Method of and means for maintaining a halocline in an open body of salt water
US4541244A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 14, 1983 |
| Grant date | Sep 17, 1985 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 14, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/44
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A halocline is maintained in open body of salt water at a depth to which a significant amount of solar radiation penetrates by inducing an upward vertical flow in the body of water sufficient to counter wind-mixing and molecular diffusion thereby establishing an ascending or rising solar lake. The upward flow is induced by injecting into the body of water a concentrate with a density greater than the density of liquid at the lower end of the halocline, the concentrate being formed by evaporating liquid drawn from the surface of the body of water. The halocline suppresses convention currents and allows solar radiation to heat the halocline as well as a layer of liquid therebelow to temperatures significantly higher than the surface temperature. Heat for useful work can be extracted from the heat storage layer beneath the halocline. In a modification, the linearity of the halocline and its consequent stability are controlled by inducing a downward vertical flow simultaneously with and equal to the upward flow thereby establishing what is termed a standing solar lake. The downward flow is induced by flash evaporating liquid drawn from the heat storage layer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.