GB2488198A - Oceanic pump for removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere - Google Patents

Abstract

An oceanic biological pumping unit accelerates the photosynthesis in picophytoplankton and other microorganisms and thereby increases the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed into the sea. The unit also comprises electrolysis means which can separate seawater into hydrogen, oxygen and chlorine and smaller quantities of other gases. Gas bubbles produced by electrolysis can be injected into a flexible pipe 9 to induce an upward flow. One or more electric power generators 8 are preferably installed along the flexible pipe to extract energy from the upward flow. The flexible pipe may increase in diameter going upwards and may branch into several pipes to release aerated water and bacteria over a wider area. The unit may be operated in inland waterways by adding brine to the electrolysis unit. The brine can be added by a remotely operated control system. A mesh filter may be placed around the unit to protect against the ingress of unwanted debris.

Description

COt removal with gas and electric generation.

This invention relates to an eco-friendly unit which acts as an oceanic biological pump which accelerates and increases the biological process of photosynthesis on picophytoplzmkton and other micro-organisms which converts carbonic gas Cth into carbohydrates by chemical process and which releases oxygen into the sea which results in an increasing amount of carbon-dioxide absorbed into the surface of the sea and also the amount of oxygen combined ith cloud forming water put back into the atmosphere the chemical process will also increase the fish stock together with other marine life which feed on the resulting increased quantity of plankton in the marine food chain all of which would improve the environment in the sea and on the land.

The unit described uses the propelling force of an upwards stream of expanding gas bubbles created by electrolysis means whilst the direct electric current required for its operation is supplied from at least one of the state of the art eco-friendly water powered direct current electric generator means to the electrolysis unit which separates the sea water into its component parts of hydrogen, oxygen, and chlorine together with smaller quantities of other gases whilst using only oxygen and those gasses which are bacteria and plankton friendly for the process described above which are injected into and mixed with the upwards stream of the bacteria carrying tidal current which flows from the bottom of the ocean into the unit then into the bottom of a flexible pipe and is propelled upwards by a combination of forces derived from the tidal energy and the rising stream of bubbles of gas contained in the *:* homogeneous mixture which expands as it rises due to the decreasing ambient pressure together with the resulting decreasing specific gravity and increasing ----; pressure and velocity ol the homogeneous mixture as it ascends which creates a chimney like effect through the flexible pressurised pipe and water powered generators with the mixture being expelled at an optimum depth beneath the surface of the sea where the bacteria and remaining propellant gas in the mixture feeds the plankton and other organisms which increases the biological process as previously * ** described. The measured quantity of bacteria and plankton friendly gasses injected andmixedinto the seawaterandbacteriarnixture atthebottotnofthe flexible pipe, will be proportionate to and govern the volume, velocity and pressure of the mixture as it travels upwards when either the diameter of the flexible pipe will have to be increased and reinforced to accommodate these increases or the stream divided up into a number of other pipes in a tree like maimer which will also distribute the mixture over a wider area. The required number of ceo-friendly state of the art water powered direct current electric generator means together with buoyancy/ballast, dynamic non-return control and homogeneous mixing means number as required are empirically spaced and installed along the flexible pipes Due to the converging tidal inlets of the unit on the sea bed being positioned in a circle arowid its central axis will result in the accelerated flow of water into the writ being in a spirei upwards direction inside the unit winch will create a negative pressure zone around the central area which if sufficient in suction power could be used to suck in additional sea water containing bacteria through an optimum number of root like flexible pipes extending outwards along the sea bed if this is desirable, required or practicaL The circular tidal inlets configuration of the unit has the advantage of making its orientation relative to the directions of the tidal currents irrelevant when the unit assembly is lowered into position from a ship.

Due to the increase in pressure head with depth ( approxA40lbsfsquinch per 1000 feet) may require dependent upon the depth a state of the art high pressure electrolysis separation unit together with a secondary unit in which each compressed gas of hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine and small quantities of other gasses are separated, their quantities measured, then piped asty as required to their destination. Dependent upon size the electrolysis and gas separation and metering unit may be integrated into the main pumping unit when required it may be that the production of compressed gasses such as hydrogen is required with multiple units on the sea bed creating a forest like array of tree like structures which would also create a much larger environmentally friendly area.

in order that the unit operates in an inland fresh water or sea environment a brine feed line is added to provide the required salt which is controlled by a remote operated control system between the brine feed line and the electrolysis unit which monitors and controls the level of salt for optimum operation of the electrolysis unit for this and all other requirements.

Due to there being a drop in pressure as the tide, oxygen and bacteria mixture are ejected under pressure from the flexible pipe beneath the surface of the sea which is * at a reduced ambient pressure and temperature means that the temperature will be *..,: reduced in accordance with zCharles Law' which means that a self operating system * would be created whereby the tide and bacteria taken from the sea bed and injecied ** * oxygen would be conveyed to near the surface where due to the sea. being cold it will sinkagaintothebed oftheocean aspreviouslydescribed. Itwould requiregroups of units to be distributed over the sea bed in order that a sufficient area of the sea is cold enough to capture a suflElciént quantity of carbon dioxide A single flexible pipe per unit would suffice for distributing the contents of each pipe into the sea if groups of unitsareinstalled.

Each unit would be fitted with required off-site manufactured items on board the vessel above prior to the unit being lowered to required location.

Protection against damage caused by corrosion, weather or static electricity may be by means of sacrificial anodes, flexibility, state of the art materials and means to earth any electrical charges, respectively, also an open mesh electrical charged metal filter assembly around the unit may be required which would be tidal self cleaning and whose mesh protects against the ingress of unwanted debris which would keep the system eco-friendly.

It should be noted that all drawings are diagrammatic only and are not to scale together with the various profiles and are for descriptive purposes only.

MI control valves will be radio controlled together with their required electric supply and components.

The concept of using the expanding compressed gas bubbles contained within a homogeneous mixture can also be used to assist the transfer of other liquids or slunies from the ocean bed to the surface above or other destination. The specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of examples with reference to accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 shows a circular shaped tidal powered biological pumping unit with multiple converging inlets 1, equi-spaced in a circle around the centre of the unit which is attached to a reinforced concrete base 12, which sits on the sea bed 48, which is able to cater for the tidal flow of the sea 14, in any lateral direction with converging inlet vanes 2, profiled to accelerate the flow of water through each inlet and also act as dynamic non-return means to the cyclonic flow of water 3, created inside the central area with the current also travelling in an upwanls spiral direction through conical profiled ducting 4, and top outlet through state of the arts eco friendly gs injection unit 5, and liquid/gas mixing units 6, ( as required),and electric power generators 8, at least one of which supplies the direct electric current required, for the electrolysis separation of the sea water inside the electrolysis separation and gas separation assembly 7, which separates the hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine and other C gasses in less amounts from the sea water and piped into state of the art gas separation --and metering means 31, from which measured quantities of the gas or gasses which * -; are bacteria/plankton friendly and best suited are separated anu piped to injector means 5, which is located at a suitable lower position in the upwards flow of sea water and bacteria, mixture which travels through flexible pipes 9, where the bubbles of compressed gasses expand inside the homogeneous mixture as it flows upwards through and drives an empiric number of electric generators 8, and finally through outlets 12, which are locatedand supportedatan optimwn depthby * * controlled buoyancy/ballast means 10, where the bacteria and plankton friendly gasses feed the plankton at the required depth beneath the surface of the sea 13.

The other compressed gasses from gas separation and metering unit 31, are each piped away to their required destination possibly along the sea bed together with insulated cables carrying electric power from The generators when required. The tidal flow 14, into the unit will be through a mesh 15, shown with a spherical profile but can be conical or other shape to suit supported by a structure ( not shown), with mesh openings of such a size to suit requirements as previously described.

The cyelonic current of water 3, into the assembly will create a zone of reduced pressure in the central area which if sufficient in suction power, is practical and desirable can be used to suck in more bacteria carrying sea water through root like flexible pipes 16, resting or the ocean bed 18, which are fitted with flap type non-return valves 17, through which the sea water carrying bacteria will flow.

Detail C' shows an outline diagram of a state of the aft as required electrolysis separation of sea water unit 7, with positive 25, and negative 26, currents from water powered electric generator(s) 8, passing into assembly 7, with the electrolysis separation producing oxygen, hydrogen and chlorine and other gasses in small quantities from the sea water and bacteria 24, which then flows into the gas separation and metering means unit 31, from which a measured quantity of bacteria and plankton friendly gasses 21, are used as a propellant gas whilst the remaining gasses are piped away separately through pipes 27,28,29 and 30, to their required destination. Brine is added when required to achieve an optimum mixture by means of a remote operated control system.

The size, capacity and location of the electrolysis unit(s) 7, and separator/metering unit(s) 31,will be of course dependent upon requirements.

Detail D' shows a section through reinforced concrete base with central nozzle 19, attached to the base of the unit and profiled to maximise the suction created by the cyclonic and upwards flow of water 3, to the unit outlet If the suction is of suflicient strength then it may be used if required to create suction overthebottomareaoftheconcretebase 12,viaatleastonewpe 17,fittedwithiadio controlled inlet valve and may also be used to suck in further bacteria carrying sea water through flexible pipes 16, which are spread out on the sea bed with inlets through flap type non-return valves 17, ballast and buoyancy control through required number of lines 18, via radio controlled valves, bacteria and plankton friendly gas through lines2l, into stateofthe art injectormeaus 5,andmixing means 6.

Detail E' shows a section through a different arrangement which is one of several * arrangements which may be used but. which also has continuous, flexible, porous * tube(s) containing a grouting paste 22, attached as required to the concrete base so that where the paste is displaced due to the pressures exerted when on an uneven sea-bed together with the grout being squeezed out through the porous wails will thus improve support on the sea bed when the grout solidifies.

*: *:: F' shows dynamic flow controllers 20, which are installed as required inside the flexil,ie pipe 9, and used to restrict the back pressure and flow back down the wile Figure 2, shows a unit of a different configuration with tidal inlets which are require to be orientated at right angles to the tidal currents which is shown flowing from left to right then dividing into two streams with stream 1, flowing into the bottom inlet via flap valve 6, which pivots about 7, up through ducting 4, and flexible tube 9, whilst stream 2, flows through), and is ejected at an increased velocity into the upwards flow. All other processes are as previously described for Figure 1.

The unit is supported on a concrete base ti, located on the sea bed 16, and is laterally supported as required by high tensile ties 12,, with adjustment means 13, attached to unit body 11, and to anchor points 14, fixed into the sea bed. 16.

When the tide changes direction and flows from right to left then the flap valve 6, rotates to the left about pivot 7, and the process described above is repeated.