Technical Field

[001] The disclosure that follows relates to the controllable alteration of the condition of a limited volume of water forming a zone within in a larger body of water. The larger body may be a part of the ocean, a sea, a lake or a dam. In particular, the disclosure concerns a method and system for bringing about efficient and environmentally safe transfer of water between water zones, and the application of transferred water toward localised cooling, fertilisation, increases in primary production and in carbon sequestration. Furthermore, the disclosure provides a semi-autonomous underwater vehicle/device capable of at least course navigation and scheduled water transfer conditional on input or sensed parameters.

Background Art

[002] Ocean upwelling is a natural process that brings nutrient-rich waters from the colder depths to the warmer ocean surface, thereby creating conditions necessary for marine life to thrive. Without this process, kelp forests and other marine life are under threat of dying from lack of nutrition and overheating. However, the surface layer of relatively warmer water is currently increasing in depth. Without wishing to be bound by theory, the deepening of the relatively warmer layer of water, which is thought to be driven by climate change, is preventing or at least significantly inhibiting natural ocean upwelling.

[003] Lowered Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) have been providing full-depth current profiles since the early 1990s and methods for observing the deep sea below the upper seasonal layer are established. Although, today not as readily utilised as the air currents, the demand for readily available current velocity profiles is growing, from scientific discoveries and offshore rigs to ocean technologies for carbon sequestration and marine permaculture, all leveraging and observing deep water stores of oxygen and nutrient levels vital for ocean’s food chains.

[004] Artificial upwelling is a relatively recent development in technology that brings seawater from the deep ocean to the surface. Downwelling is the transfer of water in the opposite direction. Nutrients supplying food for phytoplankton, fish and other marine life are delivered from a water layer referred to as the thermocline layer. Without upwelling, these nutrients would remain inaccessible to the forms of marine life that rely on it. Conversely, downwelling takes the dissolved oxygen to the deep ocean layers where it is consumed by the decaying matter. In certain situations, downwelling is required, for example to sink a higher density matter to a lower density area.

[005] Recent approaches in artificial upwelling, or the transfer of water from a lower to a higher elevation, have involved air-lift pumps. These are powered by compressed air, which may be produced using solar or wind power. However, improving their uplift energy efficiency is still an ongoing challenge. Wind and wave-powered pumps of other kinds may alternatively be employed to generate artificial upwelling motion. The current technologies offer rigid and flexible pump structures. Rigid structures tend to be highly expensive to construct relative to the productivity improvement obtainable, whereas soft tubing pumps have only been used for free-drifting applications as opposed to tethered application. Moreover, environmental impact is still largely unknown over long time scales, and, in their current form, neither of the above designs includes environmental mitigation strategies. Data buoys, used for ocean data collection, and autonomous underwater vehicles (ALIVs) are increasingly being deployed for studying different oceanic phenomena such as oil spill mapping (Kinsey et al., 2011), harmful algal blooms (Das et al., 2010), phytoplankton and zooplankton communities (Kalmbach et al., 2017), and coral bleaching (Manderson et al., 2017). These ALIVs can be classified into two categories: 1) propeller-driven vehicles, such as the Dorado class, which can move fast and gather numerous sensor observations but are limited in deployment time to multiple hours; and 2) minimally actuated vehicles such as drifters, profiling floats, and gliders that move slowly, but can remain on deployment for tens of days to multiple weeks. A new generation of the long-range autonomous underwater vehicles (LRAUVs), i.e., Tethys, combines the advantages of both minimally-actuated and propeller- driven ALIVs (Hobson et al., 2012). These LRAUVs can move quickly for hundreds of kilometres, and can be deployed in the water for weeks at a time. However, long range data collection spanning years or even decades are still largely an unsolved problem.

[006] An artificial upwelling pump (AUP) is a device that replicates the natural process of ocean upwelling to restore vertical ocean circulation and deliver nutrients from the thermocline layer to the life forms located in the warmer trophic layer. Marine life including but not limited to phytoplankton, kelp and muscles consume atmospheric carbon coupled with the nutrients to grow, thus simultaneously sequestering ocean waters and sediments.

[007] A typical AUP includes the following connected elements:

• A float - an apparatus that maintains the buoyancy of the device under varying weather and wave conditions;

• An upwelling tube - a conduit for containing and transporting water from a target depth to the ocean surface;

• A one-way valve that operates to prevent reverse flow of water through the upwelling tube, by opening when the AUP descends on a wave and closing when the AUP ascends on a wave; and

• An inlet associated with the lower end of the tube and that houses the valve.

[008] The AUP can be either anchored, or free drifting. The anchored AUPs are fixed in a location, and may be utilised in applications such as bringing cold water to cool a reef environment or to supply nutrients for marine permaculture farm. On the other hand, the free-drifting AUPs behave like satellites in the ocean: They traverse large zones of deep ocean, held in by the ocean currents they are deployed in. The free-drifting AUP is constructed to pump water from target depths within the mesopelagic layer of a particular ocean region, where the nutrients required to facilitate phytoplankton growth are found.

[009] The upwelling tube and its support structure including the float are fabricated to reach a total target depth from which water is to be forced upwards in an artificial upwelling current.

[0010] The efficiency of the ALIPs, whether anchored or free drifting, is measured in terms of the upwelling rate achieved, relative to the cost of AUP production.

[0011] For examples of artificial upwelling devices and their applications, reference may be made to patent application publications US2005155922, US2021301800, US2010300560 and WO2021/168125A1.

[0012] Downwelling pumps operate in a similar manner to upwelling pumps. Instead of being associated with the bottom end of the apparatus tube, a check valve is installed towards the top end, closing when the tube sinks and becomes submerged, and opening when the top end breaks the surface, so that water within the tube drains from the bottom end.

[0013] The preceding discussion of the background to the present disclosure is intended to facilitate an understanding of the solution herein described. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge in the field, whether in Australia or elsewhere in the world, at the priority date of the present application.

[0014] Further, and unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words ‘comprise’, ‘comprising’, and the like are to be construed in the inclusive sense of “including, but not being limited to” - as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense meaning “including this and nothing else”.

[0015] An object of the present disclosure is at least in some measure to alleviate some of the above drawbacks in the art.

[0016] An object is to provide a device which combines water transfer by upwelling and/or downwelling with data capture.

[0017] Another object is to provide an upwelling or downwelling device which is computer operated and the operation of which is programmable from a combination of onshore instructions, incoming sensed data and algorithms including but not limited to algorithms generated by artificial intelligence (Al).

[0018] A further object is to harness one or more forms of renewable energy in operating an upwelling/downwelling device.

Disclosure of Invention

[0019] Embodiments of a pumping device capable of upwelling or downwelling operation are disclosed herein: An anchored or tethered version and a free-drifting version. In embodiments below, both may include in-seam data cabling as well as remote control capability.

[0020] The disclosure presents an intelligent and environmentally friendly system for vertical transfer of water between zones at different elevations in a larger body of water with data collection and programmable operation control. For convenience, the term “vertical transfer device” (abbreviated to VTD) will be used when referring to a water transfer device that artificially causes either upwelling or downwelling, along with data capture and intelligent features.

[0021] The VTD disclosed below may be used either in isolation, or in concert with other VTDs, to create a scalable solution for blue carbon sequestration, replenishment of fish populations and offshore marine permaculture, while also supporting reef cooling. [0022] The disclosures herein make use of a VTD which may be free- drifting, subject to its direction of travel being alterable by an on-board computer acting on structural features of the device. The onboard computer may act in response to data collected by onboard data gathering devices, remote instructions or algorithms. Its response may include controllably adjusting water upwelling and downwelling rates in real time, scheduling periods of operation and non-operation to maximise environmental benefits whilst minimising risk as well as assist in emptying the water column thereof for retrieval procedures.

[0023] According to a first disclosure aspect, there is provided a vertical transfer device (VTD) operable to transfer water from a first zone of water at a first depth in a body of water to a second zone of water at a second depth in the body, the VTD comprising: a. a floating superstructure including a computer, a power source and one or more data collection devices operatively interconnected, b. a water transfer tube having an upper end connected to the superstructure and a lower end connected to a conduit end piece, the tube being of segmented construction including a plurality of hollow, axially collapsible segments establishing fluid communication between the superstructure and the conduit end piece, and c. the conduit end piece having an opening at a first end connected to the lower end of the tube, and an opening at a second end distal from the tube, the opening at the second end being wider than the opening at the first end.

