Title of Invention

"A WATER BASED DEVICE TO SPREAD GELLING AGENT ON THE WATER SURFACE"

Abstract

This invention relates to a water based device to spread gelling agent on a water surface which may or may not be contaminated with flammable products such as petrol, oil or lubricants. The water based device has a cannister body with a tube disposed therein. The cannister body has a container for storage of a gelling agent. A bottal is provided at the open distal end of the tube. The proximal end of the tube is adapted to be closed by an internal lid. An electric cable extending within the tube is secured to a heater.

Full Text

Title of the Invention; A water based device, to spread gelling agent on the water surface. Field of the Invention; The present invention relates to a water based device to spread gel on the water surface which may or may not be contaminated with the flammable products, such as petrol, oil, lubricants etc or oils in general. PRIOR ART The oil slicks or hydrocarbon slicks floating on open water surface, whether resulted from subsea well blowouts or shipping mishaps, are highly undesirable for the marine environment. With the increasing number of subsea exploratory, production oil wells, increasing volume of shipping traffic relying on progressively larger tankers contaminate water surface in sea etc. with the petrol or oil or lubricant or hydrocarbon fuel etc. is more likely. This contamination of water surface with petrol or oil or lubricant or hydrocarbon fuel, which are referred herein after as POL products or as flammable products and which inturn are floating on the water surface, is referred hydrocarbon slicks or oil slicks, and the floating flammable products or POL products on the water surface, as referred herein above, are referred as hydrocarbon slicks or oil slicks herein after. The hydrocarbon or oil slicks, as referred herein above, not only contaminate the water surface but also raises the risk of sudden fire and under such circumstances of sudden fire of hydrocarbon or oil slicks, the POL, products or flammable products, as referred herein above, after catching the fire spreads further on the water surface, particularly in the open water surface, such as in sea etc, and hence, increases the probability of accidents and casualities. Therefore, the direct destruction of the hydrocarbon slicks or oil slicks has to be avoided. The conventional method is to convert the slicks, as referred herein above, into the gel and then to ignite the gel to destroy the POL products or flammable products. The conventional methods known in the art employ the manual spreading of conventional gelling agents over the water surface contaminated with hydrocarbon or oil slicks. The slicks, as referred herein, forms the gel when come in contact with gelling agent. Once the gel is formed, the gel may be ignited directly to destroy the POL products or flammable products or gel is removed manually from the water surface. The latter step, i.e. manual removal of gel is highly time consuming and cumbersome, more so in case, if the gel is spreaded onto the wider area. The another drawbacks of conventional methods is that the manual spreading of gelling agent is also time consuming and cumbersome, also calls for the human being to go into the canal or sea and hence exposing oneself to the hazardous environment, and in addition the gelling agent may not be spreaded over the entire slick and further in addition the gelling agent may not be spreaded uniformily. Still another drawbacks of the conventional methods are that, the conventional gelling agents which are generally 'gel-hydrocarbon fuel', do not result in uniform formation of gel and in addition have the short life. Further, the time required for gelling, that is, convertion of hydrocarbon slicks or oil slicks into gel, is highly time consuming. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the present invention is to propose a device which can conveniently spread a gelling agent on a water surface contaminated with hydrocarbon slicks or oil slicks. Another object of this invention is to propose water based device which first spreads the gelling agent or the instant gel on a water surface contaminated with petrol or hydrocarbon slicks or oil slicks/ and the said slicks are converted into gel layer instantly on coming in contact with the gelling agent or instant gel so as to overcome the disadvantage of the conventional methods. A further object of the present invention is to propose a gelling agent which can instantly form a uniform gel layer with oil slicks or hydrocarbon slicks floating on the water surface. Another object of the present invention is to propose a water based device which can be employed under the water surface as well. Yet another object of this invention is to propose a water based device to spread a gelling agent, on a water surface contaminated with the oil slicks floating on the water surface, which can be employed under the water level and as well as be operated from ground level or remotely from the distance. According to this invention there is provided a water based device to spread gelling agent on a water surface which may or may not be contaminated with flammable products such as petrol, oil or lubricants comprising: a) canister body (1) with a tube (7) disposed therein; b) said canister (l)having a container for storage of gelling agent; c) a bottal (11) at open distal end of said tube (7) with a cap (19); d) the proximal end of said tube adapted to be closed by an internal lid (18), e) an electric cable (22) extending within said tube (7), f) heater held to said cable. In accordance to the present invention the disclosure is made for a water based device primarily comprising of a canister, a tube, a bottol, a cap and a heating means. The canister is charecterised by a body having a neck and a handle. The neck is provided with an opening having the provision of lid, which can be screwed onto the neck after the tube is placed in its position as described herein below. The tube is charecterised by a cylindrical, hollow and longitudinal body having both ends open. One open end is provided with the external threads, which in turn is closed with a lid and the another open end is provided with under-cuts or internal threads, which in turn is provided with a bottle, characterised by one open end having provision of stopper or lid and another closed opposite end having an openning. The bottol is placed in the tube with its open end, provided with stopper or lid, facing outward. The cap is characterised by a closed flat end provided with a hole having diameter equal to the external diameter of the tube and an opposite end having an opening and outwardly extended part. The heating means is comprising of the chemical being capable of generating the exothermic reaction to generate the heat on recieving the spark or electric current, preferably it is at least one ce pellet, more preferably two ce pellets, one within the bottle and another outside the bottle, but within the tube, and of a means to transmit the electric current or spark from the initiating device known in the prior art. In accordance to the present invention the initiating device can be remotely controlled or manually operated. The tube comprising of tube body and lid, herein after referred as internal lid, and a cap, a bottol and heating means is placed in the canister, containing the gelling agent, with its end provided with a bottle 85 heating means facing down towards the bottom of the canister and the opposite end with the terminals of the means to transmit the electric current, herein after such means are referred as cable, coming out of the hole provided in the lid of the tube, is fitted in the opening of the neck of the canister which in turn is tightened and sealed with its lid and the terminal of the cable of the means to transmit the electric current of the spark to the heating means, is connected to the initiating device. To this canister filled with gelling agent and fitted with tube, as described herein above, an anchor sack is tied with the help of a rope and the device is deployed under the water. Description of accompanying Figure; Figure-1 shows the vertical cross section of the device. Detailed Description of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention makes a disclosure of the water based device, to spread the gelling agent onto the water surface contaminated with floating hydrocarbon slicks or oil slick, comprising of a canister (1), a tube (7), a bottle (11), a cap (18), and heating means (17). The canister (1) is characterised by a canister body (2), which in turn is provided with a canister neck (4) and a canister handle (3). The canister neck (4) is provided with an opening (5) having the provision of external lid (6), which can be screwed onto the canister neck (4) after the tube (7) is placed in its position as described herein below. The tube (7) comprises a cylindrical, hollow and longitudnal body (8) having both ends (9 and 10) open. One open end (10) is provided with external threads, which in turn is closed with internal lid (18) and the another open end (9) is provided with under-cuts or internal threads, which in turn is provided with a bottle (11), having by one open end (13) with provision of stopper or lid (14) and another closed and opposite end (12) having an opening (16). The bottle (11) is placed in the tube (7) with its open end (13), provided with stopper or lid (14), facing outward. The cap (19) is characterised by a closed flat and (21) provided with a hole (23) having diameter equal to the external diameter of the tube (7) and an opposite end having an opening (5) and outwardly extended part (20). The heating means (17) comprises of the chemical being capable of generating the exothermic reaction to generate the heat on receiving the spark or electric current, preferably it is at least one ce pellet, more preferably two ce pellets, one within the bottle (11) and another outside the bottle (11), but within the tube (7) , and of a cable (22) to transmit the electric current or spark from the initiating device, known in the prior art and not shown in the figure. In accordance to the present invention the initiating device can be remotely controlled or manually operated. The tube (7) comprising of tube body (8) and internal lid (18), and a cap (19), and a bottle (11) and heating means (17) is placed in the canister (1), containing the gelling agent, with its end (9) provided with a bottle (11) and heating means (17) facing down towards the bottom of the canister (1) and the opposite end (10) with the terminals of the cable (22) to transmit the electric current, coming out of the holes provided in the internal lid (18) of the tube (7), is fitted in the opening (5) of the canister neck (4) of the canister (1) which in turn is tightened and sealed with external lid (6) and the terminals of the cable (22) of the means to transmit the electric current or the spark to the heating means (17), is connected to the initiating device. To this canister (1) filled with gelling agent and fitted with tube (7), as described herein above, an anchor sack, not shown in the figure, is tied with the help of a rope and the device is deployed under the water. (Construction) The canister body (2) is fitted with the gelling agent and the tube (7), which in-turn comprises of a bottle (11), a cap (19), internal lid (18), heating means (17) and a cable (22) and constructed as above, is placed in the canister body (2) by passing it (tube) (7) through the canister neck (4). The cap (19) fitted on the tube (7) fits into the canister neck (4) so that the part 20 of the cap (19) sits firmly on the canister neck (4). The cable (22) is passed through the hole provided in the canister lid (6). The canister lid (6) is completely tightened and sealed preferably with m-seal. To this canister (1), an anchor sack, preferably the HDPE cloth sack containing 10-12 kg stones or bricks etc is tied preferably with the help of a polypropylene rope. The whole device comprising of canister (1), canister body (2) fitted with the gelling agent and the tube (7), which in-turn comprises of a bottle (11), a cap (19), internal lid (18), heating means (17) and a cable (22) and constructed as above, and of anchor sack, as stated above, is deployed under water about 10-15 cm below the water level. The cable's part (15) connecting the two ce pellets with each other and then to the main cable (22), the terminals of which are then connected to the any known firing device. The gelling, in accordance to the preferred embodiment, is fast gelling agent for hydrocarbon fuels and is a mixture of aluminium soap of mixed fatty acids, precipitated on finely divided natural rubber particles. The rubber particles embedded by aluminium soap is further mixed with powdered talc (fine grade) and powdered alpha naphthol. The composition of the gelling agent in accordance to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is: i) Aluminium soap, 74-79% by weight ii) Natural rubber, 9-13% by weight iii) Alpha-Naphthol, 6.5-10.5% by weight iv) Talc, 2.0-3.2% by weight The gelling agent in accordance to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is prepared as described herein below. The mixture of oils is first saponified using concentrated caustic soda solution. Sodium soap thus formed is then dissolved in water and solution is agitated by a stirrer. While maintaining the desired temperature, calculated dilute rubber latex solution is added followed by the addition of aluminium sulphate solution in a thin stream. This results in the precipitation of aluminium soap on rubber particles. The aluminium soap thus formed is filtered, washed with water to remove the impurities and granulated by a special technique. The granulated soap is now dried, mixed with anti-agglomerant (talc) and then with alpha naphthol powder. The resulted gelling agent is passed through 1200-1222 micrometer sieve. The gelling agent obtained definitely offers an advantage of optimum performance. In accordance to the preferred embodiment of this invention the gelling agent filled in the canister (1) and is spreaded on the water surface having floating petrol, hydrocarbon slicks or oil slicks, as stated herein above, by passing the electric impulse through the cable to the heating means which in-turn initiates the exothermic reaction resulting in sudden increase in temperature and release of gases, which results in increase of pressure and as a result the canister is completely broken. As a result the gelling agent or/instant gelling agent, as referred herein above, is spreaded all over the water surface contaminated with oil slicks etc. In accordance to the advantage of the device and the gelling agent of the present invention, when the instant gelling agent come in contact with the petrol, hydrocarbon slicks or oil slicks, as stated herein above, floating on the water surface, the gel layer is formed within 25-30 minutes. The floating petrol, hydrocarbon slicks or oil slicks on the water surface is thus converted into a gel layer. This conversion of slicks into gel layer definitely results in the advantage that the continuty of the petrol, hydrocarbon slicks or oil slicks is disturbed because of contraction of the slicks into the gel layer and accordingly, only desired spot of the petrol/oil slicks are required to be removed mannually or are required to be destroyed by burning thus avoiding the disadvantages of direct burning of the hydrocarbon slicks or oil slicks, as described herein above. The present invention makes the disclosure of the means to destroy the gel layer formed on the water surface, contaminated with the petrol, hydrocarbon slicks or oil slicks, as a result of process and device described herein above. In order to destroy the slicks by burning the bottle (11) is filled with sodium metal taken in kerosene oil. The sodium metal is released along with the gelling agent on breaking of the canister. This released sodium metal pieces, come into contact with water and create flame which is transmitted to the gel layer, which in turn catches the fire immediately and thus gel layer is destroyed. The present invention is described by the following example to demonstrate the function of the device disclosed in the present invention. Thus example is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The gelling agents known in the prior art can also be used with the presently disclosed invention. The use of the presently disclosed device with the gelling agent, as disclosed herein below, or with the gelling agent, as known in the prior art may fall within the scope of this invention. The present invention has been explained to demonstrate one of the end use, that is, to spread the gelling agent on the water surface contaminated with oil slicks etc. however, the presently disclosed device can also be used to spread any chemical powder or mixture on the water surface of any source, i.e. sea, canal, river etc. whether contaminated with any material or product or not. Example A HOPE canister (cap.5 liter) is filled with 1.8 kg instant gelling agent (passing 1204 micrometer sieve) and the tube with internal lid and comprising of bottle and heating means (10 g ce pellets) along with electric cable and its part connecting the two ce pellets, as described herein above, is placed into the canister. The terminals of the cable are taken out through the internal lid of tube and the canister lid of the canister. The canister lid is completely tightened and sealed with m-seal. To this canister, an anchor sack (HOPE cloth sack) containing approx 10-12 kg stones/bricks is tied with the help of a polypropylene rope and the whole assembly is deployed under water (10-12 cm below water level). The cable terminals are connected to an initiating device. Now, about 25 liter petrol is spreaded on the water surface to make a petrol slick. The instant gelling agent from the canister is spreaded on the water surface with floating petrol on its surface. An electric impulse is given to electric cable which initiates the heating means, resulting in spontaneous exothermic reaction and the canister is completely broken. As a result the instant gelling agent is spreaded all over the water surface, when the instant gelling agent and petrol layer floating on water surface come in contact with each other, the gel layer is formed within 25-30 minutes. The petrol layer floating on water surface is thus converted into a gel layer, which in turn results in contraction of area of petrol layer. I claim: 1. A water based device to spread gelling agent on the water surface comprising of: a) a canister body (2) with a tube (7) disposed therein; b) canister (1) for storage of gelling agent; c) a bottol (11) at open distal end of said tube (7) with a cap (19); d) the proximal end of said tube adapted to be closed by an internal lid (18), e) an electric cable (22) extending within said tube (7), 2. A water based device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said canister body (2) has a canister handle (3) and a canister neck (4) having an opening (5) for receiving a external lid (6). 3. A water based device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tube (7) has both ends (9,10) open. 4. A water based device as claimed in claim 3, wherein one of the said open end (10) is provided with external threads which in turn is closed by internal lid (18) and the other open end (9) is provided with under cuts or internal threads which in turn is provided with said bottol (11). 5. A water based device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said bottol has one end open (13) with a stopper (14), the closed other end (12) having an opening (16) and the said bottol is placed in tube (7) with its open end (13) provided with said stopper (14) facing outward. 6. A water based device as claimed in preceding claims, wherein said cap (19) has a hole having diameter equal to the external diameter of the said tube (7) and opposite end having said opening (5) and outwardly extended part (20). 7. A water based device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said heater comprises of one or two compositing exploding (ce) pellets, one of the two is within said bottol (11) and the other disposed outside of said bottol (11) is within said tube (7). 8. A water based device as claimed in preceding claims, wherein said gelling agent comprises a mixture of aluminium soap of mixed fatty acids, precipitated on finely divided natural rubber particles, which inturn are embedded by aluminium soap and further mixed with powdered talc (fine grade ) and powdered alpha naphthol, the said gelling agent is of the composition: i) Aluminium soap, 74-79% by weight ii)Natural rubber, 9-13% by weight iii)Alpha-Naphthol, 6.5-10.5% by weight iv)Talc, 2.0-3.2% by weight 9. A water based device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the said gelling agent is prepared by saponification as herein described, the precipitated aluminum soap is mixed with said talc and said alpha naphthol and passed through 1200-1222 micrometer sieve. 10. A water based device as claimed in the preceding claims and as described herein above.

Documents:

621-del-1997-abstract.pdf

621-del-1997-claims.pdf

621-DEL-1997-Correspondence-Others-(22-02-2010).pdf

621-del-1997-correspondence-others.pdf

621-del-1997-correspondence-po.pdf

621-del-1997-description (complete).pdf

621-del-1997-drawings.pdf

621-del-1997-form-1.pdf

621-DEL-1997-Form-15-(22-02-2010).pdf

621-del-1997-form-19.pdf

621-del-1997-form-2.pdf

621-del-1997-form-3.pdf

621-del-1997-gpa.pdf