Fluid handling – Processes
Patent
1999-09-03
2000-12-19
Lee, Kevin
Fluid handling
Processes
1372361, E03B 1100
Patent
active
061615617
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention concerns a method of supplying liquid, and in particular to a method of supplying water.
For certain land areas, for example parts of Greece, water is generally scarce and has to be brought into the area from elsewhere. For coastal areas, this is commonly accomplished by shipping in water by tanker. On arrival of the tanker, its hold of water is pumped into a nearby on-shore cistern. In this regard, the timing of the tanker's arrival has to be carefully managed since such on-shore cisterns are generally of a critical size. That is to say, the water in the cistern can not be allowed to run out, since such a shortage or lack of water could be disastrous for the local inhabitants. Furthermore, because of a lack of available on-shore space, such cisterns are generally restricted in size. Thus if the cistern still contains more than a certain amount of water on arrival of the tanker, ten it may not be able take all the tanker's cargo so that when the tanker leaves it has to carry undischarged water with it to its next destination. Since a tanker is most cost effective when transporting goods, it is not commercially expedient to wait for the cistern level to drop to enable complete emptying of the cargo. In addition, the water must be pumped into the cistern quickly since a stationary tanker does not repay the capital investment therein.
Whilst careful management can help to reduce such wastage, fluctuations in demand, for example, because of variable weather conditions, can upset predictions of water requirements. The smaller the on-shore cistern and the greater the lead time of delivery of water, the more difficult such management becomes. For example, a small cistern will run out more quickly and will thus be affected more seriously by demand fluctuations. Also, with long delivery lead times additional consideration has to put into planning for future demand since short notice top-ups on extra demand are not possible.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method of supplying water that seeks to alleviate the problems associated with known arrangements.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of supplying liquid comprising the steps of: to a demand determined according to the use of liquid in the cistern.
With such a method, a large flexible container of, for example, water can be provided off-shore and connected to a cistern by way of suitable piping. Water can be then be pumped to the cistern when usage of water in the cistern is such that the cistern requires topping up.
The provision of a large flexible container of liquid off-shore is advantageous in that no on-shore space is taken up, hence the size of the container is not restricted.
Such flexible containers are also a small fraction of the cost of conventional tankers and hence represent a comparatively low capital investment.
The use of a container in the sea is furthermore beneficial in warm climates in that the temperature of the sea-water will keep the liquid sacred within the container cool and thus slow down deterioration thereof.
The flexible container in question may be a floating flexible vessel of the sort used for transporting fluent cargo through liquid. Vessels of this nature take the form of closed flexible tubular or envelope structures, generally of a synthetic rubberised fabric. Such vessels are used to transport fluent cargoes having a specific gravity less than that of seawater. When laden the vessel is virtually submerged and buoyancy is supplied by the cargo. To move such laden vessels, they are towed from one end, for example, by a tug boat. Such vessels are much cheaper than conventional tankers.
With the present invention, the use of a floating flexible vessel as a storage means on a semi-permanent basis offers advantages in that such a vessel can be towed to the required location and left there until ultimately it is emptied as the contents thereof are gradually used up. The tug boat that towed the vessel to its location has a relatively quick turn arou
REFERENCES:
patent: 4335977 (1982-06-01), Ihli
patent: 4735524 (1988-04-01), Dunkers
patent: 4881482 (1989-11-01), Sandwith et al.
patent: 4934404 (1990-06-01), DeStefano
Chalmet Jean-Claude Andre
Pratt Simon Michael
Aquarius Holdings Limited
Kerins John C.
Lee Kevin
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