[0024] In an embodiment, the first and second ends of the conduit end piece are connected by a side wall having a sloping portion which, at a point intermediate said ends, subtends an angle of slope in the range from 5° to 40° in relation to the longitudinal axis of the conduit end piece at the second end. [0025] The subtended angle may be in the range 27° to 34°. In an embodiment, the angle is 30°.

[0026] In an embodiment, the conduit end piece is configured for selforientation when the VTD is tethered, so that the wider opening at the second end is automatically oriented to face into an incident water current. The conduit end piece may be tethered to an anchor.

[0027] The conduit end piece may define a curved internal flow passage for fluid passing through it in use.

[0028] The computer may be programmed for autonomous operation of the VTD responsive to data collected by the collection devices.

[0029] In an embodiment, the data collection devices include sensors capable of collecting data relating to water condition.

[0030] Preferably, the computer is programmed for navigating the VTD by causing adjustment in the length of the tube. The computer may alternatively or also be programmed for navigating the VTD by causing adjustment to the cross- sectional profile of at least a portion of the tube.

[0031] In a further embodiment, the tube length is remotely alterable in use by the computer issuing programmed instructions for causing at least partial collapse of a tube segment.

[0032] In an embodiment, the VTD is navigable by means of a computer- operable directional control surface being deployed or orientated in the water or air according to programmed instructions.

[0033] In a further embodiment, the VTD tube segments have fabric walls and data cabling integrated into the walls at manufacture.

[0034] Further, according to this disclosure aspect, the VTD includes a superstructure-mounted bird detection system and cleaning apparatus comprising a sprinkler, the bird detection system being configured to detect the presence of a bird on the superstructure, and in response thereto to actuate the sprinkler to clean away faecal matter and encourage the bird to relocate away from the VTD.

[0035] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a free-drifting vertical transfer device (VTD), including a water conduit for water transfer from a first to a second zone in a body of water, a remotely controllable valve operatively associated with the conduit for regulating water transfer rate through the conduit, one or more on-board data gathering devices and an onboard computer programmed to alter direction of travel of the VTD in response to data collected by said devices by adjusting water upwelling and downwelling rates through into the VTD by means of the valve.

[0036] In an embodiment, the conduit comprises two or more segments connected by joiners, the joiners being weighted to maintain the submerged depth of the segment above it in use. At least some of the segments may have a valve associated with it.

[0037] According to a third aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a method of oceanic carbon capture including: a. Providing a VTD having a floating superstructure supporting an upwelling tube of adjustable length; b. locating the VTD in a body of open water; c. operating the VTD to capture and/or receive data relating to the biochemistry of the body of water and to water current directions and speeds; d. responsive to said data, identifying a target zone of water to which to relocate the VTD; e. adjusting the length of the tube thereby to steer the VTD to the target zone using a prevailing current; and f. causing upwelling of water from the zone, for altering the nutrient profile in the target zone and capturing atmospheric carbon compounds at the air/water interface

[0038] In an embodiment, the VTD tube has an intake end to which is connected a conduit end piece of flared profile having a flared end that is wider than the tube.

[0039] In a fourth aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a selfnavigating vertical transfer device (VTD) operable to transfer water from a first zone of water at a first depth in a body of water to a second zone of water at a second depth in the body, the VTD comprising: a. a floating superstructure that includes a computer, a power source, data collection devices and a motor operatively connected for operability of the VTD, and b. a water transfer tube having an upper end connected to the superstructure and a lower end connected to a conduit end piece, the tube being of segmented construction including a plurality of hollow, axially collapsible and radially compressible segments establishing fluid communication between the first zone and the second zone via the conduit end piece, wherein the computer is programmed for navigating the VTD by causing adjustment in the length of the tube for reaching or avoiding ocean currents.

[0040] In an embodiment of this aspect, the computer is programmed for navigating the VTD by causing adjustment to the cross-sectional profile of at least a portion of the tube.

[0041] In a further aspect of this disclosure, there is contemplated the use of a VTD harnessing renewable energy in a method of fertilizing marine plants, increasing fish stocks, sequestering carbon and capturing related data, wherein the VTD includes a submersible water transfer tube operatively connected to a superstructure that includes a renewable energy capture device, and the method includes the steps of: a. introducing the VTD into a body of water, b. powering the VTD with energy from the energy capture device to cause transfer of water from a first zone of water at a first depth in said body of water to a second zone of water at a second depth in the body, thereby to increase nutrient content in the second zone for providing food for primary producers in the second zone and promoting capture of atmospheric carbon compounds at the air/water interface of said zone.

[0042] The VTD tube may include a distal conduit end piece configured for self-orientation into a water current and having a longitudinal axis.

[0043] In an embodiment of this aspect, there is provided a plurality of VTDs located in a zone of water being monitored by sensors within the zone communicating data to a remote computer programmed for management of the VTDs using artificial intelligence, the computer being programmed to respond to data communicated to it by regulating at least one function of an individual VTD in the zone, such function relating to balancing of energy requirements, energy conservation, drift planning and individual VTD configuration.

[0044] In a still further aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a method of promoting marine ecosystem safety including the steps of: d. operatively locating a remotely controlled VTD in a marine environment, the VTD including a plurality of data collection devices mounted thereon and configured for receiving data from at least one external third party source; e. monitoring data captured by the data collection devices and received from said at least one third party source; and f. causing the computer to apply smart sensing and control algorithms to the data and detect conditions based on parameter combinations, and responsive to such conditions, cause operation of the VTD to be altered.

[0045] The description to follow and the accompanying referenced drawings are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the presently disclosed embodiments. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to avoid obscuring the description. References to one or an embodiment in the present disclosure are not necessarily references to the same embodiment; and such references mean at least one.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0046] In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment is illustrated. Thus:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram in perspective view of an aquatic garden of the invention making use of artificial upwelling.

Figure 2 illustrates in perspective view more detail of the upwelling pumps used in the garden of Figure 1. Figure 2(a) illustrates an optional anchored pumping device and Figure 2(b) an untethered like device. Figure 2(c) depicts a profile of a conduit end piece of Figures 2(a) and (b) to demonstrate a principle of its configuration.

Figure 3 is a schematic side view an anchored version of an alternative end piece for the vertical transfer device of Figure 2(a). Figure 4 illustrates in (a) perspective and side views of an end piece of the VTDs of this disclosure and in (b), (c) and (d) multi-flap embodiments of a check valve utilisable in the system of Figure 1 .

Figure 5 illustrates in perspective and mounted side views a 4-flap valve equipped with electromagnets for remote activation and management of the valve condition.

Figure 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of a segmented tube in the embodiments of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a perspective upper view of a floating superstructure from Figure 2.

Figure 8 presents perspective and plan views of a joiner shown in Figure 6.

Figure 9 schematically shows a manufacturing process for a tube conduit segment of Figure 2.

Figure 10 illustrates in perspective view embodiments of attachment cables and winder system for the VTDs of Figure 2. In (a) a passive system is shown; in (b) an active system and in (c) the winder board is shown in more detail.

Figure 11 is a block diagram of a control system for use in controlling the system of Figure 1 .

Figure 12 shows in perspective view a process for adjusting the depth to which the tube of a VTD extends.

Figure 13 is a schematic plan view of an embodiment wherein an upwelling tube of a VTD is altered in profile for navigational purposes. Modes for Carrying out the Invention

[0047] Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not for other embodiments.

[0048] The present disclosure relates to a data gathering, water conditioning system in which water is transferred between first and second differentiable zones of water in an open water environment such as an ocean, sea, lake or large dam. The zones may be differentiated by physical properties such as temperature, density or current speed, or by chemical composition, for example nutrient content and concentrations of particular nutrients, or by the presence of different micro-organisms, such as phytoplankton. The presence of suitable nutrients helps maintain the food chain, providing the necessary food for primary producers so that fish stocks increase.

[0049] The system is configured for selective computerized control of the VTDs effecting the water transfer. Control of a VTD may be by way of an onboard computer, which operates autonomously to collect data and monitor and guide operations of the VTD based on the data, or may be by way of operating instructions sent from a remote computer at a control centre to the on-board computer. In the latter case, the instructions may in predetermined circumstances override certain instructions generated by the on-board computer. The control centre may be land based, or aboard a ship or a satellite. [0050] By way of a non-limiting illustrative example, the zones of water may be a first, relatively deeply located layer of water in an ocean, and a second layer located at a different depth. Water transfer may be from the first to the second zone, or vice versa. Therefore, downwelling as well as upwelling and lateral water transfer are contemplated herein. Downwelling may be required in a situation in which phytoplankton are to be sunk to a lower level, or in which it will assist in rebalancing nutrient levels in the zones. Hence in this specification, the term “vertical transfer device” or VTD is used, in preference to the more limiting term “artificial upwelling pump” or AUP. For the sake of clarity, a AUP is one form of VTD. Another form is the “artificial downwelling pump” or ADP.

