CARMI, Shachar (4 Yael St, Tel Aviv, 64372, IL)
CARMI, Shachar (4 Yael St, Tel Aviv, 64372, IL)
| 012/011093 - 14 - What is claimed is: CLAIMS 1. A sea water supply system (10) comprising (Fig. 3,4,5) : - a water pipe (28) extending substantially from the sea level (58) to the depth (88) of the sea (50) where connected thereto, for supplying natural sea water therethrough from said depth (88) of the sea (50), thereby supplying to a plant (12) located substantially at the sea level, upon substantially non-energized taking out from said water pipe (28) there, improved quality water of the depth of the sea, utilizing the sea pressure within the communicating vessels principle for the energy required. 2. A sea water supply system (10) according to claim 1, further comprising a first water pump located substantially at the sea level, for pumping water from said pipe (28) to said plant (12). 3. A sea water supply system (10) according to claim 1, further comprising heat insulation to said pipe (28), thereby flowing water to said plant (12), due to expansion of said water upon rise of temperature thereof within said pipe (28) from the depth of the sea to the sea level. 4. A sea water supply system (10) according to claim 1, further comprising (Figs. 4,5) : - a first vessel (16A), top thereof located substantially at the sea level (58), for supplying said water of the depth of the sea thereto, and therefrom to said plant (12). 5. A sea water supply system (10) according to claim 3, wherein (Fig. 4) said water pipe (28) extends from a low inlet (66) of said first vessel (16A) below said sea level (58), to the depth (88) of the sea (50), and wherein a first water pump (18) pumps water from said first vessel (16A) to said plant (12). 6. A sea water supply system (10) according to claim 4 (Fig. 4), wherein said first vessel (16A) is located on the land (56), and wherein said water pipe (28) crosses the solid ground (20). 7. A sea water supply system (10) according to claim 3, wherein (Fig. 5) said water pipe (28) extends from the top (60) of said first vessel (16A) above said sea level (58), to the depth (88) of the sea (50), and wherein a first water pump (18) pumps water from said pipe (28) to said first vessel (16A). A sea water supply system (10) according to claim 1, wherein said depth (88) of the sea is between 300 and 900 meters. A sea water supply system (10) according to claim 1, further comprising (Fig. 6): - a particles remover (30) at the bottom of said pipe (28), for preventing blocking thereof. A sea water supply system (10) according to claim 8, wherein (Fig. 7) said particles remover (30) comprises a tube (72) which is normally closed beneath (48), and wherein the bottom of said pipe (28) is inserted into the top (78) of said tube (72), 012/011093 - 16 - thereby sea water entering said top (78) of said tube (72) turns the direction thereof upwards into said pipe (28), leaving particles thereof below said pipe (28). 1 1. A sea water supply system (10) according to claim 9, wherein (Fig. 7) said normal closing beneath said tube (72) opens (opening valve 48) upon exceeding a pre-determined amount of said left particles. A sea water supply system (10) according to claim 10, further comprising a detector selected from a group including: a detector (40,42) for detecting said exceeding said pre-determined amount of said left particles, a detector (38) for examining the water quality. 13. A sea water supply system (10) according to claim 10, wherein said opening beneath said tube (72) comprises a member selected from a group including: a motor (76 - Fig. 7), the weight of said left particles (46) overcoming a weight (36 - Fig. 7) performing said opening, water pushed (Fig. 8) from said pipe (28) towards said tube (72) performing said opening. 14. A sea water supply system (10) according to claim 3, further comprising (Fig. 9) : - at least one additional vessel (16B) similar to said first vessel (16A), said at least one additional vessel (16B) and said first vessel (16A) connected parallel to said pipe (82 to depth-pipe 28) and to a first water pump (34 to pump 18); and - a faucet (15A and 14A for 16A) between each of said vessels and said connections thereof to said pipe (28) and to said first water pump (18), thereby allowing maintenance of a component of said sea water supply system (10), while pumping from at least one of the vessels. 012/011093 - 17 - 15. A sea water supply system (10) according to claim 3, further comprising (Fig. 10): - a second water pump (22), for emptying said vessel (16A, 16B) towards the bottom of said pipe (28), thereby cleaning any of the components of said sea water supply system ( 10) with water having said improved quality. 16. A sea water supply system (10) according to claim 1, further comprising (Fig. 10): - piping and a filter (24) extending substantially from sea level (58) for cleaning any of the components of said sea water supply system (10) therewith. 17. A method for supplying sea water, said method comprising (Figs. 3,4,5) the steps of: - extending a water pipe (28) substantially from the sea level (58) to the depth (88) of the sea (50); and - supplying water through said water pipe (28) from said depth (88) of the sea (50), thereby supplying to a plant (12) improved quality water of the depth of the sea, utilizing the communicating vessels principle for the energy required. 18. A method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of removing particles from the bottom of said pipe (28). 19. A method according to claim 17, wherein said step of removing particles from the bottom of said pipe (28) comprises receiving the water downwards and inserting said water upwards into said pipe (28), thereby the sea water entering said pipe (28) turns the direction thereof, leaving particles thereof below said pipe (28). 20. A method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of pushing water down said pipe (28), for cleaning a component. 21. A method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of pumping water from a water vessel (16A), wherein said step of pumping water from a water vessel (16A) and said step of pushing water down said pipe (28) for cleaning a component are simultaneous. 22. A sea water supply system (10) according to claim 1, wherein said water pipe (28) is connected to said plant (12), thereby supplying said sea depth qualified water directly to said plant (12). |
The present application claims the benefit of Israeli Patent application no. 207141, filed 22 July 2010, incorporated herein by reference.
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates mostly to the field of industrial desalination plants. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for supplying pure sea water for desalination or other plants.
Background of the Invention
Industrial desalination plants which are located substantially at sea level commonly receive the incoming water thereof from the sea level, which typically contains critical organic and inorganic contamination.
The term "pure water" refers herein to water which typically does not contain critical organic and inorganic contamination.
European Patent Application No. 0968755 to Grassi Giuliano et al. discloses a reverse osmosis plant with osmotic membrane modules sited at an operating depth in the range of 400 - 600 meters below sea surface level.
Sinking the reverse osmosis module of the industrial desalination plant provides that the incoming water, without consuming pumping energy, does not contain critical organic and inorganic contamination.
US publication No. 20070039860 to Krock et al. discloses sinking a submersible pump to the depth of the sea for pumping sea water onto a vessel at the sea level.
However, pumping sea water from the depth of the sea to receive pure sea water commonly consumes electrical energy. Sunk modules may be more complicated and expensive and consuming energy. All the methods described above have not yet provided satisfactory solutions to the long felt need for providing pure sea water to the industrial desalination plant.
It is an object of the present invention to provide pure sea water to the industrial desalination plant without consuming pumping energy of hundreds of meters.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above-mentioned and other problems of the prior art.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.
Summary of the Invention
In one aspect the present invention is directed to a sea water supply system (10) comprising (Fig. 3,4,5) :
- a water pipe (28) extending substantially from the sea level (58) to the depth (88) of the sea (50); and
- a first water pump (18) located substantially at the sea level, for supplying water through the water pipe (28) from the depth (88) of the sea (50),
thereby supplying to a plant (12) improved quality water of the depth of the sea, utilizing the communicating vessels principle for the energy required.
According to one embodiment (Fig. 3) the first water pump (18) may pump water from the pipe (28) to the plant (12).
According to another embodiment the sea water supply system (10) may further comprise (Figs. 4,5) : - a first vessel (16A), top thereof located substantially at the sea level (58), for supplying the water of the depth of the sea thereto, and therefrom to the plant (12). According to one embodiment of the last embodiment (Fig. 4) the water pipe (28) may extend from a low inlet (66) of the first vessel (16A) below the sea level (58), to the depth (88) of the sea (50), and the first water pump (18) may pump water from the first vessel (16A) to the plant (12). According to the last embodiment the first vessel (16A) may be located on the land (56), and the water pipe (28) may cross the solid ground (20).
According to another embodiment (Fig. 5) the water pipe (28) may extend from the top (60) of the first vessel (16A) above the sea level (58), to the depth (88) of the sea (50), and the first water pump (18) may pump water from the pipe (28) to the first vessel (16A).
The depth (88) of the sea may be between 300 and 900 meters. The sea water supply system (10) may further comprise (Fig. 6):
- a particles remover (30) at the bottom of the pipe (28), for preventing blocking thereof.
