Apparatus and method for recovery of hydrocarbons from the surface of a body of water

Abstract

An apparatus for the removal of hydrocarbons from a body of water comprising a temperature reduction device comprising a heat exchange in thermal communication with a flow of a liquefied cryogen, the temperature reduction device being adapted to receive a hydrocarbon/water mixture, position a first surface of the at least partially phase separated mixture in thermal communication with the heat exchanger, and reduce the temperature of the at least partially phase separated mixture to a temperature sufficient to cause the hydrocarbon phase to at least partially congeal or at least partially solidify.

1 . An apparatus for the removal of hydrocarbons from a body of water comprising:
 a) a temperature reduction device comprising a heat exchange in thermal communication with a flow of a liquefied cryogen, the temperature reduction device being adapted to:
 i) receive a hydrocarbon/water mixture, 
 ii) position a first surface of the at least partially phase separated mixture in thermal communication with the heat exchanger, and 
 iii) reduce the temperature of the at least partially phase separated mixture to a temperature sufficient to cause the hydrocarbon phase to at least partially congeal or at least partially solidify. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a hydrocarbon recovery and separation device adapted to:
 a) receive the least partially congealed or partially solidified hydrocarbons and the water and/or ice from the temperature reduction device and   b) separate the least partially congealed or partially solidified hydrocarbons from the water and/or ice.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a post heat exchanger cryogen delivery device adapted to receive the gaseous and/or liquid cryogen from the heat exchanger of the temperature reduction device and deliver the cryogen to a second surface of the at least partially phase separated mixture. 
     
     
         4 . The cryogen delivery device of  claim 3 , wherein the cryogen delivery device comprises a blower adapted to provide a motive force to the gaseous and/or liquid cryogen from the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The cryogen delivery device of  claim 3 , further adapted to receive a supplemental liquid cryogen from a supplemental liquid cryogen source and deliver the supplemental liquid cryogen to the surface of the hydrocarbon/water mixture. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a solid surface heat exchanger plate. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cryogen comprises one or more of liquid nitrogen and liquid carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the temperature sufficient to cause the hydrocarbon to at least partially congeal or at least partially solidify is greater than zero degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the apparatus is adapted to
 a) float on a body of water and   b) receive a mixture of water and hydrocarbon located on the surface of the body of water.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the device is configured to float as a partially submerged apparatus and the mixture of water and hydrocarbon is a mixture of sea water and crude oil. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein a hydrocarbon phase of the hydrocarbon/water mixture has a thickness of 1 to 5 centimeters. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the temperature reducing device is adapted to reduce the temperature of the hydrocarbon/water mixture by the heat exchanger on a first side and by a flow of gaseous and/or liquid cryogen on a second side of the hydrocarbon/water mixture. 
     
     
         13 . A method of removing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon/water mixture, the method comprising the step of:
 a) lowering the temperature of the hydrocarbon phase until at least an outer thickness of less than half of the hydrocarbon phase is congealed or solidified from a side to a point within the hydrocarbon phase.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the temperature of the hydrocarbon phase is lowered by application of a source of cooling on a first side and a second side of the hydrocarbon phase. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cooling of the first side of the hydrocarbon phase is caused by a heat exchanger ( 240 ) and the cooling of the second side are caused by a flow of cold gas onto the second side. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cooling of the hydrocarbon phase lowers the hydrocarbon phase temperature to greater than zero degrees Celsius.