Autonomous Oil-Slick Sampler With Sealed Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for locating and sampling oil slicks on water surfaces are inefficient and costly due to reliance on manned vessels, which are time-consuming and prone to false positives, especially in remote ocean areas where unfavorable conditions and distances from ports increase operational costs.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous surface vessel (ASV) equipped with sampling modules that can detect and collect oil slicks autonomously, using a sampling material with a high surface area to efficiently scavenge oil and store it in an opaque, air-tight container to prevent degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If satellite or airborne imaging is used to monitor hydrocarbon seep locations, then the coverage area and detection capability are improved, but the response time and sampling accuracy deteriorate because manned vessels must be deployed separately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the imaging system and sampling system into a single autonomous surface vessel. The ASV integrates satellite/airborne imaging capability with onboard sampling modules, allowing the same platform that detects oil slicks to immediately respond and collect samples without requiring separate manned vessel deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous surface vessel performs self-navigation and self-sampling operations. Once an oil slick is detected through imaging, the ASV autonomously navigates to the location and deploys sampling modules without human intervention, eliminating the time delay associated with manual vessel deployment and operation.
2Ease of operation
If manned vessels are deployed to sample oil slicks, then sample collection capability is improved, but operational costs and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous surface vessel performs self-navigation and self-sampling operations. Once an oil slick is detected through imaging, the ASV autonomously navigates to the location and deploys sampling modules without human intervention, eliminating the time delay associated with manual vessel deployment and operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manned vessel operation with an autonomous control system. The ASV uses computer-controlled navigation, automated oil slick detection through imaging, and programmable sampling module deployment, substituting human-operated mechanical systems with automated electro-mechanical systems that reduce operational costs and increase efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If conventional sampling methods are used, then sampling simplicity is improved, but sample preservation quality deteriorates due to exposure to degradation factors
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling modules are pre-configured with sealed containers and preservation conditions before deployment. The system prepares the sampling environment in advance by creating oxygen-limited or anaerobic conditions within the sealed containers, so that when samples are collected, they are immediately protected from degradation factors without requiring post-collection handling interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an inert or oxygen-limited atmosphere within the sealed sampling containers to prevent oxidation and biological degradation of hydrocarbon samples. By controlling the atmospheric composition inside the containers (reducing oxygen exposure), the system preserves sample integrity while maintaining simple automated sampling operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The ASV enhances hydrocarbon exploration by enabling accurate, cost-effective sampling of oil slicks, reducing the need for manned vessels and minimizing sample degradation through autonomous operation and efficient storage methods.
Implementation Method 1
a sampling material with a high surface area to efficiently scavenge oil
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous surface vessel includes an elongate body, and a sampling system operatively coupled to the body and including one or more sampling modules, wherein each sampling module includes a housing including a storage container, a sampling material receivable within the storage container, an actuation system operatively coupled to the sampling material via a lead line, and an end cap operatively coupled to the lead line and matable with an open end of the storage container. A computer system is in communication with the sampling system to operate the actuation system, wherein each sampling module is actuatable between a stowed state, where the sampling material is received within the storage container and the end cap sealingly engages the open end, and a deployed state, where the end cap is disengaged from the open end and the sampling material is drawn out of the sampling container.