System and method for reducing ice interaction

Abstract

A system for reducing the interaction between ice formed on a body of water and a structure located within the body of water includes at least one of a geothermal fluid transfer device or an ice breaking system. The geothermal fluid transfer device includes a water inlet, a water outlet and a heat exchanging portion fluidically disposed therebetween. An ice breaking system includes an ice breaking device and a power source. A method is also included.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 042,982 filed on Apr. 7, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND[0002]The subject matter of the present disclosure broadly relates to the art of protective systems for static structures and, more particularly, to systems and methods for reducing the interaction between ice formed on a body of water and a static structure located within the body of water.[0003]It has been recognized that, under certain circumstances, it may be desirable to build or otherwise erect one or more rigid structures within a body of water. In some cases, the rigid structure may be supported in a fixed location within the body of water, such as on a foundation or other structure secured to or otherwise supported on the bottom or ground surface beneath the body of water (e.g., the sea floor or lake bed). In other cases, the rigid structure may be a buoyant structure that is...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]A system for reducing the interaction between a structure disposed within a body of water and ice formed on the body of water, the system comprising a geothermal fluid transfer device including a water inlet disposed distally to the structure, a water outlet disposed adjacent the structure and a heat exchanging portion disposed therebetween and operative to increase the temperature of water flowing through the geothermal fluid transfer device.

[0010]A system for reducing the interaction between a structure disposed within a body of water and ice formed on the body of water, the system comprising an ice impacting device disposed adjacent the structure and operative to repeatedly impact a pre-existing ice formation on the body of water and thereby separate at least a portion of the pre-existing ice formation into two or more individual pieces of ice.

[0011]A method of reducing interaction of ice formed on a body of water with a structure located within the body of water, the method comprising a) providing a fluid transfer device within the body of water that includes a water inlet, a water outlet and a heat exchanging portion fluidically disposed therebetween; b) transferring geothermal energy into water within the fluid transfer device and thereby generating a flow of water through the fluid transfer device such that water discharged from the water outlet has a greater temperature than water entering the water inlet; and, c) delivering the water having the greater temperature into an area adjacent the structure to thereby reduce the formation of ice in the area.

[0012]A method of reducing interaction of ice formed on a body of water with a structure located within the body of water, the method comprising a) supporting an ice impacting device adjacent the structure; b) identifying a pre-formed body of ice advancing toward the structure; and, c) impacting the pre-formed body of ice to separate at least a portion of the pre-formed body of ice into two or more pieces of ice.

Problems solved by technology

As a result, the risk of damage to a rigid structure erected within such a body of water due to the formation and / or flow of ice is quite low.

And, due to the fact that the rigid structure is tightly held by the ice formation, even movements as small as ½ inch, for example, can result in damage to the rigid structure (e.g., bending of metal and fracturing of concrete).

However, these available wind energy resources are often underutilized, and one reason for this is believed to be the above-identified issues associated with ice damage.

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