[0051] An aquatic garden in an embodiment of the invention that employs a cluster of VTD devices to generate an aggregate upwelling effect, is denoted in a general manner by the numeral 10 in Figure 1. The garden comprises a surface layer 12 of water with a surface 14, where, for example, marine life is fed through delivery of cold, nutrient rich water from a lower stratum. The layer is contained in a larger body of water 16, designated by means of broken lines and has depth signalled by directional arrow D. The larger body may be a sea, an ocean or a lake within which layer 12 may move, depending on the positions of VTDs 18, which in this example operate as artificial upwelling pumps or ALIPs and will be referred to them as such in this context. The VTDs have on-board data-processors programmed to respond to data collected by data-collecting sensor devices on the VTDs, as well as to commands from a remote control centre.

[0052] Operation of the VTDs as ALIPs in this embodiment causes alteration in the condition of layer 12 so that the zone occupied by this layer is distinguishable from water in a surface layer laterally surrounding it to a corresponding depth D. The altered condition of layer 12 distinguishes it from water in the surface layer of larger body 16 and from water immediately below it - that is at a depth greater than D. Naturally, there is a continuum of alteration of condition at the boundary layers forming an interface between layer 12 and surrounding water body 16 as diffusion results in a degree of mixing. Nevertheless, when the VTDs are operating as ALIPs, they will be drawing up water from below layer 12 and expelling it at or close to surface 14, which interfaces with the ambient air above.

[0053] As noted above, the differentiating characteristics of surface layer 12 compared with surface layer surrounding it may, without limitation, include temperature, density, chemical components such as nutrients and the like. The resulting altered condition of the water in surface layer 12 is favourable for promoting healthy development and growth of aquatic species found within or introduced into this layer. The aquatic species may, without limitation, include primary producers such as fish. The chemical species that may be transported with the upwelling or downwelling water include without limitation chlorophyll a (or “Chi a”, the universal proxy for phytoplankton biomass), dissolved oxygen, carbon, calcium, phosphate, nitrates and species influencing acidity (as measured in terms of pH).

[0054] The VTDs, functioning as ALIPs, and having on-board sensors for collecting data in relation to species such as those mentioned above, will be discussed in more detail with reference to Figure 2. The sensors provide continuous or discrete outputs.

[0055] Referring to Figure 2, identical VTDs 18A, 18B are shown, the VTD in (a) being tethered to the ocean floor by an anchor 20 and attaching chain 22, the VTD in (b) being untethered and therefore free floating. Like numerals denote like parts. The VTDs have floating superstructure 24, which is mounted to the open end 28 of a downwardly depending upwelling tube 26.

[0056] The VTD uses renewable energies to power the upwelling or downwelling motion and to operate onboard electronics. As already described, wave energy is utilised to drive the pumping process, whereas wave, solar and/or wind energy may be harnessed to power the electronics of the communications and control subsystems. [0057] Referring again to Figure 2, the VTDs of the system include a floating superstructure 24 having a float assembly made up of one or more buoyancy units 35 that may selectively be joined together to provide the required level of buoyancy for the site conditions. In one embodiment, recycled materials such as gas tanks may be repurposed as buoyancy devices, either used individually or welded into larger floating structures, such as rafts. The buoyancy units are mounted on a deck plate 40, to which tube 26 is mounted in a spaced manner using stays 42, to ensure pump outlet 28 (for the AUP) or inlet (when functioning as an ADP) is no more than minimally obstructed.

[0058] In other embodiments, the float assembly is manufactured to provide mounting surfaces and enclosures to carry additional renewable power components in addition to solar panels, namely wind or mechanical energy collectors. Provision is also made for the inclusion of marine safety equipment and electronic subsystems. By way of example, a buoy of conventional design may be utilised with mounted solar panels and custom-embedded electronics, where buoy geometries are optimised to maximise the conversion of wave power into upwelling motion.

[0059] Reverting to the embodiments of Figure 2, mounted atop float superstructure 24, in an apex-defining arrangement, are twin solar panels 44. They are mounted in sloping manner with adjacent longer edges meeting at an apex 46. The apical arrangement provides space 48 below the panels for housing ancillary equipment, including electronic components suitably protected against the elements. The sloping panels assist in catching the sun’s rays from an increased range of sun angles and in dispersal of water and condensation. Alternative mounting arrangements for solar panels may be implemented for optimising energy capture without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0060] Tube 26 is a conduit for containing a water column extending from the delivery zone to the target depth and for transporting water from the target depth to the delivery zone, for example the ocean surface. The tube length may span from 40m to 500m of water depth or more in order to deliver required nutrients from deep ocean, thus facing different ocean current, temperature, and pressure conditions from layers at different depths, for example the surface (0- 50m), epipelagic (50-200m), and mesopelagic (200m-1000m) ocean layers. Currents in the epipelagic layer are significantly stronger and move in varying directions, more so than in the mesopelagic layer and below. The tube may have a diameter of about 2m in some embodiments, but may be wider or narrower within the scope of this disclosure. The diameter need not be constant along the entire length and may flare or taper. The cross-sectional profile need not only be circular, but may be of any practical geometrical shape including without limitation oval, rectangular, heptagonal, hexagonal, octagonal. As discussed later in this description, the cross-sectional profile may be automatically adjustable. In tethered embodiments, the base of the tube may be ballasted in order to maintain tube curvature caused by incident currents.

[0061] Tube 26 terminates at its lower, distal end 30 in a conduit end piece 32, open at both ends, one being flared. The narrower end 23, opposite to the flared wider end 31 is connected to the tube. The ends 23, 31 are connected by a side wall 29. In this embodiment, end piece 32 is shown to be in the general shape of a truncated bell wherein side wall 29 is continuously curving, but the end piece may take similar forms in which structural and surface details differ.

[0062] The end piece 32 has a narrower opening at one end 23 and a flared wider opening at the opposite end 31. As discussed below, side wall 29 need not be continuously curving, but may be of constant slope, as in a frustoconical embodiment shown in schematic profile Figure 2(c). A smoothly curving internal surface of wall 29 reduces fluid friction, improving VTD performance. In other embodiments, the wall may include both a curved section and a straight, constantly sloping section, an example being illustrated in Figure 3.

[0063] In each embodiment, the narrower, proximal end 23 of conduit end piece 32 is fixed to the tube 26, which has a complemental, substantially matching diameter. The wider end 31 of end piece 32, distal from the tube lower end, defines an inlet for taking water into the upwelling tube for the VTD operating in AUP mode.

[0064] Referring to Figure 2(c), the embodiment illustrated here shows that the conduit end piece can be reduced for simplicity to two portions: A narrower conduit portion 25 that attaches to the end of tube 26 and a flared portion 27 terminating in a relatively wider opening at end 31. The relative longitudinal dimensions of the narrower and flared portions can vary, as suggested by the conduit end piece represented in Figure 2(a) and 2(b) as well as in Figure 4(a). An angle p is subtended between the longitudinal axis of conduit end piece 32 and a line extended from the wall 33 of constant slope in portion 27.

[0065] In Figure 4(a), the conduit end piece has a curved side wall. At a point intermediate the opposite ends of this embodiment of the conduit end piece, at least a portion of the curved wall subtends an optimum angle p. This is comparatively illustrated in the ghost image to the right of the curved end piece in the figure. This does not, however, apply to in the case of the “bent” embodiment of the conduit end piece of Figure 3.

[0066] It has been found somewhat surprisingly that angle p in the embodiments other than of Figure 3 should preferably be in the range from 5° to 40° and more preferably in the range from 27° to 34°. This finding was a result of extensive computation fluid dynamics modelling, focusing on wave heights between 1 and 3 meters and wave frequency between 6 and 8 seconds. The angle relative to upwelling was not linearly correlated, but it was found that in most scenarios for a tube diameter of 1.8m, the ideal angle that minimises drag whilst maximising the upwelling rate is optimally 30°+/-0.5°.

