Passive capillary and gravity drainage system and method

Abstract

A system for draining liquid from soil is disclosed. The system includes a passive capillary drain in combination with a core for gravity flow, including a sand topdressing layer, a native soil interface, and a rootzone, a curtain traversing from the sand topdressing layer through the native soil interface to at least one tube element, the at least one tube element pulling the water out of the soil with capillary suction, and a core central to the at least one tube element that moves excess water via gravity flow with capillary suction. The elements may be installed parallel at a 3 feet center and a depth of 10 inches, and/or may be installed vertically.

1 . A system for draining liquid from soil, said system comprising:
 a curtain;   at least one tube element that with passive capillary suction collects the fluid proximate to said at least one tube element, said at least one tube element draining the fluid from the soil; and   a core central to said at least one tube element that moves said collected fluid with gravity from said at least one tube element and drains said collected fluid from the soil,   wherein said curtain traverses from the soil through a native soil interface to said at least one tube element.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said curtain comprises a narrow sand curtain. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said curtain is less than approximately one inch in diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said curtain is approximately ⅜ inches in diameter. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said curtain moves fluid proximate to the at least one tube element and the at least one core. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said core comprises a stainless steel mesh. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said core provides high efficiency drainage. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one tube element comprises fiberglass elements. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one tube element is approximately one inch in diameter. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a drop in said at least one tube element to create a hanging water column that with capillary suction pulls at least a portion of said collected fluid from said at least one tube element and drains said portion from the soil. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said hanging water column provides a drop in the range of 1 to 10 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said hanging water column provides a drop in the range of 4 to 8 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said hanging water column provides a drop of approximately 6 inches. 
     
     
         14 . A passive capillary and gravity drain including a layered soil profile with a native soil interface, said drain comprising:
 a curtain;   at least one tube element that with passive capillary suction collects the fluid proximate to said at least one tube element, said at least one tube element draining the fluid from the layered soil profile; and   a core central to said at least one tube element that moves at least a portion of said collected fluid from said at least one tube element with gravity and drains said portion from the layered soil profile,   wherein said curtain traverses the layered soil profile through the native soil interface to said at least one tube element.   
     
     
         15 . The drain of  claim 14 , wherein said curtain comprises a narrow sand curtain. 
     
     
         16 . The drain of  claim 14 , wherein said curtain moves fluid proximate to the at least one tube element and the at least one core. 
     
     
         17 . The drain of  claim 14 , wherein said core comprises a stainless steel mesh. 
     
     
         18 . The drain of  claim 14 , wherein said core provides high efficiency drainage. 
     
     
         19 . The drain of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one tube element comprises fiberglass elements. 
     
     
         20 . The drain of  claim 14 , further comprising a drop in said at least one tube element to create a hanging water column that with capillary suction pulls at least a portion of said collected fluid from said at least one tube element and drains said portion from the soil. 
     
     
         21 . A system for draining liquid from a layered soil profile, said system comprising:
 a curtain;   at least one tube element that with passive capillary suction collects the fluid proximate to said at least one tube element, said at least one tube element draining the fluid from the layered soil profile; and   a core central to said at least one tube element moves excess water with gravity flow,   said element drops at the outlet creating a hanging water column that pulls said collected fluid from said at least one tube element and drains said collected fluid from the layered soil profile with its capillary suction, and   wherein said curtain traverses the layered soil profile through a native soil interface to said at least one tube element.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said curtain comprises a narrow sand curtain. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said curtain moves fluid proximate to the at least one tube element and the at least one core. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said core comprises a stainless steel mesh. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said core provides high efficiency drainage. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said at least one tube element comprises fiberglass elements. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said hanging water column provides a drop in the range of 1 to 10 inches. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said hanging water column provides a drop in the range of 4 to 8 inches. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said hanging water column provides a drop of approximately 6 inches. 
     
     
         30 . A passive capillary and gravity drain including a layered soil profile with a native soil interface, said drain comprising:
 a curtain;   at least one tube element that with passive capillary suction collects the fluid proximate to said at least one tube element, said at least one tube element draining the fluid from the layered soil profile; and   a core central to said at least one tube element, moves excess water with gravity flow,   said element drops to create a hanging water column that with capillary suction pulls at least a portion of said collected fluid from said at least one tube element and drains said portion from the layered soil profile, and   wherein said curtain traverses the layered soil profile through the native soil interface to said at least one tube element.   
     
     
         31 . The drain of  claim 30 , wherein said curtain comprises a narrow sand curtain. 
     
     
         32 . The drain of  claim 30 , wherein said curtain moves fluid proximate to the at least one tube element and the at least one core. 
     
     
         33 . The drain of  claim 30 , wherein said core comprises a stainless steel mesh. 
     
     
         34 . The drain of  claim 30 , wherein said core provides high efficiency drainage. 
     
     
         35 . The drain of  claim 30 , wherein said at least one tube element comprises fiberglass elements. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said hanging water column provides a drop in the range of 1 to 10 inches. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said hanging water column provides a drop in the range of 4 to 8 inches. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said hanging water column provides a drop of approximately 6 inches. 
     
     
         39 . A method of moving perched fluid in a layered soil, said method comprising:
 capturing a first plurality of the fluid in at least one core; and   drawing a second plurality of the fluid into at least one tube element.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising removing the perched fluid using a sand curtain. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising providing a hanging water column to increase the capillary forces used in removing the perched fluid. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising draining the captured fluid. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the draining is into an existing drain. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the draining is into a collection line. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said drawing is by capillary forces.