Body Of Saltwater (e.g., Sea, Ocean, Etc.) Patents (Class 210/170.11)
  • Patent number: 11904276
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for extracting desired chemical species including, without limitation, lithium, specific lithium species, and/or other chemical compounds from input flows in a modular unit. The input flows may be raw materials in which lithium metal and/or lithium species are dissolved and/or extracted. The apparatuses and methods may include daisy chain flow through separate tanks, a column array, and/or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: International Battery Metals, Ltd.
    Inventor: John L. Burba
  • Patent number: 11718549
    Abstract: A water treatment system comprises a flow path through a first activated carbon filter, a second activated carbon filter downstream of the first activated carbon filter, a particulate filter downstream of the second activated carbon filter, for example a ceramic membrane, and a UV sterilizer downstream of the particulate filter. Ozone is introduced into the process water ahead of a water storage vessel for storing treated water produced by the system. A recycle subsystem is periodically operated to withdraw treated water from the water storage vessel to form recycled water, introduce the recycled water to the water lines upstream of the UV sterilizer, and return the recycled water to the water storage vessel. A main programmable logic controller (PLC) controls a flow of the process water through the water treatment system and controls the recycle subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Wenjun Sun, Jingdong Shi
  • Patent number: 11326625
    Abstract: A desalination brine dispersal apparatus and method employ airlift to remove, oxygenate and disperse brine from a desalination apparatus. The apparatus includes a brine removal conduit having a brine inlet that receives brine from the desalination apparatus, a plurality of brine outlets submerged in seawater and one or more air introduction points located at depths below the brine outlets. The supplied air oxygenates and moves brine through the brine removal conduit and outlets via airlift and disperses the brine into seawater away from the brine removal conduit. The apparatus avoids the formation of concentrated, high shear brine plumes and can disperse brine into seawater over a wide area well away from the brine removal conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: NATURAL OCEAN WELL CO.
    Inventor: Robert A. Bergstrom
  • Patent number: 11198097
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for producing a concentrated feed stream and a diluted feed stream using a solute stream provided to the low pressure side of the semi-permeable membrane during a reverse osmosis process. The process includes providing a semipermeable membrane having a first side and a second side and introducing a first feed solution stream on the first side of the membrane and a second feed solution stream on the second side, wherein the osmotic pressure of the of the first feed solution stream is greater than or equal to the osmotic pressure of the second feed solution stream. The process further includes exerting hydrostatic pressure on the first side of the membrane such that solvent passes from the first side to the second side thereby producing a concentrated first feed solution stream and a diluted second feed solution stream. Devices and systems for performing the processes are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: TREVI SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Qiang Wei, John Webley, Elliott Baker, Gary Carmignani
  • Patent number: 11143009
    Abstract: A downhole separator and method for use of the same for fluid mediums with low viscosity are disclosed. In one embodiment, the downhole separator has a housing with inlet openings that draw a fluid flow into an elongated annular separation chamber within the housing. The fluid flow advances under angular momentum imparted by a rotation of a shaft located in the housing. The shaft includes a profiled surface that imparts drag to the fluid medium and two local pressure increasing units to effect at least partial separation of the fluid medium into the following: (i) a liquid portion upwardly traversing the fluid passageway of the shaft via the inlet ports; (ii) a gaseous portion upwardly traversing the elongated annular separation chamber to the plurality of upper gaseous portion outlets; and (iii) a solid portion downwardly traversing the elongated annular separation chamber to the plurality of lower solid portion outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Texas Institute of Science, Inc.
    Inventors: Lovrenc Novak, Martin Petkovsek, Simon Oman, Marko Nagode, Jernej Klemenc, Franc Madjic, Marko Hocevar, Ales Gosar, Laslo Olah
  • Patent number: 11026344
    Abstract: A fluid conditioner 1 for use in a tank 110 containing electronic devices, immersed in fluid F, comprises a housing 10 having a chamber 38, an outlet 14, a heat exchanger 18 located in the chamber, and one or more pumps 16 such that the fluid passes into contact with the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger 18 has an inlet 30 for cooling medium to enter and an outlet 32 for cooling medium to exit. In the upright, operational orientation, the pumps 16 and the heat exchanger 18 are vertically spaced relative to one another and the heat exchanger 18 is located above the outlet. Fluid F is moved through the pumps 16 and passes into contact with the heat exchanger 18. The cooled fluid F exits via the outlet 14 of the fluid conditioner 1 and passes into the lower region of the tank 110 for circulation therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: DOWNUNDER GEOSOLUTIONS PTY LTD.
    Inventors: Stuart D. Midgley, Mark Lommers
  • Patent number: 10487962
    Abstract: An integrated ocean water processing system including a vessel, an electro/hydraulic deployment and retrieval system, a desalination system, a disinfection system, a packaging system, a freezing system capable of freezing the pouches of potable water, a water storage and dissolution system, and a distribution system capable of pumping product drinking water through a buoyant surface hose to other vessels or onshore infrastructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Sustainable Ocean Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Ostebo
  • Patent number: 10413898
    Abstract: A mechanical separator for separating a fluid sample into first and second phases within a collection container is disclosed. The mechanical separator may have a separator body having a through-hole defined therein, with the through-hole adapted for allowing fluid to pass therethrough. The separator body includes a float, having a first density, and a ballast, having a second density greater than the first density. A portion of the float is connected to a portion of the ballast. Optionally, the float may include a first extended tab adjacent a first opening of the through-hole and a second extended tab adjacent the second opening of the through-hole. In certain configurations, the separator body also includes an extended tab band disposed about an outer surface of the float. The separator body may also include an engagement band circumferentially disposed about at least a portion of the separator body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Jamieson W. Crawford, Christopher A. Battles
  • Patent number: 10138144
    Abstract: A seawater pre-treatment method is provided that includes: installing a filtration filter in the form of a hollow cylinder at a predetermined depth of a sea floor, installing a water collection pipe in which a plurality of openings are formed in the inner part of the filtration filter, the water collection pipe being in fluid communication with a water collection tank, sucking pre-treated water from the inner part of the water collection tank by a water conveying pump, and passing the seawater through the filtration filter by a reverse osmosis method and flowing into the water collection pipe and the water collection tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Inventors: Un Young Lim, Jeong Seo Lim
  • Patent number: 10107274
    Abstract: An electrical submersible pump assembly for use in a well, including a well having a high gas-to-liquid ratio has a motor, a hollow, tubular drive shaft which drives the pump, and a liquid-gas separator assembly upstream of the pump intake. The liquid-gas separator has a hollow tubular portion, which communicates with the open, lower end of the drive shaft, openings through its sidewall, and a closed lower end. The sidewall also includes at least one outwardly extending projection shaped for urging liquid contained in a liquid/gas mixture flowing towards the pump outwardly, away from the sidewall openings. Preferably, the outwardly extending projection comprises a helical blade which, using either the well casing or a separate sheath, defines a helical channel through which the oil-gas mixture flows prior to reaching the pump intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi, Rabea Ahyad
  • Patent number: 10087083