[0067] As noted, the bell shape of Figure 2 may be substituted with a truncated cone and similar shapes and configurations in alternative flared embodiments. The flared open end performs as a scoop for water approaching it. When the VTD is anchored to a fixed position, this will ensure that the relatively larger, flared scoop opening will always be facing into the prevailing current. The current will carry the floating superstructure or buoy and tube downstream which will automatically face the opening into the current. A current acting on the large cross sectional surface area of the long length of the tube 26 is found to overcome any wind acting on the surface superstructure in case of wind blowing in opposite direction from the current. The large scoop opening at the bottom will send a larger volume of water up the upwelling tube 26 than an opening without the large scoop. A valve set incorporated into the conduit end piece adjacent the scoop opening to prevent backflow also increases efficiency on days with minimal current and increased swell action on the device, so that it acts in a way similar to an unanchored upwelling VTD.

[0068] Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of an end piece, suited particularly to the case of a tethered or anchored VTD. The end piece 32’ is hollow, being made from rigid rings welded together. However, it may alternatively be moulded or cast as a single piece using known techniques. It defines a curved internal conduit, as indicated by the row of external directional arrows B representing the direction of water flow into and up through the end piece. End piece 32’ is connected at a first open end 23 to the lower end of upwelling tube 26 and has a flared opposite end 31 , distal from tube 26. At flared end 31 , it is connected to a system of cables 22’ tethering it to an anchor 20’ shown supported on the seabed 21 via a swivel 39 and chain assembly 41.

[0069] The open or scoop end is not limited to being of a particular shape. It may be circular, oval, triangular, rectangular, hexagonal, or have any number of sides. It may extend outward further in one direction than in another. For example, if the scoop is intended to rest on the ocean floor, a side on which it is intended to rest may be extended compared with the adjacent or opposite sides.

[0070] Because of the bend of end piece 32’, used in the tethered VTD embodiment of Figure 3, each end opening therefore has a different longitudinal axis, namely ‘X’ for distal open end 31 and ‘Y’ for proximal open end 23. In this embodiment, this end piece is positioned so that its longitudinal axis at the distal end 31 , or intake end when used in upwelling (AUP) mode, subtends an obtuse angle in the range from about 120° to 175° off the longitudinal axis of the proximal end 23 connected to the tube. This relates directly to the acute complementary angle marked ‘a’ in Figure 3. This means that in an embodiment in which the axis of the proximal end 23 aligns with the axis of tube 26, the angle subtended where the inlet axis intersects with the tube longitudinal axis will therefore be in the same range. By providing an end piece of decreasing equivalent cross section in the direction of liquid flow, the water pressure at the inlet is increased, providing for an increased flow rate of water through the tube due to the scoop effect noted above.

[0071] Anchor 20’ and tethering chain assembly 41 and cables 22 helps intake opening 31 to self-orientate into the oncoming current shown by directional arrow C.

[0072] With reference to Figure 4, a non-return valve (also known as a check valve) 34 (not visible in Figure 2) is installed within bell-shaped end piece 32 to regulate water transfer through tube 26. The valve has a flap 70 mounted to swivel from open to closed condition on an axle 72, which extends across the narrower end opening of bell piece 32. The swivel need not be centrally located in the end piece, but may be mounted against a side wall. In this case, there will be only one swivel axis, one which one or more flaps may be mounted. A stopper formation is mounted operatively on an adjacent or opposite side wall of the conduit to prevent the flap or flaps swinging beyond the valve closure point and allowing water to escape.

[0073] The valve need not only be installed in end piece 32, but may alternatively be installed within the tube, preferably at or near lower end 30. The non-return valve is of conventional design and, as is known, admits water to tube 26 when the pressure exerted by the weight of the column of water within the tube is less than the pressure of the water at the wider end of the inlet piece, but closes under the weight of the water column within the tube when the column pressure within exceeds the external pressure. The changes in pressure occur when the depth of immersion of the tube changes with wave action in surface layer 12 of garden 10.

[0074] The opening and closing of the valve under wave action is what helps generate upwelling motion for the water that enters. The use of the narrowing end piece results in increased upwelling rate compared to a straight walled valve housing in which the inlet area is equal to outlet area and equal to the tube cross-sectional area. The sides of the conical valve housing are smooth to prevent recirculation, which could adversely affect the water upwelling speed.

[0075] Check valve 34 in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 3(b), 3(c) and 3(d), is of the Venetian type, which includes a plurality of flaps 70, akin to Venetian blinds, from which the term is borrowed. The number of flaps may be optimized, based on physical factors such as inlet size and associated drag forces. Thus in Figure 4(b), there are two flaps 70 pivotally mounted on axle 72 by means of a hinge 74. Figure 4(c) has two hinges and four flaps and Figure 4(d) has three hinges and six flaps. The valve is mounted within outlet of bell 32 with the assistance mounting bracket 76. The bracket has screw of rivet holes 78 for use in fastening it within the mouth of piece 32.

[0076] Whichever of the variants shown in Figure 4 is used, the valve may be controlled remotely via commands from the system control centre (to be discussed below) or an onboard computer of the VTD. In one embodiment, the commands cause dynamic energizing or de-energizing of electromagnets mounted inside the valve housing (be it end piece 32 or a joiner 38) and on the flaps, hinge membranes and inner side surfaces. Their purpose is to enable continuous dynamic adjustment and locking down the valve flaps in a desired individual position, be it open, closed or an intermediate condition. In the VTD retrieval scenario, the flaps may be locked to a fully open position to empty the tube of the tons of water in the water column and reduce weight for lifting and while the apparatus is being lifted. [0077] An embodiment of a valve with four flaps and associated electromagnets 78 and simple OPEN and CLOSED states utilising underwater magnets is depicted in Figure 4. The valve in a CLOSED condition is shown in Figure 4(a). The valve is shown mounted within a joiner 38 in Figure 4(b). An OPEN state, as suggested by broken lines in Figure 4(b) depicting the path of travel of the flap lower extremities, is achieved when magnets 78 mounted on the flaps adjacent to hinge 74 are energized to be activated. A CLOSED state is achieved when magnets 80 are activated, as shown in Figure 4(a).

[0078] In a further embodiment, a submersible linear actuator is used to vary the available stroke for the valve, such that the device flow can be more precisely controlled than with electromagnets and simple two-position, fully open or fully closed flaps. Examples of suitable such actuators are the 2000 Series Subsea Linear Actuator from 2G Engineering of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin USA, and the NEMA Submersible Linear Actuator from Ultra Motion of Cutchogue, NY, USA). In this embodiment, the control centre or on-board computer may command the position of the linear actuator (or rod length), thus limiting the stroke of the valve and permitting dynamic regulation of the water transfer rate through the tube 26.

[0079] It will be appreciated, however, that the AUPs of Figure 2 may function as artificial downwelling pumps (ADPs) by reversing the orientation of the tube assembly 26 so that the flared conduit end piece 32 and non-return valve 34 are located immediately below, and are connected to, float assembly 24, so that outlet end 28 is located at the lowermost end of the tube. Thus, when wave action causes the wider end of bell 32 to rise above the water surface momentarily, water already within the tube sinks with the tube, the valve within closes, and the headspace above the valve is emptied. When the wave action causes the top part of the tube to sink beneath the water surface, the headspace fills afresh. When the tube rises again with the next wave, the valve opens and water in the headspace enters the tube. In this manner, surface water is transferred to the depth of the lower end of the tube and expelled. This action displaces water at the lower level, resulting in a degree of upwelling external to the tube.

[0080] The check valve discussed in the example above operates automatically with wave action. It is also within the scope of this invention to provide a remotely controllable valve, actuated by a control system (still to be described below) for the apparatus, according to whether the apparatus is required to function as an upwelling or downwelling pump. An example of such a valve is a solenoid valve, energised by electrical energy stored in a battery and replenished by solar, wind or wave power, or a combination thereof, collected by the devices installed on the superstructure.

[0081] The tube in the preferred embodiment of this disclosure is of adjustable length. Adjustment is enabled by virtue of a segmented, modular construction, wherein the tube comprises segments 36 sequentially interconnected by connectors 38, not all of which are shown, for ease of illustration. The segmented tubing design in preference to a single uninterrupted length of tubing material facilitates the system to respond in appropriate manner to ocean surface, epipelagic, and mesopelagic depth layers. For example, the upper segments of tubing may be located in the top 50m of the ocean, where they may encounter the most significant wear and abuse. Below them, the midsegments sit at between the 50m and 200m depths, and the lower segments are below 200m, each experiencing different exposure to currents and pressures. The segmented tubing modules permit construction of source material units to suit the conditions as required, rather than utilising more expensive materials in areas where these may not be required. As a result, the segmentation makes the construction more economical and handling easier. The modular construction serves also facilitates replacement and repair of segments in the field.

