Seawater collection system for desalination

Abstract

A seawater collection system for desalination and/or electricity generation, comprising an intake portion for directing the seawater to a wave augmentation portion, wherein the wave augmentation portion converts the kinetic energy of the sea water to potential energy, a wave energy discriminator for differentiating between potential energy levels, a low pressure seawater collector, and a low pressure to high pressure converter for enabling desalination of the seawater by a reverse osmosis process. An optional negative discharge compartment provides an underwater force beneath the low pressure seawater collector. An optional spoiler system disrupts the flow of the seawater to increase the amount of turbulent flow as well as velocity, thereby converting the potential energy of the sea waves to kinetic energy. An optional phase entry system comprises a pair of gates for enabling alternating movement of the seawater waves towards the wave augmentation portion.

1 . A seawater collection system for enabling desalination of seawater by a reverse osmosis process, said system comprising:
 a. an intake portion for directing the seawater to a wave augmentation portion, wherein said wave augmentation portion converts the kinetic energy of the seawater to potential energy;   b. a wave energy discriminator having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said wave energy discriminator is aligned with said wave augmentation portion, and wherein said wave energy discriminator differentiates between potential energy levels;   c. a low pressure seawater collector aligned with said second end of said wave energy discriminator; and,   d. a low pressure to high pressure converter for receiving seawater from said low pressure seawater collector, and enabling desalination.   
     
     
         2 . The seawater collection system of  claim 1 , wherein the intake portion comprises at least one channel having a side wall on each longitudinal side. 
     
     
         3 . The seawater collection system of  claim 1 , wherein each side wall is fixed to the sea floor and extends above the sea level. 
     
     
         4 . The seawater collection system of  claim 1 , wherein the wave augmentation portion comprises an upwardly inclined ramp. 
     
     
         5 . The seawater collection system of  claim 4 , wherein the ramp comprises at least one section wherein each section has a selectively changeable slope. 
     
     
         6 . The seawater collection system of  claim 5 , wherein the ramp comprises 3 sections 
     
     
         7 . The seawater collection system of  claim 5 , wherein the slope of each section is changeable by a control mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The seawater collection system of  claim 7 , wherein the control mechanism comprises an electrical motor. 
     
     
         9 . The seawater collection system of  claim 7 , wherein the control mechanism is remotely controlled. 
     
     
         10 . The seawater collection system of  claim 7 , wherein the control mechanism comprises sensors for detecting desired parameters. 
     
     
         11 . The seawater collection system of  claim 10 , wherein the desired parameters are transferred to a remote location for enabling remote control of the sections. 
     
     
         12 . The seawater collection system of  claim 7 , wherein the control mechanism is controlled manually. 
     
     
         13 . The seawater collection system of  claim 7 , wherein the control mechanism is controlled automatically. 
     
     
         14 . The seawater collection system of  claim 1 , wherein the wave augmentation portion comprises a sea side for receiving the seawater, and a shore side for discriminating the wave energy. 
     
     
         15 . The seawater collection system of  claim 14 , wherein the wave energy discriminator comprises an array of seawater transferring ducts for transferring the seawater to the low pressure seawater collector. 
     
     
         16 . The seawater collection system of  claim 15 , wherein the array of seawater transferring ducts is positioned on the shore side of the wave augmentation portion. 
     
     
         17 . The seawater collection system of  claim 15 , wherein the array of seawater transferring ducts is arranged above the inclined wave augmentation portion. 
     
     
         18 . The seawater collection system of  claim 17 , wherein each duct comprises an inlet and an outlet, wherein said inlet is open at the wave augmentation portion and the outlet is open at the low pressure seawater collector. 
     
     
         19 . The seawater collection system of  claim 18 , wherein each inlet comprises an openable and closable cover for selectively allowing and preventing the seawater to enter the duct. 
     
     
         20 . The seawater collection system of  claim 19 , wherein the cover comprises a flap that is pivotable at its lower end, such that when the seawater rises along the wave augmentation portion said cover is in a closed position, and when the seawater travels down said wave augmentation portion said cover is shifted to an open position. 
     
