U.S. patent application number 13/704920 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-19 for low-energy system for collecting matter.
This patent application is currently assigned to Algawventure Systems, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is James R. Cook, Shanon I. Rogers, Ross O. Youngs. Invention is credited to James R. Cook, Shanon I. Rogers, Ross O. Youngs.
Application Number | 20130240454 13/704920 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49156673 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130240454 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Youngs; Ross O. ; et
al. |
September 19, 2013 |
LOW-ENERGY SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING MATTER
Abstract
A system for collecting matter provides a low energy, low cost
and nearly zero pollutant process for extracting suspended matter
in a medium. The system collects the matter on a material which is
deployed into the medium, and the matter is extracted off the
material. If an oil spill occurs in a body of water, then the
material can rapidly remove the oil from the water in high
concentrations. If oil or bitumen is mixed with water due to tar
sands processing, then the material can extract the oil or the
water depending on a balance of oleophilic or hydrophilic
properties of the material. The extracted matter and the medium can
proceed to further processing such as water purification and/or
petroleum refining. This invention collects matter in an
economically and environmentally viable manner.
Inventors: |
Youngs; Ross O.; (Dublin,
OH) ; Cook; James R.; (Dublin, OH) ; Rogers;
Shanon I.; (Fremont, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Youngs; Ross O.
Cook; James R.
Rogers; Shanon I. |
Dublin
Dublin
Fremont |
OH
OH
OH |
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Algawventure Systems, Inc.
Marysville
CH
|
Family ID: |
49156673 |
Appl. No.: |
13/704920 |
Filed: |
June 17, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
June 17, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US11/40808 |
371 Date: |
June 3, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61355969 |
Jun 17, 2010 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
210/691 ;
210/184; 210/242.1; 210/400; 210/413; 210/416.1; 210/483; 210/660;
210/690 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C02F 1/001 20130101;
E02B 15/104 20130101; E02B 15/101 20130101; E02B 15/045 20130101;
Y02W 10/37 20150501; Y02A 20/204 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
210/691 ;
210/483; 210/400; 210/416.1; 210/413; 210/184; 210/242.1; 210/660;
210/690 |
International
Class: |
E02B 15/04 20060101
E02B015/04 |
Claims
1. A system for collecting matter, the system comprising a) an
material for collecting matter, wherein the material has at least
a. a first surface and b. a fiber wherein said fiber projects
outward from the first surface, b) matter, c) a medium, d) an
extractor, e) a container.
2. The system for collecting matter of claim 1, wherein the
material is at least one selected from the group of hydrophilic and
hydrophobic.
3. The system for collecting matter of claim 1, wherein the
material is at least one selected from the group of oleophilic and
oleophobic.
4. The system for collecting matter of claim 1, wherein the
material is constructed from at least one substance selected from
the group comprising polypropylene, polyester and
polyvinylchloride.
5. The system for collecting matter of claim 1, wherein the
material is at least one shape selected from the group comprising a
single strip, a belt, a sheet, a hooped portion and an elongated
portion, and a stack.
6. The system for collecting matter of claim 1, wherein the fiber
is at least one selected from the group comprising a cut fiber and
a looped fiber.
7. The system for collecting matter of claim 1, further including
at least one shape selected from the group comprising a second
surface, a reinforcement fiber and a surface reinforcement.
8. The system for collecting matter of claim 1, wherein the matter
is at least one selected from the group comprising oil, bitumen and
sand.
9. The system for collecting matter of claim 8, wherein the medium
is at least one selected from the group comprising fresh water,
brackish water, salt water, marine water, briny water, commercial
waste water, residential waste water, agricultural waste water.
10. The system for collecting matter of claim 1, wherein the matter
is at least one selected from the group comprising water, silt and
sand.
11. The system for collecting matter of claim 10, wherein the
medium is at least one selected from the group comprising oil and
bituminous sands.
12. The system for collecting matter of claim 1, wherein the
extractor is at least one selected from the group comprising an
orifice, a belt roller, a funnel, a vacuum, a scraper, a nested
roller, an electric charge, a spinner, a human hand, a vibrator, a
steamer and a heater.
13. The system for collecting matter of claim 1, wherein the
container is at least one selected from the group comprising a
barrel, a box, a trough, a hopper, a tube, a pipe, a tray, a bucket
and a bladder.
14. The system for collecting matter of claim 1, further comprising
a moving mechanism.
15. The system for collecting matter of claim 1, further including
a boat, wherein the boat has at least one selected from the group
comprising the material, the container and the extractor.
16. A method of collecting and extracting matter, the method
comprising a) supplying a material for collecting matter, wherein
the material has at least a. a first surface and b. a fiber wherein
said fiber projects outward from the first surface, b) deploying
the material in a medium with suspended matter, c) collecting
matter on the material, d) extracting collected matter from the
material with an extractor, and e) retaining extracted matter in a
container.
17. The method of collecting matter of claim 16, wherein the method
of collection is at least one selected from the group comprising
active collection and passive collection.
18. The method of collecting matter of claim 16, wherein the
material is at least one selected from the group comprising
hydrophilic and hydrophobic.
19. The method of collecting matter of claim 16, wherein the
material is at least one selected from the group comprising
oleophilic and oleophobic.
20. The method of collecting and extracting matter of claim 16,
wherein the material is constructed from at least one substance
selected from the group comprising polypropylene, polyester and
polyvinylchloride.
21. The method of collecting and extracting matter of claim 16,
wherein the material is at least one shape selected from the group
comprising a single strip, a belt, a sheet, a hooped portion and an
elongated portion, and a stack.
22. The method of collecting matter of claim 16, wherein the fiber
is constructed from at least one selected from the group comprising
a cut fiber and a looped fiber.
23. The method of collecting matter of claim 16, wherein the
material is formed into at least one shape selected from the group
comprising a second surface, a reinforcement fiber and a surface
reinforcement.
24. The method of collecting and extracting matter of claim 16,
wherein the suspended matter is at least one selected from the
group comprising oil, tar sands, bitumen, silt and sand.
25. The method of collecting and extracting matter of claim 24,
wherein the medium is at least one selected from the group
comprising fresh water, brackish water, salt water, marine water,
briny water, commercial waste water, residential waste water,
agricultural waste water.
26. The method of collecting and extracting matter of claim 16,
wherein the suspended matter is at least one selected from the
group comprising water, silt and sand.
27. The method of collecting and extracting matter of claim 26,
wherein the medium is at least one selected from the group
comprising oil, tar sands and bitumen.
28. The method of collecting and extracting matter of claim 16,
wherein the extractor is at least one selected from the group
comprising an orifice, a belt roller, a funnel, a vacuum, a
scraper, a nested roller, an electric charge, a spinner, a human
hand, a vibrator, a steamer and a heater.
29. The method of collecting and extracting matter of claim 16,
wherein the container is at least one selected from the group
comprising a barrel, a box, a trough, a hopper, a tube, a pipe, a
tray, a bucket and a bladder.
30. The method of collecting and extracting matter of claim 16,
wherein the method of collection is at least one selected from the
group comprising active collection and passive collection.