[0082] The segments and connectors are described below with reference to Figure 2 and Figure 6 (partially exploded view). The segmented approach enables total tube lengths in excess of 400m to be achieved. Individual segments may be of any suitable length, largely determined by handling practicalities. By way of example, a single segment may be as long as 50m, or even more.

[0083] The tubes are made of a resiliently flexible and highly ductile but substantially water-impervious membrane that withstands prolonged, continuous exposure to seawater. The membrane is preferably of low thermal transmissibility for thermally insulating the contents of the tube from the external environment and minimising heat loss or gain. Examples of suitable materials of manufacture include thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) and plasticized canvas fabric. Alternative examples will be apparent to the person of skill in the art. Fabric tubes are readily collapsible in an axial direction and are preferred over tubes of rigid materials such as metals, plastics and composites. Rigid tubes tend to be made in shorter lengths than flexible, collapsible versions. In certain embodiments, rigid tubes may be interspersed with flexible, collapsible tubes. The tubes may be designed for controlled collapse using a mechanism such as rigid telescoping of segments, or a harmonica or concertina configuration.

[0084] As already mentioned in relation to the embodiment of Figure 2, a check valve may be installed in the final segment or in the flared end piece 32. The segmentation of the tubing is beneficial in the event of damage to a part of the tubing. In this scenario, should a tube segment wall suffer damage, for example a perforation due to a shark bite, the damaged segment can be vertically collapsed, allowing restoration of the VTD operations, albeit with a shorter overall length. Collapsing will be described below with reference to Figure 10. The reduction in length may be insignificant, depending on overall length and location of the damaged segment. Usually, a shark bite would tend to occur relatively near the water surface. Furthermore, this modularity also enables on-site assembly and maintenance of the individual sections.

[0085] However, in another embodiment, segmentation may be used for reducing structural load by splitting the total volume of water within the water column inside the tube into smaller volumes. This is achieved by providing a check valve that is associated with each segment, or with a selected number of segments. The valve is installed within the joiner 38 between segments so that each segment establishes a module having the tube segment, a joiner and a check valve. The valve is installed in the joiner and, when closed, isolates the segment above it from the segment below it.

[0086] With reference to Figure 8, a joiner 38 between adjacent segments, or as weighting piece located at the lower end in tube structures having no terminal bell intake, is illustrated. The joiner is an open-ended structural ring having a central conduit 62 to provide passage for water through it and structural attachment points in the form of eyes 64 for the tube segments to be attached to cables 66, as shown in Figure 10. The end portion of the fabric segment 36 is drawn over the end of the joiner in the manner of a sock. The tube material has our looped straps 68 fastened to lugs (not shown) on the tube surface. The loops from the straps extend toward the anchor points 64 on joiner ring 38 and are secured to the eyes 64 by shackles of conventional design (not shown) to prevent the tubes from sliding off the joiner. Of course, alternative fasteners to shackles may be used, subject to suitability for underwater conditions.

[0087] The joiner may be made of any suitable material for ocean conditions. Examples include (without limitation) stainless steels of suitable grade (for example SS316 or SS304), and aluminium. The weight of the joiner needs to be effective to maintain the attached tube segment above it at its selected depth.

[0088] The segmented tube is suspended from the float superstructure by means of a set of high-strength, low-stretch cables, as illustrated in Figure 10. The cables carry the weight of the upwelling tube segments, joints, valves and inlet end piece 32. They transmit the structural load of pumped water, and associated twisting and bending forces to the float superstructure. The cables connect to the underside of the float superstructure. Metaphorically, the cables serve as a skeleton of the VTD and may be mounted on the interior or exterior of tubing material. In the embodiment illustrated, the exterior skeleton version has an advantage over the interior location, being more accessible for maintenance and its causing no additional internal upwelling friction within the tube segments. Conversely, interior structural cabling can minimise twisting and tangling. The sensors are placed on the joining rings across the water column, where, in the simplest embodiment, with a single segment, data is captured at the inlet and outlet of the device. Data is transported via specialty underwater cabling. In one embodiment, data cables are incorporated during the tube manufacturing process into the tubing material by sewing, providing protection to the cabling, as well as preventing twisting, tangling and any physical damage. Referring now to Figure 9, a tube segment 36 is shown laid out in (a) as a flat sheet in folded, inoperative condition and in (b) in operative condition, in which it defines a flexible, round cylinder. In manufacturing, a sheet of the flexible fabric from which the segment is to be formed is cut to size and rectangular shape. Opposite longitudinal edges 43 and 45 are folded back toward the longitudinal midline 47 so that a short overlap results. Data cables are located between the overlapping edge portions 43, 45. The overlap is sufficiently wide for double sewing of the tubing material to create an elongate custom data pocket extending the vertical length of the folded sheet and enclosing the data cables. An enlarged image is shown of the protruding end in the callout box of Figure 9. On completion of the manufacturing process, only the cable ends 49 protrude from the opposite longitudinal ends of the tubing material sheet, and are then connected during final assembly and attached to the electronics subsystem.

[0089] Figure 10 illustrates two embodiments of the support structure: A passive embodiment in (a) and an-active embodiment in (b).

[0090] In the passive embodiment (a), a single set of cables spans the length of the tubing material, with attachments at the joiners. The structure serves purely to carry the weight of the VTD, preserve general vertical position and prevent the pump from twisting and bending. Each joiner ring 38 has at least two anchor points for cable attachment: One for cable 66n leading from the joiner immediately above and a second for cable 66n+1 leading to the joiner immediately below. [0091] As is evident in the callout of Figure 10(a) from the shaded overlay to the left of it (representing the location of the callout detail), a separate cable attaches each successive pair of joiners together. The joiners 38 therefore serve here to transfer loads from one support cable 66n to the next (66n+1) along the chain of segments.

[0092] In the active embodiment, illustrated in the callout of Figure 10(b), separate cables or ropes 66a, 66b connect each segment to floating superstructure 24 via a system of pulleys mounted therein. The pulley system is illustrated in Figure 10(c). It comprises a board 70 on which are mounted rotatable, motor-driven spools 72 for taking up and paying out the cables 66 connected to each of the segment joiners. This arrangement provides controls for contracting or expanding these segments.

[0093] The board 70 is mounted within the float in the cavity 48 located below solar panels 44 in Figure 2. Each of the pulleys 72 is driven by a dedicated motor (not shown). The motor is monitored and its operation controlled by the on-board processor 82 of the VTD, or from a remote station via said processor. By virtue of winding the cables up or letting them down, the configuration of the segmented tube as seen in its length and shape may be controlled and managed. It will be appreciated that alternatives to the winder system described above may be employed without straying from the scope of this disclosure and its appended claims.

[0094] The pulley system facilitates contracting the tubing for adjusting the overall length, for retrieval purposes or for restoring VTD operations after damage has occurred on a given segment.

[0095] A challenge facing any marine fixture is presented by deposited seagull faeces. It is of particular concern when faecal matter accumulates on solar panels, rendering large areas of their surfaces less effective and even inactive. A simple and robust solution is to install spikes 50 on the peak of the floating superstructure, as shown at the apices 46 in Figure 2 and Figure 7 (close- up view). These deter birds from alighting on apex 46 where the panels meet. An installation may also include ultrasonic noise emitting devices, which emit sound at a range of ultrasonic frequencies selected to deter bird life.

[0096] In an embodiment, the spikes are coupled with a sprinkler system that, when actuated by the presence of a bird 52, emits sprays of water 54 to discourage landing on the superstructure, and to encourage any bird that has managed to land to take to the air immediately. The sprinkler system is controlled by a data processor housed within cavity 48. The data processor receives input from a motion detector or camera device 56, which serves as an actuator to activate a pump (not shown) mounted below platform deck 40. The pump outputs pressurized water to sprinkler nozzles 58. The sprinkler system not only provides further landing deterrents against seabirds, but also helps clean the solar panels intermittently of faces and salty grime build-up. The sprinklers may also be programmed to be actuated periodically at selectable time intervals, irrespective of the presence of birds.

