Modular valvular conduit upwelling system
View Patent ↗Apparatus and associated methods relate to upwelling systems having an array of valvular conduit modules that induce upwelling in a fluid body in response to wave motion. In an illustrative example, each valvular conduit module may be formed as a unitary rigid body extending along a longitudinal axis. The array of valvular conduit modules may be supported, for example, in a substantially vertical orientation by a float module when the system is immersed in the fluid body. The array of valvular conduit modules may be, in some examples, releasably coupled together in a lateral array, a longitudinal array, or some combination thereof. Various embodiments may advantageously passively impart upward flow of the fluid in response to wave-induced vertical displacement.
1. An upwelling system comprising:
a first array of valvular conduit modules, each of the valvular conduit modules:
being formed as a unitary rigid body extending along a longitudinal axis, and, comprising an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end; and,
a flotation module coupled to the first array such that each of the valvular conduit modules is oriented in a substantially vertical orientation when the first array is immersed in a fluid body,
wherein, when the first array is immersed in the fluid body, the valvular conduit modules passively impart upward flow of the fluid in response to wave-induced vertical displacement.
2. The upwelling system of claim 1 , wherein each of the valvular conduit modules have a polygonal cross-section in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.
3. The upwelling system of claim 1 , further comprising a second array of valvular conduit modules coupled to an end of the first array, each valvular conduit module of the second array being in fluid communication with a corresponding valvular conduit module of the first array.
4. The upwelling system of claim 1 , further comprising a second array of valvular conduit modules, each oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and coupled to the first array such that the second array is adjacent to the first array in a substantially orthogonal direction to the longitudinal axis.
5. An upwelling system comprising:
a first array of valvular conduit modules, each of the valvular conduit modules:
being formed as a unitary rigid body extending along a longitudinal axis, and, comprising an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end; and,
an orientation module coupled to at least one valvular conduit module of the first array such that the first array is substantially maintained in a predetermined orientation range when immersed in a fluid body,
wherein, when the first array is immersed in the fluid body, the valvular conduit modules passively impart net flow of the fluid in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis in response to displacement of the first array induced by motion of the fluid.
6. The upwelling system of claim 5 , wherein the orientation module is external to the valvular conduit modules.
7. The upwelling system of claim 5 , wherein the orientation module comprises at least one of the valvular conduit modules, the at least one of the valvular conduit modules comprising:
a first region having a first density; and,
a second region, separated from the first region relative to the longitudinal axis, having a second density greater than the first density.
8. The upwelling system of claim 5 , wherein each of the valvular conduit modules have a polygonal cross-section in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.
9. The upwelling system of claim 5 , wherein the first array is reflectively symmetrical about at least two planes parallel to the longitudinal axis.
10. The upwelling system of claim 5 , further comprising a second array of valvular conduit modules coupled to an end of the first array, each valvular conduit module of the second array being in fluid communication with a corresponding valvular conduit module of the first array.
11. The upwelling system of claim 5 , further comprising a second array of valvular conduit modules, each oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and coupled to the first array such that the second array is adjacent to the first array in a substantially orthogonal direction to the longitudinal axis.
12. The upwelling system of claim 5 , wherein the fluid body is a natural water reservoir.
13. The upwelling system of claim 12 , wherein the natural water reservoir comprises a sea.
14. The upwelling system of claim 5 , wherein the orientation module and the first array of valvular conduit modules are configured to induce fluid flow between a first region of the fluid body below a temperature threshold and a second region of the fluid body above the temperature threshold.
15. The upwelling system of claim 5 , wherein the orientation module and the first array of valvular conduit modules are configured to induce fluid flow between a first region of the fluid body above a nutrient density threshold and a second region of the fluid body below the nutrient density threshold.
16. The upwelling system of claim 5 , comprising an anchor module coupled to the first array of valvular conduit modules.
17. The upwelling system of claim 5 , wherein the predetermined orientation range corresponds to the longitudinal axis being substantially vertical.
18. The upwelling system of claim 5 , each of the valvular conduit modules comprising a first fluid path between the inlet and the outlet,
wherein the displacement of the first array in a first direction urges the fluid to flow through the first fluid path.
19. The upwelling system of claim 18 , each of the valvular conduit modules further comprising a second fluid path having a resistance to flow greater than the first fluid path,
wherein the displacement of the first array in a second direction, substantially opposite to the first direction, urges the fluid to flow through the second fluid path.