Patent ID: 9150290
Filing Date: 2015-10-06
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
1. A ballast system for a marine structure, comprising: a ballast tank; a pump comprising a pump inlet and a pump outlet, wherein the ballast system provides a first operating condition, in which the first operating condition is a fluid pumped from the pump inlet to the pump outlet, a first inlet conduit assembly in fluid communication between the ballast tank and the pump inlet, a recirculation conduit assembly in fluid communication with the pump inlet and the pump outlet, wherein the recirculation conduit transfers the fluid from the pump outlet to the pump inlet to reduce an air concentration of the fluid at the pump inlet when the air concentration of the fluid at the pump inlet is above a predetermined value, a second inlet conduit assembly in fluid communication with an auxiliary system, a cyclone separator coupled to the recirculation conduit assembly, wherein the ballast system provides fluid communication between the second inlet conduit assembly and the pump inlet during the first operating condition.