U.S. patent application number 11/453076 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-19 for freshwater supply system.
This patent application is currently assigned to HITACHI, LTD.. Invention is credited to Yoichi Imamura, Hisashi Isogami, Takashi Mizumori, Akira Mochizuki, Norihide Saho.
Application Number | 20060231005 11/453076 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34372695 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060231005 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Saho; Norihide ; et
al. |
October 19, 2006 |
Freshwater supply system
Abstract
A freshwater supply system that stores fresh water transported
by transport ships in storage devices and takes out the fresh water
from the freshwater storage devices at need to use the same. The
system comprises management device that puts management information
together and sends and receives various information of countries
for demand of the fresh water, analysis information of the fresh
water, and various information of transportation device for
transportation of the fresh water to the countries. Magnitudes of
movements, prices, origins of movement, and destinations of
movement of the fresh water are decided from the information from
the management device.
Inventors: |
Saho; Norihide;
(Tsuchiura-shi, JP) ; Isogami; Hisashi;
(Ushiku-shi, JP) ; Mizumori; Takashi;
(Tomobe-machi, JP) ; Mochizuki; Akira;
(Tomobe-machi, JP) ; Imamura; Yoichi;
(Tomobe-machi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CROWELL & MORING LLP;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GROUP
P.O. BOX 14300
WASHINGTON
DC
20044-4300
US
|
Assignee: |
HITACHI, LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
34372695 |
Appl. No.: |
11/453076 |
Filed: |
June 15, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10939343 |
Sep 14, 2004 |
7093551 |
|
|
11453076 |
Jun 15, 2006 |
|
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
114/125 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 137/0318 20150401;
B63B 29/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/125 |
International
Class: |
B63B 39/03 20060101
B63B039/03 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 16, 2003 |
JP |
2003-322371 |
Claims
1. A fresh water supply system that loads fresh water as ballast
water on ships which have been unloaded, wherein the fresh water
comprises domestic waste water or treated water of domestic wasted
water.
2. A fresh water supply system that loads fresh water as ballast
water on ships which have been unloaded, wherein the fresh water
comprises river water or lake water.
Description
[0001] The present application is a divisional of application Ser.
No. 10/939.343, filed Sep. 14, 2004, which claims benefit to
Japanese priority application no. 2003-322371, filed Sep. 16, 2003,
the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in
their entirety into the present application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a system for freshwater
transportation and freshwater supply with the use of oil tankers,
or the like.
[0003] Currently, the number of oil tankers sailing throughout the
world is said to amount to approximately 4,000. Unlike freight
ships, oil tankers (referred below to as ships) unload crude oil on
buying countries and then return to petroleum producing countries
while being empty. In this case, there is a fear that when ships
are lightweight, hulls are bad balanced and safe sailing cannot be
expected. Hereupon, in order to make hulls stable, ballast water
(generally, sea water in crude oil buying countries is loaded and
after returned to petroleum producing countries, the sea water is
discarded) is loaded and ships return to ports.
[0004] However, marine pollution causes a serious problem over the
world in recent years, and it is inevitable that a possible
international treaty will inhibit sea water loaded as ballast water
from being discarded unless being purified. Accordingly, there is a
high possibility that ships cannot sail in the future unless they
are provided with purifying apparatuses.
[0005] By the way, drinking water, to say nothing of agricultural
water, industrial water, is short in petroleum producing countries,
in which oil is drilled and supplied to the world. This is because
the climate in petroleum producing countries is generally semi-dry
or dry.
[0006] Hereupon, such petroleum producing countries manufacture
fresh water by desalting sea water since natural water cannot meet
the demand. In the present circumstances, the demand for water
exceeds quantities of desalted water manufactured in these
countries, and desalting is high in cost, so that it is not
possible to readily increase production.
[0007] Incidentally, cost for desalting on land approximately
amounts to 3.09 dollar/4550 liters (81.5 yen/ton: at the conversion
rate of 120 yen to the dollar).
[0008] Cost for marine treatment approximately amounts to 1.59
dollar/4550 liters (41.9 yen/ton: at the conversion rate of 120 yen
to the dollar).
[0009] In particular, the cost on land is as high as 81.5 yen/ton,
and too expensive to be used for agricultural water and industrial
water.
[0010] Accordingly, how inexpensively fresh water is supplied is an
important problem.
[0011] Conventional techniques to solve the problem are disclosed
in, for example, JP-A-51-143283 and JP-A-60-209382.
