METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE DISCHARGE OF CONTAMINANTS FROM SHIPS

摘要

1501332 Discharging contaminants from ships KEENE CORP 13 Feb 1976 [24 Feb 1975] 5753/76 Heading G3N A computer system monitors and controls the rate of discharge of contaminants, e.g. oil, from a ship to prevent the rate exceeding a predetermined value. Pump 14 transfers oily water 12 from bilge or ballast tank 10, via flow sensor 18, flow meter 20 and control valve 22, to the point of discharge from the ship. Centrifugal pump 26 samples the water and it passes it, emulsified, via optional filter 28 for solids, to detector 30 whose discharge goes into the sea or back to tank 10 via valve 34. If the oil content is too high for discharge, valve 22 is closed. The detector 30 measures the oil concentration in a known manner by projecting light through the liquid to a photo-cell while a second photo-cell receives light scattered within the sample by the oil, comparison of the two photo-cell outputs giving the concentration which is displayed on meter 36 with an audible alarm. It is also passed via wire 42 to computer 44 which can directly control the discharge from the ship or actuate a recorder 56 which keeps a record of the degree of contamination of the discharged water. A signal from meter 20 gives the liquid volume which passes to computer 44, via line 46, which combines volume and oil concentration to give total oil discharge which is charted. A signal on line 48 gives the vessel speed and the computer controls recorder 56 to give the quantity of oil discharged/unit distance of ship movement on a chart. A power control unit 52 puts the system in operation when flow sensor 18 is actuated. The computer has various controls for calibration, and controlling printout of voyage number, allowable oil discharge, total miles and total oil Fig. 3 (not shown). This printout can then be submitted to the authorities to confirm that the legal requirements have been met.