31. The method of collecting and extracting matter of claim 16,
further including supplying a boat for transporting at least one
selected from the group comprising the material, the container and
the extractor.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent Application (1) 61/355,990 filed on Jun. 17,
2010 and naming inventors Youngs and Cook, and U.S. Provisional
Patent Application (2) 61/355,969 filed on Jun. 17, 2010 and naming
inventors Youngs and Cook; the contents of both Applications are
incorporated by reference as if fully reproduced below.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Collecting matter in a medium, e.g. oil in water, is an
expensive and inefficient process which can contaminate the matter
and/or the medium. Information relevant to attempts to address
these problems can be found in the following: (1) U.S. Pat. No.
6,572,770; (2) U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,774; (3) US 2010/0105125; (4) US
2010/0210003; (5) 2011/0016773; (6) US 2009/0203115; (7) US
2010/0144017; (8) US 2010/0267122; (9) US 2011/0065165; (10) EP
942,646; (11) WO 2011038413; (12) WO 9851627; (13) US 20100105125;
(14) WO 2010151887; (15) WO 9851627; (16) U.S. Pat. No. 3,917,528;
(17) U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,039; (18) U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,958; (19)
U.S. Pat. No. 6,732,499; (20) U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,770; (21) U.S.
Pat. No. 6,393,812; and, (22) The Basics of Oil Spill Cleanup by
Mery Fingas, ISBN 9781566705370, CRC Press, Sep. 28 2000. The
listing of the preceding documents is in no way an admission of the
documents as prior art against the present invention or even as
analogous art. The citation of any publication is for its
disclosure prior to the filing date and should not be construed as
an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate
such publication by virtue of prior disclosure and/or prior
invention.
[0003] Each one of the listed documents, and the disclosed methods
and apparatuses therein, suffers from one or more of the following
disadvantages: (1) they require the use of expensive chemicals; (2)
they require the use of chemicals which contaminate collected
matter and/or the medium; (3) they require the use of high-energy
collection and/or concentration machines; (4) they require the use
of expensive concentration and/or collection machines; (5) they
pollute the environment by not being reusable or by being
inefficient at collecting and/or concentrating; (6) they require
constant supervision by an operator; (7) they require continued
replacement of collection and/or concentration parts; (8) they
require a high initial capital cost barrier, and thus a
disincentive, for market entry; (9) they do not efficiently collect
matter suspended in a water column; and, (10) they raise the cost
of all downstream products and processes. Examples of methods and
apparatuses which suffer from these disadvantages comprise
centrifuges, hollow fiber filtration, cross flow filtration,
tangential flow filtration, bubbling, flocculating, absorbent
sheets, vaccums, holding tanks, skimmers, dispersants, adsorbents,
and porous filters.
[0004] Extracting a suspended solid from a liquid medium, e.g. oil
from water, using the known prior art methods and apparatuses is an
expensive process and inefficient process that limits a society's
ability to clean up after an oil spill or efficiently extract oil
from tar sands or bitumen. Discovering a low cost and
environmentally friendly solution to collecting and/or
concentrating, e.g., oil or bitumen in water, could allow fossil
fuel industries to increase efficiency on extraction and decrease
negative environmental effects of their business. A device as
described in the following detailed description provides advantages
over the known attempts.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present invention is directed to a system that satisfies
this need of a low initial, operating and downstream cost while
being highly efficient and environmentally friendly for collecting
matter suspended in a liquid medium. This and other unmet
advantages are provided by the device and method described and
shown in more detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] A better understanding of the disclosed embodiments will be
obtained from a reading of the following detailed description and
the accompanying drawings wherein identical reference characters
refer to identical parts:
[0007] FIG. 1 is prospective view of a system for collecting
matter;
[0008] FIG. 2 is prospective view of a system for collecting matter
comprising a moving mechanism;
[0009] FIG. 3 is prospective view of material comprising cut fibers
and a first surface;
[0010] FIG. 4 is prospective view of material comprising looped
fibers and a first surface;
[0011] FIG. 5 is prospective view of material comprising cut
fibers, a second surface and a reinforcing surface;
[0012] FIG. 6 is prospective view of material comprising looped
fibers, second surface, and reinforcing surface;
[0013] FIG. 7a is a view of cut fibers;
[0014] FIG. 7b is a view of cut fibers;
[0015] FIG. 7c is a view of cut fibers and a first surface;
[0016] FIG. 8a is a view of material comprising cut fibers, looped
fibers and a first surface;
[0017] FIG. 8b is a view of material comprising looped fibers, a
second surface and a reinforcement fiber;
[0018] FIG. 8c is a zoom view of material comprising looped fibers,
a second surface, a first surface and a reinforcement fiber;
[0019] FIG. 8d is a zoom view of material comprising looped fibers,
a second surface, a first surface and a reinforcement fiber;
[0020] FIG. 9a is a view of cut fibers;
[0021] FIG. 9b is a view of cut fibers and a first surface;
[0022] FIG. 9c is a view of cut fibers and a first surface;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a view of geometric shapes which can define a
cross section of material;
[0024] FIG. 11 is a view of a system for collecting matter
comprising a material, an extractor and a moving mechanism;
[0025] FIG. 12 is a view of a system for collecting matter
comprising a looped portion, an extended portion and a drum
roller;
[0026] FIG. 13 is a view of a system for collecting matter
comprising a sheet;
[0027] FIG. 14a is a view of a system for collecting matter
comprising a third surface and material in a stack;
[0028] FIG. 14b is a view of a system for collecting matter
comprising a third surface and material in a stack;
[0029] FIG. 15a is a view of material emerging from a medium with
collected matter;
[0030] FIG. 15b is a view of material emerging from a medium with
collected matter;
[0031] FIG. 15c is a view of material emerging from a medium with
collected matter;
[0032] FIG. 15d is a view of collected matter on a material;
[0033] FIG. 15e is a view of collected matter on a material;
[0034] FIG. 16a is a view of matter attached to a fiber;
[0035] FIG. 16b is a view of oil among fibers;
[0036] FIG. 17 is a view of system for collecting matter comprising
an extractor, a tray and a container;
[0037] FIG. 18 is a view of system for collecting matter comprising
at least one extractor and a container;
[0038] FIG. 19 is a view of system for collecting matter comprising
an extractor, a material and a container;
[0039] FIG. 20 is a view of system for collecting matter comprising
an extractor, a material a container and a medium;
[0040] FIG. 21 is a view of system for collecting matter comprising
a material, a container, a flotation and a basket;
[0041] FIG. 22 is a view of system for collecting matter comprising
an extractor, a medium, a material and a boat;
[0042] FIG. 23 is a view of system for collecting matter comprising
an extractor, a medium, a material, a container and a boat;
[0043] FIG. 24 is a view of system for collecting matter comprising
an extractor, a medium, a material, a container and a boat;
[0044] FIG. 25 is a view of system for collecting matter comprising
an extractor, a medium, a material, a container, a raft, an energy
converter and a dewatering unit;
[0045] FIG. 26 is a view of a system for collecting matter
comprising a medium, a material and a boat;
[0046] FIG. 27a is a view of a system for collecting matter
comprising a cell, a material and a container;
[0047] FIG. 27b is a view of a system for collecting matter
comprising a cell, a material, an extractor and a container;
[0048] FIG. 28a is a view of a system for collecting matter
comprising a container, a directional funnel and an extractor;
[0049] FIG. 28b is a view of a system for collecting matter
comprising an extractor; and,
[0050] FIG. 29 is a view of a system for collecting matter
comprising an extractor, a medium, suspended matter, a tray and
collected matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0051] Prior to describing the various embodiments, the following
definitions are provided and should be used unless otherwise
indicated.
