Ballast system

摘要

The present embodiments relate to ballast systems for marine structures. The ballast system comprises a ballast tank and a pump. The pump comprises a low side and a high side and the ballast system comprises a first inlet conduit assembly adapted to provide a fluid communication between the ballast tank and the low side. The ballast system is adapted to provide a first operating condition in which first operating condition a fluid is pumped from the low side to the high side.

主权项

1. A ballast system for a marine structure, comprising:
a ballast tank; a pump comprising a pump inlet and a pump outlet, wherein the ballast system provides a first operating condition, in which the first operating condition is a fluid pumped from the pump inlet to the pump outlet, a first inlet conduit assembly in fluid communication between the ballast tank and the pump inlet, a recirculation conduit assembly in fluid communication with the pump inlet and the pump outlet, wherein the recirculation conduit transfers the fluid from the pump outlet to the pump inlet to reduce an air concentration of the fluid at the pump inlet when the air concentration of the fluid at the pump inlet is above a predetermined value, a second inlet conduit assembly in fluid communication with an auxiliary system, a cyclone separator coupled to the recirculation conduit assembly, wherein the ballast system provides fluid communication between the second inlet conduit assembly and the pump inlet during the first operating condition.