Claims
- 1. A method for in-situ burning of liquid hydrocarbons on water comprising the steps of:
a. providing a plurality of individual floating wicks, each of said wicks having an effective oil/water burn time of at least five hours; b. positioning said wicks in a area of liquid hydrocarbons floating on a body of water; c. igniting said wicks.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing wicks includes providing wicks having a post-burn density of less than 0.5 g/cc.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing wicks includes providing wicks with a height of between about 1 cm and about 5 cm.
- 4. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of providing wicks includes providing wicks with a height of about 2.5 cm.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing wicks includes providing wicks having a dome shaped top portion.
- 6. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of providing wicks includes providing wicks having an elliptical shape.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing wicks includes providing wicks which are formed of a lignin containing cellulosic material.
- 8. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of providing wicks includes providing wicks wherein said cellulosic material is one of the group comprising bagasse, corn cob, kenaf, recycled paper, or cotton.
- 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing wicks includes providing wicks which are formed of a non-toxic, biodegradable material.
- 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing wicks includes providing wicks which are formed of an oleophilic material.
- 11. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of providing wicks includes providing wicks wherein said oleophilic material has an oil uptake capacity of at least about 2 g/g.
- 12. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of providing wicks includes providing wicks with a water uptake capacity of no more than about 5 g/g.
- 13. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of providing wicks includes providing wicks with a water uptake capacity of no more than about 5 g/g.
- 14. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing wicks includes providing wicks which have a coating applied thereto which is both hydrophobic and oleophilic.
- 15. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of providing wicks includes providing wicks wherein said coating is a vinyl based compound.
- 16. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of providing wicks includes providing wicks wherein said coating is cross-linked polyvinyl acetate.
- 17. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing wicks includes coating said wicks with a flammable liquid.
- 18. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of providing wicks includes coating said wicks with a flammable liquid.
- 19. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of providing wicks includes coating said wicks with a flammable liquid comprising a light oil.
- 20. A method for manufacturing a floating wick comprising the steps of:
a. providing a wick material having a dry density less than water; b. applying to said wick material an oleophilic, hydrophobic coating such that said coated wick material has an effective oil/water burn time of at least five hours; and c. drying said wick material.
- 21. The method of claim 19, wherein said step of providing wick a material includes providing a loose wick material having an oil uptake capacity of at least 2 g/g and a water uptake capacity of no greater than 5 g/g and further including the steps of:
d. applying a binder substance to said loose wick material; e. molding said loose wick material into a predefined shape; and f. drying said molded wick material prior to applying said oleophilic, hydrophobic coating.
- 22. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of providing loose wick material includes providing a unrefined cellulosic material.
- 23. The method of claim 19, wherein said step of applying an oleophilic, hydrophobic coating includes applying a coating comprising a polyvinyl acetate solution.
- 24. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of applying said binder substance includes applying a polyvinyl acetate solution.
- 25. An oil burning wick comprising a cellulosic material and having an oil/water burn time of at least five hours.
- 26. The oil burning wick according to claim 24, wherein said wick has a post-burn density of less than 0.5 g/cc.
- 27. The oil burning wick according to claim 25, wherein said cellulosic material is an unrefined cellulosic material.
- 28. The oil burning wick according to claim 26, wherein said unrefined cellulosic material is a lignin containing cellulosic material.
- 29. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing wicks includes providing a plurality of wicks which are inter-connected, thereby forming an array of oil burning wicks.
- 30. The method of claim 28, further including the step of inter-connecting said wicks by securing said wicks to a mesh material.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of PCT Application No. PCT/US 141835 filed on Aug. 22,2001, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/247,868 filed on Nov. 9, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60247868 |
Nov 2000 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
PCT/US01/41835 |
Aug 2001 |
US |
Child |
10206548 |
Jul 2002 |
US |