The particles remover (30) may comprise (Fig. 7) a tube (72) which is normally closed beneath (48), and the bottom of the pipe (28) may be inserted into the top (78) of the tube (72), thereby sea water entering the top (78) of the tube (72) turns the direction thereof upwards into the pipe (28), leaving particles thereof below the pipe (28). The normal closing beneath the tube (72) may (Fig. 7) open (opening valve 48) upon exceeding a pre-determined amount of the left particles. The sea water supply system (10) may further comprise a detector selected from a group including: a detector (40,42) for detecting the exceeding the pre-determined amount of the left particles, a detector (38) for examining the water quality.
The opening beneath the tube (72) may comprise a member selected from a group including: a motor (76 - Fig. 7), the weight of the left particles (46) overcoming a weight (36 - Fig. 7) performing the opening, water pushed (Fig. 8) from the pipe (28) towards the tube (72) performing the opening.
The sea water supply system (10) may further comprise (Fig. 9):
- at least one additional vessel (16B) similar to the first vessel (16A), the at least one additional vessel (16B) and the first vessel (16A) connected parallel to the pipe (82 to depth-pipe 28) and to the first water pump (34 to pump 18); and
- a faucet (15A and 14A for 16A) between each of the vessels and the connections thereof to the pipe (28) and to the first water pump (18), thereby allowing maintenance of a component of the sea water supply system (10), while pumping from at least one of the vessels.
The sea water supply system (10) may further comprise (Fig. 10):
- a second water pump (22), for emptying the vessel (16A, 16B) towards the bottom of the pipe (28),
thereby cleaning any of the components of the sea water supply system (10) with water having the improved quality.
The sea water supply system (10) may further comprise (Fig. 10):
- piping and a filter (24) extending substantially from sea level (58) for cleaning any of the components of the sea water supply system (10) therewith.
In another aspect the present invention is directed to a method for supplying sea water, the method comprising (Figs. 3,4,5) the steps of: - extending a water pipe (28) substantially from the sea level (58) to the depth (88) of the sea (50); and
- supplying water through the water pipe (28) from the depth (88) of the sea (50),
thereby supplying to a plant (12) improved quality water of the depth of the sea, utilizing the communicating vessels principle for the energy required.
The method may further comprise the step of removing particles from the bottom of the pipe (28).
The step of removing particles from the bottom of the pipe (28) may comprise receiving the water downwards and inserting the water upwards into the pipe (28), thereby the sea water entering the pipe (28) turns the direction thereof, leaving particles thereof below the pipe (28).
The method may further comprise the step of pushing water down the pipe (28), for cleaning a component.
The method may further comprise the step of pumping water from a water vessel (16A), wherein the step of pumping water from a water vessel (16A) and the step of pushing water down the pipe (28) for cleaning a component may be simultaneous.
The reference numbers have been used to point out elements in the embodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention. They are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Also, the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Brief Description of the Drawings
Embodiments and features of the present invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings:
Fig. 1 illustrates the principle of communicating vessels.
Fig. 2 illustrates the principle of communicating vessels in a slight different structure.
Fig. 3 depicts a sea water supply system (SWSS), according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 4 depicts a sea water supply system (SWSS), according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 5 is a sea water supply system (SWSS) according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 6 depicts the bottom of the pipe of Figs. 3, 4 and 5, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 7 depicts the particles remover of Fig. 6, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 8 depicts the particles remover 30 of Fig. 6, removing the particles pile applying another activity.
. 9 details the SWSS of Fig. 4.
Fig. 10 details the SWSS of Fig. 9 while pushing water out. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
The present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features, methods, systems, procedures, components, circuits, and so on, are not described in detail.
Fig. 1 illustrates the principle of communicating vessels.
According to the principle of communicating vessels, water in a first vessel 16A settles to the same level 58 as in a second vessel 50 communicating therewith through a pipe 28.
Thus, water pump 18 pumping water out of vessel 16A, practically brings water thereto, without provision of additional energy.
Fig. 2 illustrates the principle of communicating vessels in a slight different structure. Water pump 18 may pump water directly from pipe 28. Like Fig. 1, energy of water pump 18 is required only above level 58.
Fig. 3 depicts a sea water supply system (SWSS), according to one embodiment of the present invention.
A sea water supply system (SWSS) 10 according to the embodiment of Fig. 3 is based on the structure of Fig. 2. SWSS 10 includes a pipe 28 which communicates pump 18 that is located substantially at the sea level, to the depth of the sea 50, which is equivalent to vessel 50 of Fig. 2.
