Watercraft Decontamination Using Hot-Water Vessel and Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current decontamination processes for watercraft are labor-intensive, risky, and inadequate in ensuring the elimination of invasive aquatic species like zebra and quagga mussels, as they often rely on high-temperature water that poses safety risks and may not effectively decontaminate all areas of the watercraft.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using a hot-water vessel to decontaminate watercraft at safer temperatures between 100°F and 110°F, with a water-tight vessel designed to accommodate the watercraft, a water heating system, and a water circulation system to maintain temperature, along with a filtration system to capture veligers, and optional shade balls to retain heat and reduce algae growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-temperature water (approximately 140°F) is used for decontamination, then the effectiveness of killing invasive species is improved, but the safety risk to workers increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from the conventional 140°F to a lower range of 100-110°F. This parameter modification maintains decontamination effectiveness while eliminating the scalding hazard, directly resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and safety.
2Device complexity
If traditional spray application method is used, then the process is simpler, but the labor intensity increases and completeness of coverage becomes difficult to ensure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual spray application mechanism with an automated circulation system that pumps water through the watercraft's own systems. This substitution eliminates the need for workers to manually spray every surface, dramatically reducing labor intensity while maintaining process simplicity.
3Productivity
If exterior spraying only is performed, then the process is faster, but the decontamination completeness is insufficient for water-containing portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested approach where the decontamination water is pumped through the watercraft's internal systems (ballast tanks, bilge, cooling systems, live wells). This nested methodology allows the treatment solution to reach interior water-containing compartments that are inaccessible to external spraying, ensuring complete decontamination while maintaining efficiency.
4Device complexity
If the entire decontamination process is performed manually, then the equipment complexity is reduced, but the time required greatly increases and convenience decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the watercraft to decontaminate itself by utilizing its own water circulation systems. The system pumps decontamination water through the vessel's ballast tanks, bilge, cooling systems, and other water-containing compartments using the vessel's existing pumps and circulation mechanisms. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex external equipment while significantly reducing the time and labor required compared to manual methods.
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 provides a safer and more effective decontamination process that ensures the elimination of invasive species from watercraft, reducing the risk of injury and improving the efficiency of the decontamination process while minimizing water loss and algae growth.
Implementation Method 1
a water heating system operatively connected to the substantially water-tight vessel, so as to heat the water from the vessel
Implementation Method 2
a water circulation system operatively connected to the substantially water-tight vessel and the water heating system and adapted to circulate water between the water heating system and the substantially water-tight vessel
Implementation Method 3
a filtration system to capture veligers
Data Source
AI summary
A system for watercraft decontamination includes a substantially water-tight vessel sized and shaped to accommodate a watercraft, the vessel containing water and including a structure adapted to facilitate disposition of the watercraft in the vessel such that the a rear portion and transom of the watercraft that are normally submerged in watercraft use are submerged in the water. The system further includes a water heating system operatively connected to the substantially water-tight vessel, so as to heat the water from the vessel, and a water circulation system operatively connected to the substantially water-tight vessel and the water heating system and adapted to circulate water between the water heating system and the substantially water-tight vessel. The water heating system is sized and configured to maintain a temperature of the water in the substantially water-tight vessel at a temperature of between approximately 100° Fahrenheit (38° Celsius) and approximately 110° Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius).