Ballast Water Recirculation Treatment System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ballast water treatment systems face challenges such as high power consumption, limited space, and inefficiencies in treating varying water qualities and flow rates, leading to potential non-compliance and corrosion issues, especially during cargo operations and retrofits.
Innovation Solution
The development of smaller, completely packaged on-passage treatment systems that recirculate and treat ballast water at lower flow rates, using UV, Ozone, or Electro Chlorination methods, with real-time monitoring and control to ensure compliance, reducing power usage and chemical additives, and integrating variable fluorescence technology to optimize treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If in-line treatment systems are coupled into existing ballast pumping systems, then treatment can be provided during ballast operation, but flow rate variation occurs due to additional piping restrictions and components
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the ballast water treatment into two independent pathways: a recirculating treatment system that operates separately from the main ballast pumping system. This segmentation allows the treatment process to function independently without interfering with the primary ballast operation flow rates, while still providing effective treatment through controlled recirculation at lower flow rates where treatment can be optimized.
2Reliability
If treatment systems are added to treat high flow rates, then ballast water can be disinfected during cargo operations, but power consumption becomes prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic recirculation cycles rather than continuous high-power treatment. Ballast water is recirculated through the treatment system in controlled cycles at lower flow rates, allowing UV or chemical treatment to be applied more efficiently. This periodic action at optimized flow rates significantly reduces power consumption compared to continuous high-flow treatment, making the system feasible for cargo operations.
3Productivity
If bulk chemical additives are used for disinfection, then treatment can be applied based on water volume, but chemical usage is excessive and not optimized for actual water quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates water quality monitoring that provides feedback to control the chemical dosing process. By continuously monitoring parameters such as turbidity, organic content, and disinfection levels, the system adjusts chemical additive dosage in real-time based on actual water quality conditions rather than applying fixed dosages based solely on volume. This feedback control optimizes chemical usage, reducing waste while maintaining effective disinfection.
4Stability of the object's composition
If recirculating treatment is implemented, then mixing and dispersal within the tank is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The recirculation system is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides chemical mixing and dispersal, enables UV treatment exposure, allows water quality monitoring, and facilitates controlled dosing. By making the recirculation loop multi-functional, the system achieves improved chemical dispersal and treatment effectiveness without proportionally increasing complexity, as a single recirculation infrastructure supports multiple treatment and monitoring objectives.
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
This solution provides efficient, compliant, and cost-effective treatment with reduced power consumption, minimal chemical use, and continuous monitoring, ensuring safe discharge without altering existing ballast operations or requiring additional space or power, addressing the limitations of current systems.
Implementation Method 1
at least one variable fluorescence device configured to receive the corresponding signaling and provide the variable fluorescence treatment, including providing ultraviolet (UV) light to the water
Implementation Method 2
receive signaling containing information about the quality of water; determine information about a variable fluorescence treatment to the water
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus is provided having a signal processor or signal processing module configured to receive signaling containing information about the quality of water in a ballast water tank recirculation treatment system, e.g., in a vessel, boat or ship; and determine information about a variable fluorescence treatment to the water in the ballast water tank recirculation treatment system, based at least partly on the signaling received, as well as provide corresponding signaling containing information about the variable fluorescence treatment. The apparatus may include a variable fluorescence device configured to receive the corresponding signaling and provide the variable fluorescence treatment, including providing ultraviolet (UV) light to the water in the ballast water tank recirculation treatment system.