Arrangement comprising a basin, intended for separation of petroleum products, such as oil

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement (2) comprising a basin (4), intended for separation of petroleum products. The basin (4) comprises a waterproof barrier sheet. The basin (4) is provided with a dividing wall (14), separating a first section (S1 ) of the basin (4) from a second section (S2) of the basin (4). The dividing wall (14) is provided with at least one opening (18) adjacent to the bottom side (6). The first section (S1) is filled with a solid material for providing a solid layer with high strength for support of heavy devices, at the upper portion (16). When the basin (4) is partly filled with water (W), clean water may leave the basin (4) in the second section (S2) by flowing over the front short side wall (12A) at the second section (S2).

Description

[0001] ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING A BASIN, INTENDED FOR SEPARATION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, SUCH AS OIL

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a basin, intended for separation of petroleum products, such as oil, from a mixture of the petroleum products and water.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] The invention is advantageously used as an outdoor separation of oil originating from vehicles on a construction site, from a mixture of petroleum product(s) and water.

[0006] In conventional construction operations in outdoor construction work, such as excavation work by wheel loaders or other vehicles for excavation, there may be a leakage of oil and petroleum products from vehicles. There may also be work carried out by machines on trolleys and machines towed by vehicles for instance, resulting in leakage of oil and petroleum from machines, trolleys and other equipment used.

[0007] It is previously known, according to the state of the art, to arrange a sheet of geomembrane on the ground at the construction site, intended for parking construction work vehicles not in use. A geomembrane is a waterproof barrier on which sheet water and oil from the vehicles parked on the geomembrane are gathered.

[0008] For an environmental perspective, leakage of oil and other petroleum products to the environment is of course not wanted. Leakage of oil and other petroleum products is often evident once the vehicles and machines are not in use. The environmental impact may be very negative, alarming and severe at the place the vehicles and machines are parked when not in use. There is usually no time and cumbersome to look for a specific area for parking of vehicles and machines where the risk for environmental impact from leakage of oil and other petroleum products is insignificant.

[0009] There have been many efforts with respect to the handling leakage of oil and other petroleum products from vehicles and machines, as well as to solve the problem with collecting the leakage from vehicles and machines without affecting the environment.

[0010] These previous efforts have been inefficient, time-consuming and not cost efficient.

[0011] The conventional use of a sheet of geomembrane placed on ground, for collecting oil from vehicles, is insufficient and unsuitable. The sheet of geomembrane is arranged on the ground such that the surface it is slightly concave to have a shallow cup-shaped extension on the ground. A limited mixture of oil and water stays on the geomembrane. However, when the shallow cup-shaped sheet receives much rainwater, the oil on the water flows over the side edges of the geomembrane sheet and out to the environment.

[0012] There is a desire to improve the separation and collection of petroleum products, such as oil, from a mixture of the petroleum products and water. There is also a desire to improve the handling and collection of petroleum products such as oil, in case of leakage from heavy devices, such as machines, trollies or vehicles. There is also a desire to simplify the separation and collection of petroleum products, such as oil, from a mixture of the petroleum products and water in case of leakage from heavy devices, such as machines, trollies or vehicles that are not used at the moment in outdoor construction work, such as excavation work. Doing this may decrease time-consuming work with cleaning and sanitation of the environment.

[0013] There is also a desire to eliminate the risk for environmental impact at the place the vehicles and machines are parked when not in use.

[0014] A further desire is to provide an uncomplicated, effective and inexpensive separation and collection of petroleum products, such as oil, from a mixture of the petroleum products and water in case of leakage from heavy devices, such as machines, trollies or vehicles, that can be efficiently produced.

[0015] US 3574096 A relates to a process and apparatus for the separation of oil from an oilwater mixture.

[0016] US 10640398 B2 relates to a waste and / or hazardous liquid containment and collection system.

[0017] US 8414217 B2 relates to an improved heavy-duty modular flooring and roadway device. SUMMARY

[0018] An object of the invention is to improve a conventional arrangement of a waterproof barrier sheet placed on ground for parked vehicles and machines for construction work. Another object of the invention is to simplify the separation and collection of petroleum products, such as oil, from a mixture of the petroleum products and water, at a construction site, from heavy devices, such as machines, trollies or vehicles that are not used at the moment in outdoor construction work, such as excavation work. A further object is to be able to provide an improved handling and collection of petroleum products such as oil. Yet another object is to provide an arrangement which is not time-consuming with respect to cleaning and sanitation of the environment, in case of leakage from heavy devices, such as machines, trollies or vehicles. Yet a further object is to eliminate the risk for environmental impact at the place the vehicles and machines are parked when not in use. Yet a further object is to provide an uncomplicated, effective and inexpensive separation and collection of petroleum products, such as oil, from a mixture of the petroleum products and water in case of leakage from heavy devices, such as machines, trollies or vehicles, that can be efficiently produced.

