PREFABRICATED MEMBERS WITH A STRUCTURED LAYOUT

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] In general, the present invention pertains to the arts of civil engineering and infrastructure construction. In particular, the invention relates to systems and assemblies of prefabricated members with a plurality of parallel lumens as well as to methods of pipe ramming the same.

[0002] The present invention has been classified as relating to tunnels or galleries formed by forcing prefabricated members through the ground, e.g. by pushing lining from an access pit, as well as to layout of such tunnels or galleries, corresponding to class E21D9/005 of the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC).

BACKGROUND ART [0003] It is believed that the current state of the art is represented by the following patent literature US3388724, US4793736, US4966494, US5211507, US6109305, US6772840, US7866708, US8231306, USRE35271 ,

US2005061472, US2017130537, CN104632234, CN106869959, CN202117676U, CN203239355U, JP2004130180, JPH0762432, DE3407384 [0004] US8231306 which is believed to be the most pertinent prior art teaches advancing pipe elements for constructing an elongate structure in a soft, stony, rocky, and/or monolithic ground. US8231306 teaches determining the force of advancement, the eccentricity thereof in relation to the neutral axis and/or the direction of advancement with the aid of a pressing device and extension elements which are filled with fluid and are disposed on the face of the joints of the tubing. The fluid pressure in US8231306 is measured in at least one portion of the extension elements which extends along the entire length of the tubing and/or the deformation is measured in some of the joints. The force of advancement and the eccentricity in US8231306 are calculated from said parameters and the values are stored and/or are compared to stored standard values. [0005] Saltwater is desalinated to produce water suitable for human consumption, industry or irrigation. A by-product of desalination is salty brine. Desalination is implemented in many offshore facilities. Most of the modern interest in desalination is mainly focused on cost-effective provision of fresh water for human use. Along with recycled wastewater, desalination is one of the few rainfall- independent water sources.

BRIEF SUMMARY

[0006] In accordance with some aspects and embodiments of the present invention, a saltwater desalination plant is provided, including: an intake assembly comprising an elongated circular lumen, configured for collecting saltwater from a saltwater source; wherein said elongated circular lumen of said intake assembly has a circular cross-section along its length to enable passage of a maintenance pig; a desalination facility, configured to perform a desalination process of said saltwater, resulting freshwater and brine; an outtake assembly comprising at least one elongated lumen, configured for disposing said brine into said saltwater source; said saltwater desalination installation is characterized by that:

(a) said elongated circular lumen of said intake assembly is formed concomitantly with said at least one elongated lumen of said outtake assembly, in a single infrastructure tunnel; wherein an incoming flow of said saltwater is conducted inversely and in parallel to an outgoing flow of said brine, within said single infrastructure tunnel; (b) said infrastructure tunnel comprising a plurality of cylindrical prefabricated members in tandem having a plurality of pipe ramming interfaces formed in-between each pair of prefabricated members for formation of the tunnel by pipe ramming, wherein said pipe ramming interfaces comprise anterior and posterior faces of said cylindrical prefabricated members having at least one structural element forming a longitudinal interlocking arrangement in-between two adjacent cylindrical prefabricated members; (c) said desalination installation plant comprising a terminal installation, associated with said saltwater source, configured for diverting said incoming flow of said saltwater offset to said outgoing flow of said brine. [0007] In some embodiments, said cylindrical prefabricated members comprise a predefined angular symmetry wherein anterior and posterior faces of said cylindrical prefabricated members comprise at least one structural element forming an angular interlocking arrangement in-between two adjacent cylindrical prefabricated members. [0008] In some embodiments, said cylindrical prefabricated members comprise an absolute rotational symmetry between two adjacent cylindrical prefabricated members, said prefabricated members being interconnectable in tandem at any angular position with respect to each other, when aligned about a common longitudinal centerline.

[0009] In some embodiments, at least one elongated lumen of said outtake assembly at least partially surrounds said elongated circular lumen of said intake assembly to facilitate heat exchange between a relatively warm brine outflow and a relatively cool saltwater inflow.

[0010] In accordance with some aspects and embodiments of the present invention, a method of constructing an intake-output assembly for a desalination plant with a plurality of parallel lumens comprises:forming an intake assembly comprising an elongated circular lumen, configured for collecting saltwater from a saltwater source; wherein said elongated circular lumen of said intake assembly has a circular cross-section along its length to enable passage of a maintenance pig; forming an outtake assembly comprising at least one elongated lumen, configured for disposing a brine into said saltwater source; forming an intake-output assembly by pipe ramming a plurality of cylindrical prefabricated members in tandem, said prefabricated members having anterior and posterior faces comprising at least one structural element forming a longitudinal interlocking arrangement in-between two adjacent cylindrical prefabricated members; wherein said elongated circular lumen of said intake assembly is formed concomitantly with said at least one elongated lumen of said outtake assembly, in a single infrastructure tunnel; forming a terminal installation, associated with said saltwater source, configured for diverting said incoming flow of said saltwater offset to said outgoing flow of said brine; wherein an incoming flow of said saltwater is conducted inversely and in parallel to an outgoing flow of said brine, within said single infrastructure tunnel.

[0011] In some embodiments, said cylindrical prefabricated members comprise a predefined angular symmetry wherein anterior and posterior faces of said cylindrical prefabricated members comprise at least one structural element forming an angular interlocking arrangement in-between two adjacent cylindrical prefabricated members. [0012] In some embodiments, said cylindrical prefabricated members comprise an absolute rotational symmetry between two adjacent cylindrical prefabricated members.

[0013] In some embodiments, said at least one elongated lumen of said outtake assembly at least partially surrounds said elongated circular lumen of said intake assembly to facilitate heat exchange between said at least one elongated lumen of said outtake assembly and said circular elongated lumen of said intake assembly. DEFINITIONS

[0014] The term pipe ramming, also colloquially denoted as pipe jacking, as referred to herein, is to be construed as relating to tunnels or galleries formed by forcing prefabricated members through the ground, e.g. by pushing lining from an access pit, as well as to layout of such tunnels or galleries, corresponding to class E21 D9/005 of the CPC. It should be noted that the pushing of lining from an access pit is merely exe, whereas in some other examples the lining is pushed without any access pits, from the surface into the ground and/or into a side of a hill.

[0015] The term structured as referred to herein is to be construed as including any geometrical shape, exceeding in complexity the shape of a single cylindrical, elliptical, polygonal or any combination thereof contour, of elongated shell or pipe. A plain singular cylindrical, elliptical and/or polygonal layout pipe thus does not constitute an example of structured geometry. A pair of coaxial or paralleling plain singular cylindrical, elliptical and/or polygonal layout pipes, however, constitute an example of structured geometry.

[0016] The terms desalinate and desalination as referred to herein is to be construed as including any process that takes away mineral components from saline water, such as seawater. More generally, desalination may refer to any of several processes to remove an amount of salt and/or other minerals or components from saline water (i.e., water that contains a concentration of at least one dissolved salt). In some embodiments of the disclosed systems, desalination is removing an amount of salt and/or other minerals or components from saline water so that the water is fit for consumption by a living organism and/or make the water potable. In certain embodiments the living organism is a "mammal" or "mammalian", where these terms are used broadly to describe organisms which are within the class mammalia, including the orders carnivore, rodentia and primates or humans. In some embodiments of the disclosed systems, desalination is removing an amount of salt and/or other minerals or components from saline water so that the water is fit for a specific purpose (e.g., irrigation or industry).

[0017] By "operationally connected" and "operably coupled", as used herein, is meant connected in a specific way (e.g., in a manner allowing water to move and/or electric power to be transmitted) that allows the disclosed system and its various components to operate effectively in the manner described herein. [0018] The disclosed systems, in certain instances, optionally include one or more desalination plants. As used herein, the term "desalination plant" refers to a facility configured and/or used for desalinating water. In some embodiments, desalination plants house components for desalinating water. In some variations, desalination plants operate by distillation (e.g., vacuum distillation). Desalination plants may be configured to boil water (e.g., saltwater) and collect water (e.g., water vapor) having a significantly reduced or eliminated salt concentration. In some versions, desalination plants operate by multistage flash distillation. As such, desalination plants may be configured to operate by one or more processes that distill water (e.g., seawater). Certain variations of desalination plants are configured to desalinate water by using either distillation or reverse osmosis processes. It should be appreciated however that a plant is referred to as a desalination plant regardless of the nature of the desalination process implemented in the plant.