[0012] JP-A-51-143283 discloses a method of purifying treatment of
fresh water loaded on a ship with the use of a purifying apparatus
loaded on the ship, or of floatation separation of pollutant in
fresh water after unloading of the fresh water and purifying
treatment in a filtering apparatus.
[0013] JP-A-60-209382 discloses measures for accommodating plastic
bags, which receive therein fresh water, in a hold to transport the
same.
[0014] According to the disclosure of JP-A-51-143283 and
JP-A-60-209382, purifying apparatuses and plastic bags are needed,
which is very high in cost.
[0015] Hereupon, it is conceivable to load domestic wasted water,
which is generated in crude oil buying countries, as ballast water
to use the same as drinking water and agricultural water in
petroleum producing countries.
[0016] Since the domestic wasted water (so-called foul water)
contains a large amount of organic matter such as nitrogen and
phosphorus, the water is drained to rivers and the sea after it is
subjected to purifying treatment, in which nitrogen and phosphorus
are reduced to predetermined reference values.
[0017] In this manner, there is a problem that purifying treatment
for removal of nitrogen and phosphorus is costly in the present
circumstances.
[0018] Incidentally, while it is found that nitrogen and phosphorus
is effective for agricultural fertilizer, use thereof as organic
resources is given up in Europe and Japan and so they are drained
to rivers and the sea in the present circumstances because a large
amount of food is imported from abroad.
[0019] Further, while organic fertilizer can be formed from sludge,
which contains much organic matter such as nitrogen and phosphorus,
sludge is subjected to incineration, in which expensive fuel is
consumed, in the present circumstances because farmland having been
used since old times has already retained organic matter, etc.
adequately.
[0020] That is, sewage or sludge, which is effective for
fertilizer, is made little use of.
[0021] It is an object of the invention to provide a freshwater
supply system capable of making effective use of domestic wasted
water, which has been drained as sewage to rivers or the sea.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The above-described object is attained by a freshwater
supply system that stores fresh water transported by transport
ships in storage means and takes out the fresh water from the
freshwater storage means at need to use the same, wherein bacteria
removal means removes bacteria from a part of the fresh water, and
the part of the fresh water and that fresh water, from which
bacteria have not been removed by the bacteria removal means, are
separately supplied to locations, in which fresh water is needed,
by water supply means.
[0023] The above-described object is attained by a freshwater
supply system that stores fresh water transported by transport
ships in storage means and takes out the fresh water from the
freshwater storage means at need to use the same, the system
comprising management means that puts management information
together and sends and receives various information of countries
for demand of the fresh water, analysis information of the fresh
water, and various information of transportation means for
transportation of the fresh water to the countries, wherein
magnitudes of movements, prices, origins of movement, and
destinations of movement of the fresh water are decided from the
information from the management means.
[0024] The above-described object is attained by a freshwater
supply system that stores fresh water transported by transport
ships in storage means and takes out the fresh water from the
freshwater storage means at need to use the same, the system
comprising a plurality of freshwater storage means, water supply
and drainage means that connects the plurality of freshwater
storage means mutually, freshwater stock detection means provided
in the freshwater storage means, and traffic volume control means
that operates on the basis of data from the freshwater stock
detection means, wherein the water supply and drainage means
controls traffic volumes of fresh water between the plurality of
freshwater storage means.
[0025] The above-described object is attained by a freshwater
supply system that stores fresh water transported by transport
ships in storage means and takes out the fresh water from the
freshwater storage means at need to use the same, the system
comprising a plurality of freshwater storage means, freshwater
transportation means that connects the plurality of freshwater
storage means mutually, estimation means for amounts of fresh water
consumed on sides, to which fresh water is supplied from the
respective freshwater storage means, and traffic volume control
means that operates on the basis of data from the freshwater
consumed amount estimation means, wherein the freshwater
transportation means controls traffic volumes of fresh water among
the plurality of freshwater storage means.
[0026] The above-described object is attained by the
above-described freshwater supply system, wherein data of the
freshwater consumed amount estimation means on sides supplied with
water from the respective freshwater storage means include future
weather prediction data, which include data in the past and in
present, in territories supplied with water.
[0027] The above-described object is attained by the
above-described freshwater supply system, wherein data of the
freshwater consumed amount estimation means on sides supplied with
fresh water from the respective freshwater storage means include
data of growth process of plant supplied with water, and picture
data representative of growth state.
[0028] The above-described object is attained by a freshwater
supply system that stores fresh water transported to a plurality of
land territories by a transport ship in storage means and takes out
the fresh water from the freshwater storage means at need to use
the same, wherein transport destination instruction means of the
transport ship that instructs transport destinations of the
transport ship having the fresh water to the land territories
controls traffic volumes on the basis of data from freshwater stock
detection means provided in the freshwater storage means in land
territories.
