Device for the collection of undersea freshwater resurgences

Abstract

Device for the collection of undersea freshwater resurgences enabling freshwater to be recovered from springs flowing below sea level and derived in particular from karst networks, characterized by a hermetic wall that isolates the resurgences 2, which hermetic wall is anchored to the sea bottom 5 and reaching up to the surface 3 so that the upper part of the installation is always out of the water with valves.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . A device for the collection of undersea freshwater resurgences enabling freshwater to be recovered from resurgences flowing below sea level, that includes a wall isolating the resurgences, at least one pump for removing the freshwater from inside the wall and a flow-rate control system that determines the resurgences flow-rate and set each pump to inoperative when the cumulative flow rate of the resurgences intercepted by said wall exceeds a predetermined value. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined value obey the formula
     V=Qh/ 2 or  V>Qh/ 2   where Qh is the average hourly flow rate of the resurgences and V is the total volume of water isolated by the wall.   
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the wall is an hermetic wall. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the wall is anchored to the sea bottom in such a way as to enable the upper part of the device to be permently out of the water. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the wall is equipped with valves located in the lower part of said wall, said valves enabling the seawater to escape from the wall. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the valves are being formed by ballasted vertical vents in the flexible membrane. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein at least each pump is installed on a floating device at the surface of the water inside the wall. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the flow-rate control system includes at least one currentmeter installed at the outlet of a resurgences and transmits the speed of said resurgence output current. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 10 , including an automatic control system that controls the opening of the wall as a function of the cumulative flow rate of the resurgences intercepted by said wall. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the wall is constituted of a flexible membrane. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the flexible membrane is kept at the surface of the sea by a floating element. 
   
   
       21 . A device of  claim 20 , wherein the floating element is constituted of pipes or booms. 
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the cumulative cross-section of the components of the floating element is determined such that the assembly emerges in all cases by a height of between 20 et 100 centimeters. 
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the wall is made in a rigid material. 
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the wall surrounds the resurgence. 
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 10 , applicable in the case where the resurgences are located in a creek, wherein the wall closes said creek by being held between the creek walls. 
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 10 , that includes deflectors positioned at the immediate outlet of the resurgence, said deflectors being arranged so as to impose a laminar flow on said freshwater. 
   
   
       27 . A device for the collection of undersea freshwater resurgences enabling freshwater to be recovered from resurgences flowing below sea level, that includes a wall isolating the resurgences, at least one pump for removing the freshwater from inside the wall and a flow-rate control system that determines the resurgences flow-rate and set each pump to operate only when the hourly flow-rate of the resurgence is egal or less than twice the total volume of water isolated by the wall.