Systems for maintaining and/or decreasing water temperature using high albedo materials
OwnerLeslie A Fieldinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for cooling the temperature of a body of water having a top surface exposed to sunlight comprises hydrophilic balls distributed on, and in direct contact with, at least part of the top surface characterized prior to the distribution by a pre-distribution surface area. The balls have diameters within a range of 100 microns to 3 mm, and albedos within a range of 0.15-1.0. The balls comprise recycled glass and air-entrapping pores. The hydrophilic surfaces of the balls provide a total wetted surface area after the distribution greater than the pre-distribution surface area of the water, facilitating the cooling.
Claims17
A system for cooling the temperature of a body of water having a top surface exposed to sunlight, the system comprising:
- balls distributed on, and in direct contact with, at least part of the top surface, the at least part of the top surface characterized prior to the distribution by a pre-distribution surface area;
- wherein the balls have diameters within a range of 100 microns to 3 mm, and albedos within a range of 0.15 to 1.0;
- wherein the balls comprise recycled glass and air-entrapping pores;
- and
- wherein the surfaces of the balls are hydrophilic, such that after the distribution a total wetted surface area greater than the pre-distribution surface area of the water is provided, facilitating the cooling.
A system for cooling the temperature of a body of water having a top surface exposed to sunlight, the system comprising:
- hollow glass microspheres distributed on, and in direct contact with, at least part of the top surface, the at least part of the top surface characterized prior to the distribution by a pre-distribution surface area;
- wherein the hollow glass microspheres have diameters within a range of 100 microns to 3 mm, and albedos within a range of 0.15 to 1.0;
- and
- wherein the surfaces of the hollow glass microspheres are hydrophilic, such that after the distribution a total wetted surface area greater than the pre-distribution surface area of the water is provided, facilitating the cooling.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.