Method and apparatus for recovering oil from the surface of a body of water
US5246592A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 14, 1992 |
| Grant date | Sep 21, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 14, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S210/923
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An apparatus for recovering oil from an oil spill on the surface of a body of water includes a skimmer unit for recovering an oil-water mixture from the surface of the body of water, a three stage coalescer unit for separating the oil in the oil-water mixture from the water therein and a solvent injection assembly for injecting solvent into the coalescer unit after the first and second stages in order to reduce the viscosity of the oil entering the second and third stages. The first, second, and third stages of the coalescer unit comprise interceptors having a surface area ratios between 27 and 65 ft.sup.2 /ft.sup.3 ; 65 ft.sup.2 /ft.sup.3 and 2500 ft.sup.2 /ft.sup.3 ; and 500 ft.sup.2 /ft.sup.3 and 4200 ft.sup.2 /ft.sup.3, respectively.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.