MEASURES TO COMBAT SEA LEVEL RISING CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for combating sea-level rise caused by global warming. Water (27) is pumped from the oceans (26), filtered (3) and desalinated (19), then transported by pipeline (7) to a polar region (9) where it is stored as ice. The water (27) is heated during transport in the pipeline (7), which is thermally insulated and buried in the ice. Due to the polar climate, the pipeline (7) is constructed by remotely operated robots (15). The water (27) can be transported in the form of blocks of ice (20) to the storage site (9).

Description

Polar environments are extremely cold, so if the insulation of the pipelines is not very good, then the water will freeze in the pipelines and block them. Polar environments (Antarctica, Greenland, etc.) are exceptionally hostile: - the cold is extreme, - the wind is extremely strong, - it is dark six months of the year, - there is sleet, storms, etc. It is therefore very technically difficult to work and construct pipelines in these very hostile environments. Furthermore, this environment is too dangerous for human workers. The work must be done by robots. During wintering periods, very few humans remain in the polar bases, and they rarely venture outside due to the extreme conditions. These individuals are cut off from the rest of humanity for the entire winter. The use of robots simplifies the challenges associated with maintaining a habitable environment for human workers, along with all the logistical complexities that entails. These robots can be autonomous. However, it is simpler for them to be remotely controlled by human operators. For example, ground robots working in Antarctica can be piloted from Australia or anywhere else in the world. This allows the robot operators to lead a comfortable life like everyone else. Advantages of robots: - they can work continuously, - there is no need for infrastructure for workers (buildings, sanitary facilities, etc.), - no danger to workers. Building a pipeline requires significant, costly, and time-consuming infrastructure to put in place. Transporting water in solid form is a method that is: flexible and low cost. The construction and operation of pipelines (water filtration, heating, pumping, etc.) require energy. Similarly, the transport of water in solid form requires energy. All forms of energy can be used. However, it is clearly preferable to use renewable energy sources. For example, wind energy. Because the consumption of fossil fuels is the cause of global warming and therefore of rising sea levels. Therefore, using fossil fuels to combat the consequences of using fossil fuels would be nonsensical. But also because the water storage sites (Antarctica, Greenland, Svalbard, etc.) are natural reserves that must not be polluted. Polar regions are largely untouched by pollution, and should not be polluted. Therefore, using fossil fuels would be a very bad idea. Solar energy is very difficult to use in polar regions (Arctic and Antarctic), because half the year the sun is non-existent, and the other half of the time it is of low intensity despite its permanent presence. On the coasts of Antarctica and Greenland, and in polar regions in general, there are powerful winds that can efficiently power wind turbines. Electrical cables carrying electricity are installed alongside the pipeline carrying the water to be stored. Fuel cells can be used to store electrical energy. It is highly desirable to use renewable energy sources, but other energy sources can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. All propulsion methods can be used, for example with internal combustion engines. But that is not desirable. Data-carrying cables enable: - the transmission of data to and from robots for control, - the collection of data on pipelines: - the outside temperature, - the water temperature in the pipeline, - the pressure in the pipeline, - etc. These cables are installed alongside the pipeline carrying the water to be stored. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 of plate 1 / 4 represents a schematic top view of a water transport device with a pipeline to store it in frozen form. Figure 2 of plate 2 / 4 represents a schematic cross-sectional view of a trench where a pipeline is placed to transport water to be stored. Figure 3 of plate 2 / 4 represents a schematic cross-sectional view of a pipeline transporting water to be stored. Figure 4 of plate 3 / 4 represents a schematic top view of a device for transporting water in solid form to store it in frozen form. Figure 5 on plate 4 / 4 represents a schematic top view of the construction of a water transport pipeline to store it in frozen form, carried out by a remote-controlled robot. Figure 1 of Plate 1 / 4 shows a schematic top view of a water transport system with a pipeline for storing water as ice. Water is pumped from a polar (Arctic or Antarctic) sea or ocean (26) through a pipe (1) equipped with a filter (2). This pumping pipe (1) is deep enough to avoid the freezing of the sea (26) in winter. The water in the pipe (1) is heated to prevent freezing. The water is filtered by a device (3). The water is desalinated by a device (19). Impurities and salt are discharged into the sea (26) through a pipe (4). Pure water (27) can be temporarily stored in a device (5). Pure water (27) is heated by a device (6) preferably using renewable energy, for example with electricity produced by wind turbines (11). This electricity can be stored by batteries (12) or fuel cells, to cope with drops in electricity production. The electrical energy produced is transmitted to all the installations of the pipeline (7) by an electrical cable (13) running alongside the pipeline (7). This electrical cable (13) is preferably buried under the ice. The facilities are protected from extreme weather conditions by a building (16). The water to be stored (27) is pumped into the pipeline (7) by pumps (17). These pumps (17) are powered by the electric cable (13). The water (27) is heated in the pipeline (7) by devices (18) which are regularly distributed throughout the pipeline (7) to prevent the water (27) from freezing. Measurement data (water temperature, pressure in the pipeline, etc.) are sent via a set of data cables (14). These data cables (14) also transmit commands to the ground robots (15) used for the construction of the pipeline (7) and its maintenance. When the water to be stored (27) reaches the end of the pipeline (7), it is distributed by a robot (10) to the storage area (9) because the storage area is very large. The water (27) freezes into ice. It is possible to store the water as snow, but it is better to store it as ice because snow is easily blown away by strong winds. The robot (10) must not get stuck in the freezing water it is distributing. Figure 2 of Plate 2 / 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a trench containing a pipeline that carries water to be stored. The polar regions where the pipelines (7) are located are covered with thick layers of ice (42). To provide mechanical and thermal insulation for the pipes of the pipeline (7), it is buried deep in the ice (42). During the construction of the pipeline (7), a trench (8) is cut through the ice (42). Supports (43) are placed at the bottom of the trench (8). The pipeline (7) is then installed on the supports (43), along with the electrical cables (13) and the data cables (14). The supports (43) are adjusted to maintain a constant slope for the pipeline (7). Lateral