     
         21 . The seawater collection system of  claim 17 , wherein the low pressure seawater collector comprises a plurality of seawater first-receptacles for receiving the seawater from the ducts, wherein said first-receptacles are arranged along a first vertical conveyer having an upper and lower rotating wheel, such that as each first-receptacle shifts along said conveyer, each rotating wheel rotates about its rotational axis, and wherein one of said wheels is coupled with an second vertical conveyer, wherein said second conveyer is vertically higher than said first vertical conveyer, and wherein the second vertical conveyer comprises a plurality of second-receptacles for receiving seawater and from the sea and raising the seawater to the upper end of said second vertical conveyer, wherein at said upper end, said second-receptacles of said vertical conveyer are emptied into a low pressure seawater tank. 
     
     
         22 . The seawater collection system of  claim 21 , wherein the pressure of the seawater in the low pressure seawater tank is 2.5 bar. 
     
     
         23 . The seawater collection system of  claim 21 , wherein the low pressure to high pressure converter comprises:
 a. a large cylinder for receiving the low pressure seawater from a first seawater transfer pipe, at the upper end of said large cylinder;   b. a small cylinder disposed within said large cylinder for receiving said low pressure seawater from a second seawater transfer pipe, at the lower end of said small cylinder;   c. a large piston for shifting within said large cylinder;   d. a small piston for shifting within said small cylinder;   e. a shaft for joining said large cylinder with said small cylinder such that said cylinders are raised and lowered concomitantly; and,   f. a seawater exit pipe for allowing high pressure seawater to exit said small cylinder to a desalination system.   
     
     
         24 . The seawater collection system of  claim 23 , wherein the pressure of the seawater that exits the small cylinder is between 50-75 bar. 
     
     
         25 . The seawater collection system of  claim 23 , wherein a third seawater transfer pipe transfers seawater from the seawater tank to a water turbine system for generating electrical power. 
     
     
         26 . The seawater collection system of  claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises a negative discharge compartment. 
     
     
         27 . The seawater collection system of  claim 26 , wherein the negative discharge compartment is disposed below the sea surface, beneath the low pressure seawater collector for creating an underwater force. 
     
     
         28 . The seawater collection system of  claim 27 , wherein the negative discharge compartment comprises at least one inlet, each inlet having a cover that is selectively closed and opened by the seawater waves. 
     
     
         29 . The seawater collection system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid spoiler system for increasing the velocity of the seawater, wherein said fluid spoiler system comprises:
 a. a longitudinal row of spoilers in front of each transversal end of the intake portion;   b. a matrix of lagrangian sensors are positioned between the two rows of spoilers for determining the velocity of the seawater;   c. a control algorithm for transmitting the sensor data to a data processor;   d. a control optimizer for adjusting the position of each spoiler; and,   e. a control mechanism coupled with each spoiler for controlling the operation of each spoiler.   
     
     
         30 . The seawater collection system of  claim 29 , wherein each row of spoilers comprises between 1-5 spoilers. 
     
     
         31 . The seawater collection system of  claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises a phased entry system, said phased entry system comprising:
 a. a pair of gates for enabling an alternating movement of the seawater waves towards wave augmentation portion   
     
     
         32 . The seawater collection system of  claim 31 , wherein the gates are located between the intake portion and the wave augmentation portion. 
     
     
         33 . The seawater collection system of  claim 31 , wherein the gates selectively alternate between an open position and a closed position, such that when the first gate is open, the second gate is closed, and when the first gate is closed the second gate is open. 
     
     
         34 . The seawater collection system of  claim 31 , wherein said system is divided into two longitudinal sections, thereby forming two wave augmentation sections, two wave energy discriminators and two sets of low pressure seawater collectors. 
     
     
         35 . The seawater collection system of  claim 31 , wherein the seawater that passes through said system returns to the sea by traveling around said system.