[0029] The above-described object is attained by the
above-described freshwater supply system, further comprising
management means that connects together, in Internet, at least one
information of data of the freshwater stock detection means,
weather prediction data, data of plant growth process, data of
freshwater consumed amount estimation means, data of freshwater
quality detection means, data of prices of received fresh water,
and data of destination instruction means, and manages procurement,
arrangement, and distribution of the information.
[0030] The above-described object is attained by a freshwater
supply system that transports fresh water supplied from a plurality
of water sources by a transport ship to store the same in storage
means and takes out the fresh water from the freshwater storage
means at need to use the same, wherein destination instruction
means instructs destinations, toward which the transport ship
transporting the fresh water should sail, on the basis of data from
detection means that detects volumes and qualities of fresh water
of the water sources.
[0031] The above-described object is attained by a freshwater
supply system that transports fresh water supplied from a plurality
of water sources by a transport ship to store the same in storage
means in land territories and takes out the fresh water from the
freshwater storage means at need to use the same, wherein
destination instruction means of the transport ship instructs
destinations of water sources, toward which the transport ship
transporting the fresh water should sail, on the basis of data from
freshwater detection means that detects prices of received water
from the fresh water in the water sources.
[0032] The above-described object is attained by a freshwater
supply system that transports fresh water supplied from a plurality
of water sources by a transport ship to store the same in storage
means in land territories and takes out the fresh water from the
freshwater storage means at need to use the same, wherein at least
one information of data of the fresh water from water quality
detection means, data of prices of received fresh water,
information of instruction of destination, and documents of
permission on freshwater receiving sides, is interconnected in
Internet, buying and selling of the fresh water is concluded
through information management means, and quality information of
the transported fresh water is distributed to transport
destinations in Internet.
[0033] The above-described object is attained by a freshwater
supply system that loads fresh water as ballast water on ships
having been unloaded, wherein the fresh water comprises domestic
wasted water, organic fertilizer is formed from sludge, which is
generated in a process of treatment of the domestic wasted water,
and the organic fertilizer is transported to transport destinations
of freshwater with the use of the ships.
[0034] According to the invention, it is possible to provide a
freshwater supply system capable of making effective use of
domestic wasted water, which has been drained as sewage to rivers
or the sea.
[0035] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will
become apparent from the following description of the embodiments
of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0036] FIGS. 1A and 1B are views showing a system configuration
according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0037] FIG. 2 is a view showing flow of ballast water being
supplied to a ship, according to an embodiment of the
invention;
[0038] FIG. 3 is a view showing flow of ballast water being
supplied to a ship, according to a further embodiment of the
invention;
[0039] FIG. 4 is a view showing purification flow of ballast water
according to the further embodiment of the invention; and
[0040] FIG. 5 is a view showing flow in a ballast-water supply
management system according to a still further embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0041] An embodiment of the invention will be described below with
reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B.
(First Embodiment)
[0042] FIG. 1A is a view showing a system configuration, in which
domestic wasted water containing a large amount of organic matter
is subjected to purifying treatment, the treated fresh water is
filled in a hold or a ballast water tank of a transport ship such
as tanker, etc. to be transported to a dry or semi-dry
territory.
[0043] FIG. 1B is a view showing a system configuration, in which
fresh water is conveyed from a transport ship to a holding tank on
shore or at sea and supplied to a group of tanks in a region where
fresh water is consumed.
[0044] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating, in further detail, the
system shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
[0045] Domestic wasted water discharged from residential means 1
such as apartments, etc. is conveyed through underground sewers 2,
etc. to a sewage-treatment plant 3, in which plant organic matter,
etc. in domestic wasted water is purified by the coagulating
sedimentation system, the activated sludge method, which makes use
of microorganism, etc. to be cleared of most suspended substances
(SS), and substantially transparent treated water is obtained.
[0046] However, the treated water in this stage does not meet the
effluent water quality standard for rivers and streams in Japan,
for example, T-N (total nitrogen content), T-P (total phosphorus
content), odor, the residual number of colon bacilli, etc.
[0047] Next, the treated water passes through a pipe 4 to have odor
removed and harmful microorganism such as colon bacilli, bacilli
sterilized by a sterilization/deodorization apparatus 5, which
houses an ozone generator, an ultraviolet ray generator, a plasma
generator, an activated charcoal absorption agent, an acidic water
generator with electrolysis, etc. and is stored in a treated water
tank in the apparatus. Accordingly, the final treated water is
fresh water, of which T-N and T-P do not meet the effluent water
quality standard, and is eutrophic fresh water.