walls (47) support an arch (48). This arch (48) is also fixed in the ice (42) with supports (49) embedded in the ice (42), making the walls (47) optional. Then, the trench (8) is refilled with the ice (44) that had been extracted. The ice (44) is supported by the vault (48). Figure 3 of plate 2 / 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a pipeline transporting water to be stored. Polar conditions are extreme, and even more so in winter. Therefore, transporting liquid water (27) in pipes (7) requires that these pipes (7) be very, very well insulated from the outside environment. The pipeline must be insulated at the level of the three types of heat loss: by conduction, by convection, by radiation. For example: The water to be transported (27) flows in a pipe (62). The pipe (62) is made of a material which can expand without breaking in case of freezing of the water (27). Indeed, if the pipeline can no longer function in the event of an electrical failure, pump failure, etc., the water (27) will freeze and increase in volume and break the pipe (62) if it is not extensible. An insulator (63) surrounds the pipe (62). A multi-layer insulation (64) surrounds the insulation (63). An insulator (65) surrounds the multi-sheet insulator (64). A pipe (7) forms the external part of the pipeline, the pipe (7) surrounds the insulation (65). The water (27) is heated by a device (6) before being sent into the pipes (7). But the water (27) is heated regularly throughout the journey in the pipeline (7) by a heating system (18), so as not to freeze in the pipeline (7), which would block it. Freezing of the water (27) in the pipeline (7) would result in: - serious damage to the installations (pipes (7), pumps (17), etc.), - the lasting blockage of the obstructed installation. Figure 3 is simply an example of what can be done. You can have as many insulating layers as you want. Figure 4 on Plate 3 / 4 shows a schematic top view of a device for transporting water in solid form for storage as ice. To store water extracted from the oceans (26) for the long term, with the aim of lowering sea levels (26), water (27) can also be transported in solid form, as blocks of ice (20). This allows, initially, for the long-term storage of water in ice form without the need to construct a lengthy and expensive pipeline. Ice is produced from seawater (26). This water must be filtered to keep only pure water (without krill, without phytoplankton, without salt), then this water must be left to freeze. As in the case of using a pipeline to transport liquid water, shown in Figure 1: Water is pumped from a polar (arctic or antarctic) sea or ocean (26) through a pipe (1) fitted with a filter (2). The water is filtered by a device (3). The water is desalinated by a device (19). Impurities and salt are discharged into the sea (26) through a pipe (4). Pure water (27) can be temporarily stored in a device (5). Desalination of the water by a device (19) is optional, as the formation of ice blocks (20) simultaneously separates the salt. The water freezes from the top, the salt sinks to the bottom, and then the brine is removed. In a device (22), the ambient cold available in polar regions is used to form ice blocks (20). The ice blocks (20) are loaded onto sleds (24) towed by a vehicle (15). This vehicle (15) will preferably be autonomous in its movements between the base (16) and the storage site (9), both to and from the base. This can be achieved in various ways, using a geolocation system (GPS), or more simply by orienting itself using the electrical cables (13) or data cables (14) buried in the ice. When the robotic vehicle (15) arrives at the storage area (9), a human operator can take over and remotely control the unloading of the ice blocks (20). Then the robotic vehicle (15) and the towed sleds (24) return to the base (16). Electric charging stations (21) allow the batteries of the tractor vehicle (15) to be recharged. These electric charging stations (21) are connected to the electrical cables (13). In one embodiment of the device that is the subject of the invention, ice from glaciers that flow into the oceans, or meltwater from these glaciers, can be used. Because this water is not salty and it will quickly go into the ocean. The advantage is that this water doesn't need to be desalinated, as it comes directly from snow. It's possible to cut blocks of ice (20) from these glaciers that flow into the sea. A robot can perform this dangerous task. Figure 5 on sheet 4 / 4 shows a schematic top view of the construction of a water transport pipeline to store it in frozen form, carried out by a remote-controlled robot. Polar weather conditions are so extreme that it is desirable that the construction of infrastructure, transport, and all activities related to ice storage be carried out by land-based robots (15) and not by human workers. These ground robots (15) can perform tasks autonomously or by being controlled by human operators controlling the robots remotely. Remotely controlled or autonomous ground robots (15) can construct pipelines (7) by performing the following tasks: - transporting construction materials to the assembly site, - digging trenches (8), - laying pipeline sections (7), - assembling pipeline sections (7), - laying electrical cables (13) and data cables (14), - installing arches (48) over the pipeline (7), - filling trenches (8) with the ice (44) that had been extracted from them. All tasks and subtasks for pipeline construction (7) can be performed by robots (15). The articulated arm (72) allows the trenches (8) to be cut in the ice with a milling device (71). When the pipeline (7) has been installed, the articulated arm (72) with the milling device (71) allows the trench (8) to be filled with the ice (44) that had been extracted from it. The articulated arm (72) with the milling device (71) makes it possible to clear a passage if the path is obstructed by blocks of ice during the progress of the robots (15). The articulated arms (74) allow the following to be grasped and manipulated: - blocks of ice (20) for loading or unloading, in the case of transporting blocks of ice (20), - pipes, - cables, - pipeline supports (43), - vaults (48), - etc. The articulated arm (75) allows the electrical cable (13) wound onto a reel (76) to be unwound. The articulated arms (72), (74), and (75) are controlled automatically or remotely by human operators. The articulated arms (72), (74), and (75) allow for precise work, such as: assembling pipeline sections, attaching and detaching trailer sleds (24), connecting electrical cables (13) or data cables (14), etc. Adjustable cameras and adjustable lighting make the work easier. The pipes are designed to be easily assembled by robots (15). The robots (15) use the electrical energy carried by the electrical cable (13) being installed. Robots (15) allow the pipeline to be built faster, and at a lower cost than if human workers had to do it. The robots (15) are land robots, unlike the existing underwater robots (5) which operate in completely different ways. The robotic vehicles (15) used for the construction of the pipelines (7) are the same as the robotic vehicles (10) (15) pulling the towed sleds (24) transporting ice blocks (20). The towed sleds (24) transporting the blocks of ice (20) are similar to the towed sleds (24) transporting the pipeline construction equipment (7). 15 The device that is the subject of the invention is intended to lower the level of the oceans following the rise in ocean levels caused by global warming.

