Hydro-powered fluid transfer device and method

Abstract

A method of transferring waste water includes providing a hydro-powered fluid transfer device, the device including a fluid exhaust, a conduit configured to transfer fluid from a wastewater treatment facility to the exhaust, and a fluid accelerating device located adjacent to the fluid exhaust and configured to accelerate fluid past the fluid exhaust. The fluid accelerating device is approximately shaped as a portion of a cone. The method includes inserting the fluid exhaust and the fluid accelerating device at a location in a body of water having a current, whereby current flowing through the fluid accelerating device induces a suction that causes waste water to flow from the wastewater treatment facility to the fluid exhaust.

1 . A method of transferring waste water, comprising:
 providing a hydro-powered fluid transfer device, the device comprising:
 a fluid exhaust; 
 a conduit connected to a wastewater treatment facility and configured to transfer fluid from the wastewater treatment facility to the fluid exhaust; and 
 a fluid accelerating device located adjacent to the fluid exhaust and configured to accelerate fluid past the fluid exhaust, 
 wherein the fluid accelerating device is approximately shaped as a portion of a cone; and 
   inserting the fluid exhaust and the fluid accelerating device at a location in a body of water having a current,   whereby current flowing through the fluid accelerating device induces a suction that causes waste water to flow from the wastewater treatment facility to the fluid exhaust.   
   
   
       2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the location is in an ocean or sea and is located at least approximately one mile from the wastewater treatment facility. 
   
   
       3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises an inverted siphon. 
   
   
       4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hydro-powered fluid transfer device further comprises a wedge located between the wastewater treatment facility and the fluid exhaust, the wedge comprising:
 a wedge fluid intake and a wedge fluid exhaust; and   at least upper and lower surfaces, the upper and lower surfaces angled with respect to each other by at least approximately 15°,   wherein the wedge is shaped to divide a fluid flow into at least first and second flow portions and to receive at least a portion of the first flow portion in the wedge fluid intake, and   wherein the wedge fluid exhaust is connected to the conduit so that the portion of the first fluid flow flows into the conduit.   
   
   
       5 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the wedge further comprises a flow constriction device configured to increase a velocity of the fluid flow, wherein the flow constriction device comprises at least two sides connected to the upper surface and extending above the upper surface, wherein the at least two sides taper toward each other in a direction approaching the fluid intake. 
   
   
       6 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the hydro-powered fluid transfer device further comprises more than one of said wedge. 
   
   
       7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hydro-powered fluid transfer device comprises a plurality of fluid accelerating devices, each fluid accelerating device approximately shaped as a portion of a cone. 
   
   
       8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising rotating the fluid accelerating device to account for a flow direction in the body of water. 
   
   
       9 . A method of transferring irrigation water, comprising:
 providing a hydro-powered fluid transfer device, the device comprising:
 a wedge comprising a fluid intake and at least upper and lower surfaces, the upper and lower surfaces angled with respect to each other by at least approximately 15°; and 
 a conduit configured to transfer fluid from the fluid intake to a region of land for irrigation; 
 wherein the wedge is shaped to divide a fluid flow into at least first and second flow portions and to receive at least a portion of the first flow portion in the fluid intake, and 
   inserting the wedge at a location in a body of freshwater having a current,   whereby current flowing into the fluid intake induces a flow of water from the body of freshwater to the region of land.   
   
   
       10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the wedge further comprises a flow constriction device configured to increase a velocity of the fluid flow, wherein the flow constriction device comprises at least two sides connected to the upper surface and extending above the upper surface, wherein the at least two sides taper toward each other in a direction approaching the fluid intake. 
   
   
       11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the hydro-powered fluid transfer device further comprises more than one of said wedge. 
   
   
       12 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising rotating the wedge to account for a flow direction in the body of freshwater. 
   
   
       13 . A wastewater treatment system, comprising:
 a wastewater treatment facility; and   a hydro-powered fluid transfer device, the device comprising:
 a fluid exhaust; 
 a conduit connected to the wastewater treatment facility and configured to transfer fluid from the wastewater treatment facility to the fluid exhaust; and 
 a fluid accelerating device located adjacent to the fluid exhaust and configured to accelerate fluid past the fluid exhaust, 
 wherein the fluid accelerating device is approximately shaped as a portion of a cone. 
   
   
   
       14 . The system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the conduit comprises an inverted siphon. 
   
   
       15 . The system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the hydro-powered fluid transfer device further comprises a wedge located between the wastewater treatment facility and the fluid exhaust, the wedge comprising:
 a wedge fluid intake and a wedge fluid exhaust; and   at least upper and lower surfaces, the upper and lower surfaces angled with respect to each other by at least approximately 15°,   wherein the wedge is shaped to divide a fluid flow into at least first and second flow portions and to receive at least a portion of the first flow portion in the wedge fluid intake, and   wherein the wedge fluid exhaust is connected to the conduit so that the portion of the first fluid flow flows into the conduit.   
   
   
       16 . The system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the wedge further comprises a flow constriction device configured to increase a velocity of the fluid flow, wherein the flow constriction device comprises at least two sides connected to the upper surface and extending above the upper surface, wherein the at least two sides taper toward each other in a direction approaching the fluid intake. 
   
   
       17 . The system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the hydro-powered fluid transfer device further comprises more than one of said wedge. 
   
   
       18 . The system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the hydro-powered fluid transfer device comprises a plurality of fluid accelerating devices, each fluid accelerating device approximately shaped as a portion of a cone.