System and method for reducing ice interaction

Abstract

A system for reducing the interaction between ice formed on a body of water and a structure located within the body of water includes at least one of a geothermal fluid transfer device or an ice breaking system. The geothermal fluid transfer device includes a water inlet, a water outlet and a heat exchanging portion fluidically disposed therebetween. An ice breaking system includes an ice breaking device and a power source. A method is also included.

1 . A system for reducing the interaction between a structure disposed within a body of water and ice formed on the body of water, said system comprising:
 a geothermal fluid transfer device including a water inlet disposed distally to the structure, a water outlet disposed adjacent the structure and a heat exchanging portion disposed therebetween and operative to increase the temperature of water flowing through said geothermal fluid transfer device.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanging portion is disposed beneath the body of water and below the ground surface thereof such that geothermal heat from below the ground surface is transferred into water within said geothermal fluid transfer device thereby causing said water to flow through said geothermal fluid transfer device. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein said heat exchanging portion includes a plurality of conduits disposed in spaced relation to one another and extending in fluid communication between said water inlet and said water outlet such that geothermal heat is transferred into water flowing through said plurality of conduits. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1  further comprising a power generation device fluidically interconnected between said water outlet and said heat exchanging portion such that at least a portion of said water flowing through said geothermal fluid transfer device operates said power generation device for generation of electrical power thereby. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1  further comprising an ice impacting device disposed adjacent the structure and operative to repeatedly impact a pre-existing ice formation on the body of water and thereby separate at least a portion of the pre-existing ice formation into two or more individual pieces of ice. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said geothermal fluid transfer device is a first geothermal fluid transfer device, and said system includes a plurality of geothermal fluid transfer devices. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said geothermal fluid transfer device includes an elongated length of pipe extending between opposing open ends with said water inlet formed at one of said open ends and said water outlet formed at the other of said open ends. 
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein said elongated length of pipe is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein said geothermal fluid transfer device includes an elongated chimney in fluid communication between said heat exchanging portion and said water outlet. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 9  further comprising a layer of thermal insulation disposed along at least a portion of said chimney. 
     
     
         11 . A system for reducing the interaction between a structure disposed within a body of water and ice formed on the body of water, said system comprising:
 an ice impacting device disposed adjacent the structure and operative to repeatedly impact a pre-existing ice formation on the body of water and thereby separate at least a portion of the pre-existing ice formation into two or more individual pieces of ice.   
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 11  further comprising a geothermal fluid transfer device including a water inlet, a water outlet fluidically spaced from said water inlet and disposed adjacent the structure, and a heat exchanging portion disposed between said water inlet and said water outlet. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 11  further comprising an impacting device support disposed adjacent the structure and a power source operatively connected to said ice impacting device, said impacting device support adapted to support said ice impacting device adjacent the surface of the body of water such that said ice impacting device is capable of contacting the pre-existing ice formation, and said power source adapted selectively operate said ice impacting device. 
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 13 , wherein said impacting device support includes a foundation disposed along a ground surface below the body of water. 
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 14 , wherein said foundation extends peripherally about at least a portion of the structure, and said impacting device support includes a base structure supporting said ice impacting device, said base structure being supported for peripheral movement along said foundation such that said ice impacting device can be repositioned therealong. 
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 15 , wherein said impacting device support includes one or more tracks disposed between said base structure and said foundation for guiding said peripheral movement of said base structure along said foundation. 
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein said ice impacting device includes a linear actuating device and an ice impacting head, said actuating device being operatively displaceable between an extended position in which said ice impacting head contacts the pre-existing ice formation and a retracted position in which said ice impacting head is spaced from the pre-existing ice formation. 
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein said ice impacting device includes a rotatable body and at least one ice-engaging element projecting from said rotatable body and adapted to contact the pre-existing ice formation upon rotation of said rotatable body to thereby separate at least a portion of the pre-existing ice formation into two or more individual pieces of ice. 
     
     
         19 . A method of reducing interaction of ice formed on a body of water with a structure located within the body of water, said method comprising:
 a) providing a fluid transfer device within the body of water that includes a water inlet, a water outlet and a heat exchanging portion fluidically disposed therebetween;   b) transferring geothermal energy into water within said fluid transfer device and thereby generating a flow of water through said fluid transfer device such that water discharged from said water outlet has a greater temperature than water entering said water inlet; and,   c) delivering said water having said greater temperature into an area adjacent the structure to thereby reduce the formation of ice in said area.   
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19  further comprising embedding at least a portion of said heat exchanging portion into the ground located below the body of water such that the temperature of said water flowing through said fluid transfer device will be increase by said geothermal energy from the ground. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 19  further comprising introducing a power generation device into fluid communication with said flow of water through said fluid transfer device and thereby generating electrical power using said power generation device. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 19  further comprising:
 e) providing an ice impacting device adjacent the structure; and,   f) impacting a pre-formed body of ice to separate at least a portion of the pre-formed body of ice into two or more pieces of ice.   
     
     
         23 . A method of reducing interaction of ice formed on a body of water with a structure located within the body of water, said method comprising:
 a) supporting an ice impacting device adjacent the structure;   b) identifying a pre-formed body of ice advancing toward the structure; and,   c) impacting the pre-formed body of ice to separate at least a portion of the pre-formed body of ice into two or more pieces of ice.   
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 23  further comprising increasing the temperature of a portion of the body of water and delivering said portion of the body of water having said increased temperature to an area adjacent the structure to reduce re-freezing of the two or more pieces of ice at least in said area adjacent the structure. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein said ice impacting device operates by one of (i) selectively extending and retracting an ice impacting head supported on said ice impacting device and thereby separating at least a portion of the pre-formed body of ice into two or more pieces of ice and (ii) selectively rotating said ice impacting device such that one or more ice-engaging element supported thereon contact the pre-existing body of ice and thereby separate at least a portion of the pre-formed body of ice into two or more pieces of ice. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein supporting said ice impacting device in a) includes moveably supporting said ice impacting device, and said method further comprises adjusting a peripheral position of said ice impacting device relative to the structure.