[0019] In certain embodiments, desalination plants of the disclosed systems are reverse osmosis desalination plants. In some aspects, reverse osmosis desalination plants use pressure and/or one or more semipermeable membranes to desalinate water. In certain versions of reverse osmosis desalination plants, water is passed through one or more semipermeable membranes in order to remove salt and/or minerals and/or other impurities therefrom. In some instances, the efficiency of a desalination process of a reverse osmosis desalination plant is higher if the temperature of the water input (e.g., salt water) into the desalination process is higher. In various embodiments, a desalination process of a reverse osmosis desalination plant uses less energy per volume of water desalinated if the temperature of the water input (e.g., salt water) into the desalination process is higher.

[0020] By desalinating water, in some aspects, desalination plants may produce desalinated water and/or brine (e.g., both desalinated water and brine). As used herein, the term "brine" refers to a solution discharged from a desalination plant. In select aspects, brine may be a solution (e.g., a concentrate) including salt (e.g., sodium chloride) and water. In select versions, brine has a salt concentration in the range 1% to 10%, 3.5% to 26% or 5% to 26%. In certain embodiments, brine includes one or more of the impurities removed from water during desalination (e.g., minerals or other components). In some instances, brine may include residues of chemicals used to treat (e.g., clean) a desalination plant. [0021] The terms pigging as referred to in pipeline transportation industry is to be construed as any practice of using devices known as pigs or scrapers to perform various maintenance operations. Pigging operations include but are not limited to cleaning and inspecting the pipeline. Pigging is accomplished by inserting the pigging device into a pig launcher. The pressure-driven flow of the product in the pipeline is used to push the pigging device along the pipe until the pigging device reaches the terminus of the pipeline.

[0022] Whenever in the specification hereunder and particularly in the claims appended hereto a verb, whether in base form or any tense, a gerund or present participle or a past participle are used, such terms as well as preferably other terms are to be construed as actual or constructive, meaning inter alia as being merely optionally or potentially performed and/or being only performed anytime in future. The terms essentially and substantially, or similar relative terms, are to be construed in accordance with their ordinary dictionary meaning, namely mostly but not completely.

[0023] As used herein, the term “or” is an inclusive “or” operator, equivalent to the term “and/or,” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise; whereas the term “and” as used herein is also the alternative operator equivalent to the term “and/or,” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. [0024] It should be understood, however, that neither the briefly synopsized summary nor particular definitions hereinabove are not to limit interpretation of the invention to the specific forms and examples but rather on the contrary are to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The present invention will be understood and appreciated more comprehensively from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

[0026] FIG 1 is a schematic diagram view of desalination plant known in the art;

[0027] FIG 2 is a schematic side-view diagram of an exemplary terminal installation of the of desalination plant, in accordance with an embodiment invention;

[0028] FIG 3A is a perspective view of an assembly of two prefabricated members, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0029] FIG 3B is a cross-sectional view of an assembly of two prefabricated members, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0030] FIG 4A is a frontal perspective view of a prefabricated member, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0031 ] FIG 4B is a front view of a prefabricated member, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; [0032] FIG 4C is a cross-sectional view of a prefabricated member, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0033] FIG 4D is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of a prefabricated member, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0034] FIG 5A is a front view of an assembly of two prefabricated members, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

[0035] FIG 5B is a perspective frontal view of an assembly of two prefabricated members, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; [0036] FIG 5C is a cross-sectional view of an assembly of two prefabricated members, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

[0037] FIG 6A is a frontal perspective view of a prefabricated member, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; [0038] FIG 6B is a front view of a prefabricated member, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

[0039] FIG 6C is a cross-sectional view of a prefabricated member, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

[0040] FIG 6D is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of a prefabricated member, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

[0041] FIG 7 is schematic a front view of a prefabricated member, in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention.

[0042] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown merely by way of example in the drawings. The drawings are not necessarily complete and components are not essentially to scale; emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles underlying the present invention.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF EMBODIMENTS [0043] Prior to elaborating any embodiment of the present invention, in order to present the background of the inventive concept more clearly, reference is firstly made to FIG 1, showing an example of prior art desalination plant 50. Desalination plant 50 comprises pipe 54, which is configured to convey saline water W, typically seawater, to desalination facility 52. Portion of pipe 54 is located offshore and is typically embedded within the seabed, whereas the other portion is installed beneath the ground, and is drawn to desalination facility 52. Pipe 54 comprises intake suction heads 58 typically furnished with filters, configured to filter out undesired matter. The installation of the portion of pipe 54 underground is typically performed in the art by using pipe ramming.

