Overflow Basin Capture of Submarine Spring Water Without Seawater Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for capturing freshwater from submarine springs disrupt the pressure balance at the outlet, causing the water to mix with seawater and alter the flow rate, potentially harming the local marine ecosystem.
Innovation Solution
A water collection system that uses separation means and overflow basins to separate freshwater from seawater, maintaining hydrostatic equilibrium or slight overpressure to prevent mixing and minimize flow rate changes, utilizing gravity for water transfer without pumps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional water collection methods (diving, snorkeling, surface collection) are used, then water can be obtained from underwater springs, but the process is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and inefficient for large-scale collection
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs natural buoyancy forces to automatically transport collected water from the collection chamber to the surface without requiring manual intervention. The overflow tank design allows water to rise and overflow automatically when the collection chamber is full, eliminating the need for divers to manually retrieve and transport water containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes hydraulic principles where collected water in the submerged collection chamber naturally rises and overflows into the surface-level tank due to pressure differential and buoyancy. This passive hydraulic system replaces active mechanical pumping or manual carrying, significantly improving productivity while reducing time loss.
2Quantity of substance
If divers manually collect water in containers, then water can be gathered from underwater springs, but the method is dangerous for divers and limited by human capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs water collection and transport functions through buoyancy-driven overflow mechanisms, eliminating the need for divers to manually handle water containers. This removes divers from direct contact with the hazardous underwater collection environment while continuously accumulating water in the surface tank.
Solution Approach 2:
The submerged collection chamber acts as an intermediary device between the underwater spring and the surface tank. It collects water underwater and automatically transfers it to the surface level through overflow, serving as a mediator that protects divers from direct exposure to collection hazards while enabling continuous water accumulation.
3Volume of stationary object
If conventional water storage systems are used, then water can be stored on the surface, but the system cannot efficiently collect and transfer water from underwater sources
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two distinct segments: a submerged collection chamber for underwater water gathering and a surface-level overflow tank for storage. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while simplifying the overall transfer mechanism through natural buoyancy and overflow, reducing the need for complex pumping or mechanical transfer systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes vertical dimensionality by positioning the collection chamber underwater and the storage tank at surface level. Water naturally rises from the submerged chamber to the surface tank through overflow, exploiting the vertical height difference to enable gravity-driven water transfer without requiring horizontal transport mechanisms or complex pumping infrastructure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively captures freshwater while preserving the pressure balance, reducing environmental impact, and maintaining flow rates, eliminating the need for real-time monitoring and pump usage.
Implementation Method 1
A collection chamber (110) is provided that is configured to collect spring water from the spring
Implementation Method 2
A overflow tank (120) is provided that is positioned at a higher elevation than the collection chamber (110). A conduit (130) is provided that forces collected spring water from the collection chamber (110) up into the overflow tank (120)
Implementation Method 3
A overflow tank (120) is provided that is positioned at a higher elevation than the collection chamber (110)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a system for obtaining water from at least one underwater spring, which system comprises a separation means (1) for separating the spring water from the seawater, an overflow tank (5) comprising an opening for receiving the water and a collection device (4) for collecting the spring water spring, the overflow tank (5) comprising an overflow wall configured such that the spring water travels over the overflow wall in order to enter, under gravitational force, into the collection device (4). Moreover, the overflow cross-section of the overflow tank (5) is strictly greater than the flow cross-section of the opening and the overflow cross-section of the overflow tank (5) is located above sea level (8). Figure 1 to be published.