[0048] The eutrophic fresh water passes through a ground or
underground pipe 7 to be conveyed to a freshwater storage tank 8 on
the shore, which affords supply to a ship. Conveyance of the
eutrophic fresh water to the freshwater storage tank 8 may be
performed by means of tank lorries. Also, a part of the pipe 7 may
extend on a riverbed or sea floor, and the storage tank 8 may be
fixed to a river zone or a sea zone or mounted to float
thereon.
[0049] A ship that needs ballast water, for example, a tanker 6,
from which crude oil is unloaded, is supplied with the eutrophic
fresh water from the freshwater storage tank 8 via a pipe 9a.
[0050] Also, the tanker 6 can receive the eutrophic fresh water
from a freshwater storage tank 108 on another spot via a pipe
10.
[0051] Also, eutrophic fresh water generated from a
sewage-treatment plant 11 in a foreign country may pass through a
ground or underground pipe 12 to be conveyed to a freshwater
storage tank 13 on the shore, which affords supply to a ship. A
tanker 6, in which ballast water can be further filled, is supplied
with the eutrophic fresh water from the freshwater storage tank 13
via a pipe 14.
[0052] The tanker 6 sails to a crude-oil supply territory to
discharge eutrophic fresh water, which is filled as ballast water,
to a tank installed on shore or at sea, or a first freshwater
storage tank 15, which is a tank of a ship for reception of
ballast-water, through a pipe 9b, and then the tanker 6 moves to a
crude-oil supply territory to load crude oil fully.
[0053] The eutrophic fresh water in the first freshwater storage
tank 15 is fed to a first freshwater conveyance facility 17, which
has pumps as water conveyance means, via a pipe 16, and then is
conveyed via pipes 18, 19, 20 from there to secondary freshwater
storage facilities 21, 22, 23 present in farmlands or vegetative
regions 24, 33, 60. An amount being conveyed is regulated according
to water levels in tanks in the secondary freshwater storage
facilities 21, 22, 23 and the use plan of fresh water.
[0054] The eutrophic fresh water from the secondary water storage
facility 21 is distributed through through pipes 26a, 27 to
tertiary freshwater storage facilities 25, 26 arranged around the
farmland or the vegetative region 24. In the case where the
farmland or the vegetative region 24 is vast, the farmland or the
vegetative region 24 receives the eutrophic fresh water from both
the secondary water storage facility 21 via a pipe 29 and from the
tertiary freshwater storage facilities 25, 26 via pipes 30, 31.
[0055] Likewise, the eutrophic fresh water transported as ballast
water is also distributed to a farmland or a vegetative region 32.
The eutrophic fresh water is distributed also to the farmland or
the vegetative region 32 from the tertiary freshwater storage
facility 25 through a pipe 41, a tertiary freshwater storage
facility 36 through a pipe 39 and from a fourth freshwater storage
facility 38 through a pipe 40, to which the eutrophic fresh water
is distributed from the tertiary freshwater storage facility 36
through a pipe 37.
[0056] The eutrophic fresh water is distributed to the farmland or
the vegetative region 33 from the secondary water storage facility
21 through a pipe 46, the secondary freshwater storage facility 23
through a pipe 44 and a tertiary water storage facility 43 through
a pipe 45, to which the eutrophic fresh water is distributed via a
pipe 42 from the secondary freshwater storage facility 23.
[0057] The eutrophic fresh water is distributed to a farmland or a
vegetative region 34 from the tertiary water storage facility 43
through a pipe 51, a tertiary freshwater storage facility 48
through a pipe 52, to which the eutrophic fresh water is
distributed via a pipe 47 from the secondary freshwater storage
facility 23, a fourth freshwater storage facility 50 through a pipe
53, to which the eutrophic fresh water is distributed via a pipe 49
from the tertiary freshwater storage facility 48 and the fourth
freshwater storage facility 38 through a pipe 54.
[0058] The eutrophic fresh water is distributed to the farmland or
the vegetative region 60 via a pipe 63 from the secondary
freshwater storage facility 22.
[0059] Further, the eutrophic fresh water passes through a
secondary freshwater water-conveyance facility 57, which has pumps
as water conveyance means, via a pipe 56 from a first freshwater
storage tank 55, which receives eutrophic fresh water transported
as ballast water from other tankers 6, and is conveyed to a
tertiary freshwater storage facility 59 via a pipe 58.
