Passive ocean current deflector
OwnerMichael Wayne Heavenorinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A passive ocean current deflector has an elongated conduit positionable in an ocean with its lower inlet end below the euphotic zone and anchored in place and its upper outlet end positioned in the euphotic zone and retained in place. Ocean currents direct cooler, nutrient rich ocean water into the inlet end and upwardly through the conduit to exit out the outlet end to intermix with water in the euphotic zone.
Claims31
A method for utilising the current in a large body of water, including an ocean to raise water from a lower region of the body of water, containing colder more nutrient rich water, to an upper region of the body of water, containing warmer less nutrient rich water, comprising the steps of:
- (a) submersing a conduit into the body of water, the conduit including a lower end having a lower opening and an upper end having an upper opening, such that the lower opening is in the lower region and the upper opening is in the upper region;
- (b) anchoring the lower opening in place against movement by the current;
- (c) maintaining the upper opening downstream from the lower opening so that the conduit is angled from the vertical in a direction downstream from the lower opening wherein the conduit defines a plane oriented parallel with the current and the lower opening defines a plane oriented perpendicular with the current;
- (d) utilising the current to direct the water into the lower opening to flow upwards through the conduit and out the upper opening.
A passive current deflector for raising water and embedded nutrients from a lower region of a large body of water, including an ocean, having a current, the deflector comprising:
- (a) a conduit suitable for submersing into the body of water, the conduit including a lower end having a lower opening and an upper end having an upper opening;
- (b) an anchor connected to the lower end for maintaining the lower opening in place against movement by the current;
- (c) means for maintaining the upper opening downstream from the lower opening so that in use the conduit is angled from the vertical in a direction downstream from the lower opening and wherein the conduit defines a plane aligned with the current so that the lower opening is aligned with the current;
- wherein, due to the position of the conduit in use, the current directs water into the lower opening causing it to flow upwards through the conduit and out the upper opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.