SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREVENTING FOULING OF MARINE STRUCTURES
The present invention relates to systems and methods for pumping or removing a fluid from a region within or on top of or in contact with a water or liquid body and applications for said systems and methods. Some embodiments may be applicable to, for example, inhibiting or preventing growth formation or fouling of structures in liquid environments. Other embodiments may be applicable to, for example, an energy storage device or a tidal power energy generation system.
1 . A system for reducing fouling on an aquatic structure comprising:
an aquatic structure comprising at least one surface exposed to water;
a concave region on at least one portion of the surface exposed to water wherein said concave region is configured to maintain a substantially non-contiguous physical separation between water and said region and wherein at least a portion of said concave region is occupied with a gas.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the substantially non-contiguous physical separation is maintained by controlling the amount of gas in said concave region.
3 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a controller and a gas source operably connected to said concave region wherein the controller and gas source control the amount of gas.
4 . The system of claim 3 wherein said controller and gas source are employed to displace water with gas in at least a portion of said concave region.
5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the said gas pocket is controllably immobilized for a controlled period of time.
6 . The system of claim 5 wherein said time is at least about 5 seconds.
7 . The system of claim 1 wherein said substantially non-contiguous physical separation is present greater than 30% of the time said structure is in use.
8 . A system for reducing fouling on an aquatic structure comprising:
an aquatic structure comprising at least one surface exposed to water when the structure is in use;
a concave region on at least one portion of the surface exposed to water wherein said concave region is configured to maintain a substantially non-contiguous physical separation between water and said region.
9 . The system of claim 8 wherein the volume beneath said concave region is adjustable.
10 . The system of claim 8 wherein the surface area of the concave region is adjustable.
11 . The system of claim 8 wherein the height of the concave region relative to water is adjustable.
12 . The system of claim 8 wherein at least one of the volume beneath said concave region, the surface area of the concave region, or the height of the concave region above water, is adjusted by changing the surface morphology of or on the concave region.
13 . The system of claim 8 wherein at least a portion of the surface exposed to water is substantially hydrophobic.
14 . An improved aquatic structure comprising:
a structure comprising at least one surface exposed to water when the structure is in use wherein the improvement comprises:
configuring at least a portion of said surface exposed to water such that said portion has a non-contiguous separation with water when the structure is in use and wherein the portion having a non-contiguous separation with water provides a gas pocket between said portion and water when the structure is in use.
15 . The improved aquatic structure of claim 14 wherein the amount of substantially non-contiguous physical separation with water of the surface exposed to water is controlled by adjusting the amount of gas in the pocket.
16 . The improved aquatic structure of claim 14 wherein said non-contiguous separation is present greater than 30% of the time said structure is in use.
17 . The improved aquatic structure of claim 14 wherein said portion configured to be non-contiguous reduces visible fouling by at least 50% as compared to a similar structure lacking said non-contiguous portion.
18 . The improved aquatic structure of claim 14 wherein the amount of gas in the pocket is adjustable.
19 . The improved aquatic structure of claim 14 wherein the volume of the gas pocket is adjustable.
20 . The improved aquatic structure of claim 14 wherein the surface area or volume of the non-contiguous separated portion is adjustable.
21 . The system of claim 14 wherein the height of the non-contiguous separated portion with respect to water is adjustable.