Ballast Water De-halogenation via Reducing Agent Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The release of ballast water from marine vessels can introduce non-native marine species and pathogenic bacteria into new ecosystems, causing environmental harm and health risks, as existing methods do not effectively address the elimination of these organisms before discharge.
Innovation Solution
A system and process for treating ballast water onboard vessels using on-site hypochlorite generation, followed by de-halogenation to neutralize residual oxidizing agents, ensuring the elimination of marine organisms and bacteria before discharge, thereby preventing the introduction of non-native species and waterborne diseases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ballast water is treated with hypochlorite to eliminate marine organisms and bacteria, then the effectiveness of pathogen elimination is improved, but residual halogens cause harm to marine ecosystems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes residual halogens from the treated ballast water through a separate de-halogenation system. This system uses reducing agents to neutralize and remove the harmful halogen residues after the hypochlorite treatment has eliminated pathogens, thereby separating the pathogen elimination function from the harmful residual effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful residual halogens into beneficial neutral salts through chemical reduction. The reducing agents transform the harmful oxidizing halogen residues into harmless chloride ions and other neutral products, turning a harmful byproduct into a beneficial outcome.
2Reliability
If chlorination is used to disinfect ballast water, then marine organisms and bacteria are eliminated, but halogen-containing oxidizing agents remain dangerous to marine flora and fauna
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a de-halogenation system as an intermediary step between chlorination and ballast water discharge. This intermediary system uses reducing agents to neutralize the harmful halogen-containing oxidizing agents, allowing the disinfection benefit to be retained while eliminating the harmful intermediate products before discharge.
3Ease of operation
If ballast water is discharged without treatment, then the discharge process is simple, but non-native marine species and pathogens are introduced to new ecosystems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary treatment actions to ballast water before discharge by implementing on-site hypochlorite generation and de-halogenation systems. These preliminary actions eliminate pathogens and neutralize harmful residues in advance, ensuring that the discharged water is safe for receiving ecosystems while maintaining operational simplicity through automation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If on-site hypochlorite generation is implemented, then ballast water can be treated onboard the vessel, but additional systems and processes are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functional systems that serve multiple purposes. The hypochlorite generation system not only disinfects ballast water but also provides a residual protective effect during transport. The de-halogenation system simultaneously protects marine ecosystems while enabling the vessel to meet regulatory requirements, combining multiple functions into integrated systems.
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
Effectively eliminates marine organisms and bacteria from ballast water, preventing the introduction of non-native species and reducing the risk of waterborne diseases, while minimizing harm to marine ecosystems by neutralizing residual halogens before discharge.
Implementation Method 1
Halogens in the form of halogen-containing oxidizing agents, such as HOCl and HOBr, are produced by hypochlorite generation and intended to kill organisms in ballast water onboard a vessel
Implementation Method 2
De-halogenating the ballast water comprises neutralizing the oxidizing agents to form the neutral salts of the halogens
Implementation Method 3
the means for measuring the halogen content of the ballast water can comprise one or more oxidation/reduction potential analyzers for determining the oxidation/reduction potential of the ballast water
Data Source
AI summary
A system and process for de-halogenating ballast water before releasing the ballast water from the vessel. In one embodiment, the system comprises a means for measuring the halogen content of the ballast water, a reducing agent source in fluid communication with the ballast water, and a means for controlling the amount of reducing agent supplied to the ballast water. In one aspect, the means for measuring the halogen content comprises one or more oxidation/reduction potential analyzers. In another embodiment, the system comprises one or more hypochlorite electrolytic cells for generating hypochlorite to treat the ballast water.One embodiment of the process for de-halogenating ballast water comprises measuring the oxidation/reduction potential of the ballast water and adding one or more reducing agents to the ballast water to de-halogenate the ballast water in response to the measured oxidation/reduction potential. In one aspect, the oxidation/reduction potential is modulated so that excess reducing agent is present in the ballast water.