[0097] In another embodiment, a sprinkler system controlled using artificial intelligence (Al) algorithms may be deployed. The Al controls the positioning or direction of output from the sprinkler, and is programmed so that the system learns from past failures and successes in deterring bird landing and faeces removal. For example, if despite the sprinkler squirting water, faeces are still detected on solar panel 44 by way of image analysis, Al would register a failure in cleansing the panel or in deterring seagull landings.

[0098] If, on the other hand, a squirt from nozzles 58 results in no detectable faeces, the algorithm calls this a success. Reasonably, it can be expected that through learning the algorithm would eventually get smart enough to consistently “win” over seagulls, supported by suitable hardware controls and data feedback.

[0099] The garden disclosed herein and illustrated schematically in Figure 1 is an intelligent system that is adapted for collecting and responding to field data. The individual VTD senses and measures conditions in the immediate ocean environment surrounding it, transmitting the data it collects from sensors 60 via satellite-enabled wireless communication to a control centre 100 (refer to Figure 11). The sensors 60 are located on the joiners 18 for the tube segments 36, as well as on the superstructure 24.

[00100] The control centre may be located in the zone or remotely from the zone. In the former instance, it may be located on a single floating body or be distributed among the individual VTDs. Each individual VTD may have its own autonomous control system that responds to measurement data and causes outputs that guide the operation of the VTD concerned.

[00101] The measurements captured by individual VTDs and/or collaborating clusters of such VTDs, when communicated wirelessly using a known protocol to a remote control centre, are analysed in the control centre against latest research techniques and findings. The control centre is then configured to: a. T ransmit once-off manual commands, such as to switch a particular identified sensor 60 on or off; b. Instigate automatic regulation on an individual VTD, such as energy conservation and battery monitoring; and c. Transmit complex commands as a result of utilising algorithms embedded within an Al system, for example applying simple heuristics, and optimization routines.

[00102] With reference to Figure 11 , the marine control system manages the operation of the VTD 18 within its deployment environment 10 of Figure 1 , to ensure efficient and environmentally safe upwelling and safe and efficient application of upwelled water. It comprises the control centre 100 and the pumping device or VTD 18. [00103] Control centre 100 in the embodiment of Figure 11 is a remote computing service that includes a computer that operates independently of the actual VTD 18, whether up- or down-welling, and establishes a man-machine interface that enables a human manger or operator to manage operation of VTD 18 from afar, whether singly or in collaboration with other VTDs in the same garden. The operations that may be managed include computer resources, the analysis of telemetric messages received from the environmental sensors, the evaluation of optimal control actions and the balancing of energy requirements for the on-board electronic subsystems with energy resources. The control centre may send and receive messages to and from the device, including commands that set the operating priority or configuration of the device and its subsystems.

[00104] A first of such subsystems may include a drift planning system 102 that uses weather, wave, and current forecasts to determine and plot anticipated trajectories that achieve operational objectives. The objectives may be associated with an individual identified VTD among a plurality of VTDs withing a floating garden, and determine steps the device must take to realise those determined trajectories.

[00105] A second of such subsystems may be an environmental monitoring system 104 that is loaded with marine algorithms, GPS tracking and latest ocean currents predictions. Marine algorithms are a suite of algorithms pertaining to specific thresholds, parameter combinations and ratios, based on latest peer reviewed research, which generate alerts concerning current or predicted water quality, biochemistry, nutrient profile and concentrations, presence of certain microorganisms or other ocean conditions, which may negatively impact on the surrounding marine life or ecosystems. As a result, safety control mechanisms would be initiated to temporarily suspend pump operation. This could be achieved by fixing the valve in open or closed position for a duration of time. Through utilising the established patterns and profiles of ocean currents, as well as smart sensing and control algorithms programmed into the processor 110 located on VTD 18, control mechanisms can be employed to predict and influence the trajectory of the pump, in order to avoid risks of collision or entering into protected marine environments.

[00106] A third subsystem 106 of the control centre concerns communications and communications integrity. It is programmed to sign messages cryptographically before transmission to prevent tampering, and to verify incoming messages to ensure they originated from the VTD and have not been modified.

[00107] Contained within the on-board computer system of VTD 18 are subsystems configured for regulating functions including those of executive control, power, data, flow management, navigation, sensor management, safety, recovery and communications.

[00108] The executive control subsystem 112 is an electronic and computational subsystem that is configured and programmed to coordinate the operation of other subsystems within the device to achieve operating goals. a. It accepts commands from control centre 100 that set operating priorities. It then sends commands to the appropriate control subsystems to enact those priorities. b. It communicates the operating state of device 18 to control centre 100. c. It autonomously assumes control of operating priority for VTD 18 when safety and recovery conditions require immediate response. It returns priority when safety and recovery conditions no longer require immediate action.

[00109] A communications subsystem 114 aboard the VTD is an electronic and computational subsystem that transmits data from the device to a remote computing facility, in particular (although not always necessarily) to control centre 100. a. It sends messages to remote command centre 100 when the network service permits communication. b. It receives messages from remote command centre 100 and routes them to the appropriate subsystem aboard VTD 18. c. It cryptographically signs messages before transmission to prevent tampering. d. It cryptographically verifies messages received to ensure that they originated from control centre 100. e. It communicates the state of the communication subsystem to executive control system 112 on board the VTD.

[00110] VTD 18 includes a power subsystem 116 that collects, stores, and manages the use of energy within the device to achieve operating goals. a. It collects solar, wind, wave energy and stores it in a local energy storage system. b. It monitors and forecasts the availability of energy in the local storage system to create an energy budget. c. It accepts commands that determine operating priorities. d. It implements operating priorities by turning specific electrical subsystems on and off to ensure that those priorities can be achieved within the current energy budget. For example, when the device is in recovery mode, flow sensors are not required and can be disabled to conserve power. However, in recovery mode, light beacons and other signalling systems are required to execute and assist the recovery procedure and these are required to remain operational. e. It sends messages to communicate the state of the power subsystem and energy store to executive control system 112 and remote control centre 100. [00111] VTD 18 further includes a data subsystem 118. This is an electronic and computational subsystem that stores, processes, and interprets data about the physical state of the device and its surrounding environment; and ensures the security and integrity of data within the device. a. It accepts commands that determine operating priorities or operating parameters. For example, it can turn data logging for specific sensors 56, 60 on or off. b. It accepts commands that set operating parameters. For example, it can increase or decrease the frequency at which data is collected from different sensors. c. It accepts commands that determine how data is pre-processed on the device before transmission. It can change the content or level of detail of information returned in data messages. d. It communicates the state of the data subsystem to the remote command centre. e. It collects data from each sensor at an interval specified in configuration and writes that data to local storage. f. It processes the data as it may be directed by configuration and operating priorities to create new data. g. It sends messages with processed or raw data to control centre 100.

[00112] A further subsystem included on board VTD 18 is a flow management subsystem 120. This is an electronic and computational subsystem that monitors and controls the rate of water flow through the upwelling tube. a. It accepts commands that determine operating priorities and parameters. b. It activates the valve control system for valve flaps 70 to increase, decrease, or prevent water flow through the upwelling tube. c. It monitors the flow state through the data subsystem and adjusts valve controls to achieve the operating goals.

[00113] The navigation subsystem 122 is an electronic and computational subsystem that affects the drift of the device through ocean waters through the use of control surfaces and modification of the shape of the device. a. It accepts commands that determine operating priorities and parameters. b. It deploys control surfaces to affect the drift of the device through ocean waters. c. It activates devices that contract or elongate the upwelling tube to affect the drift of the device through ocean waters. d. It activates devices that modify the shape of the float to affect the drift of the device through ocean waters.

[00114] The sensor subsystem 124 is an electronic and computational subsystem that collects data about the physical state of the device and its surrounding environment. It includes sensors 60 associated with the tube segments 36 via joiners 38.

[00115] Sensors within sensor subsystem 124 include - but are not necessarily limited to - temperature (for example a Measurement Specialties TSYS01 sensor), pressure (for example a Keller Series 4LD pressure sensor), angle of inclination, acceleration, and geo-location positioning. These sensors are well understood in the art and are readily available commercially.

[00116] The safety subsystem 126 is an electronic and computational subsystem that monitors the state of the device to determine whether the device is in or near a critical state, which may partially or fatally compromise operations and functionality of VTD 18, and that takes countermeasures to prevent the partial or fatal loss of operating capacity.

[00117] If a critical state likely to lead to an emergency situation can be predicted, safety subsystem 126 may respond by applying controls on valve opening or tube length, thereby changing direction or operational capacity to mitigate the conditions at hand. If deemed appropriate by the processor or human intervention, the safety subsystem may open all valves fully to reduce load.