[0060] The eutrophic fresh water is distributed to the farmland or
the vegetative region 60 through a fourth freshwater storage
facility 62 via a pipe 64 from a tertiary freshwater storage
facility 59.
[0061] Further, the eutrophic fresh water is moved via a pipe 65
between the secondary freshwater storage facility 22 and the
tertiary freshwater storage facility 59.
[0062] In this manner, according to the embodiment, eutrophic fresh
water transported as ballast water for ships through a network of
storage facilities is sufficiently distributed to an extended
desert, water short farmland in desert, and vegetative regions, so
that it is possible to raise vegetables and fruit trees in farmland
and vegetative regions to rear agriculture.
[0063] Further, afforestation enables raising flowers and pasture
grass, and breeding livestock such as cattle, goat, etc. to supply
meat to outside regions being supplied.
[0064] Also, while the embodiment has been described with respect
to a system that supplies water to farmlands or vegetative regions,
the same effect is produced in a system that supplies water to
industrial districts or residential areas, which are regions for
water distribution in place of farmlands or vegetative regions.
That is, the same freshwater supply system is used to enable
supplying cheap fresh water to water distribution facilities that
supply industrial water and sprinkle water to industrial districts
or residential areas. Also, it is possible in residential areas to
use eutrophic fresh water as raw water for manufacture of drinking
water.
[0065] The embodiment produces an advantageous effect that even if
nitrogen and phosphorus remain much, treated domestic wasted water,
which is odorless, of which harmful microorganism such as colon
bacilli, bacilli are sterilized, and which is inexpensive and safe
for the human body, can be filled as ballast water in ships such as
oil tankers, etc., and provided and distributed as agricultural
water to extended farmlands or vegetative regions in dry or
semi-dry territories at a cheap transport cost, and can be
inexpensively provided and distributed as industrial water and
sprinkle water to industrial districts or residential areas of high
consumption demand for water.
[0066] Further, ballast water is loaded on ships, which are to be
filled with the ballast water, in a location where the ballast
water is filled, and organic fertilizer manufactured from sludge
generated from treatment of domestic wasted water can be unloaded
in a destination, to which ballast water is transported, and sold
to be used as organic fertilizer in farmlands or vegetative
regions.
[0067] Accordingly, the embodiment produces an advantageous effect
that it is possible to reduce expenses for treatment of domestic
wasted water on a side of a freshwater supply country and to
effectively reduce organic fertilizer to agricultural land and an
advantageous effect that by transporting eutrophic fresh water and
organic fertilizer abroad, organic matter is reduced in organic
fertilizer production countries and discharge of organic compound
to the environment is reduced to prevent eutrophication of
environmental water to purify the environment.
[0068] Further, according to the invention, since ballast water is
not discharged to the sea, which is outside ballast-water
purification regulations, it is not necessary to install any
purifying facility in ships, so that it is possible in the future
to expect an effect that cost for installation of purifying
facilities and cost for operation of purifying facilities are made
unnecessary to enable reducing cost for sailing of ships.
[0069] A further embodiment of the invention will be described with
reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0070] A difference between the system shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and
the system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 resides in a system for
management of distribution of unloaded fresh water, amount of fresh
water to be stored, amount of distribution, and quality of water as
distributed, and in particular, the provision of a method of
furnishing fresh water inexpensively. Further, the difference
resides in that a supply system provides a system for management of
delivery amount and quality of water as distributed to deliver
fresh water to dry or semi-dry territories, farmland of high
consumption demand for agricultural water, industrial installation,
and drinking water treatment facilities.
[0071] FIG. 3 shows a part of the water distribution system shown
in FIG. 1.
[0072] The eutrophic fresh water in the first freshwater storage
tank 15 passes through the first freshwater conveyance facility 17,
which has pumps as water conveyance means, via the pipe 16, and is
conveyed via the pipes 18, 19, 20 from there to the secondary
freshwater storage facilities 21, 22, 23 and further to the
tertiary freshwater storage facilities 25, 26, 36, 43, 48 to be
distributed to the farmland or the vegetative regions 24, 32, 33,
34, 60.
[0073] Amounts being conveyed to tanks in the secondary freshwater
storage facilities 21, 22, 23 from the first freshwater storage
tank 15 are regulated according to water levels in freshwater tanks
in the respective secondary freshwater storage facilities and the
use plan of fresh water.
