Structural ice composite body with thermal conditioning capability

Abstract

The invention discloses an ice composite body with a layer of water close to its freezing point within the body's armor shell at its base, with a pressurizing system for the water which maintains an upward pressure on the ice core at the set level needed to structurally support any burden resting on the top part of the shell, the top part of the shell & the ice core. The ice core has a separate non structural layer at its lowest level & a separate system of melting & freezing this layer of the ice core for thermal conditioning purposes, while using the pressurizing system to maintain hydrostatic and litho-static balance & thus maintain structural integrity. The pressurization system results in a more reliable structural support system for the top part of the shell particularly for dealing with thermal cycling & in warmer climates. The melting & freezing of the thermal conditioning ice layer can be used to shift air-conditioning demand from daytime peak to nighttime off-peak, without affecting the structural support system for the top section of the armor shell used to support equipment, traffic, buildings or for other purposes involving a load, or the capacity of the ice body to provide heating using the heat from the refrigeration system for the structural ice core.

1 . An ice composite body comprising a constrained inner ice core, a protective outer armor shell having a base & side sections with a waterproof liner, a separate top section of the armor shell free to move vertically between the side sections, means for thermally insulating the ice core and means for maintaining the ice core in a frozen condition in use, characterized in that (a) the ice core is provided in two sections, an upper structural ice core always maintained in the solid state & below the base of the structural ice core, a separate lower ice core is provided initially entirely ice but providing after initial construction, a layer of ice here called a thermal conditioning ice layer & also a permanent layer of liquid water with a means for maintaining the permanent liquid water layer close to but above 0° C., which water layer is hydraulically connected from within the base of the armor shell to a water supply and means for controlling the pressure of the water supply, which water supply means is used to pressurize the ice core from within the shell at the pressure needed to structurally support the separate top section of the armor shell, any weight resting on the top section, the structural ice core & the thermal conditioning ice layer; (b) a separately controllable means of melting & freezing the thermal conditioning ice layer is provided characterized in that this means can melt the thermal conditioning ice core to a temporary water layer & refreeze the temporary water layer, which controllable means of melting the thermal conditioning ice core or freezing the temporary water layer is used to provide coolant to a cooling demand or heating to a heating demand, such that when a demand exists for cooling, some or all of the thermal conditioning ice core is melted or when a demand exists for heating, some or all of the temporary water layer is frozen, while retaining a permanently unfrozen water layer to provide a hydraulic connection to the pressurized water supply & maintain the desired upward pressure on the structural ice core. 
     
     
         2 . An ice composite body according to  claim 1  in which the cooling from the system for temporarily melting all or part of the thermal conditioning ice layer is connected to a cooling system for buildings, data centers, or other demands for cooling. 
     
     
         3 . An ice composite body according to  claims 1  &  2  used for replacing daytime demand for cooling air conditioning with night time demand, or summer demand with winter demand. 
     
     
         4 . An ice composite body according to  claim 1  in which the heat from the refrigeration system for the structural ice core, or from the refrigeration system for temporarily freezing all of part of the temporary water layer, is connected to a heating system for buildings, or other demands for heating. 
     
     
         5 . An ice composite body according to  claim 1  in which the temporary water layer contains particles of ice floating in it. 
     
     
         6 . An ice composite body according to  claim 1  in which the means for insulating the body can be varied seasonally to vary the heat flow between the body & the environment. 
     
     
         7 . An ice composite body according to  claim 1  in which the water used to form the ice cores is de-ionized fresh water which has been degassed. 
     
     
         8 . An ice composite body according to  claim 1  in which the water supplied to the elevated water tank is de-ionized fresh water which has been degassed. 
     
     
         9 . An ice composite body according to  claim 1  in which the waterproof liner for the side sections and base is a bitumen elastomer modified bitumen, mastic compound, or plastic film. 
     
     
         10 . An ice composite body according to  claim 1  in which the side sections and base are made from a waterproof concrete. 
     
     
         11 . An ice composite body according to  claims 1 ,  7  or  8 , in which cold water from deep ocean layers at temperatures close to 4° C. is used in the means to maintain the permanent water layer, its supply pipes and water tank at or close to 4° C. 
     
     
         12 . An ice composite body according to  claims 1 ,  7  or  8 , in which an elevated water tank with a ballcock controlling its water level is used as the means to maintain the pressure of the permanent water layer & its supply pipes at the desired pressure. 
     
     
         13 . An ice composite body according to  claims 1 ,  5 ,  7 ,  8  or  12 , in which the pressure in the permanent water layer is maintained at a pressure which causes a pre-stressing upwards of the structural ice core & top section of the shell, not in excess of the static load plus the frictional resistance of the structural ice core and the top section of the shell to upward movement at the inner walls of the side sections. 
     
     
         14 . An ice composite body according to any preceding claim in which the pressure in the water supply pipe to the permanent water layer is varied to raise or lower the elevation of the structural ice core or top section of the armor shell. 
     
     
         15 . An ice composite body according to any preceding claim which is used as a shelter pier, bridge, breakwater, causeway, pontoon, artificial island, jetty, building foundation or support, data center, dam, tidal barrage, wave power barrage, harbor wall, wind turbine support, aircraft runway, OTEC equipment support, to protect coastlines from erosion, to replace land lost to the sea or to simulate tectonic plate movements.