    Abstract: Provided is an underwater holding-type lithium recovering apparatus 1000 including: an underwater holder 100 installed on an offshore sea bed; a lithium adsorbent 200 held in the underwater holder 100 and adsorbing lithium ions contained in seawater; a moving ship 300 installed with a cleaning tank 320 cleaning the lithium adsorbent 200 transferred from the underwater holder 100 and a desorbing tank 330 desorbing lithium ions adsorbed in the lithium adsorbent 200 transferred from the cleaning tank 320, and moved to a coastline when lithium ions of a reference value or more are filled in the desorbing tank 330; and a transfer pump 400 transferring lithium ions filled in the desorbing tank 330 to a reservoir 500 installed at the coastline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF GEOSCIENCE AND MINERAL RESOURCES
    Inventors: Kang-Sup Chung, Byoung-Gyu Kim, Taegong Ryu, Jungho Ryu, In-Su Park, Hye-Jin Hong
  • Patent number: 9822605
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for capping a subsea wellhead is disclosed, including channeling a heterogeneous mixture (HM) into an inlet riser; measuring an initial HM temperature; heating the HM; measuring the temperature of the HM post heating; passing the HM through a common port; passing the HM into an oil baffle chamber; monitoring the interphase of the HM in the oil baffle chamber; passing the HM into a water baffle chamber; monitoring the interphase of the HM in the water baffle chamber; controlling oil and water regulators to achieve substantially laminar flow and separation of the oil and water; heating the gas separated from the HM; measuring the temperature of the separated gas; measuring the density of the gas separated from the HM and if in the gas phase, opening a gas regulator to allow the gas to pass through the gas outlets. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Inventor: Karan Jerath
  • Patent number: 9488038
    Abstract: The present invention relates to equipment for the conveying and recovery of hydrocarbons from an underwater well for the extraction of hydrocarbons under uncontrolled release conditions, comprising a chamber (23) for the separation of the hydrocarbon stream leaving the well, into a heavy phase (23a) and a light phase (23b), means (15,16,17,24,25,26) being envisaged, in connection with the separation chamber (23), for conveying the heavy phase (23a) and light phase (23b) towards the surface, characterized in that it comprises a directioning body (18) of the hydrocarbon stream, having a substantially cylindrical shape, or as a truncated paraboloid with both ends open, wherein a first end is an inlet of the hydrocarbon stream leaving the well, and a second end, distal with respect to the inlet of the hydrocarbon stream (20), is in fluid connection with the separation chamber (23) with the interpositioning of a perforated spherical cap (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: ENI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Giambattista De Ghetto, Paolo Andreussi
  • Patent number: 9416632
    Abstract: A containment system for recovering hydrocarbon fluid from a leaking device situated at a deep seafloor comprising a pipe for conveying an input fluid that is a mix of water, oil, gas, and hydrate, and a treatment facility fed with the input fluid from the pipe and separating the components of the input fluid. The treatment facility comprises a tank for dissociation of hydrate component and extraction of the oil component. The treatment facility comprises a heater device inside the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Total SA
    Inventors: Van-Khoi Vu, Jean-Claude Bourguignon, Hubert Rossano, Guillaume Vaillant
  • Patent number: 9045209
    Abstract: Systems and methods for storing energy in gaseous form in submerged thin-walled tanks are secured to the ocean or lake floor but are open to the water at the tank bottoms and are configured to be filled with gas while submerged. A conduit operatively connected to the tanks provides flow from a surface source of an energy-containing gas to the tank interiors. Surface or subsurface pumping apparatus which may include piston-less pressure cylinders or have leveraged pistons provide a preselected flow rate of the energy-containing gas into the containment structure interior against a back pressure essentially equal to the static pressure of the body of water at the location of the tank to displace an equivalent volume of water through the open bottom. The conduit can be configured to allow heat transfer to vaporize liquefied gas prior to storage. Hydrogen gas can be generated and stored within the tank using Aluminum activated with Galinstan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignees: Sanko Tekstil Isletmeleri Sanayi VE Ticaret A.S.