[0074] Hygrometers and thermometers in farmlands or vegetative
regions, data information of harvest raising picture data required
for raising harvest, etc. and information of water levels, amounts
of fresh water to be stored, and quality of fresh water in
freshwater tanks of first freshwater storage tanks, second
freshwater storage tanks are measured. The information as measured
is transmitted by radio or wired communication to an information
transmission, data analysis devices, a water management control
analysis, control data transmission device 166 of a data integrated
control facility 165 from an information transmission device 163
and an information transmission, control data reception, data
analysis device 164.
[0075] In the data integrated control facility 165, amounts of
sprinkling water in farmland, time zone of sprinkling, quality of
sprinkling water, and amounts of water being delivered to water
storage facilities are subjected to numerical analysis from those
humidity and temperature in farmland, harvest raising picture data,
and future weather prediction data including data in the past and
at present, which are received, and a computer is used to determine
a control method and control values.
[0076] The necessary data are respectively transmitted by radio or
wired communication to the information transmission, control data
reception, data analysis devices 164 in the first freshwater
storage tanks and the secondary freshwater storage facilities, and
conveying pumps and flow control valves in the secondary freshwater
storage facilities control amounts of water being conveyed to the
secondary freshwater storage facilities from the first freshwater
storage tanks, and amounts of water being conveyed to respective
farmlands from the secondary freshwater storage facilities.
[0077] Qualities of water being conveyed to respective farmlands
are determined according to growing states of harvest. For example,
since a problem is caused when pathogenic bacteria are mixed in
fresh water for crop at time just before a harvest time, fresh
water further purified is supplied.
[0078] Referring to FIG. 4, fresh water is supplied via the pipe 18
to the secondary freshwater storage facility 21 from the first
freshwater storage facility 17 (shown in FIG. 3) to be stored in a
water storage tank 67. Ordinarily, fresh water in the water storage
tank 67 is pressurized by a pump 68 with the quality remained, and
controlled in flow rate by a flow control valve 69 to be
distributed via the pipe 29 to the farmland or the vegetative
region 24 (shown in FIG. 2).
[0079] On the other hand, in the case where fresh water is to be
purified in high quality, fresh water in the water storage tank 67
is pressurized by a pump 70 to be controlled in flow rate by a
regulating valve 71 and conveyed to purification means 72. The
purification means 72 comprises an ultraviolet sterilizing
apparatus, an ozone sterilizing apparatus, and a membrane
filtrating apparatus, and pathogenic bacteria in the treated fresh
water are sterilized, removed so that the fresh water is
purified.
[0080] The purified fresh water is stored in a purified water tank
73. The purified fresh water in the purified water tank 73 is
pressurized by a pump 74 to be controlled in flow rate by a flow
control valve 75 to be distributed via the pipe 29 to the farmland
or the vegetative region 24 (shown in FIG. 3). Information of water
level of the fresh water in the water storage tank 67 and of water
level and water quality in the purified water tank 73 is
transmitted via data wiring 76, 77 to the information transmission,
control data reception, data analysis device 164.
[0081] Amounts of fresh water being conveyed are controlled by
controlling the operation of the pump 68 and the valve opening
degree of the flow control valve 69 through control wiring 78, 79.
Amounts of purified fresh water being conveyed are controlled by
controlling the operation of the pump 74 and the valve opening
degree of the flow control valve 75 through control wiring 80, 81.
Further, an amount of fresh water being conveyed to the
purification means 72 from the water storage tank 67 is controlled
by controlling the operation of the pump 70 and the valve opening
degree of the flow control valve 71 through control wiring 82,
83.
[0082] According to the embodiment, in the case where fresh water,
of which bacteria such as colon bacilli, etc. being harmful to the
human body are removed or sterilized, is supplied as sprinkling
water to harvest in the farmland or the vegetative region 24 at a
harvest time, the information transmission, control data reception,
data analysis device 164 receives a command from the data
integrated control facility 165 (shown in FIG. 3) to control the
pumps and the flow control valves.
[0083] The purified fresh water being distributed is sprinkled on
vegetables, such as cabbage, etc. until crop, and vegetables can be
harvested in a safe state. However, not a little cost is necessary
in purifying treatment.
[0084] Since fresh water for sprinkling can be purified only at
time before crop on the basis of harvest raising picture data, the
cost for treatment in the embodiment can be restricted to a minimum
by purifying an amount of necessity minimum.
(Third Embodiment)
[0085] FIG. 5 shows a still further embodiment.
[0086] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a system according to the still
further embodiment of the invention.
