Surface Film Distribution System and Method Thereof

Abstract

A surface film distribution system for use with a body of water and method thereof is provided. The system includes a surface film positioned on a surface of at least a portion of the body of water. A first fluid conduit opening is positioned in a first location proximate to the surface of the body of water. A second fluid conduit opening is positioned in a second location proximate to the surface of the body of water. At least one fluid conduit connects the first fluid conduit opening and the second fluid conduit opening. A mixture of surface film and water is collected from the body of water, the mixture of surface film and water located in the at least one fluid conduit. A pump is in fluid connection with the at least one fluid conduit.

1 . A surface film distribution system for use with a body of water, the surface film distribution system comprising:
 a surface film positioned on a surface of at least a portion of the body of water;   a first fluid conduit opening positioned in a first location proximate to the surface of the body of water;   a second fluid conduit opening positioned in a second location proximate to the surface of the body of water;   at least one fluid conduit connecting the first fluid conduit opening and the second fluid conduit opening,   a mixture of surface film and water collected from the body of water, the mixture of surface film and water located in the at least one fluid conduit; and   a pump in fluid connection with the at least one fluid conduit.   
     
     
         2 . The surface film distribution system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control system in communication with the pump to transmit control signals to the pump, the pump thereby controlling a flow of the collected mixture of surface film and water through the at least one fluid conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The surface film distribution system of  claim 2 , further comprising a sensing device in communication with the control system, wherein the sensing device senses at least one surface film coverage condition and outputs a signal to the control system relative to the surface film coverage condition, wherein the at least one sensed surface film coverage condition influences the control of the flow of a quantity of collected surface film through the at least one fluid conduit by the control system. 
     
     
         4 . The surface film distribution system of  claim 3 , wherein the sensing device is at least one of a wind sensor, an optical sensor, an infrared sensor, and a radar-based sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The surface film distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first fluid conduit opening and the second fluid conduit opening thither comprises at least one of a surface film skimmer and a surface film expeller. 
     
     
         6 . The surface film distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first fluid conduit opening and the second fluid conduit opening further comprises surface film skimmer-expeller device. 
     
     
         7 . The surface film distribution system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least a third fluid conduit opening connected to the at least one fluid conduit, wherein each of the first, second, and third fluid conduit openings is positioned in a distinct position in the body of water proximate to the surface. 
     
     
         8 . The surface film distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid conduit opening further comprises a flotation element, wherein the first fluid conduit opening floats on the surface of the body of water. 
     
     
         9 . The surface film distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid conduit is positioned at least partially below the surface of the body of water. 
     
     
         10 . The surface film distribution system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of valves positioned within the at least one fluid conduit, the plurality of valves controlling a flow of a quantity of collected mixture of surface film and water in the at least one fluid conduit. 
     
     
         11 . A method for redistributing a surface film on a surface of a body of water, the method comprising the steps of:
 collecting a quantity of the surface film on the surface of the body of water in a first position on the body of water in a first fluid conduit opening;   transporting the quantity of collected surface film to a second fluid conduit opening with at least one fluid conduit;   controlling a flow of the quantity of collected surface film within the at least one fluid conduit with a pump; and   expelling at least part of the quantity of collected surface film on to the surface of the body of water in a second position on the body of water from the second fluid conduit opening, wherein the second position on the body of water is different from the first position on the body of water.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of controlling the pump with a control system in communication with the pump. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
 calculating a desired rate of collected surface film expulsion with the control system; and   expelling at least part of the quantity of collected surface film on to the surface of the body of water in the second position on the body of water at the calculated rate.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of sensing a coverage condition of the surface film on a portion of the surface of the body of water with at least one sensing device, the at least one sensing device in communication with the control system. 
     
     
         15 . The method of claim H, wherein the step of sensing the coverage condition of the surface film further comprises at least one of:
 sensing a wind direction;   sensing the coverage condition of the surface film optically;   sensing the coverage condition of the surface film with an infrared sensor; and   sensing the coverage condition of the surface film with a radar sensor.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first position is a location of the body of water proximate to a sensed coverage condition having an accumulation of surface film and the second position is a location of the body of water proximate to a sensed coverage condition having a relative absence of surface film. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of determining a surface flow direction of the surface film across the surface of the body of water with the at least one sensing device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of determining a surface flow rate of the surface film across the surface of the body of water with the at least one sensing device. 
     
     
         19 . A system for surface film redistribution on a surface of a body of water, the system comprising:
 a surface film movable across the surface of the body of water from a first location on the body of water to a second location on the body of water;   a plurality of skimmer-expeller devices positioned along a perimeter of at least a portion of the body of water,   connecting the plurality of skimmer-expeller devices fluidly with a fluid conduit network having a plurality of fluid conduits, wherein a first skimmer-expeller device of the plurality of skimmer-expeller devices is positioned in the first location and a second skimmer-expeller device of the plurality of skimmer-expeller devices is positioned in the second location;   a pump in fluid connection with the fluid conduit network,   a computerized control unit in communication with the pump, wherein the computerized control unit controls a flow of a quantity of collected surface film through the fluid conduct network; and   a sensor in communication with the computerized control unit and positioned to sense at least one coverage condition of the surface film on the surface of the body of water, wherein a quantity of collected surface film is pumped through the fluid conduit network based at least in part on the sensed at least one coverage condition.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the sensed at least one coverage condition of the surface film further comprises at least one of a relative absence of the surface film in the first position and an accumulation of the surface film in the second location.