An apparatus providing cooling of seawater surfaces comprising a bubble curtaiin

Abstract

A system is provided having a bubble curtain comprising a pipe arranged with holes in respective pipe walls. Compressed air applied onto the pipe generates bubbles of the bubble curtain upwelling colder water from below a seawater surface. A position of the pipe below the seawater surface is a function of a defined target temperature of the cooled seawater surface.

1 . A system comprising a bubble curtain ( 10 ) configurable to manipulate a temperature of a seawater surface ( 18 ) to be approximately equal a defined target temperature of the seawater surface ( 18 ), wherein a pipe ( 10   a ) of the bubble curtain ( 10 ) is positioned at an adjustable depth below the seawater surface ( 18 ) such that an average temperature of respective seawater layers of a sea water column ( 19 ) located between a respective one of the adjustable positions of the pipe ( 10   a ) and the sea water surface ( 18 ) to be approximately equal the defined target temperature and is upwelled and mixed by bubbles released through holes arranged in respective walls of the pipe ( 10   a ), wherein the bubbles are ascending and entraining water from the respective seawater layers of the sea water column ( 19 ). 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a temperature profile of a water column ( 19 ) is established by measuring respective temperatures of seawater layers of the sea water column ( 19 ) and iterating different combinations of temperatures of the respective sweater layers as a function of respective depth positions of the pipe ( 10   a ) until an average temperature of the column ( 19 ) is approximately equal the defined target temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the depth position of the pipe ( 10   a ) is modified with a distance from a position above the pipe ( 10 ) wherein bubbles are formed. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bubble curtain ( 10 ) comprises at least two pipes ( 10   a ) arranged in parallel with a defined distance between them. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the pipe ( 10   a ) comprises a plurality of holes in respective walls of the pipe ( 10   a ), wherein the number of holes is limited to form a total summed hole area opening-surface being less than a cross sectional area of the pipe ( 10   a ). 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe ( 10   a ) is arranged with means for controlling a position of a submerged pipe ( 10   a ) to be located above a seabed surface with a defined distance from the seabed surface, or below a sea water surface. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the means for controlling the position is at least a float arranged with an adjustable bouncy enabling a shift of position of the pipe ( 10   a ) upwards or downwards relative to a seawater surface ( 18 ), or the means are trawl doors. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe ( 10   a ) comprises an inner tubing ( 10   d ) surrounded by an outer tubing ( 10   f ), wherein the inner tubing ( 10   d ) receives compressed air from an external located compressor while a space ( 10   g ) in between the first and second tubing ( 10   d ,  10   f ) receives a cooling agent from a cooling machine. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the cooling agent is replaced with a fluid heated to a defined temperature. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a ship ( 22 ) is configured to deploy a bubble curtain ( 10 ) at a position defined by a meteorological institution. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one temperature sensor is configured to be deployed in an induced water surface current from the bubble curtain ( 10 ). 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein a measured temperature from the at least one temperature sensor is used to modify a pressure of a compressor feeding compressed air to the pipe ( 10   a ), or the location wherein the pipe ( 10   a ) is located is adjusted upwards or downwards relative to the sea surface ( 18 ). 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein extra colder water is supplied to the location of the system ( 10 ) by pumping water from another nearby location comprising colder water. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the target temperature is 26.5° C.