Collection Receptacles for Gases

Abstract

A gas collection receptacle includes a segmented top portion and one or more side portions creating a volume for collecting gases. The gas collection receptacle, configured to float on a pond, lagoon, or other area, also includes interlocking side and end portions enabling multiple receptacles to connect, thus forming a substantially continuous covering.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/189,784, filed Aug. 23, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to collection of gaseous byproducts. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to collection of methane produced by lagoons, ponds, lakes, wells, and other retention facilities.

2. Related Technology

Many industrial operations and municipalities use ponds, lagoons, and other retention areas for detention and retention of waste materials collected over time. These ponds, lagoons, and retention areas include, for example, sewage lagoons, ponds where animal waste such as manure is collected, and landfills. Such areas, when left uncovered, release polluting gases into the atmosphere. Certain other fluid retention areas, such as natural gas wells on land and in the ocean, swampy areas, and other ponds and lakes that contain high concentrations of organic matter, also release polluting gases when left uncovered. These polluting gases, or byproducts, are often harmful to the environment and detrimental to air quality.

Two of the byproducts commonly released from these retention areas are ammonia and methane. Ammonia may be released into the atmosphere during the process of managing manure produced by abattoirs and other cattle-related industries. For example, manure is often treated by windrowing the manure, which is then digested aerobically. While this aerobic digestion produces solids that can be sold as soil compost, aeration of windrows during the digestion process can release substantial amounts of ammonia into the air, thus negatively affecting air quality.

Like ammonia, methane is commonly released from waste containment lagoons and ponds, and other sources, directly into the atmosphere. Unlike ammonia, however, methane has many uses, some of which deserve particular consideration considering the current energy crisis, particularly because methane is a viable energy source that can be used in motorized vehicles and other applications. Thus, methane has an economic value making the collection of methane more attractive to industries and municipalities. Because the United States produces large amounts of animal manure each year (estimates put U.S. production of animal manure at between 1.4 and 2 trillion pounds), conversion of animal waste to methane by anaerobic digestion, and subsequent collection of methane, could provide immeasurable economic and energy benefits.

In order to mitigate the effects of releasing methane directly into the atmosphere, certain products for containing methane over ponds and lagoons have been developed. For example, manure digestion ponds may be covered with a heavy tarp anchored to a concrete strip that surrounds the pond. Unfortunately, such tarp systems are expensive, heavy, and cumbersome, and placement and removal of such systems is labor intensive.

What is needed are systems that provide large collection vessels that can be used to collect methane from waste ponds and other areas, and to prevent gaseous emissions from exiting such areas directly into the atmosphere.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention include plastic gas collection receptacles configured to contain gases emitted from ponds, lagoons, and other areas. Gas collection receptacles of the present invention are lightweight and easy to place and remove, as needed. The gas collection receptacles also incorporate an interlocking design to allow multiple collection receptacles to fit together securely over a ponds or lagoon. Moreover, the gas collection receptacles of the present invention allow gases to be removed from the receptacles for use in a variety of applications.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further clarify the above and other aspects of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The drawings are not drawn to scale. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a gas collection receptacle;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of a gas collection receptacle;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a gas collection receptacle; and

FIG. 4 shows an end view of a gas collection receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention include receptacles for collection and containment of methane and other gases. In one embodiment of the invention, receptacles are configured to cover ponds, lagoons, and other sources of methane and other gases. The methane and other gases are retained within the receptacle and can be collected from the receptacle for use or disposal.

With attention now to FIG. 1, an isometric view of gas collection receptacle 100 is shown. In one embodiment of the invention, gas collection receptacle 100 has a substantially rectangular shape. Top portion 102 connects to side portions 104, 106, 108, and 110, which hold top portion 102 a certain distance up from the surface of the pond, lagoon, or other area, thus creating a receptacle 100 having a certain volume for gas collection. In addition, receptacle 100 includes longitudinal ridge 112 and lateral ridges 114 that create segments, such as segments 116. Although FIG. 1 shows longitudinal ridge 112 and lateral ridges 114, any configuration of receptacle 100 is incorporated in embodiments of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention include receptacles 100 having any length and any number of segments 116 and ridges 112 and 114.

In addition to ridges 112 and 114, receptacle 100 includes interlocking end portions 118 and interlocking side portions 120. Further, in one embodiment of the invention receptacle 100 includes a venting device (not shown) for facilitating the removal of methane and other gases from the receptacle 100.

