Method and structure for reducing turbulence around and erosion of underwater structures

Abstract

An underwater structure for supporting an above-water structure having an underwater portion immersed for some period of time underneath a water line of a body of water is provided. The underwater structure includes, but is not limited to, a turbulence reducing member connected with the underwater portion.

1 . An underwater structure for supporting an above-water structure having an underwater portion immersed for some period of time underneath a water line of a body of water, comprising a turbulence reducing member connected with the underwater portion. 
     
     
         2 . The underwater structure of  claim 1 , wherein the turbulence reducing member is an air foil, a vertical fence, a horizontal fence, a curved fillet, a straight fillet, an articulating air foil, or a fluttering air foil. 
     
     
         3 . The underwater structure of  claim 1 , wherein the turbulence reducing member is a movable turbulence reducing member. 
     
     
         4 . The underwater structure of  claim 3 , wherein the movable turbulence reducing member is capable of rotating to generate energy. 
     
     
         5 . The underwater structure of  claim 3 , wherein the movable turbulence reducing member is an articulating air foil which surrounds the underwater portion of the underwater structure. 
     
     
         6 . The underwater structure of  claim 1 , wherein the underwater structure is an abutment. 
     
     
         7 . A turbulence reducing member connected with an underwater water structure for supporting an above-water structure having an underwater portion immersed for some period of time underneath a water line of a body of water, the turbulence reducing member comprising:
 a fixed air foil, a vertical fence, a horizontal fence, a curved fillet, a straight fillet, an articulating air foil, or a fluttering air foil, wherein the turbulence reducing member is aerodynamically shaped to break up or reduce the turbulence of a flow of water flowing around the underwater portion, and wherein the flow of water is flowing in a first direction towards the underwater structure.   
     
     
         8 . The turbulence reducing member of  claim 8 , wherein the turbulence reducing member is aligned parallel to or within ±30 degrees, the first direction. 
     
     
         9 . The turbulence reducing member of  claim 8 , wherein the turbulence reducing member includes a fixed air foil with a depth (h) to chord (c) ratio, h/c, of at least 1/5. 
     
     
         10 . The turbulence reducing member of  claim 8 , wherein the turbulence reducing member is a movable turbulence reducing member. 
     
     
         11 . The turbulence reducing member of  claim 10 , wherein the movable turbulence reducing member is capable of rotating to generate energy. 
     
     
         12 . The turbulence reducing member of  claim 10 , wherein the movable turbulence reducing member is an articulating air foil which surrounds the underwater portion of the underwater structure. 
     
     
         13 . A method for reducing turbulence around and erosion of an underwater structure for supporting an above-water structure having an underwater portion immersed for some period of time underneath a water line of a body of water, comprising
 connecting a turbulence reducing member with the underwater portion, wherein the turbulence reducing member is aerodynamically shaped to break up or reduce the turbulence of a flow of water flowing around the underwater portion, and wherein the flow of water is flowing in a first direction towards the underwater structure; and   aligning the turbulence reducing member with the first direction.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the turbulence reducing member is an air flow having a head opposed to a tail, and the aligning of the turbulence reducing member further comprises aligning the turbulence reducing member, along a line from the a center point (L 1 ) of a head of the air foil to an end point (L 2 ) of a tail of the air foil, to be parallel to or within ±30 degrees of, the first direction. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the air foil is a fixed air foil, an articulating air foil, or a fluttering air foil. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the turbulence reducing member is a vertical fence or a horizontal fence. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising connecting a first edge of a curved fillet with the underwater structure and a second edge of the curved fillet with the turbulence reducing member. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the turbulence reducing member includes a fixed air foil with a depth (h) to chord (c) ratio, h/c, of at least 1/5. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the turbulence reducing member is a movable turbulence reducing member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising generating electricity with the movable turbulence reducing member.