    Inventors: Fevzi Zeren, Zekeriye Konukoglu
  • Publication number: 20150144562
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems for data center cooling and water desalination. In some aspects, the systems include a data center having a water cooling subsystem configured to receive cool water and output warm water and a desalination plant co-located with the data center and configured to receive and desalinate the warm water. Aspects of the invention also include methods for cooling a data center using a water cooling subsystem and desalinating water with a desalination plant that is co-located with the data center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Brent Richard Constantz
  • Publication number: 20150136670
    Abstract: A gravity-based structure (1) for supporting offshore installations comprising a foundation (4). The foundation (4) has a basal portion (11). The basal portion (11) has a plurality of openings (10) for drainage of water. There is at least one first layer (7) of filter material, with a gradation suitable for draining water entrapped beneath the basal portion (11) to the openings (10). The layer (7) is installed on the seabed (8) beneath the foundation (4). The foundation has a downwardly extending skirt (5) that is adapted to penetrate into the seabed beneath the filter material layer (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Seatower AS
    Inventors: Sigurd Ramslie, Petter J. Karal
  • Patent number: 9034182
    Abstract: A system comprising a surface vessel floating on a body of water; an oil leak located in the body of water; a remotely operated vehicle located near the oil leak; a connection between the surface vessel and the remotely operated vehicle; wherein the remotely operated vehicle comprises a mixer and a dispersant injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Lee Nickey Morgenthaler
  • Patent number: 9017548
    Abstract: An oil collecting apparatus is provided to recover polluted nature environment and to keep nature environment clean in such a way that oil leaked over river or ocean is effectively collected on the spot, and only the oil is removed by separating water and oil, wherein the volume of the water tank configured to separate water and oil can be reduced in half, so the present invention may be applied to a small size ship, and only the oil leaked over river and ocean may be separated and collected on the spot. A water surface cleaner with an excellent oil connecting capacity may be built using the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Inventor: Jung Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 9011680
    Abstract: Oil boom (1) having an elongated buoyancy body (8) carrying a skirt (9) that is hanging down in the sea as a barrier against water surface pollution. The boom (1) is arranged for being towed by its ends, in a U shape, for collecting pollution, in particular mechanically dispersed oil. The boom is designed in such a way that conditions for concentrating the pollution arise in the inner area of the boom, and in that at least parts of said inner area are provided with a means (6, 10) for coalescence of pollution drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Norlense AS
    Inventor: Terje Olav Hansen
  • Patent number: 8986548
    Abstract: An oil containment recovery dome including an upper containment portion and at least one bladder. The upper containment portion has an enclosure defined therein that is adapted to receive equipment used in conjunction with a well and to retain therein oil or gas that escapes from the well. The at least one bladder is attached to the upper containment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas T. K. Zung
  • Patent number: 8986547
    Abstract: A subsea contaminate remediation apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a conduit. The conduit includes a first end adapted to receive a first liquid stream having at least one contaminate; a second end adapted to release a second liquid stream; a grating associated with the second end of the housing; and at least one chemical injection port. The chemical injection port is adapted to introduce a chemical to the first liquid stream to form the second liquid stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Michael J. Baccigalopi
  • Publication number: 20150076081
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a catalyst rich seawater useful to catalyze oxidation reactions in a flue gas desulfurization system seawater aeration basin to obtain a treated seawater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Dennis James Laslo, Raymond R. Gansley
  • Patent number: 8955546
    Abstract: A brine discharge assembly includes a discharge pipe having a body that defines an interior passage, a pipe inlet, and a pipe outlet spaced from the pipe inlet. The pipe inlet and pipe outlet are able to be in fluid communication with the interior passage, and the pipe is connectable to a source of brine and configured to convey the brine from the pipe inlet to the pipe outlet. The brine discharge assembly also includes a dilution assembly able to be connected to a source of liquid diluent. The dilution assembly includes one or more injectors and one or more ports, and is coupled to the pipe so that the one or more ports are able to be in fluid communication with the interior passage of the pipe intermediate the pipe inlet and pipe outlet. The one or more injectors are configured to inject the liquid diluent into the interior passage of the pipe through the one or more ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventors: Eduardo Vom, Richard Allman, Samuel Ross Garland Lanyon, Stuart Elliott
