Debris Recovery Vessel Segmentation and Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing debris recovery systems are inefficient in collecting and separating floating debris and water due to limitations in vessel capacity, environmental factors, and the inability to effectively separate oil from seawater, leading to reduced on-board storage and increased costs and time.
Innovation Solution
A vessel with cargo compartments and pumps configured to concurrently draw and separate water and debris, using inflow regulators with variable buoyancy to manage wave action and debris thickness, allowing for efficient collection and separation of debris and water, and separate oil from seawater.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If existing oil skimmers are used to recover oil from water, then oil collection is performed, but the systems cannot separate significant amounts of collected oil from seawater, resulting in limited on-board storage capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the recovery vessel into multiple compartments: a first cargo compartment for collecting oil-water mixture, a second cargo compartment for receiving separated oil, and a third cargo compartment for discharged water. This segmentation enables continuous separation operations while maintaining storage capacity for all three phases (oil, water, and mixture).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a separator as an intermediary device between the collection and storage systems. The separator efficiently divides the oil-water mixture into distinct oil and water phases, enabling the vessel to maintain large on-board storage for separated materials while managing the complexity through a dedicated separation component.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing debris recovery vessels are used, then debris collection is performed, but they are unable to efficiently and effectively collect different types of debris due to limited size and capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The vessel is divided into multiple specialized cargo compartments (first for general debris, second for separated oil, third for water discharge) with corresponding specialized intake openings. This segmentation allows each compartment to handle specific debris types or phases, increasing versatility without requiring a single large compartment that would limit maneuverability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates multiple intake openings that can selectively draw different types of debris and water phases into appropriate compartments. The separator and pump system can handle various materials (floating debris, oil, water) through a unified multi-compartment architecture, enabling the vessel to perform multiple recovery functions simultaneously.
3Reliability
If conventional recovery systems are used in rough seas, then debris collection is attempted, but environmental factors such as waves and wind hinder recovery operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple cargo compartments with different densities and contents (water, oil, air) to counterbalance the vessel during operations in rough seas. The ability to independently manage ballast and cargo distribution across compartments enhances stability and reliability when subjected to wave and wind forces.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the vessel into multiple independent cargo compartments, the system isolates the impact of environmental factors on specific compartments rather than the entire vessel. This allows continued operation in rough seas as each compartment can be managed independently to maintain overall vessel stability and recovery reliability.
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 system enables effective and efficient collection and separation of debris and water, enhancing recovery capacity and reducing costs and time by optimizing debris collection and oil separation processes.
Implementation Method 1
inflow regulators with variable buoyancy to manage wave action and debris thickness
Implementation Method 2
At least a first pump fluidly coupled to at least one cargo compartment and selectively controllable to concurrently draw water and debris from the body of water through at least one intake opening and into at least one cargo compartment and remove water from at least one cargo compartment
Implementation Method 3
Air is allowed to be evacuated from the cargo compartment(s) through at least one air discharge vent disposed above the surface of contents in the cargo compartment(s) to ensure the inlet(s) of the second pump(s) remain submersed in liquid throughout debris collection operations
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatus and methods useful for collecting debris from a body of water on a vessel having at least one cargo compartment and at least a first pump fluidly coupled to at least one cargo compartment and configured to concurrently draw water and debris from the body of water into, and remove water from, the cargo compartment(s) include at least a second pump, distinct from the first pump and configured to remove debris from at least one cargo compartment.