[0087] A difference between the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 concerns filling of fresh water
containing domestic wasted water in ships and resides in
constructing a ballast-water management system that can ensure
supply locations of fresh water throughout the world and control
where oceangoing ships can be filled with ballast water in a most
inexpensive operation and in a shortest time.
[0088] That is, the ballast-water management system makes it
possible to fill ballast water, which is fresh water, in an A
country, receive information of fresh water stock in a B country in
the case where an amount of fresh water in the A country is short
of a necessary amount, and fill fresh water corresponding to
shortage, as ballast water, in the B country on the basis of the
information. Further, with the ballast-water management system, it
is possible to fill ballast water, which is sea water, in the A
country, discharge the ballast water, which is sea water, in the B
country, and fill fresh water, which is treated water composed of
domestic wasted water, in the B country, in which supply is cheaper
than that in the A country. Further, it is possible to fill cheap
fresh water conformed to an allowable water quality in a
destination of supply of ballast water on the basis of information
with respect to water quality of treated water composed of domestic
wasted water.
[0089] Referring to FIG. 5, in the A country, eutrophic fresh water
having been treated in a sewage-treatment plant 84, in which
domestic wasted water containing a large amount of organic matter
is purified, passes via a pipe 85 through a
sterilization/deodorization apparatus 86, which houses an ozone
generator, an ultraviolet ray generator, a plasma generator, an
activated charcoal absorption agent, an acidic water generator with
electrolysis, etc., and is conveyed via a pipe 87 to a freshwater
storage tank 88 on the shore, which affords supply to ships. Data
of stock and water quality in the freshwater storage tank 88 are
concentratedly transmitted by radio, wired communication, or
Internet to a ballast-water management apparatus 91 in a
ballast-water management center 90, which includes a ballast-water
management system, from an information transmission/reception
device 89.
[0090] Further, when the tanker 6 inputs a required amount of
ballast water and information of a transport destination into the
ballast-water management apparatus 91 of the ballast-water
management center 90 through an information communication device
92, a supply location of ballast water and an amount being filled
are calculated and controlled on the basis of information of
ballast water and water quality in respective countries, in which
ballast water is stocked, and the ballast-water management
apparatus 91 of the ballast-water management center 90 transmits
and instructs a demand for a destination to touch and stay, an
amount being filled, unit cost of ballast water, and date and hour
of filling, to the information communication device 92 of the
tanker 6.
[0091] A name of a tanker to touch and stay, an amount being
supplied and filled, and date and hour of filling are transmitted
and instructed to the information transmission/reception device 89
of the freshwater storage tank 88. A destination, to which fresh
water being transported is supplied, water quality, and date and
hour of filling are transmitted and instructed via Internet or the
like to a freshwater receiving facility being a transport
destination, and information of permission of receipt is received
by the ballast-water management apparatus 91 of the ballast-water
management center 90, on the basis of results of which the tanker 6
transmits a required amount of ballast water to the information
communication device 92.
[0092] In the B country, eutrophic fresh water having been treated
in a sewage-treatment plant 94, in which domestic wasted water
containing a large amount of organic matter is purified, passes via
a pipe 95 through a sterilization/deodorization apparatus 96, which
houses an ozone generator, an ultraviolet ray generator, a plasma
generator, an activated charcoal absorption agent, an acidic water
generator with electrolysis, etc., and is conveyed via a pipe 97 to
a freshwater storage tank 98 on the shore, which affords supply to
ships. Data of stock and water quality in the freshwater storage
tank 98 are concentratedly transmitted by radio, wired
communication, or Internet to the ballast-water management
apparatus 91 in the ballast-water management center 90, which
includes a ballast-water management system, from an information
transmission/reception device 99.
[0093] For example, in accordance with an instruction from the
ballast-water management center 90, the tanker 6 is filled with
fresh water as a part of ballast water, an amount of which enables
safe sailing, via a pipe 93 from the freshwater storage tank 88 in
the A country, and then sails to the B country in accordance with
an instruction from the ballast-water management center 90 to be
filled with a required amount of fresh water via a pipe 100 from
the freshwater storage tank 98 in the B country.
[0094] Then, the tanker sails to a transport destination country,
from which permission for distribution of ballast water is
obtained, and sells and distributes fresh water to the transport
destination country. The tanker is filled with sea water as ballast
water in the transport destination country, and sails to a sea
area, in which crude oil is received, to discharge ballast water
and receive crude oil inboard. The ballast-water management center
manages volume of transactions of fresh water and transaction
expenses collectively, and performs management of water quality
information of ballast water and pay analysis service of water
quality of ballast water, and the ballast-water management center
receives, as service charge, managing expense of information and a
part of fee of trading.
