Storm Mitigation, Desalination, and Power Technology

A proposed device that mitigates storm surges plus gives an economic incentive for communities to have clean water and energy.

    Storm surges have at times caused greater damage to coastal communities than the hurricanes that triggered them. The solution I am proposing would be a new storm surge mitigation technology to attempt to save the coastal communities in a "best efforts".

   If a downward force were applied to a storm surge or similar type of wave, this can counteract the force of the wave. A whirlpool/vortex could just this, which is explained below.

   In the website link enclosed is the illustration of how such a concept could be implemented. It is a slow moving object interacting with the rotating water of a whirlpool, creating a column of water called a Taylor column along with a general depiction of creating this water column on page 2. 

 An artificial Taylor column could mitigate storm surge waves, creating drag to the wave. In the links following it are published articles from the technical literature on the Taylor column as well as a video link of an artificial vortex, demonstrating the rotating water that is created by such a mechanism. 

  Offshore Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) facilities, facilities that generate clean energy as well a capable of desalinating water for coastal communities, utilize warm water. To explain OTEC technology is beyond the scope of this presentation, but the need for warm water for the facility creates the need for a structure to draw in this water. A whirlpool/vortex can be created, creating a sink for the water. Taylor Columns can be created by means of a slow moving object moving inside rotating water of the whirlpool/vortex. If the storm wave breaks through the prepared columns, it will experience the downward force of the whirlpool. With a multitude of these devices, the mitigation effectiveness is leveraged.

   As an extra measure, desalinated water from an OTEC/Desalination facility can release lower salinity water near the whirlpool, creating an isohaline layer can reduce the wave patterns by means of the differences in density.

   Using newly developed storm surge and flood mitigation technology in order to sustain coastal communities, as well as encourage water desalination technology and alternative energy production. 

   Technology is the key aspect. New risk mitigation technology is the heart of the program, along with the integration of existing technologies in order to encourage greater levels of water desalination and alternative energy production in coastal communities.

    The goal for this project is to have the technology tested and implemented in a coastal community. Some laboratory work would be needed, and then the device should be able to tested at sea.

    In the next 3-5 years, this technology should be able to aid most coastal communities. Over this same time frame, this technology should serve as a platform for other technologies that provide clean energy and clean, desalinated water to coastal communities. In other words, what is presented here is the first step.

    There is also the education aspect of this technology that can serve coastal communities, helping even more people within another aspect. This is because the technology utilizes relatively advanced mathematics which creates a real world case example for mathematics education in the coastal communities that technology serves.

    In terms of infrastructure, one approach can be to work with the Offshore Thermal Energy Conversion community in that this technology is symbiotic to their community. Presentations to coastal communities are planned as well as a plan to maintain the risk mitigation device at sea. In it envisioned that these communities will retain the device because it benefits the community in multiple levels.

The technology is in the concept stage right now.

The number of people served in one community project are subject to a variety of variables. There could be situations where as many a 4 million people could be served by the technology, but this dependent on multiple variables. 

Examples of Variables Include:

-Geological Issues of the Coastal Community 

-Depth Survey of the Coastal Waters

-Layout of the Population Along the Coast

-Topology of the Land in Relation to the Sea

 I expect the technology to be servicing large urban communities in the 12 months. It is mitigation technology, analogous to developing fire hydrants, in that it is servicing communities by mitigating risk.

A variety of patents in various technologies, including weather mitigation technology.

    Although the technology is planned as a not-for-profit technology to serve communities, there are possible sources of revenue for the technology.

    The Offshore Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) community facilities aid the communities by means of their capability to produce fresh water and clean energy and as their technology expands, so could the long-term sustainability of this technology as well its expansion. In exchange for providing warm water for OTEC facilities, the sea water could be traded for a portion of the revenue from the output of the electricity generated as well as the clean water produced from the said facility.

   The proposed technology creates a greater economic incentive for these facilities in coastal communities and grants in addition to the above revenue model is possible.

    Risk mitigation technologies such as the street fire hydrant that is almost a universally accepted technology and is expected to be around for a long time. Existing storm mitigation technology, storm walls and so on, is somewhat analogous. The proposed device could be funded much the same way communities purchase fire hydrant for streets and storm walls for waterfront neighborhoods. Government grants are also possible.

I believe that working with the Solve community, I would be able to collaborate with others and be able to offer a plan to retain the people that would collaborate on this project.

The main barrier is the lack of engineers and related skilled people on this project. I hope that Solve can help for the above talent to collaborate on this technology.