Like Fig. 2, even though depth-pipe 28 extends to a deep level 88 in the sea 50, such as 700 meters, energy of water pump 18 is required only above level 58.
Sea water supply system (SWSS) 10 is advantaged by supplying water of the purity of the deep level 88. If applying heat insulation to depth-pipe 28 and allowing speed of flow, SWSS 10 may also provide water having temperature derived from the deep level 88. For example the temperature at the depth is 15 C and the temperature at sea level is 25 C. Thus the water from the depth may expand and raise above the sea level.
Fig. 4 depicts a sea water supply system (SWSS), according to another embodiment of the present invention.
SWSS 10 of Fig. 4 is based on the structure of Fig. 1. SWSS 10 includes first vessel 16A located on land 56 and depth-pipe 28, which communicates vessel 16A to the depth of the sea 50, which is vessel 50 of Fig. 1.
Like Fig. 1 , the top level 58 of the water in vessel 16A, which is the product vessel, equals sea level 58. Pump 18 may pump water from product vessel 16A into an industrial desalination plant 12, an algae growth plant or another plant, such as for marine agriculture for pharmaceutical applications and for high-tech industries etc., which is located substantially at sea level 58.
Depth-pipe 28 is depicted communicating a low inlet 66 of vessel 16A. Depth-pipe 28 crosses the solid ground 20 through a drilled entrance 90 that is at a lower level than sea level 58. Depth-pipe is denoted by numeral 82 at that portion.
Fig. 5 is a sea water supply system (SWSS) according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 4, except that in order to save the drilling infrastructure of Fig. 2, water pump 18 may pump the water from the depth of the sea to product vessel 16A.
Fig. 6 depicts the bottom of the pipe of Figs. 3, 4 and 5, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Even though depth-pipe 28 naturally receives relatively pure water from the deep level 88, depth-pipe 28 preferably includes a particles remover 30 at the bottom thereof, for preventing blocking thereof.
Particles remover 30 also holds the bottom of depth-pipe 28. The holding is by anchors 32 at the bottom of the sea, through pedestals 70.
Fig. 7 depicts the particles remover of Fig. 6, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
The water quality is examined by a sensor 38 at the bottom of pipe 28. Sensor 38 may measure the hydrostatic pressure, temperature and other parameters.
The bottom of depth-pipe 28 is inserted into a tube 72 of particles remover 30, which is normally closed beneath by a normally-closed bottom- valve 48. Thus, incoming water can enter depth-pipe 28 from the top only. Sea water coming from the top and turning the direction thereof upwards into depth-pipe 28 leaves its particles gathered in a particles pile 46 laid on normally-closed bottom-valve 48.
The length of tube 72 from particles pile 46 to the bottom of depth- pipe 28 is sufficient to prevent vacuuming of the particles upwards.
Upon exceeding a pre-determined accumulation of particles pile 46, bottom-valve 48 opens, dropping the particles through outlet 44.
According to one embodiment, the allowed size of particles pile 46 is determined by the weight thereof. A weight of particles pile 46 exceeding that of a weight 36 or a spring force, opens bottom-valve 48 about a hinge 74.
In case of failure, according to another embodiment, a transmitter 42 and a detector 40 detect that particles pile 46 has exceeded the allowed size, for activating a motor 76 to open bottom-valve 48. Fig. 8 depicts the particles remover 30 of Fig. 6, removing the particles pile applying another activity.
Particles pile 46 (of Fig. 7) and other zones of depth-pipe 28 may be washed by pushing water from depth-pipe 28 downwards to open bottom- valve 48. This activity may also clean a filter 80, and allow maintenance of product vessel 16A.
In order to open bottom- valve 48 by water pushed from depth-pipe 28, a top valve 78 blocks this water exiting through the top of tube 72. However, upon entering depth-pipe 28 at the normal flow depicted in Fig. 6, the water entering tube 72 from the top thereof opens top valve 78.
Fig. 9 details the SWSS of Fig. 4.
As depicted in Fig. 4, depth-pipe 28 and the extension 82 thereof provide water of the purity of the deep level 88 to product vessel 16A substantially without consuming any energy. This provision is upon opening faucets 62 and 15 A.