[00118] The recovery subsystem 128 is an electronic and computational subsystem that facilitates the location and extraction of the device from the ocean. It accepts commands from executive control processor 112 that determine operating priorities and parameters. It may cause signals of its presence to be emitted, for example a sequence of short sound blasts.

[00119] In use, measurements from the onboard field electronics subsystems of VTD 18, incorporating a suite of sensors such as sensors 60 and 56, are transferred via satellite telemetry messages 130 to remote control system 100. The control system receipts and stores the messages using a suitable data cloud storage facility of known type and performs various forms of analysis, issuing executable comments as determined by a human operator or by the system itself using machine learning techniques. The functions that may be performed and commands issued include without limitation the following: a. Control and operate flow control valves from the remote onshore environment via commands that may retain the valve in permanently open, shut or partially open state to control the upwelling rate. b. Evaluate whether the immediate environment in the zone surrounding the deployed VTD is favourable for marine life growth. This is calculated via simple known ratios such as phytoplankton C:N:P uptake ratio (146:19:1), or carbon to phosphorus ratios C:P 117:1 that can be trapped in seaweed and consequently buried into deeper layers of the ocean. These and other known nutrient ratios provide valuable information on whether the immediate environment surrounding the deployed VTD may be optimal for inducing phytoplankton blooms or growing and fertilizing kelp and other marine aquaculture, including plants. c. Evaluate whether the immediate environment surrounding the deployed VTD is conducive to the thriving of undesirable marine life such as toxic or harmful algal blooms. d. Calculate carbon sequestration based on time series measurements on a single VTD and/or a concert of VTDs in a collaborative network. The analysis may take into account individual VTD geolocations obtained from a positioning system such as the space-based US government system known as the Global Positioning System or GPS, inferred distances between individual VTDs, and nutrient measurements at various time points. e. Analyse and coordinate measurements from a network of VTDs deployed and moving in a zone. f. Monitor and report on the present cumulative effect of the VTDs, as well as predicted productivity output and environmental impact. g. Analyse total and distributed energy consumption for the electronics system of an individual VTD. Collect historical and predict future energy consumption. h. Identify risks to the operation of VTDs in a garden zone. For example, a change in structural loading may suggest possible upwelling tube rupture, a loss of segments, valve failure; or a change in measured upwelling rate may suggest a breach of the tube, or valve failure and the like. i. Detect collisions by employing an accelerometer to determine whether the float or support superstructure may have collided with another floating object in the water or airborne. [00120] The collation of field and other broader environmental and climatic data, the generation of statistics about conditions and performance, and the computation of key indicators define a computer-managed system that is agile to expand and to update a suite of algorithms for analysing the telemetry data.

[00121] The free-drifting VTDs circumnavigate the oceans , flowing generally with the currents they encounter. However, should control be required, for example to disable the activity of a VTD due to an excess of nutrients or an unfavourable ratio of nutrients in the garden zone of deployment, or due to the device inadvertently floating towards a marine park or other restricted area, the controls may be activated from control centre 100 to send instructions that override prevailing commands being transmitted from the onboard computer 112. For example, control actions may include: a. Engaging energy-saving algorithms or manual override to prioritise and control sensor operations. This may include temporarily switching off a sensor or reducing the frequency of its measurements or communications. b. Automatically applying controls if unfavourable environmental conditions occur, such as toxic algal blooms. Controls may include temporarily disabling all or a subset of VTDs in a concert of such devices, to restore nutrient balance prior to resuming upwelling. c. Controlling buoyancy of the water column by injecting salt or air bubbles at selected depth locations. d. Applying control on to a targeted subset of VTDs within a cluster or concert, based on GPS locations and sensor readings. This may be done to achieve uniform distribution of temperature and nutrients in a marine farming area, or to deliberately create different distribution areas for comparative testing. e. Controlling water upwelling or downwelling speed by disabling some of the valve flaps in embodiment utilising the Venetian type valve design. For example, to halve the speed of upwelling, valve shutters covering about half the cross-sectional flow area in the valve housing would be closed. Alternatively, the opening angle of all valve flaps may be adjusted simultaneously to achieve a correspondingly equivalent effect. Flow control may be implemented by installing the flow management valve such as a magnetically actuated Venetian type valve in Figure 4 at the top exit ring. There is no difference between top- or bottom-of-tube control as far as function is concerned, but benefits of the latter will be shorter control cable, and equipment that does not have to be deep depth rated. f. Setting the flow valve to remain permanently open for VTD retrieval procedures (for example in case of maintenance being required) in order to empty the water column of tons of captured water. Similar control measured may be applied in cases where external conditions are such that they pose safety concerns for the operations and life cycle of a VTD. g. Steering a VTD towards the nearest port for maintenance, or away from a restricted area such as a marine reserve or a shipping lane. h. Cleaning solar panels on the floating superstructure.

[00122] The control actions may be achieved by using control levers. These may include active valves and active tube segments that operatively affect overall tube length. Power to operate the valves is supplied through wiring of known type suitable for marine environments, connecting the valves to the power supply and storage on the floating superstructure 24.

[00123] An active valve is a valve that can be controlled, and the controls may include: (1) the valve freely alternating between open and closed, (2) the valve being set in open condition, (3) the valve being set to closed condition, and (4) the valve being set to partially open with finer degrees of control. The VTDs of this disclosure may include one or more active valves located in the valve housing 32 and/or inside the joiners 38. [00124] When the valve is in setting (1), the VTD is causing the upwelling of relatively cold water from deep in the ocean and thereby impacting the local temperature and nutrient content in the surrounding garden zone. When the valve is set to OPEN position in (2), the pump is not allowing upwelling of cold water and is deemed not operational, being simply a floating, inactive pump. In setting (3) the valve is CLOSED and is holding a water column without allowing the intake of new water. In setting (4), the pump software is controlling the inflow and the upwelling rate.

[00125] An active valve can be opened or closed by a signal initiated by any one or more of the safety (126), recovery (128) and flow (120) subsystems. In one embodiment, the device may respond by reserving and optimising power for a requested operation, transmitting its location at a high rate of frequency and activating a flashing beacon. To conserve energy, some of the sensors may be temporarily switched off or may have their frequency of sensing reduced.

[00126] Active tubing refers to a VTD that includes one or more active segments 36 of the kind shown in Figures 2, 5 and 8, these being segments that may contract, expand, be lowered or raised in their vertical positioning in the ocean, thereby to change their depth position relative to the surface, or otherwise change shape.

[00127] As the segments 36 are separated by joining rings 38, when a lower ring is pulled upwards on its cable 66, the ductile or flexible material of the segment wall collapses axially by bunching up between the segment being pulled and the ring immediately above it. This results in shortening the overall upwelling tube length while not significantly reducing the effective cross-sectional flow area. The material of the collapsed segment may be folded up in concertina-like fashion.

[00128] Conversely, when the segment restores to original length, the process is referred to as “expanding”. The lowering of the previously raised joiner ring enables the collapsed wall section of the segment in question to be released downward to straighten.

[00129] These shortening or lengthening actions vary the centre of pressure of the VTD, altering the way in which it interacts with ocean currents at different depth levels. The actions are implemented by electric motors powered from the power supply system mounted on the float superstructure 24 and commanded autonomously by on-board executive control module 112, or from or in conjunction with the remote control centre 100 via the on-board executive control module 112. The motors may be instructed to winch up the cables 66 attached to a selected segment, thereby having the effect of raising the end piece 32 to a higher intake level. When total tube length reaches a predetermined value, a locking mechanism of known design (not shown) is activated to prevent further winding or unwinding. By way of operational example, motors having combined nominal power output of 2kW are capable of halving the total length of tube 26 from 500m to 250m in about an hour. Ideally, this operation would be conducted during daylight hours under full sun exposure. Operations may be conducted in less optimal conditions, depending on available energy resources and urgency. Depending on prevailing ocean and sunlight conditions and previously recorded data, the on-board computer will calculate whether it is better in the circumstances of a length-reduction operation to lift the tube by axially collapsing a segment near the surface and thereby lifting the entire structure by the length of the collapsed segment, or to lift the tube by lifting a lower segment instead.

