Abstract: A shipboard system 200 to process contaminated water and exchange commands and data with a remote facility. The shipboard system includes a separation system 10, controller 202, and a communication unit 204. The separation system includes a separator 16, oil accumulator 18, coalescer 20, and a pump 24. The controller 202 is coupled to the separation system 10 and is operable to acquire data relating to processing of contaminated water and can utilize commands received by the communication system 204 to permit remote control of the separation system. The communication unit transmits the data via satellite or other wireless transmission to a command center 212. The shipboard system can also include a global position system which can be used by the controller to inhibit the discharge of contaminated liquids when the ship is in protected waters.

Abstract: A separation system (10) for immiscible liquids such as oil and water. The system is particularly useful for treating bilge water on ships. The system includes a bilge water holding tank (12), pre-filter tank (14), separator (16), oil accumulator (18), coalescer (20), air refining chamber (22), and pump (24). Oily water is drawn by pump (24) from holding tank (12) and is then processed sequentially through pre-filter tank (14), separator (16), and coalescer (20) and can thereafter be pumped overboard. Separator (16) and coalescer (20) are disposed at an inclined angle so that the oil will float upwards and out into oil accumulator (18) and refining chamber (22). At each stage in the process, oil is separated out from the water and accumulates at the surface of the water in pre-filter tank (14), oil accumulator (18), and refining chamber (22). Using a second pump (28), the accumulated oil can be intermittently or continuously pumped from these vessels into a waste oil holding tank (26).

Abstract: A method and apparatus that allows the removal of solid material from a workpiece utilizes a high velocity stream of ice which is caused to impinge on the workpiece. A working liquid, such as water, is supplied at high pressure to a discharge nozzle with an orifice for forming the needle-like stream. The water is cooled before it reaches the nozzle to a temperature below its freezing point so that at least some of the stream is transformed to ice. Optionally, the stream is cooled after it is emitted from the orifice by flowing an envelope of cryogenic gas around the emitted stream. The apparatus includes an inner conduit that carries the working liquid through a cutting tool where the liquid is at least partially solidified by an evaporator that utilizes a cryogenic fluid to cool the working liquid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that allows the removal of solid material from a workpiece utilizes a high velocity stream of ice which is caused to impinge on the workpiece. A working liquid, such as water, is supplied at high pressure to a discharge nozzle with an orifice for forming the needle-like stream. The water is cooled before it reaches the nozzle to a temperature below its freezing point so that at least some of the stream is transformed to ice. Optionally, the stream is cooled after it is emitted from the orifice by flowing an envelope of cryogenic gas around the emitted stream.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for removing solid material from a workpiece by using a high velocity stream of ice which is caused to impinge on the workpiece. A working liquid, such as water, is supplied at high pressure to a discharge nozzle with an orifice for forming the needle-like stream. The water is cooled before it reaches the nozzle to a temperature below its freezing point so that at least some of the stream is transformed to ice. Optionally, the stream is cooled after it is emitted from the orifice by flowing an envelope of cryogenic gas around the emitted stream.

Abstract: Tube bundle cleaning apparatus is disclosed in which cleaning is effected by high pressure water jets impinging upon the tubes of the bundle. The tube bundle is supported on power rollers and a pair of carriages are disposed on opposite sides of the bundle. Each carriage supports a rotatable cleaning head and a non-rotatable cleaning head, both of which are adjustably positionable on the carriage for obtaining optimum location relative to different size tube bundles. The non-rotatable cleanig head includes plural sets of jet nozzles, each set being adjustable in the vertical direction to provide optimum spacing relative to different size tubes to be cleaned. The carriages are mounted on respective tracks for reversibly traversing the tube bundle in repeated cycles to clean a selected swath of the bundle. When the selected swath is cleaned, the tube bundle is rotated to another angular position by the power rollers for cleaning of another swath. The process is repeated until the entire tube bundle is cleaned.