Method and apparatus for removing a layer of combustible liquid from the surface of a body of water

Abstract

Abstract A generally U-shaped, buoyant, self-propelled vessel floats partially submerged in a body of water and has a longitudinal channel portion with a front opening. The vessel has an open bottom portion beneath the longitudinal channel portion. As the vessel advances into a body of water, a band of water with the layer of combustible liquid floating thereon, enters the channel portion of the vessel. The rate at which the combustible liquid, as a layer, enters the channel portion of the vessel is dependent on the forward speed of the vessel and the speed is controlled so that substantially all of the layer of combustible liquid is removed by burning before the band of water psses under the rear portion of the vessel. As the vessel advances, the band of water with the layer of combustible liquid moves through a mixing chamber within the channel portion where a monolayer of cellular ceramic nodules are positioned on the top surface of the layer of combustible liquid. The layer of combustible liquid with the nodules floating thereon, moves rearwardly with the forward advance of the vessel into a combustion chamber where the layer of combustible liquid is ignited and burned. The nodules within the combustion chamber are recycled to the mixing chamber where they are again positioned as a monolayer on the upper surface of the layer of combustible liquid. Combustion air is provided for the combustion chamber and the combustion gases may be subjected to a secondary burning in the stack to remove the combustible materials in the combustion gases and provide a substantially smoke-free waste gas. Apparatus is provided to seal the combustion chamber and mixing chamber if the burning of the combustible liquid tends to spread beyond the receiver.

Inventors

• 👤 Richard B Heagler

Bibliographic Details