Definitions
[0052] In describing the disclosed subject matter, the following
terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set
forth below.
[0053] "Comprising" is an open ended transition word that when
preceding a list or description the word connotes that the
following list or description does not fully list or describe all
possibilities; therefore, the list or description can contain
additional elements not listed or described.
[0054] "Consisting" is a close ended transition word that when
preceding a list or description the word connotes that the
following list or description is complete.
[0055] A "medium" is any environment which is predominantly liquid
wherein solids and/or chemicals may exist in the medium in
suspension, dispersion or solution. Medium refers to aqueous and
non-aqueous mediums equally.
[0056] An "aqueous medium" is a medium which is predominantly
comprised of liquid water, and the water is at least one selected
from the group comprised of fresh water, brackish water, salt
water, marine water, briny water, commercial waste water,
residential waste water and agricultural waste water. Examples of
bodies of aqueous mediums, which can be natural or engineered,
include rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, oceans, bays, fjords,
retaining ponds, settling ponds, raceways, holding tanks, settling
tank, photo bio reactors. A "non-aqueous medium" is predominantly
comprised of a non-water liquid, such as oil, tar sands or bitumen.
A medium can be a combination of aqueous and non-aqueous mediums,
i.e. it is difficult to tell what is predominant or localized
variations in concentration would lead to differing
conclusions.
[0057] "Deploying" is the action of introducing a material into a
medium. A material that is deployed can be fully or partially
submerged in a medium, floating on a surface of a medium or
combinations thereof.
[0058] "Resides" is a point in space where at least a substantial
portion of material exists in a medium; therefor, a description of
where the material resides is not intended to mean where 100% of
the material resides, rather that is the general location where a
substantial portion of the material is deployed.
[0059] "Matter" is a solid, semi-solid and/or chemical suspended,
dispersed or dissolved in a medium. Matter is at least one selected
from the group comprised of algae, oil, bitumen, tar sands,
bacteria, silt, sand, ethane, hexanol, nitrates, phosphates,
benzene, lead, mercury, cadmium, iron, aluminum and arsenic.
[0060] "Bitumen" is a viscous form of petroleum found in bituminous
sands, which is also known as oil sands or tar sands. Bituminous
sand is a mixture of sand, clay, water and bitumen.
[0061] "Collection" is a capture of matter on a material, as
described below. Collection also includes any matter which is
captured by, between or proximate to matter already captured by the
material. Matter can form multiple layers on the material surface,
and any subsequent matter layers are considered to be collected
though it may not be touching or interlocked with, or in physical
or bonded contact with the material. The process of collection is
at least one selected from the group of active collection, passive
collection and growth collection. Similar words which are intended
to invoke variations of this definition comprise collects,
collecting, collected and to collect.
[0062] "Collected matter" is any matter that is collected by,
between or proximate to a material.
[0063] "Active collection" is a process of how a material collects
matter, and active collection occurs in two common scenarios: (1)
when the material is predominantly collecting matter while in
motion relative to the medium and/or matter; (2) when the material
is predominantly collecting matter while the medium is forced to
pass through, over and/or around the material. An example of (1) is
when the material is passed through the medium by active dragging
behind a boat or rotating like a conveyor belt. An example of (2)
is when the material is fixed in a housing such as inside a medium
conduit and the medium is forced by gravity and/or pressure to flow
through, over and/or around the material.
[0064] "Passive collection" is a process of how a material collects
matter, and passive collection occurs when the material is
suspended in, placed on a surface or at a boundary of a medium and
the matter collects on the material. Passive collection still
occurs when there is relative motion between the material and/or
the medium and/or the matter; however, that relative motion occurs,
e.g., due to wind, currents and/or waves.
[0065] The practical difference between active and passive
collection is that active collection occurs generally when humans
directly or indirectly act to cause the relative motion whereas
passive collection occurs generally when natural forces act to
cause the relative motion. Additionally, the material can be
actively collecting for a period of time and then transition to
passive collection for another period of time. Furthermore, the
boundary between what is active and passive collection may blur,
e.g. when material is placed at an apex of a human made spill way
and the medium flows through, over and/or around the material under
force of gravity. That could be categorized as partially active and
partially passive collection; however, if either passive or active
collection is occurring, then the material is being used in
accordance with this invention. In conclusion as to this point,
active and passive are relative terms which are not intended to be
mutually exclusive or absolute; they are only intended to roughly
categorize different methods of deploying the material in a medium
at any given time.
[0066] "Growth collection" is a process by which matter grows on a
material, and growth collection occurs when a suspended and/or
dissolved solid increases its mass while attached to the material
due to metabolic processes. A suspended solid which is capable of
growing on the material is algae and other microorganism to form a
biofilm. Growth collection can be any proportion or no proportion,
in relation to passive and active collection, of the method by
which the matter is collected on the material.
[0067] "Material" is any three dimensional object, consistent with
its description below, that is capable of collecting matter in a
medium. "Material" is short for "material for collecting matter";
therefore, a reference to a material is understood to be a material
for collecting matter, unless indicated otherwise.
[0068] "Deployed material" is material that was introduced into a
medium irrespective of whether the material resides at a surface of
the medium, a boundary of the medium or is fully or partially
submerged in the medium.
[0069] An "extractor" is any device, consistent with its
description below, that removes collected matter from a material.
Examples of an extractor is at least one selected from the group
comprising an orifice, a belt roller, a nested roller, a funnel, a
vacuum, a scraper, an electric charge, a spinner, a vibrator, a
human hand, a steamer and heater. Similar words which are intended
to invoke variations of this definition comprise extraction,
extracting, to extract and extracts.
[0070] "Extracted matter" is any matter that is formerly collected
matter due to an extractor or extraction process. The extracted
matter will be a combination of formerly suspended and/or dissolved
matter and the medium in which the matter was suspended and/or
dissolved.
[0071] A "container" is any device which is capable retaining or
storing, for any amount of time, collected matter while segregating
the collected matter from a medium. Examples of containers are
barrels, boxes, troughs, hoppers, tubes, pipes, trays, buckets and
bladders. The collected matter can flow to the container in any
number of ways, including by gravity, by pump, by conveyor, or by
another container such as a pipe or bucket.
[0072] A "dwell time" or a "dwell period" is a duration that a
material spends in a medium, and the material may be motionless or
in motion. Collection occurs during the dwell period; however, the
material is not necessarily collecting continuously or at a same
rate during the dwell period.
[0073] A "boat" is any vessel for transport by water, constructed
to provide buoyancy by excluding water and shaped to give stability
and permit propulsion. A boat also includes any apparatus
connected, attached or affixed, permanently or temporarily, to the
boat and also including anything towed or transported by the boat
such as a raft, dock, platform or flotation.
