Body Of Saltwater (e.g., Sea, Ocean, Etc.) Patents (Class 210/170.11)
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Patent number: 12173729Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 6, 2022Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: Natural Ocean Well Co.Inventor: Robert A. Bergstrom
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Patent number: 12168967Abstract: A power take-off device for use in a wave energy converter unit having a buoy includes a power take-off hull connectable to a mooring device, and connected to or connectable to the buoy, preferably by a link rope, and a power extracting device adapted to extract power as the buoy moves with the waves, by applying up to a predetermined maximum control force. A two-stage end-stop cushioning system comprises a first stage end-stop cushioning device having a first fluid cylinder adapted to apply an additional deceleration force on the device above the maximum control force, and a second stage end-stop cushioning device adapted to be extended like a spring in an end-stop operation after the first stage has been activated and when the power take-off force is higher than the above the maximum control force, to hold the buoy submerged through the crest of a large wave.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2022Date of Patent: December 17, 2024Assignee: Ocean Harvesting Technologies ABInventors: Mikael Sidenmark, Markus Wallentin
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Patent number: 12043556Abstract: A system for desalinating water is disclosed. The system comprises a subsea reverse osmosis unit located beneath the surface of a body of water, a first liquid column comprising seawater, a second liquid column comprising desalinated water with a salinity less than seawater, and a brine discharge outlet. Due to the difference in density between the seawater and the desalinated water, the gravitational hydrostatic pressure of the first liquid column may be greater than the gravitational hydrostatic pressure of the second liquid column. At least a portion of the pressure difference for reverse osmosis desalination may be provided by the difference in gravitational hydrostatic pressure between the first liquid column and the second liquid column. A significant reduction in desalination energy consumption may be enabled by discharging the brine at an elevation lower than the maximum elevation of the first liquid column or the second liquid column.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2022Date of Patent: July 23, 2024Inventor: Ethan Novek
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Patent number: 11904276Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 24, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: International Battery Metals, Ltd.Inventor: John L. Burba
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Patent number: 11718549Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 13, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITYInventors: Wenjun Sun, Jingdong Shi
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Patent number: 11326625Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 9, 2018Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: NATURAL OCEAN WELL CO.Inventor: Robert A. Bergstrom
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Patent number: 11198097Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 15, 2016Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: TREVI SYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Qiang Wei, John Webley, Elliott Baker, Gary Carmignani
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Patent number: 11143009Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 8, 2021Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Texas Institute of Science, Inc.Inventors: Lovrenc Novak, Martin Petkovsek, Simon Oman, Marko Nagode, Jernej Klemenc, Franc Madjic, Marko Hocevar, Ales Gosar, Laslo Olah
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Patent number: 11026344Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 22, 2018Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: DOWNUNDER GEOSOLUTIONS PTY LTD.Inventors: Stuart D. Midgley, Mark Lommers
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Patent number: 10487962Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 30, 2018Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Sustainable Ocean Systems, Inc.Inventor: Kenneth Ostebo
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Patent number: 10413898Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 5, 2018Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and CompanyInventors: Jamieson W. Crawford, Christopher A. Battles
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Patent number: 10138144Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 16, 2016Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Inventors: Un Young Lim, Jeong Seo Lim
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Patent number: 10107274Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 28, 2013Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi, Rabea Ahyad
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Patent number: 10087083Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 27, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF GEOSCIENCE AND MINERAL RESOURCESInventors: Kang-Sup Chung, Byoung-Gyu Kim, Taegong Ryu, Jungho Ryu, In-Su Park, Hye-Jin Hong
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Patent number: 9822605Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 14, 2017Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Inventor: Karan Jerath
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Patent number: 9488038Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 10, 2011Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: ENI S.P.A.Inventors: Giambattista De Ghetto, Paolo Andreussi
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Patent number: 9416632Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 9, 2013Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: Total SAInventors: Van-Khoi Vu, Jean-Claude Bourguignon, Hubert Rossano, Guillaume Vaillant
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Patent number: 9045209Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignees: Sanko Tekstil Isletmeleri Sanayi VE Ticaret A.S.Inventors: Fevzi Zeren, Zekeriye Konukoglu
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Publication number: 20150144562Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2013Publication date: May 28, 2015Inventor: Brent Richard Constantz
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Publication number: 20150136670Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2014Publication date: May 21, 2015Applicant: Seatower ASInventors: Sigurd Ramslie, Petter J. Karal
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Patent number: 9034182Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 22, 2011Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventor: Lee Nickey Morgenthaler
