ANTI-FOULING DOCKS AND LOW DENSITY FLUID DISPLACEMENT
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 also relate to anti-fouling or reducing fouling structures like docks.
1 . A system comprising:
a first storage reservoir near the surface of a body of liquid and configured to store a first fluid;
a second storage reservoir located below the surface of the body of liquid and configured to store a second fluid which has a higher density than the first fluid and wherein the second fluid is substantially immiscible with said first fluid;
a pump; and
a generator;
wherein the pump, generator, and the first and second reservoir are operatively connected such that electricity is stored by displacing at least a portion of the second fluid water in the second storage reservoir by pumping at least a portion of the first fluid in the first storage reservoir to the second storage reservoir and electricity is generated or discharged by allowing the at least a portion of the pumped first fluid in the second storage reservoir to return to the first storage reservoir; and,
wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are both in liquid form.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the pump and the generator are the same unit.
3 . The system of claim 1 wherein said second storage reservoir comprises an expandable or contractible structure.
4 . The system of claim 1 wherein said second storage reservoir comprises a bladder, a bag, or a balloon.
5 . The system of claim 1 wherein said second storage reservoir is tethered to the bottom of said water body.
6 . The system of claim 1 wherein the first fluid comprises a hydrocarbon liquid.
7 . The system of claim 1 wherein the first fluid comprises liquid natural gas.
8 . The system of claim 1 wherein the second fluid comprises water.
9 . The system of claim 1 which is operatively connected to a unit requiring electricity.
10 . The system of claim 1 wherein the body of liquid is a body of oil.
11 . The system of claim 1 wherein the body of liquid is a body of water.
12 . A system comprising:
a platform;
a float located beneath said platform; wherein the float comprises downwardly extending walls on opposing sides of the float and wherein the float comprises a lower surface configured to face water wherein said surface is shaped such that a provided stationary volume of air maintains a substantially non-contiguous physical separation between water and a portion of the lower surface configured to face water; and
wherein the float is configured such that more than 50% of said volume of air remains within said walls within a 30 second period to reduce fouling.
13 . The system of claim 12 which further comprises an air pump for providing air to maintain the substantially non-contiguous physical separation.
14 . The system of claim 12 wherein at least a portion of the lower surface configured to face water is substantially hydrophobic.
15 . A reduced fouling system comprising:
a dock comprising at least one concave surface exposed to water configured to maintain a substantially non-contiguous physical separation between water and said concave surface; and
a volume between said concave surface and water which is configured to be occupied by a stationary gas.
16 . The system of claim 15 wherein a volume beneath said concave surface is adjustable.
17 . The system of claim 15 wherein a surface area of the concave surface is adjustable.
18 . The system of claim 15 wherein a height of the concave surface relative to water is adjustable.
19 . The system of claim 15 wherein at least one of a volume beneath said concave surface, a surface area of the concave surface, or a height of the concave surface above water, is adjusted.
20 . The system of claim 15 wherein at least a portion of the surface exposed to water is substantially hydrophobic.
21 . The system of claim 15 wherein visible fouling on said concave surface is reduced by at least 50% as compared to a similar structure lacking said non-contiguous portion.
22 . The system of claim 15 wherein at least a portion of the concave surface exposed to water is substantially hydrophobic.