[0019] The objects are achieved by an arrangement according to claim 1. Thus, the objects are achieved by an arrangement comprising a basin, intended for separation of petroleum products, such as oil, from a mixture of the petroleum products and water. The basin comprises a bottom side, an upper portion and side walls with a waterproof barrier sheet. The basin is provided with a dividing wall extending across the basin from one long side wall to an opposite long side wall of the basin, separating a first section of the basin from a second section of the basin. The basin is further provided with a front short side wall, a back short side wall. The dividing wall extends essentially vertically from the upper portion in a direction adjacent to the bottom side of the basin. The dividing wall is provided with at least one opening adjacent to the bottom side. The first section is filled with a solid material for providing a solid layer at the upper portion with high strength for support of heavy devices, such as machines, trollies or vehicles, at the upper surface. When the basin is partly filled with water, the oil coming from the heavy devices at the upper portion is floating on the water and clean water can leave the basin in the second section by flowing over the front short side wall at the second section. As a result, an improved arrangement for separation of petroleum products, such as oil, from a mixture of the petroleum products and water from used vehicles and other machines at a construction site can be provided. Thanks to the arrangement, it is also quick and easy to provide and arrange the basin at a construction site. Heavy devices, such as machines, trollies or vehicles that are not used at the moment in outdoor construction work, can be parked on the solid layer at the top of the basin. Thanks to the fact that the basin is provided with a dividing wall extending across the basin from one long side wall to an opposite long side wall of the basin, the separation and the collection of petroleum products, can be significantly improved. Clean water is separated from the mixture with the petroleum products is efficiently.

[0020] According to an aspect of the invention, the second section of the basin is at least partially filled with the solid material. These aspects improve the stability of the basin at the dividing wall and ensures that the water can be separated efficiently from oil as well as other petroleum products.

[0021] According to a further aspect of the invention, the upper portion of the first section is essentially horizontally arranged and the upper portion of the second section of the basin is a sloping surface. Consequently, this second section of the basin is not suitable for parking vehicles and heavy devices for receiving leakage of oil and petroleum products. The sloping top surface prevents that any vehicles are parked on this section by mistake or intentionally. Further, a low short side at the second section of the basin facilitates that the clean water can flow over and out from the basin in the environment.

[0022] The basin is preferably divided in a first layer adjacent the upper portion in the first section of the basin and a second layer adjacent the bottom side of the basin. The first layer is preferably provided with a solid material suitable as a layer for carrying heavy vehicles.

[0023] According to yet a further aspect of the invention, the solid material is stone or gravel, preferably stone flour and a mixture of crushed stone or gravel. The lower layer should be provided with solid material that is permeable for water, suitably provided by gravel or the churched stones, Preferably, the size of the gravel or the churched stones in the lower layer is suitably in the range from 16 mm up to 32 mm in the lower layer. For the upper layer provided for supporting heavy vehicles it is preferred to use stone flour and a mixture of crushed stone or gravel from about 0,1 mm up to about 40 mm, and suitably in the range from 0,1 mm up to 32 mm. Hence, this makes it also easy, cost-efficient and uncomplicated to provide the arrangement at a construction site since the solid material is usually available at a construction site or in the vicinity of a construction site.

[0024] The waterproof barrier sheet can be a geomembrane sheet, a carbon fibre sheet, or a sheet with similar properties.

[0025] Further advantages and advantageous features of the invention are disclosed in the following description and in the dependent claims.

[0026] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Below, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0028] Fig. 1 shows in a perspective view a basin of an arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0029] Fig. 2A illustrates the arrangement with the basin in a longitudinal cross-sectional view according to another embodiment of the invention, and

[0030] Fig. 2B illustrates the arrangement in Fig. 2A in the cross-sectional view A-A.

[0031] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0032] Fig. 1 shows the various parts of a basin 4 in the arrangement 2 according to an embodiment of the invention. The basin 4 comprises a bottom side 6, an upper portion 16 and side walls 10, 12 comprising a waterproof barrier sheet. The basin 4 can be provided by folding up a portion along the long sides 10 and the short sides 12 of the waterproof sheet and thereby creating walls around the sheet forming the bottom side 6 of the waterproof sheet. The basin 4 may also be produced by connecting separate pieces of waterproof sheets for the walls 10, 12 around a waterproof sheet as a bottom side 6.

[0033] According to an embodiment (not shown) the walls 10, 12 and the bottom side 6 may also comprise further parts for supporting and stabilize the basin 4. The basin 4 is provided with a dividing wall 14 extending across the basin from one long side wall 10 to an opposite long side wall 10 of the basin, separating a first section S1 of the basin from a second section S2 of the basin 4, as illustrated in Fig. 2A. The basin 4 is further provided with a front short side wall 12A, and a back short side wall 12B. The dividing wall 14 extends essentially vertically from the upper portion surface 16 in a direction adjacent to the bottom side of the basin. The dividing wall 14 is provided with at least one opening 18 adjacent to the bottom side 6. As shown in fig. 1 , the opening 18 extends between the long side walls 10. However, the dividing wall 14 may also be provided with two or several separate through holes.