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Patent number: 9017548Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 16, 2014Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Inventor: Jung Ho Lee
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Patent number: 9011680Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 24, 2010Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Norlense ASInventor: Terje Olav Hansen
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Patent number: 8986548Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 1, 2012Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Inventor: Thomas T. K. Zung
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Patent number: 8986547Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 12, 2012Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Inventor: Michael J. Baccigalopi
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Publication number: 20150076081Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2013Publication date: March 19, 2015Applicant: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: Dennis James Laslo, Raymond R. Gansley
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Patent number: 8955546Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 20, 2010Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLCInventors: Eduardo Vom, Richard Allman, Samuel Ross Garland Lanyon, Stuart Elliott
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Patent number: 8939105Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 25, 2013Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Inventor: Sean David Rast
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Patent number: 8920643Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 14, 2010Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Technische Universität BerlinInventors: Günther Clauss, Florian Sprenger
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Publication number: 20140374330Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2014Publication date: December 25, 2014Inventors: Xiaohui SU, Guang ZHAO, Yan LIU
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Patent number: 8911632Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 19, 2010Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Oilwhale OyInventor: Markku Järvinen
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Patent number: 8911619Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 16, 2014Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Inventor: William R. Becker
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Patent number: 8905677Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 15, 2012Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Fluor Technologies CorporationInventor: Savanna Hantz
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Patent number: 8894810Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 28, 2012Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Pioli Systems Inc.Inventor: Jae Hyun Lim
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Publication number: 20140339169Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2013Publication date: November 20, 2014Inventors: Fevzi ZEREN, Zekeriye KONUKOGLU
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Publication number: 20140326680Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2014Publication date: November 6, 2014Inventor: Emmanuel Mastio
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Publication number: 20140263005Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Inventor: Stephen K. Oney
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Patent number: 8821720Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 18, 2010Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Panasia Co., Ltd.Inventors: Soo-Tae Lee, Tae-Sung Pyo, Su-Kyu Lee
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Patent number: 8821721Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 26, 2011Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Inventor: Luis Rafael Torres
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Publication number: 20140224746Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2012Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicants: NAGAOKA CORPORATION, HITACHI ZOSEN CORPORATIONInventors: Hideyuki Niizato, Takayuki Inoue, Hironari Arai, Kiyokazu Mukai, Hitoshi Mimura
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Patent number: 8801938Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 3, 2011Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Inventor: Dana R. Allen
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Patent number: 8805618Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 24, 2008Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Biota Guard ASInventors: Odd Ketil Andersen, Steinar Sanni, Frank Blaker, Eirik Sønneland
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Patent number: 8795520Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 10, 2011Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Gobbler Oil Spill Recovery Ltd.Inventors: Paul Jauncey, Jose Suarez
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Patent number: 8784653Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 27, 2013Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Murtech, Inc.Inventors: Robert Murtha, Michael E. McCormick, Mark Washington
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Publication number: 20140197113Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2013Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATEDInventors: Armin R. Volkel, Meng H. Lean, Norine E. Chang, Huangpin B. Hsieh
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Patent number: 8778176Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 26, 2013Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Murtech, Inc.Inventors: Robert Murtha, Michael E. McCormick, Mark K. Washington
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Publication number: 20140190900Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2012Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: Rotech Group LimitedInventor: Kenneth Roderick Stewart
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Publication number: 20140175021Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2013Publication date: June 26, 2014Inventors: Munetsugu Ueyama, Isao Ozawa, Kenichiro Miyatake, Ryusuke Nakai
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Patent number: 8753521Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 9, 2011Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Inventor: Namon A. Hawthorne
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Patent number: 8741133Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 5, 2010Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Abanaki CorporationInventor: Mark Thomas Hobson