  • Patent number: 8939105
    Abstract: An oceanic platform is configured to discharge water into an atmosphere to create rain and thus more fresh water. The oceanic platform comprises a floating platform mechanically coupled to a deck grate. The deck grate is further mechanically coupled to a telescoping shaft. The telescoping shaft is mechanically coupled to a water intake. A pump can push the water through the water intake up the telescoping shaft and into the atmosphere, thus creating the rain and more of the fresh water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Inventor: Sean David Rast
  • Patent number: 8920643
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for picking up particles from the surface of a water system, in particular particles of dirt, with a float (1), in which a particle separation chamber (8) is formed, into which particle-containing water can flow via an inflow opening (7), and out of which water at least partially freed from the particles can flow via an outflow opening (9), wherein the inflow opening (7) is provided with an inflow flap means and the outflow opening (9) is provided with an outflow flap means for opening and closing of the opening (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Technische Universität Berlin
    Inventors: GĂĽnther Clauss, Florian Sprenger
  • Publication number: 20140374330
    Abstract: A device for sea water desalination and power generation, including: a tidal current turbine, a coupling, a revolving shaft, a booster pump, and a body. The body includes a chamber, a divider, and an end cover. The divider and the end cover are in fixed connection to the body, and the divider divides the chamber into a closed pumping chamber and a closed desalination and power generation chamber. The booster pump is disposed in the pumping chamber and is driven by the revolving shaft. The tidal current turbine is connected to the revolving shaft via the coupling. The desalination and power generation chamber includes a seawater pretreatment device, a seawater desalinating unit including an unsteady reverse osmosis membrane, a flow battery, and a controller. The booster pump is connected to the seawater pretreatment device via an inlet tube, and is connected to the seawater desalinating unit via an outlet tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Xiaohui SU, Guang ZHAO, Yan LIU
  • Patent number: 8911632
    Abstract: The invention relates to an oil combating boom (1), which comprises an elongated boom part, which at its first end is connectable to an oil combating vessel (10). At least one pontoon member (5) and a number of turnable transfer members (6) equipped with rotating blade members (9) have been arranged in connection with the elongated boom part. The invention further relates to a method for collecting oil from a polluted shore area, in which method an oil combating vessel is steered to the vicinity of the shore, the oil combating boom (1) is arranged to extend onto the polluted shore area, oil is transferred from the shore area into the water and steered in the water towards the final collecting space (11) by rotating the blade members (9) of the transfer members (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Oilwhale Oy
    Inventor: Markku Järvinen
  • Patent number: 8911619
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for capturing and removing oil from a body of water with equipment using rod and film technology, which includes a streamlined oil tank that moves in the water and collects surface oil from an attached skimmer, arrays of inverted funnels lowered into the water to concentrate oil for removal, and containment tents to capture leaking fuel or cargo oil from a sunken ship or any underwater oil leak and channel it into a partially submerged rod and film storage tank at the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Inventor: William R. Becker
  • Patent number: 8905677
    Abstract: The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems and methods by which one can safely and effectively store fluids in undersea environments. Fluid is stored in a flexible bladder that is at least partially enclosed in a vessel. The bladder is coupled to a support, which supports the weight of the bladder with the aid of a support driver. A sensor may be used to monitor the position of the support, allowing determination of the volume of the bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Savanna Hantz
  • Patent number: 8894810
    Abstract: A floating salt farm in which its purpose is to produce crystallized salt and bittern at offshore locations through the evaporation process using extracted seawater. The floating salt farm components can be consisted of a seawater tank, an evaporator tank, a heating tank, a deposit tank, a storage tank, and photovoltaic panels, which these components are installed onto the buoyant foundation. The evaporator tank component can consist of an evaporator plate and an evaporator bin. The evaporator plate, which captures the produced crystallized salt during the evaporation process, has a sieve surface. The contents inside the evaporator bin can affect the properties of the produced crystallized salt and bittern, such as their mineral compositions, during the evaporation process. The seawater can be extracted from desired water depths and/or in the proximity of volcanic sites, in which the seawater can have affected mineral compositions due to volcanic activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Pioli Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Jae Hyun Lim