[0044] Desalination plant 50 further comprises pipe 56, which is configured to convey brine from desalination facility 52 to the source of saline water W or elsewhere. Disperser 59 is configured for dispersing brine according to preset environmental standards, by permitting the discharge of brine across a substantially surface area. Similarly, to pipe 54, pipe 56 extends underground from the desalination facility 52 to the source of saline water W. The installation of the portion of pipe 56 underground is typically performed in the art by using pipe ramming as well.

[0045] Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with technology- or business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the effort of such a development might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. [0046] In accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, reference is now made to FIG 2, showing exemplary installation of desalination plant 10. Desalination plant 10 comprises intake-output assembly 16 and terminal installation 22. Intake of saline water W is exemplarily drawn into manifold 18 typically via filters 28 and then into channel 20 of conduit 16. Channel 20 is preferably formed about the longitudinal centerline of conduit 16. Channel 20 preferably embodies a circular shape, in a non-limiting manner configured for common maintenance procedures, such as cleaning, pigging and/or repair.

[0047] Channel 20 for intake of saline water W in conduit 16 is operationally connected to desalination plant 52. Output of brine from desalination facility 52 is transferred to terminal installation 22, in a non-limiting manner via at least one channel 30, formed in conduit 16, typically at the circumference of conduit 16. Brine is further transferred from terminal installation 22 via pipe 26 to disperser 59, configured for dispersing the brine according to preset environmental standards, by permitting the discharge of brine across a substantially surface area.

[0048] As previously mentioned, the efficiency of a reverse osmosis process is typically related to the temperature of the water input (e.g. saltwater). Therefore, in some preferred embodiments, particularly where the desalination is a reverse osmosis process, conduit 16 is constructed in such a manner that heat is substantially effectively exchangeable between the brine outflow transferred in at least one channel 30 of conduit 16 and saline water W inflow drawn via channel 20 of conduit 16. In such embodiments where conduit 16 is constructed to facilitate heat exchange between the relatively warm brine outflow and relatively cool saline, conduit 16 is constructed to maximize the surface area of the partition between brine channels 30 and saline channel 20. In such embodiments where conduit 16 is constructed to facilitate heat exchange between the relatively warm brine outflow and relatively cool saline, brine channels 30 essentially surround and engulf saline channel 20. [0049] In accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, reference is now made to FIG 3A to 4D. Assembly 60 of prefabricated members 62A and 62B, shown in FIG 3A to 3B, are preferably interconnectable by introducing posterior structured edge ridges 64B, 70B, 74B, 78B and 80B into frontal structured notches 64A, 70A, 74A, 78A and 80A, specifically shown in FIG 4A and 4D. Posterior structured edge ridge 75B is typical introducible into frontal structured notch 75A.

[0050] Assembly 60 is formed by interconnecting at least two prefabricated members 62A and 62B. Upon assembling assembly 60, shown in FIG 3A to 3B, by interconnecting prefabricated members 62A and 62B, inter alia open lumens 64, 70 and 80 of prefabricated member 62A, shown in cross-sectional view of FIG 3B, form continuums with open lumens 64, 70 and 80 of prefabricated member 62B, thereby forming inter alia longitudinal channels 66, 76 and 72, throughout the entire length of assembly 60. Assembly 60 is an example of conduit 16 shown in FIG 2.

[0051] Centrical lumen 70 as well as frontal structured notch 75A typically embody a circular shape, sustaining a total rotational movement of prefabricated members 62A around the longitudinal centerline, when appended towards a prefabricated element 62B. Open lumens 64, 68 and 74 as well as open lumens structures 78, 80 and 82 are typically arranged radially symmetrically around open lumen 70. For instance, two adjacent members, such as members 62A and 62B, are interconnectable by interlocking elements 64A, 68A, 74A, 78A, 80A and 82A with elements 74B, 64B, 68B, 80B, 82B and 78B respectively. Alternatively, members 62A and 62B, are interconnectable by interlocking elements 64A, 68A, 74A, 78A, 80A and 82A with elements 68B, 74B, 64B, 82B, 78B and 80B respectively.