[00130] These winching actions are illustrated comparatively in Figure 11 , with like parts previously encountered carrying like numbering: In (a) the VTD 18 is pictured in a neutral state. The VTD is of the active type discussed in relation to the illustrations in Figure 10(b) and (c). In Figure 12(b), the same VTD is shown being lowered in the direction of the black arrow by paying out the suspending cables 66, thereby increasing the distance between superstructure 24 and the top-most ring 38t. [00131] In (c), the arrow indicates the lifting of the lower-most joiner 38b so that it abuts the next lowest joiner 38b-1. In (d), the entire structure has been collapsed with the flexible material of the segment walls 36 being folded up against each higher joiner ring.

[00132] To assist in controlling the direction of travel of a VTD, the floating superstructure may be equipped with computer-operable directional control surfaces, for example outwardly extensible and retractable wings or fins which may be orientated according to computer issued instructions responsive to environmental date and human inputs or inputs generated by machine learning. In an embodiment, a retractable fin is deployed vertically under power of a stepper motor (not shown) from a location at a forward end of buoyancy units 35 (see Figure 2). In effect, the extended wings resemble the action of sails extending upwardly to harness the wind. In this exemplary configuration, the hydraulic drag on segmented tube 26 allows it to function as a rudder, maintaining the directional stability of the VTD. In this mode of operation, the sail forces are utilised to move the device generally perpendicular to an ocean current, assisting in modifying the trajectory of the device.

[00133] In another embodiment of directional displacement management, the width of the flexible portion of the upwelling tube is compressed in one direction, reducing the cross-sectional area and altering the cross-sectional profile from its default shape, for example circular, to a more oval profile of the upwelling tube. In the embodiment of Figures 8 and 10, this applies only to the flexible portions 36 of tube 26 and not to the inflexible joiners 38.

[00134] Therefore to cause more even variation of the tube cross-sectional profile along more than a single segment at a time, a series of flexible dividing rings is incorporated into the tube structure, replacing the substantially inflexible metal dividing rings 38. These rings are deformably designed with biasing to be temporarily squeezed for altering the generally horizontal profile of the upwelling tube. When squeezing force is removed, the biasing causes the original profile to be resumed. [00135] With reference to Figure 13, the vertical cables 66a, 66b connecting the VTD to superstructure 24 (not shown), are passed via links 84 through the centre of a flexible ring 88, about which the membrane forming tube 26 is fitted. The cables pass from the outside of tube 26 into the interior to be contained in transversely oriented tubes 90. The tubes are sealed from the water already inside VTD upwelling tube 26 to prevent water passage into or out of the tube except at permitted locations such as the intake at the end piece and the expulsion outlet.

[00136] In an embodiment, the sealed tubes are biased by spring-loading so that when no lateral tension is placed on the cables, the ring is in fully expanded condition, as depicted in Figure 13(a). As the lateral cables are tensioned, by cable 66b being pulled from a motor on superstructure 24 (not shown), tube 26 is laterally contracted in the direction of arrow L, as shown in Figure 13(b). Electric motors for causing the tensioning are located in the float superstructure to generate the required cable tensions, as commanded by the controlling computer 112.

[00137] As is illustrated in Figure 13(b), the cross-sectional area is reduced in one lateral direction, which reduces drag on the tube when travelling in a transverse direction. Consequently, when a VTD is operating under wind power (as it were), the maximum attainable velocity can be increased because of the reduction in drag.

[00138] An example of utilising this configuration occurs when floats 35 and tube 26 are aligned such that the larger dimension, marked by directional arrow C, is perpendicular to the direction of the ocean current, sown by directional arrow O. In this orientation, the greater part of the surface area of the tube is exposed to the ocean current, increasing the velocity of the device in the direction of the current. In addition, the shorter dimension of the tube is aligned in the direction of the float. When it is taken by the wind, the tube drag is reduced and the effectiveness of the above-surface sail forces increases. In this manner, the device is navigated in the direction of the ocean current, with some deviations ether side according to the direction of the surface wind.

[00139] With these controls, the VTD is able to ride the currents at different ocean depths, similar to the principles of hot air balloon navigation. By virtue of controlling the depth and total length of the upwelling tube, the VTD is able to leverage a current at a selected depth to move in a predetermined direction. The system of this disclosure therefore makes use of prevailing ocean currents, such as thermohaline circulation, ocean gyres and the East Australian Current, as well as local variabilities associated with tidal movement and weather patterns. Variations in these prevailing and local currents at different ocean depths produce a range of feasible pump trajectories which can be exploited, affording a mechanism for approximate control of the pump over a long time period.

[00140] By utilising data on established known patterns and profiles of ocean current variations and locations, as well as smart sensing and control algorithms located on the VTD, control mechanisms may be employed to predict and influence the VTD trajectory when free-floating. By incorporating real time sensing of local currents along the length of the VTD tubing, and pairing this with satellite positional navigation capability, the hardware and software of the onboard computer system, operating in conjunction with support from the remote control centre, autonomously may vary the shape and depth of the tubing and its constituent segments in response to trajectory commands received from a remote telemetry station.

[00141] In a further embodiment, the locally sensed information is fused with wind and current predictions from weather forecast models provided by third party agencies to maintain the pump device within a target area or transit towards a desired location for facilitating retrieval.

[00142] Navigation speed, albeit not as fast as that of a self-propelled conventional ocean vessel or drone, which is not entirely reliant on riding ocean currents, enables the VTD to ride the tides towards the nearest desirable port location for planned retrieval. While only a particular subset of trajectories will be available for utilising this travel mechanism, the prediction algorithms on the VTD will ascertain a range of achievable locations. Consequently, a suitable retrieval destination associated with the lowest energy requirements maybe determined. This in turn would lower the cost and carbon footprint on collecting the pump from the deep ocean. Optimisation algorithms executed in the control centre would predict the energy cost of navigation and commence energy savings in preparation for the navigation. The control system would then cause the VTD to contract to a size commensurate with optimal navigational mass and the relevant segments to be lowered to a depth where the desired current would transport the VTD in its flow.

[00143] The disclosure further provides means for self-repairing the VTD, should damage occur, for example from impacts or interference from marine creatures, in particular sharks perforating the material of a segment wall. In this scenario, the VTD flow sensors would register that the upwelling rate has suddenly reduced and execution by the software of the relevant fault-resolving subroutine would lead to a conclusion that structural damage has occurred. The likely location of the damage would be ascertained and the segment in question would be collapsed by lifting the joiner ring immediately below that location. It may be determined from sensor feedback as the lifting is taking place that partial collapsing is sufficient to cover the damaged area. It may be found necessary to contract one tube segment at a time if the segment where damage had occurred cannot be determined from initial flow monitoring. If contraction of one segment resulted in no change to the upwelling rate, lifting would proceed to the next segment. Once the process of contraction of segments has resulted in a restored upwelling rate, the VTD control system will know it had succeeded in finding the damaged component and the remainder of the healthy segments would be expanded to original size. The process is similar if more than one component is damaged.

[00144] Alternatively, to conserve energy the order of finding the damaged part can be from the segment that requires least energy consumption for contraction to the most energy demanding segment. In another embodiment an A* search algorithm, Dijkstra's shortest path or other heuristic searches are utilised to find the damaged segment, while consuming minimum energy supplies.

[00145] An application of the system and apparatus disclosed herein is in a method of oceanic carbon capture. This method may include providing a VTD of a kind defined in the embodiments discussed above that is autonomously operable and navigable, locating the VTD in a body of open water, be it the ocean, a sea or a large lake where significant up- or downwelling occurs, operating it to capture data relating to the body of water and, responsive to the captured data, causing upwelling of a carbon capturing medium, such as phytoplankton-laden water. The medium, once it reaches the surface, is now suitably positioned to capture atmospheric carbon compounds present at the air/water interface. This embodiment provides an environmentally conscious solution in that it means measuring the data, evaluating a potential environmental impact if the condition of the water at the surface layer is not suitably altered, and allowing the computerized VTD to respond autonomously to the result of the evaluation for alleviating the impact, such as by increasing the rate of artificial upwelling to deliver the required organisms or other nutrients and compounds that serve to absorb or process harmful carbon compounds, such as carbon dioxide, thereby removing them from the atmosphere.

[00146] Upon reading this disclosure, those of skill in the art will appreciate still additional alternative structural and functional designs for a system and a process for an automated and autonomous system method and apparatus for favourably and advantageously conditioning a zone of open water through the disclosed principles herein. Thus, while particular embodiments and applications have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are not limited to the precise construction and components disclosed herein. Various modifications, changes and variations, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of the method and apparatus disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope defined in the appended claims. end