  • Publication number: 20140339169
    Abstract: A reverse osmosis sub-sea desalination system is disclosed. The reverse osmosis system may include a reverse osmosis station configured to generate fresh water from salty water, a storage tank configured to store fresh water downstream of the reverse osmosis station, and a pump fluidly connected to the reverse osmosis station and the storage tank. The reverse osmosis station, the storage tank, and the pump may be disposed at one or more depths beneath a surface of a body of salty water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Fevzi ZEREN, Zekeriye KONUKOGLU
  • Publication number: 20140326680
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a unit for a salt water pool chlorinator that is arranged for water to flow therethrough. The unit is configured for an electrode assembly to be received therein and is arranged such that some of the water flows through the electrode assembly. The unit has a channel, defined by a barrier impermeable to water, arranged for some other of the water to flow through the channel. At least one port may be arranged at the channel whereby at least one of a sensor, a feeder and an extractor can use the port to respectively detect, feed into and extract water in the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventor: Emmanuel Mastio
  • Publication number: 20140263005
    Abstract: A deep ocean desalination system that uses hydrostatic pressure to reverse osmosis the seawater. The membrane structure is deployed to a predetermined ocean depth and includes a submersible pump system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Stephen K. Oney
  • Patent number: 8821720
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a filtering apparatus for treating ballast water. The apparatus is constructed so that a housing cover plate and an exhaust unit are removably coupled to each other at an upper position of a housing. The exhaust unit includes a base flange on a portion thereof coupled to the housing cover plate and the base flange includes a projecting step that projects to be inserted into a core through hole formed in the housing cover plate. A core serving as a discharge passage of foreign substances includes a shaft coupling unit on a portion thereof coupled to the driving shaft, and is coupled at the shaft coupling unit to the driving shaft via a coupling structure. The outer diameters of the coupling structure and the shaft coupling unit are formed to be smaller than the outer diameter of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Panasia Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soo-Tae Lee, Tae-Sung Pyo, Su-Kyu Lee
  • Patent number: 8821721
    Abstract: The oil recovery boom of the present invention is designed to collect great amounts of oil if used in conjunction with many other booms. The oil recovery boom includes a set of eductors, and removes the adjacent oil for extraction from the sea. A high pressure pump placed at one end of the boom takes water from the sea and pumps it through a flexible manifold. The manifold in turn provides water pressure to each eductor and, the oil carried with the water is then pumped into a barge or containment with overflow sections, which will then separate the oil from the water for later processing. Embodiments of the present invention adopts an array of eductors which can be positioned either in series or in parallel. The oil recovery boom of the present invention provides for the immediate and large-scale removal of oil from the sea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Luis Rafael Torres
  • Publication number: 20140224746
    Abstract: To clean sediments and the like trapped not only in a top layer of a sand filtration layer, but also in intermediate layers. A seawater infiltration method which uses a water infiltration intake unit which is formed in advance and provided with a water intake pipe embedded in a gravel layer which forms a deep layer of the sand filtration layer, and a backwashing pipe embedded in a sand layer which forms an intermediate layer and a surface layer of the sand filtration layer, and a water suction pipe which is disposed above the sand layer. A desired number of water infiltration intake units are combined to form a sand filtration layer at an installation site on an ocean floor, and they intake seawater from the sea which has undergone natural infiltration in the sand filtration layer and this is introduced into the water intake pipe. The seawater infiltration rate is set at less than 400 m/day.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicants: NAGAOKA CORPORATION, HITACHI ZOSEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki Niizato, Takayuki Inoue, Hironari Arai, Kiyokazu Mukai, Hitoshi Mimura
  • Patent number: 8805618
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting seawater contamination from an offshore hydrocarbon well facility comprising seabed wellheads connected by hydrocarbon conduits to a seabed pipeline head from which a hydrocarbon pipeline leads to a remote hydrocarbon receiving facility, each said wellhead being provided with a protective cover to which is removably attached a sensor unit, each said sensor unit comprising a biological sensor and a data transmitter coupled by a data transmission line to said remote facility, said well facility further comprising a seawater velocity sensor, a seawater conductivity sensor and a temperature sensor also coupled by a data transmission line, wherein data from said data transmission line is analysed to determine indicia of seawater contamination at said well facility and of the seawater flow at said well facility and thereby to provide a signal indicative of seawater contamination above a preselected limit deriving from said well facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Biota Guard AS
