초록 ▼

A fresh water transportation system is disclosed that takes advantage of the buoyancy of fresh water in salt water to transport fresh water through a body of salt water. The fresh water flows from an above-water vessel through a down pipe supported on the sea bed, and through a curved pipe that redi

A fresh water transportation system is disclosed that takes advantage of the buoyancy of fresh water in salt water to transport fresh water through a body of salt water. The fresh water flows from an above-water vessel through a down pipe supported on the sea bed, and through a curved pipe that redirects the fresh water flow upwardly. In an embodiment a gas, for example air or natural gas, is injected into the fresh water in the upwardly directed portion of the flow. An inclined compliant pipe receives the upwardly directed flow, such that the hydrostatic pressure is communicated to the fresh water, whereby the fresh water is urged through the compliant pipe.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system for transporting fresh water long distances through salt water comprising: a first reservoir containing fresh water disposed in or near a salt water body;a substantially rigid down pipe having an upper end configured to receive a flow of fresh water from the first reservoir, and a lower

1. A system for transporting fresh water long distances through salt water comprising: a first reservoir containing fresh water disposed in or near a salt water body;a substantially rigid down pipe having an upper end configured to receive a flow of fresh water from the first reservoir, and a lower end disposed below the surface of the salt water body;a curved pipe having a downwardly oriented proximal portion that is connected to receive the flow of fresh water from the lower end of the down pipe, and an inclined distal portion such that the flow of fresh water from the down pipe is turned by the curved pipe from a downward flow to an inclined flow;a compliant pipe fluidly connected to receive the flow of fresh water from the curved pipe, wherein external hydrostatic pressure is communicated to the flow of fresh water through the compliant pipe;a gas injection system configured to inject a gas into the inclined distal portion of the curved pipe or into a proximal portion of the compliant pipe;a plurality of spaced-apart support structures configured to support the compliant pipe along a length of the compliant pipe, such that the length of the compliant pipe is disposed at an upwardly angled orientation in the salt water body; anda second reservoir for fresh water disposed a distance from the first reservoir and positioned to receive the flow of fresh water from a distal end of the compliant pipe. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the gas is air. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the gas is natural gas. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first reservoir floats in the salt water body. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first reservoir further comprises a peripheral wall portion and a floating interface assembly disposed within a volume defined by the peripheral wall portion, wherein the floating interface assembly separates the fresh water from fluid from the salt water body. 6. The system of claim 4, wherein the upper end of the down pipe defines an elevated vessel disposed in the first reservoir and at least in part above the fresh water contained in the first reservoir, and further comprising a pump for pumping fresh water from the first reservoir into the elevated vessel. 7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a controllable valve configured to control the flow of fresh water into the down pipe. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the compliant pipe is at least one mile long. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart support structures each comprises at least two cables that engage the compliant pipe wherein each cable is anchored to the bed of the salt water body. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart support structures further comprise at least two buoys, each buoy being fixed to one of the at least two cables. 11. The system of claim 9, wherein the spaced-apart support structures are configured to maintain an average angle of inclination in the compliant pipe of at least three degrees along the length of the compliant pipe. 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the second reservoir is disposed at least one mile from the first reservoir. 13. A fresh water transportation system for transporting fresh water through a body of salt water comprising: a reservoir containing fresh water;a first transfer station located in a body of salt water and comprising (i) a first vessel configured to receive fresh water from the reservoir; (ii) a first down pipe having a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the proximal end is connected to receive fresh water from the first vessel; (iii) a first curved pipe connected to the distal end of the first down pipe and configured to receive fresh water from the first down pipe and to redirect the fresh water to an inclined direction; and (iv) a first compliant pipe connected to the first curved pipe and configured to receive fresh water from the first curved pipe, wherein fresh water in the first compliant pipe is urged through the first compliant pipe due to buoyancy;a second transfer station comprising (i) a second vessel configured to receive fresh water from the first compliant pipe; (ii) a second down pipe having a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the proximal end is connected to receive fresh water from the second vessel; (iii) a second curved pipe connected to the distal end of the second down pipe and configured to receive fresh water from the second down pipe and to redirect the fresh water to an inclined direction; and (iv) a second compliant pipe connected to the second curved pipe and configured to receive fresh water from the second curved pipe, wherein fresh water in the second compliant pipe is urged through the second compliant pipe due to buoyancy; and a gas injection system configured to inject a gas into the first curved pipe or into the first compliant pipe. 14. The fresh water transportation system of claim 13, wherein the first curved pipe comprises a plurality of apertures, and further wherein the gas injection system comprises a compressor disposed above the surface of the salt water body, and a plenum that is fluidly connected to the first curved pipe and is fluidly connected to the plurality of apertures, and a flow line connecting the compressor and the plenum. 15. The fresh water transportation system of claim 14, wherein the compressor is powered by the fresh water received by the first vessel. 16. The fresh water transportation system of claim 13, wherein the gas comprises natural gas. 17. The fresh water transportation system of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of spaced-apart support structures configured to support the first compliant pipe along a length of the first compliant pipe, such that the first compliant pipe is disposed at an upwardly angled orientation in the salt water body. 18. The fresh water transportation system of claim 17, wherein the first compliant pipe is disposed at an angle of at least three degrees. 19. The fresh water transportation system of claim 13, wherein the first compliant pipe is at least one mile long.