[0074] "Algae" is plural for any organism with chlorophyll and, in
multicellular algae, a thallus not differentiated into roots, stems
and leaves, and encompasses prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms
that are photoautotrophic or facultative heterotrophs. The term
"algae" includes macroalgae (such as seaweed) and microalgae. For
certain embodiments of the disclosure, algae that are not
macroalgae are preferred. The term algae used interchangeably
herein, refers to any microscopic algae, phytoplankton,
photoautotrophic or facultative heterotroph protozoa,
photoautotrophic or facultative heterotrophic prokaryotes, and
cyanobacteria (commonly referred to as blue-green algae and
formerly classified as Cyanophyceae). The use of the term "algal"
also relates to microalgae and thus encompasses the meaning of
"microalgal." The term "algal composition" refers to any
composition that comprises algae, and is not limited to the body of
water or the culture in which the algae are cultivated. An algal
composition can be an algal culture, a concentrated algal culture,
or a dewatered mass of algae, and can be in a liquid, semi-solid,
or solid form. A non-liquid algal composition can be described in
terms of moisture level or percentage weight of the solids. An
"algal culture" is an algal composition that comprises live
algae.
Overview
[0075] A system for collecting matter provides a low energy, low
cost and nearly zero pollutant process for extracting suspended
matter in a medium. The system collects the matter on a material
which is deployed into the medium, and the matter is extracted off
the material. If an oil spill occurs in a body of water, then the
material can rapidly remove the oil from the water in high
concentrations. If oil or bitumen is mixed with water due to tar
sands processing, then the material can extract the oil or the
water depending on a balance of oleophilic or hydrophilic
properties of the material. The extracted matter and the medium can
proceed to further processing such as water purification and/or
petroleum refining. This invention collects matter in an
economically and environmentally viable manner.
[0076] FIGS. 1 and 2 depict embodiments of systems for collecting
matter; however, FIGS. 1 and 2 show optional features which are not
necessary to practice every embodiment of the invention. These
systems for collecting matter were chosen, because a detailed
discussion of many possible systems and their individual features
is aided by first giving the system context.
[0077] As shown in FIG. 1, a system for collecting matter comprises
a material 101 for collecting matter (not visible) in a medium 121.
Material 101 in FIG. 1 is depicted as two individual and
independent portions of material 101. In this embodiment, medium
121 is a fresh water aqueous medium. Collected matter is not
visible for reasons discussed below. In FIG. 1, a small pump (not
visible) is inducing slight movement of medium 121 in body 143 to
simulate natural forces and to make passive collection a dominant
collection mechanism. Flow rate through the pump can be increased
to convert passive collection to active collection; furthermore,
the pump can be turned off to make growth and/or passive collection
the dominant collection process.
[0078] As shown in FIG. 2, another embodiment of an system for
collecting matter comprises material 201 which is deployed in
medium 221 which contains matter (not visible). In this embodiment,
medium 221 is a fresh water aqueous. Material 201 emerges, in part,
from medium 221 by rotation of a moving mechanism 251, which is, in
this embodiment, a drum shaped device. Material 201 also emerges,
in part, from medium 221 by rotation of an extractor. The
extractor, in this embodiment, is belt roller 213 which compresses
material 201 as it passes between two rollers. The compressive
force extracts collected matter 233, and the extracted matter is
retained by a container embodied as tray 263. Material 201 is
formed into a belt. After a portion of material 201 passes through
extractor 213 that same portion is deployed into medium 221 to
collect more matter. The rotational motion causes active collection
to be a dominant collection mechanism. The rotational motion can be
continuous or intermittent or even stopped to promote any one of
growth collection, passive collection or active collection.
Discussion
Material
[0079] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a material for collecting matter
is comprised of at least a first surface 302 or 402 and a fiber.
The fiber can be cut fiber 304 which is bound to the first surface
303, or the fiber can be a looped fiber which is bound to the first
surface 402. The material can contain a combination of cut fibers
304 and looped fibers 405 which are bound to a common surface such
as first surface 302 or 402. Cut fiber 304 and/or looped fiber 405
can be composed of a single filament or multiple filaments spun,
twisted, braided or bunched to form substantially a single fiber
such as a tuft, yarn, cord or rope.
[0080] Cut fiber 304 or looped fiber 405 ranges in length from
0.25'' to 12'' and more. More preferably, cut fiber 304 or looped
fiber 405 is between 0.5'' and 3'', and an example preferred length
of cut fiber 304 or looped fiber 405 is 1''. Spacing between a base
of any two cut fibers 304 can range from 0.01'' to 7'' and more.
More preferably, the spacing is 0.025'' to 1'', and an example
preferred spacing distance of cut fiber 304 or looped fiber 405 is
0.05''. If cut fiber 304 or looped fiber 405 is a single filament,
then the diameter of cut fiber 304 or looped fiber 405 can range
from 0.0001'' to 0.10'' and more, and an example of a preferred
filament diameter of cut fiber 304 or looped fiber 405 is 0.0003''.
If cut fiber 304 or looped fiber 405 is multifilament, then the
diameter of that cut fiber 304 or looped fiber 405 is 0.0001'' to
2'' and more, and an example of a preferred multifilament diameter
of cut fiber 304 or looped fiber 405 is 0.15''. It should be noted
that even if a multifilament cut fiber 304 or looped fiber 405 is
composed of the same number and size individual filaments, cut
fiber 304 or looped fiber 405 can have different diameters due to
its method of processing, e.g., spinning, twisting or bunching. A
bunched multifilament cut fiber 304 or looped fiber 405 would,
everything else being equal, likely have more interstitial voids
between fibers than twisted and maybe even more than spun and maybe
even more than braided.
[0081] Cut fiber 304 or looped fiber 405 is constructed from at
least one substance selected from the group comprising polystyrene,
polyester, polyamide, polypropylene, polyethylene, vinyl, rayon,
cotton, hemp, wool, silk, polyolefins, acrylic, nylon, flax, jute,
glass, pina, coir, straw, bamboo, velvet, felt, lyocell, spandex,
polyurethane, olefin, polyactide and carbon fibre, any blend of
these and/or any recycled products of these, and cut fiber 304 or
looped fiber 405, if multifilament, can be constructed from a blend
of any of those listed substances. An example of preferable
substances is nylon and polyester. If cut fiber 304 or looped fiber
405 is a natural fiber, then it can be manufactured in any process
known in the art, such as by opening, carding, drawing, roving,
spinning and/or twisting. If cut fiber 304 or looped fiber 405 is
made from synthetic fibers, then it can be manufactured in any
process known in the art, such as by extruding or spinning.
[0082] Cut fiber 304 or looped fiber 405 can be treated or
processed to make it more or less oleophilic, oleophobic,
hydrophilic and hydrophobic such as by adding or removing polymers
known in the art which have the named properties. Examples of
materials which are oleophilic comprise polypropylene, polyester,
polyvinylchloride, steel or aluminum. Furthermore, materials with a
combination of the listed properties is particularly advantageous
if the material is preferential such as if a material is both
oleophilic and hydrophilic but more oleophilic than hydrophilic.
For example, integrating polyester may increase the oleophilic and
hydrophilic nature of cut fiber 304 or looped fiber 405, but the
cut fiber 304 or looped fiber 405 will be preferentially
oleophilic. Although not intended to be limiting, if polyester
material is deployed in an oil and water medium, then oil will
dominate as collected matter over water; therefore, oil can be
removed from the water and stored without removing the water its
environment. This advantage increases recovery rate of, e.g., an
oil spill in aqueous medium. Furthermore, this permits the use of
the material for tar sand or bitumen recovery after, e.g., water or
steam is used to bring oil to the earth's surface. An oleophobic
material, such as nylon or cotton, can be used to collect matter in
a non-aqueous medium, such as oil, to lower levels of matter in the
oil.
[0083] Cut fiber 304 or looped fiber 405 can be treated or
processed to make it more or less conductive, such as by adding
carbon or a polymer. Individual filaments of cut fiber can be
processed to have any cross sectional shape from a circle, to a W
or S shape, to a triangle, to a square, to a pentagon, to a
hexagon, to an octagon, to star shaped. An example preferred
embodiment is polyester in a circle or nylon in a W shape.
Furthermore, individual filaments of cut fiber can be processed to
have any longitudinal shape from a hair, to a W or S shape.
[0084] First surface 302 or 402 has a thickness to it which can be
seen in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, respectively, and that thickness can
range from 0.01'' to 1.0'' and more. More preferably, first surface
302 has thickness between 0.02'' and 0.5'', and an example
preferred thickness of first surface 302 is 0.025''. As the surface
area of first surface 302 or 402 increases due to increasing length
and/or width of, e.g., a belt of the material, the thickness of
first surface 302 or 402 will likely increase to compensate for the
increase in tensile forces exhibited during operation of the system
for collecting matter. Alternatively, a second surface, as
described below, can be attached to the first surface 302 or 402 to
reduce strain on the first surface, in whole or in part.
[0085] First surface 302 or 402 can be constructed from any process
known in the art which would make a planar surface from at least
one substance selected from the group comprising polystyrene,
polyester, polyamide, polypropylene, polyethylene, vinyl, rayon,
cotton, hemp, wool, silk, polyolefins, acrylic, nylon, flax, jute,
glass, pina, coir, straw, bamboo, velvet, felt, lyocell, spandex,
polyurethane, olefin, polyactide, rubber, Kevlar, metallic mesh,
carbon fibre, any blend of these and/or recycled products of these.
An example of preferable substances is nylon and polyester. First
surface 302 or 402 can be manufactured in any process known in the
art, such as by weaving, knitting, tufting, spread tow, felting,
thermal or mechanical bonding, extrusion, injection molding,
compression molding or stamping.
[0086] Although the cut fiber 304 and looped fiber 405 are bound to
their respective first surfaces, repeated extraction cycles could
cause the fibers to disconnect from the first surface 302 or 402,
and such disconnection could be detrimental to a material's
collection rate. Therefore, the fibers, such as cut fiber 304 and
looped fiber 405, can be further secured to the first surface by
way of fiber reinforcement 306 or 406. Fiber reinforcement 306 or
406 are represented as dashed lines, because the fiber
reinforcement can be integrated into the first surface 302 or 402,
respectively, or on a portion of first surface 302 or 402 which is
not visible given the particular view. Alternatively, fiber
reinforcement 306 or 406 can be attached to the first surface such
that cut fiber 304 or looped fiber 405, respectively, not only
intersects the first surface and but also is reinforced by fiber
reinforcement 306 or 406, respectively, at substantially the same
point in space. Said attachment can occur with bonding by welding,
adhering, stitching, laminating or any other process known by a
person of skill in the art which can bond two or more surfaces
together. Fiber reinforcement 306 and 406 can be manufactured from
any synthetic or natural fiber which would increase the number of
extraction cycles a fiber can endure without disconnecting from the
first surface 302 or 402. An example of a preferred embodiment of a
fiber reinforcement is a high twist multifilament nylon strand.
[0087] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, an example embodiment of a
material for collecting matter further comprises a second surface
503 or 603 which is attached to a first surface, such as first
surface 302 or 402 in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively, of the material.
Said attachment can occur with bonding by welding, adhering,
stitching, laminating or any other process known by a person of
skill in the art which can bond two or more surfaces together.
Second surface 503 and 603 can provide additional features to the
material which may not be provided, in whole or in part, by said
first surface. Such additional features comprise improved tensile
strength, increased or decreased flexibility or rigidity, increased
or decreased coefficient of friction for, e.g., configuring to an
extractor or moving mechanism, increased or decreased buoyancy,
and/or increased or decreased collection rates. In an example
embodiment, a second surface 503 or 603 could be constructed of a
foam which may cause, e.g., an increase in buoyancy, a reduction of
drag in a medium, a reduction of belt friction on a moving
mechanism. In an example embodiment, a second surface 503 or 603
could be another first surface complete with cut fibers and/or
looped fibers which may, e.g., cause an increase in collection
rate. In an example embodiment, a second surface 503 or 603 could
be a polymeric sheet which may cause an increase or decrease in
buoyancy depending on density, an increase in rigidity and increase
in tensile strength. An example of a preferred embodiment of a
second surface is a closed cell polyethylene foam which permits the
material to reside at a boundary between a medium and the
atmosphere. Another example of a preferred embodiment as a second
surface is another first surface with cut fibers and/or looped
fibers so as to create a double sided material.
[0088] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, an example embodiment of a
material for collecting matter further comprises a surface
reinforcement 507 or 607 attached to a surface of the material.
Although the material has a high tensile strength, repeated
extraction cycles could cause a rupture in a surface of the
material. Surface reinforcement 507 and 607 are shown as attached
to second surface 503 and 603, respectively; however, surface
reinforcement 507 and 607 could be attached to a first surface,
such as first surface 302 or 402 in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively, of
the material regardless of whether second surface 503 or 603 exist.
A surface reinforcement system could integrate into or with a fiber
reinforcement system such that reinforcement of a fiber or a
surface is achieved using the same reinforcement. Said attachment
of the surface reinforcement 507 or 607 to a surface of the
material can occur with bonding by welding, adhering, stitching,
laminating or any other process known by a person of skill in the
art which can bond two or more surfaces together. Surface
reinforcement 507 or 607 can be any reinforcement material known to
a person of skill in the art which could increase the tensile
strength of a surface such as woven nylon, Kevlar sheets, extruded
polymers, carbon nanotubes, metallic meshes and many others. An
example of a preferred embodiment of surface reinforcement is a
nylon seatbelt like material stitched to a distal surface of the
material from which cut fibers and or looped fibers protrude, such
as is seen in FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0089] As shown in FIGS. 7a and 7b, an example embodiment of a cut
fiber 704 is shown in increasing zoom. In this example embodiment,
cut fiber 704 is a multifilament bunched fiber with a substantially
circular cross section. FIG. 7C is an example embodiment of the cut
fiber 704 and a first surface 702. The first surface 702 is a woven
structure composed of multifilament wefts and warps with cut fiber
704 interlaced between said wefts and warps and projecting out from
first surface 702.
[0090] As shown in FIG. 8a, an example embodiment of a material for
collecting matter is comprised of a first surface 802, a cut fiber
804 and a looped fiber 805. In this example embodiment, first
surface 802 is constructed by weaving nylon straps having a width
of 0.05'' and a thickness 0.015''. Cut fiber 804 is a multifilament
nylon wind protruding 1.5'' from the first surface, and an
approximate diameter of cut fiber 804 is 0.25''. Looped fiber 805
is of the same construction as cut fiber 804, and looped fiber 805
protrudes 0.75'' from first surface 802. An approximate width of
looped fiber 805, taking into account a central void formed by the
looped fibers, is 0.75''. Spacing between any two cut fibers 804
and/or looped fibers 805 is between 0.5'' and 0.65''.
[0091] As shown in FIG. 8b, an example embodiment of a material for
collecting matter is comprised of a looped fiber 805, a second
surface 803 and a fiber reinforcement 806. Second surface 803 is
constructed of a 0.15'' thick nylon sheet bonded to at least a
first surface (not visible). Fiber reinforcement 806, which runs
the length of the material, is a 0.15'' diameter nylon winding
which is connected to looped fiber 805.
[0092] As shown in FIGS. 8c and 8d, an example embodiment of a
material for collecting matter is comprised of a looped fiber 805,
a first surface 802, a second surface 803 and a fiber reinforcement
806.
[0093] As shown in FIGS. 9a to 9c, an example embodiment of a
material for collecting matter is comprised of a first surface 902
and a cut fiber 904. First surface 902 is a polyester weave
comprised of a 0.010'' diameter multifilament thread. Cut fiber
904, which is anchored to first surface 902 by woven integration,
is a 0.05'' diameter multifilament polyester wind protruding one
inch from the first surface 902. Spacing between any two cut fiber
904 ranges between 0.010'' and 0.1''.
[0094] The example embodiments of a material for collecting matter
discussed above have all represented the material as substantially
planar; however and as shown in FIG. 10, a cross section of the
material can take on any geometric shape having surface 10a and
surface 10b. Surface 10a can be a first surface, as described
above, and surface 10b can be second surface, as described above.
Alternatively, surface 10a can be a second surface, and surface 10b
can be first surface. Furthermore, surfaces 10a and 10b can have
the same or different chemical and/or geometric structure. Surfaces
10a and 10b can be different surfaces of the same three dimensional
object; therefore, either 10a and 10b are both a first surface or
10a and 10b are both a second surface.
[0095] If the combination of surfaces 10a and 10b form a closed
geometric shape, then the internal void defined by the surfaces 10a
and 10b can be filled with an object. That object can increase or
decrease the buoyancy of the material. For example, a stainless
steel cables will decrease the material's buoyancy where as a
closed cell polyethylene foam will increase the material's
buoyancy. Furthermore, the object can be absorbent such that it
will collect matter through absorption in addition to matter
collected on material. In an example embodiment, the object is a
polypropylene fiber and/or foam and the matter is oil. The closed
geometric shape can be formed, e.g., by first taking a planar sheet
of material, then folding it over and then joining the edges
together. The exact geometric shape of such stitched material takes
can be determined by, e.g., the shape of the inserted object.
Alternatively, a first or second layer can be processed directly
into any geometric shape, open or closed, by any known method in
the art, such as stamping, crimping, extruding, injection molding,
compression molding. In an example preferred embodiment, surface
10a is a first surface, surface 10b is a second surface. In another
example preferred embodiment, a material for collecting matter has
a cross sectional geometric shape that is substantially oval.
[0096] FIGS. 11-13 display diverse embodiments that a material, as
described in example embodiments above, can be constructed into. As
shown in FIG. 11, an example embodiment of a system for collecting
matter is comprised of a material 1101, an extractor 1113 and a
moving mechanism 1151. The FIGURE omits a medium for simplicity.
Material 1101 is formed into a belt that is looped around moving
mechanism 1151 represented by a pair of drums capable of rotation
and advancing, in whole or in part, material 1101 through extractor
1111, represented by a pair of rollers which are also capable of
rotation and advancing, in whole or in part the material 1101. The
belt can range in circumference from 1 to 100 feet; however, the
upper boundary of circumference is only limited by tensile strength
of the belt and power to the moving mechanism. Therefore, a belt
with substantial reinforcements, as described above coupled with a
high powered motor driving the moving mechanism can reach
circumferences of well over 100 feet to 500 feet and greater.
[0097] As shown in FIG. 12, an example embodiment of a system for
collecting matter is comprised of a material and a moving
mechanism. The FIGURE omits a medium for simplicity. The material
is comprised of a hooped portion 1208 with an elongated portion
1209. Hooped portion 1208 and elongated portion 1209 can be formed
from the same or different configuration of material, including
substance and geometry, as discussed above. The elongated portion
1209 allows the system to increase collection rate by increasing
surface area of the material and by probing a portion of the medium
not interacted with or by hooped portion 1208. The moving mechanism
is comprised of two drum rollers 1253 which simultaneously extract
matter from the material and advance the material through the drum
rollers 1253. Alternatively, hooped portion 1208 can be severed at
any point to create a long rope like structure which can aid in
storage or collection of the system seen in FIG. 12. The hooped
portion can range in circumference from 1 to 100 feet; however, the
upper boundary of circumference is only limited by tensile strength
of the hooped portion and power to the moving mechanism. Therefore,
a belt with substantial reinforcements, as described above coupled
with a high powered motor driving the moving mechanism can reach
circumferences of well over 100 feet to 500 feet and greater. The
elongated portion can range in length from 6 inches to 50 feet and
greater.
[0098] As shown in FIG. 13, an example embodiment of a system for
collecting matter is comprised of a material 1301, and the material
1301 is formed by attaching several strips of material at their
borders to form a larger sheet. The FIGURE omits a medium for
simplicity. In an example embodiment, material 1301 can be towed
across a medium's surface by boat to actively collect matter, and
in another example embodiment, material 1301 can be anchored so
that it passively collects matter. Material 1301 can be rolled up
for storage purposes, and material 1301 can be deployed into or
emerge out of a medium by rolling out or up, respectively. The
strips can range in length from 6 inches to 100 feet and greater;
however, the upper boundary of length is only limited by tensile
strength of the strip. Therefore, a strip with substantial
reinforcements can reach well over 100 feet to 500 feet and
greater. The strips can range in width from 1 inch to 100 inches
and greater, and a sheet can range in width from 2 inches to 50
feet and greater.
[0099] As shown in FIGS. 14a and 14b, an example embodiment of a
system for collecting matter is comprised of a material 1401 and a
flotation 1471. Material 1401 is first folded in half and then
stitched along an edge to form a closed geometric shape. Material
1401 is then attached to third surface 1471 to form a stack
configuration. Third surface 1471 can be used to increase or
decrease the stack's buoyancy and/or tensile strength, and the
third surface 1471 can be constructed of at least one selected from
the group of foam, plastic, wood, metal, metal fiber, any fiber
material listed above. The stack embodiment increases the surface
area per unit volume of material 1401. The stacks can range in
length from 6 inches to 100 feet and greater; however, the upper
boundary of length is only limited by tensile strength of the third
surface 1471. Therefore, a the third surface 1471 with substantial
reinforcements can reach well over 100 feet to 300 feet and
greater. The stack can range in width from 1 inch to 60 inches and
greater, and a sheet, composed of several stacks attached side by
side, can range in width from 1 inche to 50 feet and greater.
Collection
[0100] Although not intended to be a limiting statement, the matter
may collect on the material by at least one process selected from
the group of mechanically, chemically and electrically. A
mechanical attraction could be, e.g., that a particle of matter
becomes entangled by a fiber. A chemical attraction could be, e.g.,
that a chemical bond forms between a particle of matter and a
fiber. An electrical attraction could be, e.g., that a particle
carries an electrical charge which is substantially opposite to a
charge present on a fiber's surface. Matter may collect on a
material in any combination of the aforementioned processes. Large
quantities of matter can collect on material in the same manner as
small quantities, but collection rate of matter may increase due to
agglomeration of matter which may increase the surface area of the
material which allows for more points of collection along the
material's surface. Agglomeration could overtake other process of
collection as a dominate process.
[0101] The process of collecting of matter is aided through
material selection when considering to the matter, the medium and
the material. In an example embodiment, if a material is
constructed of an oleophilic substance and matter to be collected
is oil or a lipid containing organism, then the matter will be
attracted to and collect on the material. In an example embodiment,
if a material is constructed of an oleophilic substance with
hydrophobic properties and a material to be collected is oil or a
lipid containing organism in an aqueous medium, then the matter
will be attracted to and collect on the material preferentially
over the aqueous medium. Preferred embodiments of oleophilic and
hydrophobic substances include polyester, polyethylene and
polypropylene. In another example embodiment, if a material is
constructed of a light conducting material and the matter to be
collected is attracted to light, then the matter might collect on
the material at an increased initial collection rate over non-light
conducting material. The increased initial rate could quicken the
point at which collection is dominated by agglomeration which will
increase overall collection rate. An example embodiment of a light
conducting material is an extruded polyester fiber which may
conduct a light source's rays/beams which may then attract a
photosynthetic organism, such as algae.
[0102] As shown in FIGS. 15a-15c, an example embodiment of a
material for collecting matter is comprised of collected matter
1533 which is emerging from a medium 1521. Prior to deployment, the
material was white, and the material, as seen prior to extraction,
is significantly darkened. The darkening occurs because of the
collection of matter in medium 1521. The matter is not visible as
individual particles of matter, because, e.g., algae is measured on
a micro meter scale. Therefore, a viewer unaided by magnifying
technology can only see the matter as a conglomerate of many
particles of collected matter 1533 which is represented in FIGS.
15a-15c as dark spots on an otherwise white material.
[0103] An example of matter collected on material is seen in FIGS.
15d and 15e. In this example, the collected matter 1539 is oil.
Prior to deployment, the material was white, and the material, as
seen prior to extraction, is significantly darkened. The darkening
occurs because of the collection of matter in a medium. The matter
is not visible as individual particles of matter, because, e.g.,
oil droplets are measured on a micro meter scale. Therefore, a
viewer unaided by magnifying technology can only see the matter as
a conglomerate of many particles of collected matter 1539 which is
represented in FIGS. 15d and 15e as dark spots on an otherwise
white material.
[0104] Collected matter 1539 is visible in the aggregate, because
it turned the otherwise white material a dark brown or even
black.
[0105] Although the following is not limiting to the invention, a
difference can occur in collection between different particles of
matter. As seen in FIG. 16a, collected matter 1637, which is algae,
is attached to a surface of material 1601. The algae are
approximately 2 .mu.m in diameter, and it appears to be a discrete
under high zoom. As seen in FIG. 16b, collected matter 1639, which
is oil, not only attaches to the material 1601 but also appears to
create a continuous membrane which spans the distance between
individual fibers of material 1601. The differing phenomenon is
only discussed to exhibit visual differences in how matter and
material mechanically interact at a micron level.
Extraction
[0106] As seen in FIG. 17, an example embodiment for a system for
collecting matter is comprised of an extractor, a tray 1763 and a
container 1765. The extractor is represented as belt roller 1753
which also combines as a moving mechanism to advance belted
material (not visible). Belt roller 1753 applies compressive force
to extract collected matter from the belted material. The extracted
matter falls under force of gravity into a tray 1763 which funnels
the extracted matter into container 1765 for storage.
[0107] As seen in FIG. 18, an example embodiment for a system for
collecting matter is comprised of an orifice 1815, a belt roller
1813 and a container 1865. Material (not shown) passes through
orifice 1815 and into container 1865. Orifice 1815 applies
compressive and shear forces to extract collected matter from the
material. The material then passes through belt roller 1813 which
extracts any remaining matter using compressive forces. Extracted
matter from both orifice 1815 and belt roller 1813 fall into
container 1865 for storage.
[0108] As seen in FIG. 19, an example embodiment for a system for
collecting matter is comprised of an orifice 1915, a material 1901
and a container 1965. Material 1901 has emerged from a medium (not
shown) and is passing through an orifice 1915 which applies
compressive and shear forces to extract extracted matter 1935, seen
as a droplet of high concentrated matter suspended in a medium. The
extracted matter 1935 is collected by container 1965.
[0109] As seen in FIG. 20, an example embodiment for a system for
collecting matter is comprised of a funnel 2017, material 2001 and
a medium 2021. Extraction of collected matter on the material 2001
occurs by passing material 2001 through funnel 2017. Extracted
matter collects in a beaker 2067.
[0110] Although not limiting to the invention, an interesting
advantage to the current system is what happens to extracted matter
as it sits in a container. If a matter is algae and a medium is
water, then the algae would be suspended in the water column due to
a slight electric charge. After collection and extraction, the
material appears to strip the algae of the charge which induces
settling inside the container. In one example, algae can settle to
the bottom of the container in ten minutes at a quantity which
could take several days to achieve by trying have algae settle that
is suspended in a water column. If extracted matter is collected in
a container and subsequently settles, then remaining water can be
pumped to a water jet to further aid in extraction of matter. This
effect is another advantage which permits the current system to
reduce costs associated with creating an end user commercial
product from algae.
[0111] Although not limiting to the invention, it is believed that
a majority of collected matter collects on material by mechanical
processes; therefore, mechanical extraction--by using a roller or
an orifice, or by spinning or vibrating the material, or by using
compressed air or water jet to blow or a vacuum to suck off
matter--appears to extract a large proportion of collected matter.
A high pressure, low volume sprayer also works well to remove
algae. Other means, however, can be used to extract collected
matter, such as inducing a charge in the material to cause the
material and the matter to repel each other. That charge can, e.g.,
be applied directly such as by creating a voltage potential, or the
charge can occur at the molecular level using substances which
create their own charges under specific situations such as exposure
to oxygen, chemicals or UV light. Another possible method is
through agitation of the material to induce extraction which does
not necessarily require contact between the material and a physical
device, such as a roller or orifice. Another possible method is
through sonication which directs high energy sound waves to extract
collected matter. Another possible method is through extraction
using a human hand by forming an orifice with curled fingers. If
extracted matter and/or medium is highly viscous, such as bitumen
or oil can be, then extraction by adding heat, such as with steam
or a heater, can increase the bitumen or oil's viscosity and
therefore aid in extraction.
Systems and Environments
[0112] Systems for collecting matter not previously discussed are
detailed in this section.
[0113] As seen in FIG. 21, an example embodiment of a system for
collecting matter is comprised of medium 2121, material 2101,
flotation 2171 and basket 2181. Material 2101 is formed into a
single long strip which is placed into basket 2181, and basket 2181
is able to float on a surface of medium 2121 by attaching flotation
2171 to the basket 2181. Suspended matter (not visible) is
suspended in medium 2121, and the suspended matter passively
collects on material 2101.
[0114] As seen in FIG. 22, another example embodiment of a system
for collecting matter is comprised of medium 2221, material 2201, a
belt roller 2213 and a boat 2283. Material 2201 is constructed into
a belt and affixed to a side of boat 2283 floating an a surface of
medium 2221. Material 2201 is deployed in medium 2221, and it
advances through belt roller 2213, which extracts actively
collected matter that darkened material 2201 in the top picture in
FIG. 22.
[0115] As seen in FIG. 23, another example embodiment of a system
for collecting matter is comprised of suspended matter 2331,
material 2301, flotation 2373, extractor 2313, boat 2383, medium
2321 and bladder 2368. Suspended matter 2331, which is oil, has
darkened medium 2321. Material 2301 submerges into medium 2321 to
collect suspended matter 2331, and material 2301 emerges from
medium 2321 to advance towards extractor 2313 to extract collected
matter. Extracted matter is collected on flotation 2373, which
pumps collected matter to bladder 2368, and flotation 2373 and/or
bladder 2369 is towed by boat 2383. Material 2301 advances by a
moving mechanism (not visible); therefore, material 2301 is
actively collecting suspended matter 2331.
[0116] As seen in FIG. 24, another example embodiment of a system
for collecting matter is comprised of material 2401, drum 2365,
extractor 2413, boat 2483 and medium 2421. Suspended matter is not
visible in FIG. 24, but the suspended matter is oil in an aqueous
medium. Material 2401 submerges into medium 2421 to collect
suspended matter, and material 2401 emerges from medium 2421 to
advance towards extractor 2413 to extract collected matter.
Extracted matter is collected in drum 2465 which is integrated with
boat 2483 as a single matter collecting system. Material 2401
advances by a moving mechanism (not visible); therefore, material
2401 is actively collecting suspended matter.
[0117] As seen in FIG. 25, another example embodiment of a system
for collecting matter is comprised of material 2501, medium 2521,
flotation 2571, extractor 2511, dewatering unit 2591 and energy
converter 2592. Material 2501 is contained within flotation 2571,
as seen in a cutout window, such that material 2501 passively
collects suspended solids (not visible) while incorporated amongst
flotation 2571 which as at a surface of medium 2521. Material 2501
is advanced to extractor 2511 which can be a combination of at
least one extractor, as defined above, to extract collected matter.
Extracted matter is transported to dewatering unit 2591, and the
dewatered extracted matter can be further processed at energy
converter 2592. Energy converter 2592 can contain solar panels to
convert the sun's light into electricity to power units such as a
moving mechanism, and a dewatering machine. Furthermore, the solar
panels can further dry the dewatered extracted matter to use either
as another energy source or for storage until the further dewatered
extracted matter can be retrieved by an operator. The other energy
source can be extracted matter converted into energy by simple
incineration, pyrolysis or any other method known in the art.
Finally, the solar panels, and or direct solar energy, can be used
to distill water that is associated with extracted matter.
[0118] As seen in FIG. 26, another example embodiment of a system
for collecting matter is comprised of material 2601, medium 2621
and boat 2683. In this example embodiment, boat 2683 can tow
material 2601 to a location on medium 2621, which can be any open
body of water. Material 2601 and/or boat 2683 can be anchored so
that material 2601 can passively collect suspended matter in medium
2621. If material 2601 is anchored, then boat 2683, can, e.g.,
return to shore to tow out another sheet of material 2601.
Alternatively, boat 2683 can drag material 2601 over or partially
submerged in medium 2621 to actively collect suspended matter.
[0119] As seen in FIG. 27, another example embodiment of a system
for collecting matter is comprised of material 2701, body 2745,
container 2765 and belt roller 2713. A medium (not shown) would
fill up body 2745 in the same way water fills a swimming pool.
Material 2701 is deployed in the type of collection that can occur
is at least one selected from the group of growth collection,
actively collection and passive collection. If growth collection is
desired, then material 2701 is deployed in a medium with a low
concentration of suspended matter, e.g. algae, that passively
collects on material 2701 while the material 2701 is stagnant or
moving slowly. The collected matter grows into a colony of algae
and then material 2701 advances towards belt roller 2713 to extract
the growth collected material to be stored in container 2765.
Alternatively, material 2701 is deployed in a medium with a high
concentration of suspended matter, e.g. algae, that passively
collects on material 2701 if rotated slowly or if stagnant. After
the algae collects, the material advances towards belt roller 2713
to extract the passively collected material which is stored in
container 2765. Alternatively, material 2701 is deployed in a
medium with a high concentration of suspended matter, e.g. algae,
and the material is deployed and quickly rotated through the medium
so that the algae passively collects on material 2701. After the
algae collects, the material advances towards belt roller 2713 to
extract the actively collected material to be stored in container
2765. Alternatively, the suspended matter could be tar sands,
bitumen or oil. A body 2745 can range in length from 5 to 500 feet
and greater, and body 2745 can range in width from 2 to 100 feet
and greater. The length and width of the collection cell is limited
only by available floor space; therefore, the length and width are
non-limiting example sizes.
[0120] As seen in FIGS. 28a and 28b, an example embodiment of a
system for collecting matter comprising a bucket 2869, a pair of
nested rollers 2819a and 2819b and a directional funnel 2893.
Material (not shown) passes over a first nested roller 2819a and
into directional funnel 2893. A purpose of the directional funnel
2893 is to direct the material between nested rollers 2819a and
2819b. First nested roller 2819a and second nested roller 2819b
apply compressive force in over a shaped portion of material, as is
seen best in FIG. 28b. First nested roller 2819a and second nested
roller 2819b can be any shape which compliments a geometric shape
of the material, as discussed above. In this example embodiment,
extracted matter is collected by an optional bucket 2869.
[0121] As seen in FIG. 29, an example embodiment of a system for
collecting matter comprises medium 2921, material 2901, tray 2963,
matter 2939, belt roller 2913. Matter 2913 is oil suspended in
medium 2921, which is salt water. Material 2901 is constructed from
a hydrophilic and oleophilic but preferentially oleophilic, such as
polyester, and material 2901 is deployed in medium 2921. Material
2901 advances out of medium 2921 and towards belt roller 2913 for
extraction. Note the color difference between material 2901 before
and after extraction; the color difference is caused by matter
collected on the material but then extracted by belt roller 2913.
The extracted matter is retained by tray 2963.
EXAMPLE TESTS
Example 1
[0122] A system as described in seen in FIG. 29 was constructed.
The material was formed into a belt by first folding the material
over into a double sided material, then stitching along an edge and
then stitching two ends together. The belt was 93 inches in
circumference and 3 inches wide. 0.882 gallons of crude oil were
introduced into the medium, and the belt was rotated through the
medium at 4.043 in/sec. The crude was extracted at a rate of 0.37
gal/min, and the material absorbed 1.92 mL/in.sup.2. If these
numbers are scaled up to a 30 inch wide belt, then the recovery
rate becomes 3.709 gal/min, and 188 belts could remove 1,000,000
gal/day of crude.
[0123] The previously described embodiments of the present
invention have many advantages, including systems for collecting
matter in a low energy, low cost and nearly zero pollutant process.
Embodiments of the invention do not need to incorporate all
advantages that the invention achieves over prior art.
[0124] Having shown and described embodiments of the invention,
those skilled in the art will realize that many variations and
modifications may be made to affect the described invention and
still be within the scope of the claimed invention. Thus, many of
the elements indicated above may be altered or replaced by
different elements which will provide the same result and fall
within the spirit of the claimed invention. It is the intention,
therefore, to limit the invention only as indicated by the scope of
the claims.
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