Water conservation using floating optically-reflective devices
OwnerLeslie A. Fieldinventor
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Abstract
Embodiments generally relate to methods and apparatuses for conserving water in a reservoir. In one embodiment, the method comprises deploying onto the top surface of water in a reservoir a floatable device with a wettable lower surface. The device comprises a first element and a second element, the first element providing the device with a high albedo upper surface. In one embodiment the first element comprises a plurality of highly reflective particles and the second element comprises a binder configured to hold the reflective particles together.
Claims21
A method for conserving water in a reservoir, the method comprising:
- deploying onto the top surface of water in a reservoir a floatable device with a wettable lower surface;
- wherein the device comprises a first element and a second element, the first element providing the device with a high albedo upper surface.
A method for cooling a body containing water trapped in the form of ice, snow, or permafrost, the method comprising:
- deploying onto an upper surface of the body a floatable device with a wettable lower surface;
- wherein the device comprises a first element and a second element, the first element providing the device with a high albedo upper surface.
A method of forming a floatable high albedo device with a wettable lower surface, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of particles having a high reflectivity to incident light over a large solid angle of incidence;
- providing a binder;
- mixing the binder with the plurality of particles;
- forming the mixture of binder and particles to a predetermined shape;
- and
- exposing the shaped mixture to a predetermined temperature or through a predetermined sequence of temperatures for a predetermined time to form the device;
- wherein the device comprises a wettable lower surface.
A floatable high albedo device with a wettable lower surface, the device comprising:
- a plurality of highly reflective particles;
- and
- a binder configured to hold the reflective particles together;
- wherein the device comprises a high albedo upper surface and a wettable lower surface.
A floatable high albedo device with a wettable lower surface, the device comprising:
- a plurality of highly reflective particles;
- and
- a container at least partially enclosing the plurality of highly reflective particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.