Oil spill response system

Abstract

In an oil spill response system, oil on the water surface is collected into an oil combating vessel having at its side an inlet at the water level and a water flow conduit extending from the inlet, the flow conduit having an oil separating unit separating the oil present on the surface, and the flow conduit leading to a return conduit provided with an outlet. The oil separating unit includes a first separator installed in the flow conduit in the flow direction of water and formed by a brush cassette constituting a separating surface obliquely rising from the water in the flow direction of water, and following the brush cassette a framework module disposed in the flow conduit, to which framework module the brush cassette is supported. The framework module has a second separator with a rotating drum brush, and water outlets directing the cleaned water to the return conduit.

1 . An oil spill response system for collecting the oil present on the water surface into an oil combatting vessel which has at the side thereof an inlet ( 1 ) located at the water level and a flow conduit ( 3 ) extending from the inlet, the flow conduit having an oil separating unit for separating the oil present on the surface of water and the flow conduit leading to a return conduit ( 15 ) provided with an outlet ( 2 ), wherein the oil separating unit includes a first separator ( 4 ) to be installed in the flow conduit ( 3 ) in the flow direction of water and being formed by a brush cassette constituting a separating surface obliquely rising from the water in the flow direction of water, and following the brush cassette a framework module ( 25 ) disposed in the flow conduit, to which framework module the brush cassette is supported and which framework module has a second separator ( 5 ) provided with a rotating drum brush, as well as water outlets ( 26 ) for directing the cleaned water to the return conduit ( 15 ). 
     
     
         2 . The oil spill response system according to  claim 1 , wherein below the top end of the first separator ( 4 ) there is a collector tank ( 6 ), while the second separator ( 5 ) is disposed below the first separator before the collector tank in the flow direction of water, in which case oil collected by both of the separators is collected into the same collector tank. 
     
     
         3 . The oil spill response system according to  claim 1 , wherein the framework module ( 25 ) is supported to the front wall of the collector tank ( 6 ). 
     
     
         4 . The oil spill response system according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom end of the brush cassette ( 4 ) is located in the immediate vicinity of the inlet ( 1 ) of the flow conduit ( 3 ) to form a wave absorber. 
     
     
         5 . The oil spill response system according to  claim 1 , wherein the outlet ( 2 ) of the flow conduit ( 1 ) includes flow guides ( 16 , 17 ) arranged to constitute a negative pressure in the flow conduit for realizing a steady surface flow to the inlet ( 1 ) and to the area of the separators ( 4 , 5 ). 
     
     
         6 . The oil spill response system according to  claim 1 , wherein the brush structure of the first separator ( 4 ) is selected to be suitable for recovery of oil with a high viscosity as well as debris and algae. 
     
     
         7 . The oil spill response system according to  claim 1 , wherein the brush structure of the second separator ( 5 ) is selected to be suitable for recovery of oil with a low viscosity. 
     
     
         8 . The oil spill response system according to  claim 2 , wherein the framework module ( 25 ) is supported to the front wall of the collector tank ( 6 ). 
     
     
         9 . The oil spill response system according to  claim 2 , wherein the bottom end of the brush cassette ( 4 ) is located in the immediate vicinity of the inlet ( 1 ) of the flow conduit ( 3 ) to form a wave absorber. 
     
     
         10 . The oil spill response system according to  claim 3 , wherein the bottom end of the brush cassette ( 4 ) is located in the immediate vicinity of the inlet ( 1 ) of the flow conduit ( 3 ) to form a wave absorber. 
     
     
         11 . The oil spill response system according to  claim 2 , wherein the outlet ( 2 ) of the flow conduit ( 1 ) includes flow guides ( 16 , 17 ) arranged to constitute a negative pressure in the flow conduit for realizing a steady surface flow to the inlet ( 1 ) and to the area of the separators ( 4 , 5 ). 
     
     
         12 . The oil spill response system according to  claim 3 , wherein the outlet ( 2 ) of the flow conduit ( 1 ) includes flow guides ( 16 , 17 ) arranged to constitute a negative pressure in the flow conduit for realizing a steady surface flow to the inlet ( 1 ) and to the area of the separators ( 4 , 5 ). 
     
     
         13 . The oil spill response system according to  claim 4 , wherein the outlet ( 2 ) of the flow conduit ( 1 ) includes flow guides ( 16 , 17 ) arranged to constitute a negative pressure in the flow conduit for realizing a steady surface flow to the inlet ( 1 ) and to the area of the separators ( 4 , 5 ). 
     
     
         14 . The oil spill response system according to  claim 2 , wherein the brush structure of the first separator ( 4 ) is selected to be suitable for recovery of oil with a high viscosity as well as debris and algae. 
     
     
         15 . The oil spill response system according to  claim 3 , wherein the brush structure of the first separator ( 4 ) is selected to be suitable for recovery of oil with a high viscosity as well as debris and algae 
     
     
         16 . The oil spill response system according to  claim 4 , wherein the brush structure of the first separator ( 4 ) is selected to be suitable for recovery of oil with a high viscosity as well as debris and algae 
     
     
         17 . The oil spill response system according to  claim 5 , wherein the brush structure of the first separator ( 4 ) is selected to be suitable for recovery of oil with a high viscosity as well as debris and algae 
     
     
         18 . The oil spill response system according to  claim 2 , wherein the brush structure of the second separator ( 5 ) is selected to be suitable for recovery of oil with a low viscosity. 
     
     
         19 . The oil spill response system according to  claim 3 , wherein the brush structure of the second separator ( 5 ) is selected to be suitable for recovery of oil with a low viscosity. 
     
     
         20 . The oil spill response system according to  claim 4 , wherein the brush structure of the second separator ( 5 ) is selected to be suitable for recovery of oil with a low viscosity.