Continuous reinforced cold water pipe for an ocean thermal energy conversion system

Abstract

A continuous reinforced cold water pipe (CWP) for an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) system is formed from a sequential series of molded pipe sections, which are formed from a series of rigid frame sections and a curable material to form the continuous reinforced CWP. Each molded pipe section is formed by moving a rigid frame section into a mold, enclosing at least a portion of the rigid frame section in the curable material, and curing the curable material. As each molded pipe section is moved out of the mold, the next sequential rigid frame section, which is connected to the previous rigid frame section, is moved into the mold. The cycle is repeated as many times as required to form the continuous reinforced CWP having a desired length.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cold water pipe (CWP) comprising:
 a plurality of pipe sections coupled to one another, each pipe section comprising:
 a rigid frame comprising a plurality of linear metallic members extending parallel to one another and spaced apart from one another, the plurality of linear metallic members defining an interior channel; and 
 a cured material contacting and enclosing an exterior perimeter of each of the linear metallic members, the cured material forming an interior surface that defines an interior wall of the interior channel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The CWP of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid frame of at least one pipe section of the plurality of pipe sections further comprises at least one perimeter member coupled to each of the plurality of linear metallic members, the plurality of linear metallic members and the at least one perimeter member forming the interior channel. 
     
     
         3 . The CWP of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one perimeter member comprises a plurality of circular members. 
     
     
         4 . The CWP of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one perimeter member comprises at least one helical member. 
     
     
         5 . The CWP of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid frame of each of the plurality of pipe sections comprises at least one of a group consisting of: steel, titanium, and aluminum. 
     
     
         6 . The CWP of  claim 1 , wherein the cured material comprises at least one of a group consisting of: high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene, and polybutylene. 
     
     
         7 . The CWP of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid frame of at least one pipe section is coupled to an adjacent rigid frame of an adjacent pipe section via a weld. 
     
     
         8 . The CWP of  claim 1 , wherein the CWP has a length of at least 500 meters. 
     
     
         9 . The CWP of  claim 1 , wherein the CWP has a length of at least 1000 meters. 
     
     
         10 . The CWP of  claim 1 , wherein the interior channel has an internal diameter of at least 5 meters. 
     
     
         11 . The CWP of  claim 1 , wherein the interior channel has an internal diameter of at least 10 meters. 
     
     
         12 . A cold water pipe (CWP) made by a process comprising:
 moving a particular rigid frame section of a plurality of rigid frame sections into a mold, the particular rigid frame section comprising a plurality of linear metallic members extending parallel to one another and spaced apart from one another, the plurality of linear metallic members defining an interior channel;   enclosing the particular rigid frame section in a curable material, the curable material contacting and surrounding an exterior surface of each of the linear metallic members of the particular rigid frame section and forming a surface that defines an interior wall of the interior channel;   curing the curable material to form a particular molded pipe section; and   moving the particular molded pipe section out of the mold, while concurrently moving a next sequential rigid frame section that is connected to the particular rigid frame section into the mold.   
     
     
         13 . The CWP of  claim 12 , wherein the process further comprises iteratively repeating the steps of  claim 12  to form a plurality of molded pipe sections, the plurality of molded pipe sections composing the CWP. 
     
     
         14 . The CWP of  claim 12 , wherein each rigid frame section of the plurality of rigid frame sections comprises:
 at least one perimeter member coupled to each of the plurality of linear metallic members, the plurality of linear metallic members and the at least one perimeter member forming the interior channel.   
     
     
         15 . The CWP of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one perimeter member comprises a plurality of circular members. 
     
     
         16 . The CWP of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one perimeter member comprises at least one helical member. 
     
     
         17 . The CWP of  claim 12 , wherein enclosing the particular frame section in the curable material comprises:
 disposing the curable material into the mold;   melting the curable material; and   curing the curable material.   
     
     
         18 . The CWP of  claim 12 , wherein the curable material comprises at least one of a group consisting of: high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene, and polybutylene. 
     
     
         19 . The CWP of  claim 12 , wherein the process further comprises forming a next sequential rigid frame section as part of a continuous rigid frame unit with the particular rigid frame section by providing a continuous length of a frame material to form the continuous rigid frame unit. 
     
     
         20 . The CWP of  claim 12 , wherein the CWP has a length of at least 500 meters.