Method and apparatus for generating power from voltage gradients at sediment-water interfaces using active transport of sediment porewater
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a container having one or more inlets and one or more outlets;
an anode inside the container, the anode being capable of oxidizing at least one species found in marine sediment porewater at a rate greater than the porewater species is capable of passively diffusing to the anode;
a cathode capable of reducing at least one species found in marine water;
a pump capable of pumping marine sediment porewater through the inlets into the container, to the anode, and through the outlets out of the container; and
a rig coupled to the container, the cathode, and the pump capable of maintaining the inlets below a marine sediment surface and maintaining the cathode in a position exposing the cathode to marine water from above the sediment surface.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for generating power from the voltage gradient naturally found in marine sediments. A pump flows sediment porewater to an anode, and a cathode is exposed to marine water. The arrangement can power a circuit.
36 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a container having one or more inlets and one or more outlets;
an anode inside the container, the anode being capable of oxidizing at least one species found in marine sediment porewater at a rate greater than the porewater species is capable of passively diffusing to the anode;
a cathode capable of reducing at least one species found in marine water;
a pump capable of pumping marine sediment porewater through the inlets into the container, to the anode, and through the outlets out of the container; and
a rig coupled to the container, the cathode, and the pump capable of maintaining the inlets below a marine sediment surface and maintaining the cathode in a position exposing the cathode to marine water from above the sediment surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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providing an apparatus comprising;
a container having one or more inlets and one or more outlets;
an anode inside the container, the anode being capable of oxidizing at least one species found in marine sediment porewater at a rate greater than the porewater species is capable of passively diffusing to the anode;
a cathode capable of reducing at least one species found in marine water;
a pump capable of pumping marine sediment porewater through the inlets into the container, to the anode, and through the outlets out of the container;
an electrical circuit connected to the anode and the cathode; and
a rig coupled to the container, the cathode, and the pump;
maintaining the apparatus with the inlets below a marine sediment surface and the cathode above the marine sediment surface; and
pumping marine sediment porewater across the anode. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification