Systems and methods for in-situ clean up of burnable materials

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10900186-B2
Application number	US-201816220428-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2018
Priority date	Sep 10, 2015
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

The present disclosure provides devices and methods for cleaning up or burning spills of burnable materials in situ. In some embodiments, a system for burning a burnable material comprises a base having a first side configured for placement on a surface with a burnable material and a second side; and a plurality heat conducting members extending from the second side of the base.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for burning a burnable material comprising:
a base having a first side configured for placement on a surface with a burnable material and a second side opposite to the first side, the base being made of a thermally conductive material;
a plurality of heat conducting members extending from the second side of the base and being disposed only at the periphery of the base; and
wherein, when the base is at least partially submerged in the burnable material and the burnable material is ignited to cause the burnable material to burn, the plurality of heat conducting members act to reflux heat from burning of the burnable material back to unburned burnable material to cause nucleate boiling of the unburned burnable material.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the base is a porous matrix.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the base is a planar screen.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the heat conducting members are shaped to have a high surface area to volume ratio.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the heat conducting members are formed from metallic wire.

6. The system of claim 1 further including an enclosure around the base.

7. A method for burning a burnable material comprising:
at least partially submerging into a burnable material a first side of a porous matrix, wherein a plurality of heat conducting members extend from a second side opposite to the first side of the porous matrix only at the periphery of the porous matrix;
and
igniting the burnable material to cause the burnable material to burn, wherein the plurality of heat conducting members act to reflux heat from burning of the burnable material back to unburned burnable material to cause nucleate boiling of the unburned burnable material.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the heat conducting members are shaped to have a high surface area to volume ratio.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the heat conducting members are formed from metallic wire.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising disposing an enclosure around the porous matrix and the burnable material.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising moving the porous matrix along the burnable material.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising capturing post burn residue with the porous matrix.

13. A method for burning a burnable material comprising:
at least partially submerging into a burnable material a first side of a planar screen, wherein a plurality of heat conducting members extend from a second side of the screen opposite to the first side only at the periphery of the porous matrix;
and
igniting the burnable material to cause the burnable material to burn, wherein the plurality of heat conducting members act to reflux heat from burning of the burnable material back to unburned burnable material to cause nucleate boiling of the unburned burnable material.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the heat conducting members are shaped to have a high surface area to volume ratio.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the heat conducting members are formed from metallic wire.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising disposing an enclosure around the screen and the burnable material.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising moving the screen along the burnable material.

Assignees

• Worcester Polytech Inst

Inventors

• Arsava Kemal S
• Rangwala Ali S
• Mahnken Glenn

Classifications

• F23D3/40

  the capillary action taking place in one or more rigid porous bodies · CPC title

• E02B15/042 Primary

  Devices for removing the oil by combustion with or without means for picking up the oil · CPC title

• C02F2101/32

  Hydrocarbons, e.g. oil · CPC title

• B09C2101/00

  In situ · CPC title

• B09C1/062

  by using electrode or resistance heating elements · CPC title