[0095] According to the embodiment, since amounts and water
qualities of domestic wasted water can be collectively managed
throughout the world, information of filling locations capable of
supplying ballast water can be offered to ships, which need fresh
water as ballast water, and information of water quality is
beforehand communicated to a country, to which ballast water is to
be supplied, so that permission for receipt of ballast water based
on the water quality standard in that country, to which ballast
water is to be supplied, can be communicated to the ship.
[0096] Accordingly, when ballast water is filled in a ship, an
owner of the ship can get permission for receipt of ballast water,
so that a request for permission is not necessary on a side of the
ship and it is not necessary to perform any office routine for
transportation of ballast water, thus enabling achieving a decrease
in business expense.
[0097] Further, according to the embodiment, it is possible to fill
fresh water on the basis of data of freshwater stock detection
means, communicate a transport destination of a transport ship to
the transport ship in accordance with an instruction from the
ballast-water management center 90, and get permission for receipt
at the transport destination from the ballast-water management
center 90, so that there is produced an advantageous effect that
even when a transport destination is urgently changed, such change
can be quickly accommodated for.
[0098] As described above, according to the invention, not only
present returning tankers are increased in use value but also a
demand for water in, for example, dry territories along the Bay of
Arabia is met. Also, there is provided a method, by which expenses
for treatment of domestic wasted water on a side of freshwater
supply countries are reduced, and organic fertilizer is effectively
reduced to farmland.
[0099] Since present returning tankers can get information of
locations, in which ballast water is filled, and information of
permission for receipt of ballast water through communication means
such as Internet or the like, it is possible to efficiently carry
out transportation of ballast water.
[0100] While the invention has been described in association with
application of treated water of domestic wasted water as fresh
water, the same advantageous effect is produced even when fresh
water comprises inexpensive river water and lake water.
[0101] In particular, the same effect is produced even in the case
where ballast water being sea water conveyed from a foreign country
is discharged to a sea area in that country, which is somewhere
while the ship sails, and which has not ratified an international
treaty for ballast-water quality control, inexpensive river water,
or lake water is instead filled as ballast water in the country,
and the fresh water is transported to dry territories.
[0102] Further, while the invention has been described in
association with conveyance of fresh water as ballast water for
ships, the same effect is produced with respect to an integrated
control system for giving and receiving, supply and delivery of
fresh water also in the case where fresh water is filled in plastic
bags and the plastic bags are towed and conveyed by ships.
[0103] The invention produces an effect that even if T-N and T-P
remain much, treated domestic wasted water, which is odorless, of
which harmful microorganism such as colon bacilli, bacilli are
sterilized, and which is inexpensive and safe for the human body,
can be filled as ballast water in ships such as oil tankers, etc.,
and transported at a cheap transport cost, so that inexpensive
fresh water can be provided and distributed as agricultural water
to extended farmland or vegetative regions in dry or semi-dry
territories.
[0104] Also, ballast water is loaded on ships in a location where
the ballast water is filled, and organic fertilizer manufactured
from sludge generated from treatment of domestic wasted water can
be unloaded in a destination, to which ballast water is
transported, and sold to be used as organic fertilizer in farmlands
or vegetative regions. Accordingly, the embodiment produces an
effect that it is possible to reduce expenses for treatment of
domestic wasted water on a side of a freshwater supply country and
to effectively reduce organic fertilizer to agricultural land and
an effect that by transporting eutrophic fresh water and organic
fertilizer abroad, organic matter is reduced in organic fertilizer
production countries and discharge of organic compound to the
environment is reduced to prevent eutrophication of environmental
water to purify the environment.
[0105] According to the embodiment, since amounts and water
qualities of domestic wasted water can be collectively managed
throughout the world, information of filling locations capable of
supplying ballast water can be offered to ships, which need fresh
water as ballast water, and information of water quality is
beforehand communicated to a country, to which ballast water is to
be supplied, so that information of permission for receipt of
ballast water based on the water quality standard of that country,
to which ballast water is to be supplied, can be communicated to
the ship. Accordingly, when ballast water is filled in a ship, an
owner of the ship can get permission for receipt of ballast water,
so that a request for permission is not necessary on a side of the
ship and it is not necessary to perform any office routine for
transportation of ballast water, thus enabling achieving a decrease
in business expense.
[0106] It should be further understood by those skilled in the art
that although the foregoing description has been made on
embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited thereto
and various changes and modifications may be made without departing
from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended
claims.
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