摘要 |
Method and apparatus for cleaning an open surface of a body of liquid, especially for recovering oil spills or other floating pollutants. A surface portion of the water carrying pollutants is caused to flow across a skimming weir forming an inlet to a collecting vessel and to proceed downwardly within the collecting vessel. At least the main portion of the downwardly flowing polluted water is then diverted laterally outwardly into a separation zone in which the pollutants are allowed to separate from the water and collect on a confined surface of the water. The separation zone may be integrated in the collecting vessel and provided around a central collection compartment provided with an annular skimming weir. Alternatively, the skimming zone may be provided in a separate vessel connected with the collection vessel through a conduit.
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