Method and apparatus for recovering oil from an oil spill on the surface of a body of water
US5023002A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 9, 1990 |
| Grant date | Jun 11, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 9, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S210/923
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method and apparatus for recovering oil from an oil spill on the surface of a body of water. The method is operative for recovering an oil having a viscosity in excess of 80 centipoise and it includes the steps of drawing an oil-water mixture from the surface of a body of water, adjusting the viscosity of the oil in the oil-water mixture to a level below approximately 80 centipoise and passing the resultant adjusted oil-water mixture through an oil-water coalescer to separate the oil in the adjusted oil-water mixture from the water therein. The viscosity of the oil in the feed oil-water mixture is preferably adjusted by adding a low viscosity hydrophobic hydrocarbon solvent to the oil-water mixture. The apparatus includes a skimmer for withdrawing feed oil-water mixture from the surface of a body of water, a solvent system for adding solvent to the oil in the feed oil-water mixture to reduce the viscosity of the oil in the feed oil-water mixture to below approximately 80 centipoise and an oil-water coalescer for separating the solvent and oil in the viscosity adjusted feed oil-water mixture to below approximately 80 centipoise.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.