[0052] Prefabricated members 62A and 62B embody a predefined angular symmetry, in which interlocking elements 64A, 68A, 74A, 78A, 80A and 82A as well as interlocking elements 74B, 64B, 68B, 80B, 82B and 78B define an angular interlocking mechanism between prefabricated members 62A and 62B. Accordingly interlocking elements 64A, 68A, 74A, 78A, 80A and 82A as well as elements 74B, 64B, 68B, 80B, 82B and 78B define several options of matching prefabricated member 62A with member 62B when interconnected in tandem, by restricting the degree of freedom in angular movement of prefabricated members 62A and 62B with respect to each other. [0053] Moreover, interlocking elements 70A, 70B, 75A, 75B additionally to interlocking elements 64A, 68A, 74A, 78A, 80A and 82A and interlocking elements 74B, 64B, 68B, 80B, 82B and 78B embody a longitudinal interlocking arrangement between prefabricated members 62A and 62B. Longitudinal interlocking arrangement between prefabricated members 62A and 62B connected in tandem aligns members 62A and 62B about a common longitudinal centerline.

[0054] It is noted that the shape of open lumen 70 is preferably circular, in a non-limiting manner enabling common industry maintenance procedures, such as pigging. Channel 72 of assembly 60, shown in FIG 3B, is an example of channel 20 in conduit 16 shown in FIG 2. Other non-circular lumens, such as lumen 80, are typically suitable for output of brine. Non-circular lumen 80 do not enable pigging maintenance procedure, however brine output channels do not sustain biological growth and/or biofilm and thus do not require pigging. Channel 76 of assembly 60, shown in FIG 3B, is an example of channel 30 in conduit 16 shown in FIG 2. [0055] In accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, reference is now made to FIG 5A to 6D, showing assembly 100 of prefabricated members 102A and 102B. Prefabricated members 102A and 102B are preferably interconnectable via frontal interlocking notches 70A and 90A and posterior interlocking ridges 70B and 90B. Open lumen 90 is configured to accommodate pegs 92. Pegs 92 are typically arranged in rows, as shown in FIG 6B and FIG 6C, thereby facilitating optimal passage for fluids in longitudinal channel 90, about the circumference of assembly 100. Interconnecting a plurality of prefabricated members 102, in a non-limiting manner forms an iteratively connected assembly 100, optionally embodying channels 20 and 30 in conduit 16, shown in FIG 2

[0056] Prefabricated members 102 embody an absolute rotational symmetry, in which two prefabricated element 102 are interconnectable in tandem at any angular position with respect to each other, when aligned about the common longitudinal centerline. When prefabricated members 102A and 102B are interconnected, lumens 70 and 90 of refabricated member 102A form a continuum with lumens 70 and 90 of refabricated member 102B, thereby forming throughout cannels 66 and 72 in assembly 100. Interlocking elements 90A and 90B define longitudinal interlocking arrangement between prefabricated members 102A and 102B connected in tandem, thereby aligning members 102A and 102B about a common longitudinal centerline.

[0057] In accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, reference is now made to FIG 7, showing a cross-section of another prefabricated member 162. The embodiment of prefabricated member 162 shown in FIG 7 depicts optional configuration of lumens for use as multichannel infrastructure tunnel. Plurality of minor lumens 120 are arranged around cent lumen 70. A plurality of interconnected prefabricated members 162 form an assembly (not shown), similar to assembly 60 shown in FIG 3A and 3B, forming a continuum of longitudinal channels. Each of longitudinal channels is optionally utilized for different infrastructure modalities, such as, electricity cables, optical cables, TV cables, communications cables, water pipes, gas pipes etc. For example, continuous longitudinal channel 120A may be utilized for communicational infrastructure, continuous longitudinal channel 120B may be utilized for water pipes, whereas continuous longitudinal channel 120C may be utilized for electrical cables. Alternatively of additionally continuous longitudinal channel 70 may be utilized for transporting sewage, whereas continuous longitudinal channel 140 is optionally utilized for transporting drain water.

[0058] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described herein above. Rather the scope of the invention is defined by the claims which follow: