spills and protecting aquatic ecosystems.

[0034] While the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated herein, it will be appreciated that they are merely illustrative. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications in form and detail may be made therein without departing from or offending the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

We Claim:

1. A system (100) for collecting oil (116) spills on surface (118) of water bodies, the system (100) comprising: a spiral-shaped coil (102) configured to come in contact with the oil (116) spill on the surface (118) of the water body and trap the oil (116) between a plurality of spiral loops of the spiral-shaped coil (102); a truss structure (104) around which the spiral-shaped coil (102) is bound, the truss structure (104) is arranged to be rotated through a rotating mechanism (110) such that it facilitates the spiral- shaped coil (102) to come in contact with the oil (116) spill on the surface (118) of the water; an air knife (106) mounted on a housing (120) and configured to discharge pressurized air on the bounded spiral-shaped coil (102) such that the pressurized air forces the oil (116) trapped between the plurality of spiral loops to fall into an oilcollecting container (108).

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spiral-shaped coil (102) is made up of galvanized iron wire with a thickness of up to 1.2 mm, a diameter of up to 0.5 cm, and a pitch of up to 0.1 cm.

3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the truss structure (104) comprises: a plurality of bearings (206a and 206b), bore of each of the ball bearings (202a and 202b) receives a fixed axle (210) enabling the rotation of the truss structure (104) around the fixed axle (210); a plurality of nuts (214) welded on periphery of each of the ball bearings (206a and 206b) providing threaded receptacles;a plurality of long bolts (206) mechanically engaged by threading into the threaded receptacles provided by the plurality of nuts (204); a plurality of spokes (208) longitudinally connected to the plurality of long bolts (206) such that one spoke (208) is coupled to a first long bolt (206) at one end and a second long bolt (206) at a second end of the spoke (208).

4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotating mechanism (110) comprises: a belt and pulley system (220) comprising a driving pulley, a driven pulley and a belt, wherein the belt and pulley system (220) is driven by a 12V DC motor (222); and a plurality of horizontal bolts (224) connecting the belt and pulley system (220) to the truss structure (104) for facilitating the transfer of rotational force from the driven pulley to the truss structure (104) resulting in rotation of the truss structure (104) and the spiral-shaped coil (102) bound on it.

5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spiral-shaped coil (102) bound on the truss structure (104) is partially submerged in the water with crude oil (116) floating on its surface (118) by employing a pair of floaters (112), wherein as the spiral- shaped coil (102) gets submerged in the water it creates a localized sinking effect that sucks the spill oil (116) inside the spiral-shaped coil (102) resulting in trapping of spill oil (116) inside the spiral loops of the spiral-shaped coil (102).

6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the oil-collecting container (108) is extruded and integrated into an axle (210) such that it forms a part of it, wherein the oil-collecting container (108) is positioned within the spiral-shaped coil (102) for efficient collection of spill oil (116) dislodged from the spiral-shaped coil (102).

7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axle (210) has a first end (213) that is closed and a second end (214) that is open for draining out the collected oil (116).

8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein a drain pipe is connected at the second end (214) of the oil-collecting container (108) to drain out collected oil from the oil-collecting container (108), the drain pipe is connected to an air-operated double diaphragm pump (406) to drain out the collected oil (116) from the oilcollecting container (108).

9. The system (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein a drain pipe is connected at the second end (214) of the oil-collecting container (108) to drain out collected oil (116) from the oil-collecting container (108) by way of gravity.

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