[0034] As fig. 1 shows the embodiment in which the basin 4 has been partly filled with solid material in a second layer L2, Figs. 2A and 2B shows the arrangement where also the solid material in the first layer L1 has been provided according to the invention. The same reference numerals are used for the corresponding features as shown and described with reference to fig. 1 .

[0035] The basin is preferably divided in the first layer L1 adjacent the upper portion 16 in the first section S1 of the basin 4 and the second layer L2 adjacent the bottom side 6 of the basin 4. Fig. 1 illustrates the arrangement with the basin and filled in the second bottom layer L2 of gravel or stones. Fig. 2A-B illustrates the arrangement with the basin and filled in the first upper layer L1 and the second bottom lower layer L2 with gravel or stones. The first section S1 is filled with a solid material for providing a solid layer with high strength for support of heavy devices, such as machines, trollies or vehicles, at the upper portion 16, The solid material is preferably stone or gravel, preferably crushed stone or gravel. Preferably, a first upper layer L1 of the basin comprises stone flour and a mixture of crushed stone or gravel for the purpose to carry the weight of heavy vehicles parked on the layer. The size of the solid stone material is from about 0,1 mm up to about 40 mm in the upper layer, and suitably in the range from 0,1 mm up to 32 mm.

[0036] As shown in Figs. 2A and 2B, the upper portion 16 of the first section S1 is essentially horizontally arranged. In figs. 2A and 2B, the second section S2 is filled with solid material and the upper portion 17 of the second section S2 of the basin is a sloping surface in the direction from the dividing wall 14 to the front short side wall 12A. The size of the gravel or the crushed stones in the second lower layer is suitably in the range from about 10 mm up to 40 mm, for the purpose to be permeable for the water to flow through the second lower layer L2. Preferably, the size of the gravel or the crushed stones are suitably in the range from 16 mm up to 32 mm in the lower layer L2.

[0037] With reference to fig. 2A, the basin 4 is filled up with water received from rain R, passing through the first upper layer L1 of the basin, into the second lower layer L2, the water is filled up in the lower layer L2 to a level WL adjacent the upper layer L1 and the lower layer L2. Exceed water will leave the basin 4 in the second section S2 by flowing over the front short side wall 12A at the second section. Oil will stay in the upper layer L1 floating on the water surface in the first section S1 .

[0038] When the use of the arrangement is terminated, or should be reused after being full of oil, the arrangement should be decontaminated, cleaned and sanitized from the oil and any other petroleum products gathered in the upper layer L1 of the first section S1 of the basin 4. The upper layer is excavated and sent to site for disposal.

[0039] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An arrangement (2) comprising a basin (4), intended for separation of petroleum products, such as oil, from a mixture of the petroleum products and water (W), characterized in that the basin (4) comprises a bottom side (6), an upper portion (16, 17) and side walls (12A, 12B) with a waterproof barrier sheet, the basin (4) is provided with a dividing wall (14) extending across the basin (4) from one long side wall (10) to an opposite long side wall (10) of the basin (4), separating a first section (S1) of the basin (4) from a second section (S2) of the basin (4), the basin (4) is further provided with a front short side wall (12A), a back short side wall (12B), the dividing wall (14) extends essentially vertically from the upper portion (16, 17) in a direction adjacent to the bottom side (6) of the basin (4), the dividing wall (14) is provided with at least one opening (18) adjacent to the bottom side (6), the first section (S1) is filled with a solid material for providing a solid layer with high strength for support of heavy devices, such as machines, trollies or vehicles, at the upper portion (16), whereby, when the basin (4) is partly filled with water (W), the oil coming from the heavy devices at the upper portion (16) is floating on the water (W) and clean water can leave the basin (4) in the second section (S2) by flowing over the front short side wall (12A) at the second section (S2).

2. The arrangement (2) according to claim 1 , wherein the second section (S2) of the basin (4) is at least partially filled with the solid material.

3. The arrangement (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the upper portion (16) of the first section (S1) is essentially horizontally arranged and the upper portion (17) of the second section (S2) of the basin (4) is a sloping surface.

4. The arrangement (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the basin (4) is divided in a first layer (L1) adjacent the upper portion (16) in the first section (S1 ) of the basin (4) and a second layer (L2) adjacent the bottom side (6) of the basin (4), the first layer (L1) is provided with a solid material suitable as a layer for carrying heavy vehicles.

5. The arrangement (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the solid material is stone or gravel, preferably crushed stone or gravel.

6. The arrangement (2) according to claim 5, wherein the second layer (L2) is provided with solid material that is permeable for water, suitably provided by gravel or the crushed stones, with a size is in the range from 16 mm up to 32 mm in the lower layer.

7. The arrangement (2) according to claim 5, wherein the first layer (L 1 ) is provided with stone flour and a mixture of crushed stone or gravel from about 0,1 mm up to about 40 mm, and suitably in the range from 0,1 mm up to 32 mm.

8. The arrangement (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the waterproof barrier sheet is a geomembrane sheet or a carbon fibre sheet.

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