Claims

DEMANDS 1) A device for lowering the level of the seas following a rise in sea levels caused by global warming, in which water is stored in the form of frozen water (ice or snow) in a storage facility (9), in which said water to be stored in the form of frozen water comes from an ocean or a sea (26) or of a glacier flowing into an ocean or sea (26), wherein said storage place (9) of said water to be stored in the form of frozen water is situated in a polar region, characterized in that said storage place (9) of said water to be stored in the form of frozen water is on land, in that said water to be stored in the form of frozen water is kept in a permanently frozen state for a very long time thanks to the natural cold of the land storage area (9). 2) A device for lowering sea levels following a rise in sea levels caused by global warming according to claim 1, comprising a device (19) for desalinating the water (27) to be stored, characterized in that it includes a device (2) or (3) for filtering the water (27) to be stored, in that the desalination (19) of said water to be stored is carried out by freezing the water. 3) A device for lowering sea levels following a rise in sea levels caused by global warming, according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a pipeline (7) connecting an ocean or sea (26) and the storage site (9) for water to be stored permanently over the very long term in the form of frozen water, in that said water (27) to be stored is transported by 5 said pipeline (7) to the storage place (9), in that said water (27) is transported in the form of liquid water. 4) Device to lower ocean levels following a rise in ocean levels 10 caused by global warming according to claim 3 characterized in that it comprises a trench (8) cut into the ice of the glaciers, 15 in that a pipeline (7) carrying water (27) to be stored is buried in said trench (8). 5) Device to lower sea levels following the rise in sea levels caused by global warming 20 according to claim 3 characterized in that it includes devices (6) or (18) for heating liquid water (27) transported in a pipeline (7). 25 6) Device for lowering ocean levels following the rise in ocean levels caused by global warming according to claim 3 characterized 30 in that a pipeline (7) carrying liquid water (27) has thermal insulation (63) or (64) or (65). 7) Device for lowering sea levels following sea level rise caused by global warming 35 according to claim 3 characterized in that it includes mobile ground robots (15), in that the digging of trenches (8) or the transport of pipes (7) or the assembly of pipes (7) or the peripheral work to the assembly of pipes (7) is carried out by said mobile ground robots (15), in that said mobile ground robots (15) are autonomous or semi-autonomous or remotely controlled. 8) Device for lowering the level of the oceans following the rise in the level of the oceans caused by global warming according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterized in that the water (27) to be stored is transported in solid form (ice) (20) to the storage location (9). 9) A device for lowering sea levels following a rise in sea levels caused by global warming according to claim 8, characterized and in that it comprises a land robot vehicle (15) transporting said water in solid form (20), in that said land robot vehicle (15) transporting said water in solid form (20) is autonomous or semi-autonomous or remotely controlled. 10) Device for lowering the level of the oceans following the rise in the level of the oceans caused by global warming according to one of the preceding claims comprising wind turbines (11) producing electrical energy, characterized in that this electrical energy is transported by electrical cables which are buried in a trench dug in the ice of glaciers.

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