In operation, receptacle 100 can be floated on ponds and lagoons to collect and retain methane. For example, receptacle 100 can be used to cover sewage lagoons, ponds where animal waste such as manure is digested anaerobically, garbage landfills, uncapped natural gas wells on land and in the ocean, swampy areas, and other ponds, lakes, and the like that contain high concentrations of organic matter. Receptacle 100 can be made of a variety of different materials, such as, for example, hard plastic (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (“ABS”) or polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”)) or soft plastic. Configuration of receptacle 100 in this way creates a gas receptacle that is lightweight, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and can be easily installed and removed from gas production locations such as those listed above.

In addition, multiple receptacles 100 may be used to cover a pond, lagoon, or other gas-producing area. When multiple receptacles 100 are used to cover an area, interlocking end portions 118 of one receptacle are configured to connection to interlocking end portions 118 of another receptacle, and interlocking side portions 120 of one receptacle are configured to connect to interlocking side portion 120 of still another receptacle, thus effectively creating a stable, continuous covering over the area. In this way, receptacles 100 may be configured alone or in combination to create a continuous covering shaped to cover any area.

With attention now to FIG. 2, a top view of receptacle 200 is shown. Receptacle 200 includes longitudinal ridge 202, extending along the length of the receptacle, and lateral ridges 204, extending across the width of the receptacle. Further, receptacle 200 includes side portions 206 and end portion 208. In one embodiment of the invention, side portions 206 are interlocking side portions configured to interlock with side portions of another receptacle when multiple receptacles are placed adjacent each other in a side-by-side configuration. Likewise, in one embodiment of the invention end portions 208 are configured to interlock with end portions of another receptacle (not shown) when multiple receptacles are placed adjacent each other in an end-to-end configuration.

Looking now at FIG. 3, FIG. 3 shows a side view of a receptacle 300. Receptacle 300 includes a first end portion 302 and a second end portion 304. Each of first end portion 302 and second end portion 304 is configured to connect to end portions of another receptacle (not shown) when multiple receptacles are placed next to each other. In this way, end portions 302 and 304 are interlocking ends of receptacle 300.

Like end portions 302 and 304 of receptacle 300, FIG. 4 shows side portions 402 and 404 of receptacle 400 that also interlock when multiple receptacles are placed side by side and/or end to end. FIG. 4 also shows how, in one embodiment of the invention, gas receptacle 400 has a concave shape, as shown by contour line 406.

Although not shown in the Figures described above, it is to be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention include gas receptacles having vents or vent attachments for removing gases collected within the gas receptacle. Such vents may be of sufficient height to enable separation of multiple gases collected in the vent and may be attachable and detachable from the gas receptacle.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. A gas collection receptacle, comprising:

a top portion and one or more side portions attaching to the top portion creating a volume, wherein the top portion and one or more side portions are configured in a substantially rectangular shape;

one or more end portions extending from an end of the one or more side portions, the end portions having a curved shaped and being configured to connect in an interlocking arrangement; and,

the receptacle being configured to collect gases emitted from the surface of waste deposit sites, bodies of water, and areas containing relatively high concentrations of organic matter.

2. The gas collection receptacle recited in claim 1, further comprising:

one or more longitudinal ridges extending along the length of the top portion of the collection receptacle; and,

one or more lateral ridges extending along the width of the top portion of the collection receptacle, the longitudinal ridges and lateral ridges creating segments in the collection receptacle.

3. The gas collection receptacle recited in claim 2, wherein the one or more lateral ridges further extend along the width of the side portions of the collection receptacle.

4. The gas collection receptacle as recited in claim 1, wherein the receptacle is configured to float on the surface of a body of liquid.

5. The gas collection receptacle as recited in claim 1, wherein the receptacle is configured of a soft plastic.

6. The gas collection receptacle as recited in claim 1, wherein the receptacle is configured of one of: acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (“ABS”); or, polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”).

7. The gas collection receptacle as recited in claim 1, wherein the end portions are configured in a squared C-shape manner.

8. The gas collection receptacle as recited in claim 1, wherein two or more collection receptacles can be arranged by positioning the receptacles in any side-by-side or end-to-end arrangement and engaging the interlocking end portions of the side by side-by-side or end-to-end receptacles to create a continuous covering that can be configured to substantially cover the surface of any area.