    Inventors: Odd Ketil Andersen, Steinar Sanni, Frank Blaker, Eirik Sønneland
  • Patent number: 8801938
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for recovering oil from a submerged oil source, wherein the system includes a submerged conduit having at least two openings, with a first opening capable of being located in proximity of a leak in order to capture leaking oil, and with a second opening capable of communicating captured leaking oil to another location. A natural gas separator, coupled to the submerged conduit separates the boiling vapor phase natural gas from the captured oil thereby outputting oil with water contaminant. An oil/water separator coupled to the natural gas separator then separates out the contaminant water, resulting in a processed recovered oil product for storage and subsequent refinement. The flow to capture the leak is induced by generating a lower pressure at nozzle in the conduit via power jet, air lift, pumping of fluid out of conduit close to sea level, or other methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventor: Dana R. Allen
  • Patent number: 8795520
    Abstract: An oil spill recovery vessel (10) is provided that comprises a catamaran bow section (12) with twin hulls between which an oil skimmer unit (11) is arranged for displacement between a lowered, operating, position in oil-polluted water and a raised, non-operational, position clear of the water. Aft of the catamaran bow section (12) is a trimaran main section (13) made up of a central hull interposed between two outer hulls formed by aft continuations of the twin hulls of the catamaran bow section (12); the three hulls of the trimaran main section have conjoined upper portions. A propulsion unit (53) is operative to move the vessel (10) forward at slow speed for skimming operations, and, with the skimmer unit (11) in its raised position, at a fast speed in which the vessel planes on its trimaran main section (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Gobbler Oil Spill Recovery Ltd.
    Inventors: Paul Jauncey, Jose Suarez
  • Patent number: 8784653
    Abstract: A filter-anchor for placement on a sea floor is provided. It includes a filter housing for filtering sea water prior to entry into a water desalinization system. The filter housing has an exterior, an interior chamber, at least one inlet for providing the sea water to the interior chamber, and at least one outlet for enabling filtered water to be pumped from the interior chamber. A sand filter is disposed in the filter housing. The filter housing has at least one water conduction outlet conduit for filtered water to be pumped to the desalinization system. A wave energy conversion system utilizing the filter anchor is also provided to effect the pumping of the filtered water to the desalinization system. A method of anchoring a wave energy conversion system and providing filtered water to a desalinization system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Murtech, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Murtha, Michael E. McCormick, Mark Washington
  • Publication number: 20140197113
    Abstract: A mobile HEB and TEP mitigation device includes a mobile body capable of movement within or upon a body of water. Located within the mobile body is a hydrodynamic separation system which includes a water inlet, a hydrodynamic separation unit and a collection tank. The hydrodynamic separation unit includes two outputs, one for a clean stream output line containing clean water and arranged to re-circulate the clean water, and another for a concentrate stream output line, the concentrate stream output line configured to place concentrated water containing potentially harmful bio-organic materials into the collection tank. Also included on the mobile body is a power source and an engine/steering unit, wherein the steering portion of the engine/steering unit provides a capacity to move the mobile body in an intended direction. The mitigation device may also be used as an embedded part of an on-shore arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Armin R. Volkel, Meng H. Lean, Norine E. Chang, Huangpin B. Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8778176
    Abstract: A potable water producing system for disposition at a body of salt water and a method of producing potable water is provided. The system includes a wave energy conversion system (AWECS) and a portable filtration-anchor system. The AWECS is in the form of a floating articulated barge housing a desalination system including a reverse osmosis membrane. The filtration-anchor system is submerged in the body of salt water and includes a sand filter to filter the adjacent salt water and to provide the filtered salt water to the desalination system on the articulated barge. The action of the waves on the articulated barge provides energy to pump the filtered salt water from the sand filter to the reverse osmosis member to produce potable water. Moreover, the action of the waves on the articulated barge effects the shaking of the reverse osmosis filter, thereby rendering it self-cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Murtech, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Murtha, Michael E. McCormick, Mark K. Washington
