Method to clean up oil spills or similar substances and a device to practice this method

A method and a device to clean up oil spills or similar substances. Sorbent material for oil or similar products is blown out by means of an air current on to the oil via a spreading duct through a spreading opening. The sorbent material is brought to sorb the oil and oil and sorbent material is sucked up by means of a suction opening via a suction duct to a receptacle.

The present invention relates to a method to clean up oil spills or simular 
substances. 
The present invention also relates to a device for performing the method to 
clean up oil spills or similar. 
Combat and clean up of oil on shores are, at the present time characterized 
by manual work involving simple tools and a lot of people during a long 
time. Where possible the contaminated part of the shore is taken away. 
Reeds are cut off. Grass, seaweeds, sand, flotsam and jetsam are raked up. 
This yields great amounts of waste mixed with oil. Boulders and rocky 
shores are brushed clean or cleaned with high-pressure jets of water. 
Clean up work on shorelines demands a great deal of time and manpower and 
is to a great extent dirtying. Simple tools are used like bag nets, 
spades, forks, rakes, etc. 
Clean up on shores means great problems of transport. The collected waste 
is put in sacks or barrels and hampered to a central meeting point where 
the waste is put in large containers so that trucks can pick it up and 
take it to land fills, refuse dumps or incineration sites. Here separation 
of oil and waste is often tried. 
The most common used clean up method in Sweden is cleaning with hot water 
hoses. This means that oil on rocky shores is washed off with 
high-pressure hot water hoses. The oil pours with the hot water into the 
water, spreading of the oil is prevented with a boom and the oil is 
recovered with any kind of sorbent material. 
This known method is rather intensive, demands many preparing measures on 
the spill site, a lot of equipment and is rather slow. 
Some people also think it is bad for the environment mainly by three 
reasons: 
1. Severe damage to flora and fauna where the water jet hits the ground. 
2. The shore line (littoral zone), which is very sensitive, is contaminated 
by the washed off oil. 
3. All oil pouring into the water is not sorbed by the sorbent. 
The purpose with this invention is to eliminate the trouble with the 
present technology at recovery of spill during combat and cleanup. 
Another purpose is that the invention shall result in equipment which is 
easy available such as sludge pump trucks. 
Combat and cleanup of oil on shores can be divided into the following 
sequences of operation: 
1. Spreading 
2. Mixing with oil 
3. Recovery 
4. Storage of recovered oil 
5. Disposal 
The object of the invention is to make these sequences of operations easier 
and remove oil or similar substances from the ground, such as shores. The 
purpose of the invention is to do this in an easy, effective and 
laboursaving way. 
The object of the present invention is achieved by the method which is 
characterized by that sorbent material for oil or similar products is 
blown out by means of an air current on to the oil via at least one 
spreading duct through a spreading opening, that the sorbent material is 
brought to sorb the oil and that oil and sorbent material is sucked up by 
means of a suction opening via a suction duct to a receptacle. 
The object of the present invention is also achieved by the device which is 
characterized by that for the cleaning up there is utilized a device 
arranged to by means of an air current via at least a spreading hose and 
through a spreading opening spread out a sorbent material for oil and 
similar products for sorbtion of oil or similar and a device in order to 
suck up the mixture of oil and sorbent material as formed through a 
suction opening via a suction hose to a receptacle.

The oil recovery equipment shown in FIG. 1 is designed as a device 
reminding of a blasting device. The device consists of a blast part 1 with 
a unit 2. From the unit high pressure air is transported in an air pipe to 
a nozzle 4. From this unit 2 to the nozzle also leads an air pipe for 
transportation of the treatment material or blasting grit for mechanical 
treatment of oil on surfaces, where the oil is. To this transportation air 
is also used from the unit 2 out into the pipe 5. The unit 2 represents an 
air compressor, a feed tank for sorbent material and a feeding out device 
for feeding this from the tank out in the pipe 5. The feeder can for 
example be a feed screw, a rotary vane feeder or similar. According to the 
invention the treatment material consists of sorbent material which is 
given motion energy by the compressed air. The equipment also consists of 
a suction unit 6 for recovery and storage of the so formed mixture of oil 
and sorbent. From the nozzle 4 leads a pipe 7 to the tank 8. The unit 6 
represents an air ejector and a storage tank. This means that the air 
compressor in the unit 2 can be used also to create the necessary vaccum 
in the air ejector in the suction unit. The mixture of oil and sorbent is 
sucked through the nozzle and pipe and is emptied in the tank 8. This tank 
can be just a tank or built as a silo with a valve in the bottom so that 
the tank can be emptied into a sack or container. The sack is easily 
exchangeable and the tank is easy to empty of its content. 
The invention is intended for outside use all around the year at more or 
less distant spill sites. On shores there are most of all demands of high 
flexibility and long hoses. 
The treatment material for this invention is a sorbent material for oils, 
chemicals or similar substances. A choice can be made from any of the 
common sorbents which exists as granulate, such as crushed light concicle, 
pumice stone, expanded pearlite, grind pine bark, peat moss or sawdust. 
The oil recovery equipment in FIG. 2 consists of the main components, 
working platform 10, spreading device 11, recovery (suction) device 12, 
nozzles 13, 14, storage for recovered oil 15, sorbent material 16 and 
power pack 17. 
The equipment is to be transported on land and at sea. All equipment can be 
transported to and from the spill site by truck or by ship/boat/barge. The 
floating working platform can also carry all equipment. The main 
components can be transported to the quay side by truck or by barrow for 
loading on board. The equipment is mainly stationary on board but it can 
be carried or loaded ashore and so the equipment can operate without the 
ship/boat/barge. 
The working platform 10 is a separate area on the spill site, e.g. a barge, 
but can also be a truck, ship or boat. 
The spreading device 11 consists of a blow-fan or blast device which 
spreads sorbent material through nozzle 13 with such a speed and pressure 
(=motion energy) that the sorbent penetrates, absorbs and mixes with the 
oil. The oil is hereby removed from the ground. Thinner oil layers, 
millimeters and centimeters thick can be blasted away from the ground. 
From the filling-up part, where sorbent material is filled up, e.g. 
through a funnel or can, it is transported by compressed air through a 
hose 18 to the nozzle 13. To this nozzle 13, a separate hose with 
compressed air can be connected (corresponding to the pipe 3 in FIG. 1). 
This hose can, if needed, improve the "blast effect" by giving more 
pressure and speed to the sorbent material. The air pressure at the nozzle 
can thus be controlled. The controllable air pressure can be used under 
low pressure for example to cover an area with sorbents. (If it is not 
possible for example by lack of time in a restricted area for birds, the 
contaminated site can be covered with sorbents before a possible later 
cleanup.) 
The spreading is operated by two persons. One stands at the filling-up part 
filling up sorbents. The other person handles the nozzle and spreads the 
sorbent. 
The suction device 12 is meant to such the mixture of oil and sorbent. The 
mixture can also contain water, grass, sand, etc. The suction device 
consists of an air ejector producing the necessary vaccum and a storage 
tank 20, where air is separated and the oily waste is collected. The tank 
is designed as a silo with a valve in the bottom through which the silo 
can be emptied. The valve opens when the supply air is closed. To the tank 
is connected a suction hose 21 and is in its outer end connected to a 
suction nozzle 14. 
The suction device 12 is operated by one person standing at the suction 
hose 14. Emptying the silo can be done without the operator leaving his 
place. 
The storage tank is equipped with a rig and/or support legs to fit with the 
plastic sacks. The tank can be placed either on a container or directly on 
the shore. 
The nozzles 13 and 14 belonging to the spreading and suction equipment are 
specially designed. Two main types can be used. The first one is shown in 
FIGS. 1 and 3. This type is a combined nozzle 4. The two functions 
spreading and suction are combined in one single nozzle handled by one 
person. This nozzle reminds of a blast-nozzle fitted with return suck. The 
two combined nozzles 4 and 23 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 are functioning in 
the same way. 
In FIG. 3 the nozzle is somewhat modified with an angled part down in the 
lower part. Fitted to the suction opening 24 of the nozzle are bellows or 
a screen 25. With this part the nozzle can be close to the oil spill 26 on 
the ground 27. The nozzle 22 according to FIG. 3 shows two mainly coaxial 
pipes. The inner pipe 28 spreads the granulated sorbent of suitable size 
by compressed air through a spreading opening. The other pipe 30 shall 
such the mixture of oil and sorbent. The inner pipe 28 is to be connected 
to the suction hoses 3 and 5 shown in FIG. 1. The outer pipe is to be 
connected to the suction hose 7. Like in the example according to FIG. 3 
all pipes to and from the nozzle 4 and 22 are hoses, i.e. bendable and 
easy to handle. 
The other type of nozzle unit 13 and 14 is shown in FIG. 2 with the above 
described performance. FIG. 4 shows a simplified partial view of the 
nozzle unit 13, 14. Here is a separate blow-out nozzle 13 for spreading 
sorbent through the spreading opening 31 and another separate 
suction-nozzle 14 for suction of the mixture of oil and sorbent 7 through 
the suction opening 32. This second type is handled with the two nozzles 
13, 14 mechanically separated and independent of each other, suitably by 
two persons, one for each nozzle. By controlling the air pressure and the 
motion energy of the sorbent this can on one hand result in high 
blast-effect so the oil spill sorbed by the sorbent is removed in any 
desired direction and on the other hand result in coverng a spill site 
with sorbent using low air pressure. By this the spill site can be cleaned 
up part by part and the mixture is sucked by the other nozzle as the 
cleaning up work proceeds. 
The storage of recovered oil is according to FIG. 2 a container and 
according to FIG. 1 a plastic sack. The sack is tightened at the lower 
part of the storage tank. The plastic sacks are then transported to a 
boat, truck or container. After the oily waste once is collected in 
containers it can be transported away to land fills for disposal or can be 
used as a fuel for example for heating. 
In the present invention the treatment material is sorbent material for 
oils, chemicals or similar substances. Such a sorbent is functioning in 
two ways. It is porous and can absorb oil (absorption). It has also a big 
area, at which oil can stick (adsoprtion). 
The amount of sorbent that is needed varies, but at least two parts are 
needed of sorbent material to sorb one part oil. 
For this invention the most important property of the sorbent is that it 
makes the mixture not sticky and thus the mixture can be transported by 
compressed air through long hoses without them being plugged. 
The power supply needed in this system can vary depending on different 
applications. The suction equipment must be supplied by an air compressor. 
All other devices can be supplied by air, electricity or hydraulic 
pressure. 
The invention makes it possible to recover oil under summer as well as 
winter conditions. 
In FIG. 5, a further concrete example of a device for cleaning up oil 
spills according to the invention is shown. This device coincides with 
respect to necessary equipment to a large extent with the device according 
to FIG. 2. As a difference from the device according to FIG. 2 the device 
according to FIG. 5 is provided to be utilized together with a combination 
nozzle 33, wiht is shown by means of an example in FIGS. 6 and 7. This 
device is namely provided to operate with an alternating action between 
spreading function and suction function and utilizes for the suction 
function no separate suction aggregate but instead ejector action at the 
nozzle by means of pressure air which is fed by means of a separate air 
hose 34 via a control valve 35 into the nozzle 33. An ejector 36 is 
pivotally journalled in the nozzle 33 so, that it can be adjusted for a 
direction forwards with its opening 37 in position for blowing action 
(FIG. 6) alternatively in a position rearwards with its opening in a 
position for suction function (FIG. 7). Instead of the pivotability the 
ejector can be provided with one outwards and one inwards directed 
opening, which alternatively are held open. Said device is further 
provided with a multiple joint 38, which is connected to a duct 39 from 
the spreading aggregate 11 for the sorbent material and a discharge hose 
40, which ends in the container 15. For the forward feed of the sorbent 
material the air compressor 17 is still connected to the spreading 
aggregate 11 via an pressure air duct 44. Via the multiple joint 38 the 
two hoses 39, 40 are connected to a common transportation hose 41 for the 
spreading of the sorption material and for its suction together with the 
oil. This transportation hose 41 is connected to a nozzle tube 42, the 
opening 43 of which is held by means of an operator above the oil spill 
26. The multiple joint 38 is suitable provided with a mechanism, not 
shown, for the control of the material in the desired direction. This 
mechanism can be arragned in the shape of valves, which alternatingly 
close the communication of the discharge hose 40 or the supply hose 39 
with the transport hose 40 during the spreading period and the suction 
period respectively. This alternation can take place manually, by means of 
an electrical control or by means of pressure control caused by the 
pressure changes upon the adjustment of the ejector 36. 
For the spreading of the sorbent material the suction hose 40 is 
consequently suitably closed at the multiple joint 38, whereas the 
spreading aggregate 11 and the compressor 17 are turned on, at the same 
time as the ejector 36 is turned forwards according to FIG. 6. This 
results in that sorbent material is transported through the duct 39 and 
the transport hose 40 and is given an increased kinetic energy by mean of 
pressure air through the pressure air duct 34 caused by ejector action. 
Sorption material is consequently blown out through the opening 43 and is 
brought to sorb the oil. When sufficient amount of sorbent material has 
been spread by means of the nozzle 33 the compressor 17 and the spreading 
aggregate 11 are for example turned off, whereafter the sorbent material 
is allowed to act for a while. Alternatively a direct alternation to the 
suction period can be made by means of a direct adjustment of the ejector 
36 to the position shown in FIG. 7, whereafter by means of ejector action 
a suction power arises in the nozzle 33 and sorbent material together with 
sorbed oil is sucked up from the oil spill 26. Simultaneously with the 
alternation of the position of the ejector an adjustment of the mechanism 
takes place in the multiple joint 38 so, that its connection with the 
supply duct 39 is broken and the connection with the discharge hose 40 is 
opened so that sorbent material with oil is transported in the hose 41 and 
via the discharge hose 40 into the container 15. It should be remarked 
that the schematic view according to FIG. 1 also can be considered to 
represent the method described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. 
There are all kinds of shores that can be contaminated by oil spills such 
as sand-, grass-, gravel-, stone-, rock-, cobble-, reed branches and so 
on. There are different types of oils and there are different types of 
weather conditions. Because all external conditions are so different and 
vary so much this invention is characterized by high flexibility under 
different circumstances, different types of working platforms, different 
length of hoses, different nozzles, different storages of recovered oil 
and different power supplies are needed. 
It is mentioned above that this invention can be used both in combat and 
cleanup operations of oil on shores. It can be used on all types of 
beaches except those where the oil is penetrating the ground. The oil must 
be present as a layer on the ground. The sorbent can absorb and adsorb the 
oil and can therefore be used on light oil and heavy (viscous) oils and 
chemicals. The sorbent must allow the oil to absorb without any chemical 
reactions occurring. The upper limit in viscosity is where the "blast 
effect" is not enough to penetrate the oil and bread the layer to pieces. 
With the aid of the different nozzles (combined or separate) different oils 
can be recovered under different circumstances. For moderately sticky and 
viscous oils the best choice is the combined nozzle according to FIG. 3 if 
you do not wish the sorbent to spread. 
To sorb light oils a single blow-out nozzle with low pressure is used to 
spread the sorbent and the light oil will not blow away. After a certain 
time (seconds or even minutes) the mixture is sucked by another single 
suction nozzle. Heavy oils are sorbed with a single high pressure blow-out 
nozzle and the sorbent is penetrating the oil and adhering to it. With 
this method the oil is removed from the ground. After this the mixture can 
be recovered with another single suction nozzle. 
Besides this invention can be used to remove oil from all types of steel-, 
conrete and wooden structures contaminated by oil. For example piers, 
quays, breakwaters, bridges and piles. The combined nozzle is to prefer in 
such cases. 
The invention is not restricted to the above described and the examples 
shown in the drawings. The nozzles can be performed in other ways. For 
example the combined nozzle can be made of two mechanically connected 
pipes with the inner pipe connected to the inner wall of the outer pipe or 
with the two pipes next to each other. The separate blow-out nozzle can 
besides the bevelled opening also have a special configuration, which 
favourably moves the mixture of oil and sorbent in wanted direction. 
To prevent too much spreading of the sorbent when using separate nozzles, 
the blow-out nozzle can be fitted with a kind of screen, e.g. like half a 
sphere with the concave side towards the ground.