Similarly, depth-pipe 28 and extension 82 thereof provide deep sea water to product vessel 16B upon opening faucets 62 and 15B; similarly, depth-pipe 28 and extension 82 thereof provide deep sea water to product vessel 16C upon opening faucets 62 and 15C. Pump 18 may pump water either from product vessel 16A through faucets 86 and 14A, or from product vessel 16B through faucets 86 and 14B, or from product vessel 16C through faucets 86 and 14C, each to a shared pipe 34, into industrial desalination plant 12, requiring minimal lifting energy.
The presence of several products vessels 16A, 16B, 16C, etc., allows maintenance of one product vessel while continuing the desalination process, as commonly performed.
Except for providing water of the purity of deep level 88 to product vessel 16A mentioned in Fig. 4, depth-pipe 28 and extension 82 thereof also provide this water to additional product vessels 16B and 16C through faucets 15A, 15B and 15C respectively, and through a central faucet 62, all normally open.
Fig. 10 details the SWSS of Fig. 9 while pushing water out. Maintenance preferably may use the pure water of product vessels 16A or 16B or 16C.
A pump 22 may pump water from any of product vessels 16A, 16B or 16C into the depth of the sea. Pump 22 is depicted pumping water from vessel 16A through faucet 15A through a faucet 19 to pump 22. From there, pump 22 pushes this water through a faucet 64 into an extraction pipe 26 below the ground, and down into the sea through depth-pipe 28. This extraction may open bottom-valve 48 to clean pipe 28, including dropping particles through outlet 44.
If water is not available in any of product vessels 16A or 16B or 16C, water for maintenance may be pumped from the sea at sea level through a piping and filter 24 and a faucet 17. However, after using water from the sea level, the pipes must be washed by flowing water from the depth of the sea.
In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals have been mentioned:
- numeral 10 denotes a sea water supply system (SWSS), according to one embodiment of the present invention;
numeral 12 denotes a desalination plant or a plant of another application, such as for marine agriculture like algae growth or for pharmaceutical applications and for hi-tech industries etc.;
■ numerals 14A, 14B and 14C denote faucets, each for allowing water from the depth of the sea entry to one product vessel;
numerals 15 A, 15B and 15C denote faucets, each for allowing pumping water from one product vessel; numerals 16A, 16B and 16C denote vessels that contain the product water, which is water from the depth of the sea;
numeral 17 denotes a faucet for allowing pumping water from a level that is substantially sea level into the vessels;
■ numeral 18 denotes a pump for pumping from any of the product vessels to the desalination plant;
numeral 19 denotes a faucet for allowing pumping water from a product vessel to the sea;
numeral 20 denotes the solid ground;
■ numeral 22 denotes a pump for pumping water from any of the product vessels;
numeral 24 denotes piping and a filter, for filtering sea water from the sea level;
numeral 26 denotes an extraction pipe, for pushing water from any of the vessels down to the depth of the sea;
numeral 28 denotes the pipe within the sea extending to the depth;
numeral 30 denotes a particles remover at the bottom of the depth pipe; numeral 32 denotes an anchor for holding the bottom of the depth pipe; numeral 34 denotes a pipe that is shared with the vessels for pushing water into the desalination plant;
numeral 36 denotes a weight;
numeral 38 denotes a water quality sensor;
numeral 40 denotes a detector, for detecting the size of the particles pile at the bottom of the depth pipe;
■ numeral 42 denotes a transmitter;
numeral 44 denotes an outlet of the particles remover;
numeral 46 denotes a particles pile, which was separated from the sea and the depth;
numeral 48 denotes a valve at the bottom of the particles remover;
· numeral 50 denotes the sea;
numeral 58 denotes the sea level;
numeral 60 denotes the top of the product vessel; numeral 62 denotes a shared faucet allowing entrance of water into the product vessels;
numeral 64 denotes a faucet for allowing pumping water from a product vessel to the sea;
- numerals 66 and 68 denote low inlets of vessels;
numeral 70 denotes a pedestal;
numeral 72 denotes a tube;
numeral 74 denotes a hinge;
numeral 76 denotes a motor;
■ numeral 78 denotes a top valve;
numeral 80 denotes a filter;
numeral 82 denotes an extension of the depth pipe within the ground; numeral 86 denotes a faucet;
numeral 88 denotes the level at the depth; and
■ numeral 90 denotes the entrance of the depth pipe into the ground.
The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form.
Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should to be interpreted according to this definition.
The reference numbers in the claims are not a part of the claims, but rather used for facilitating the reading thereof. These reference numbers should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any form.
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