  • Publication number: 20140190900
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating contaminated water and may include an inlet, configured to receive contaminated water from a body of water. The contaminated water may include one or more pollutants (such as oil), and the apparatus may be configured to provide for separating those pollutant(s) from water to provide recovered pollutant(s) (e.g. recovered oil) and treated water. The apparatus may also include a water outlet for returning treated water to a body of water. In some examples, the apparatus comprises a separation volume, having inner and outer chamber, which can be used to separate rotating contaminated water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Rotech Group Limited
    Inventor: Kenneth Roderick Stewart
  • Publication number: 20140175021
    Abstract: Provided are a system and a method for treating ballast water for a ship, the system including a rotary filtration apparatus including a filter that is cylindrically formed so as to surround an axis, that is rotatable around the axis, and that has a pleated shape that is folded in a cylinder radial direction; and an electric motor for rotating the filter. A distance between the cleaning nozzle and a recess of the filter is 120 mm or less. The system and the method are configured to perform a steady-state operation that satisfies the following conditions a to d: a) a rotation speed of the filter during a filtering operation is in the range of 20 to 100 rpm, b) a flow speed of cleaning water ejected from the cleaning nozzle is 250 m/min or more, c) a flow rate of filtered water per unit area of the filter is 5.1 m/h or less, and d) a flow rate of discharged water discharged from the discharge channel is 5% of the flow rate of filtered water or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Munetsugu Ueyama, Isao Ozawa, Kenichiro Miyatake, Ryusuke Nakai
  • Patent number: 8753521
    Abstract: An offshore water-hydrocarbon separator system is capable of entrapping spilled oil offshore, and recovering the oil to a usable state for subsequent refining. The kinetic energy of a towing vessel provides the energy for establishing a flow path of oil and seawater through the hydrocarbon separator. Annular venturi provided at each successive stage in the separator accelerate a core flow of sea water substantially down the center of the flow path, while drag associated with aggregated oil particles forces oil outward, away from the core, to flow along the walls of each stage. The energy that establishes the core flow of water is provided by the kinetic energy of the surface vessel and the acceleration of core flow at each successive venturi. No other source of energy is needed to induce the water hydrocarbon separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Inventor: Namon A. Hawthorne
  • Patent number: 8741133
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon removal apparatus includes a plurality of fibers and a backing substrate. Each of the plurality of fibers includes a proximal end and a distal end. Each proximal end is secured to the backing substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Abanaki Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Thomas Hobson
  • Patent number: 8721878
    Abstract: A subsurface hydrocarbon capture apparatus having a filtration member connected to a mouth frame, wherein the filtration member is composed of a material that is hydrophobic and lipophilic, the apparatus having buoyancy and weight members to maintain the apparatus in a subsurface disposition when pulled by a boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Inventors: Mark D. Shaw, J. Tad Heyman
  • Patent number: 8721897
    Abstract: An oil collecting apparatus and a corresponding method for collecting oil from the surface of water, the oil collecting apparatus includes a set of oil booms (3) coupled to form a long line of oil booms. The line of oil booms includes, at a distance from each other, a number of anchorage points (4) for anchoring the oil boom (3) onto the sea bed and, in addition, between the anchorage points and in conjunction with the oil boom there is an oil collecting station (5) for collecting the oil directed by the booms from the surface of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: M&L Patent Oy Ab
    Inventor: Lars Ingram Lundin
  • Patent number: 8715496
    Abstract: A system for altering water properties in an outdoor body of water includes a holding vessel configured to hold water. The holding vessel has at least one wall extending above a mean surface water level. The system also includes at least one conduit extending downward from the holding vessel. The at least one conduit has a length extending to a depth at which at least one property of water at the depth differs substantially from that of water at the surface. The system further includes at least one aperture formed in at least one of the holding vessel or the at least one conduit and located at a distance below the mean surface water level. Further still, the system includes at least one one way valve coupled to the at least one aperture and allowing flow of water in only one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, Kenneth G. Caldeira, Alistair K. Chan, William H. Gates, III, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, John Latham, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Stephen H. Salter, Clarence T. Tegreene, Willard H. Wattenburg, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood