Saltwater intrusion prevention system

• US 6,811,354 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2003
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Saltwater Separation, LLC, WPSI, Inc.
• Original Assignee: WPSI, Inc.
• Inventors: Spani, Wayne W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jong-Suk (James)
• Application Number:
  US10/387,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20040179897A1
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 405/80, 405/84, 405/85, 405/86, 405/101, 405/118, 405/124, 210/170, 210/747, 137/236.1
• US Class Current: 405/84
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 1/003 Mechanically induced gas or liquid streams in seas, lakes or water-courses for forming weirs or breakwaters; making or keeping water surfaces free from ice, aerating or circulating water, e.g. screens of air-bubbles against sludge formation or salt water entry, pump-assisted water circulation moving sediments E02B3/023; for ice breakers B63B35/08; aerating or circulating water in fish-tanks A01K63/042; purification of waste water with addition of air C02F; distributing gases in liquids in general B01F23/20
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2201/02 Devices and methods for creating a buffer zone in the water to separate, e.g. salt and sweet water
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 3/00 Engineering works in connection with control or use of streams, rivers, coasts, or other marine sites barrages or weirs E02B7/00; Sealings or joints for engineering works in general
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/404 Saltwater intrusion barriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/402 Distribution systems involving geographic features

Abstract

A saltwater intrusion prevention system for use at an interface between a fresh water body and a saltwater body includes a water recovery subsystem for recovering fresh water from a fresh water body. A retention reservoir in fluid communication with the water recovery subsystem receives and redirects the recovered fresh water. A saltwater intrusion barrier subsystem in fluid communication with the retention reservoir is positioned at an interface of the fresh water body and the saltwater body. The saltwater intrusion barrier subsystem includes a plurality of submerged return discharge ports for vertically ejecting the recovered fresh water for providing a hydraulic mounding zone, and a fine air bubbler header for creating a mixing zone. The hydraulic mounding zone and the mixing zone increase the density of the fresh water for offsetting saltwater from the saltwater body.

Claims

1. A saltwater intrusion prevention system for use at an interface between a fresh water body and a saltwater body comprising:

a water recovery subsystem for recovering fresh water from a fresh water body;

a retention reservoir in fluid communication with said water recovery subsystem for receiving and redirecting said recovered fresh water; and

a saltwater intrusion barrier subsystem in fluid communication with said retention reservoir and positioned at an interface of said fresh water body and a saltwater body, said saltwater intrusion barrier subsystem including a plurality of submerged return discharge ports for vertically ejecting said recovered fresh water for providing a hydraulic mounding zone for increasing the density of said fresh water for offsetting saltwater from said saltwater body.

2. The saltwater intrusion prevention system of claim 1 wherein said water recovery subsystem comprises a water recovery culvert and a valve for collecting said fresh water from said fresh water body and delivering said fresh water to said retention reservoir.

3. The saltwater intrusion prevention system of claim 1 wherein said retention reservoir comprises a debris screen for filtering out large debris present in said recovered fresh water.

4. The saltwater intrusion prevention system of claim 1 wherein said retention reservoir further includes a plurality of weir gate valves for preventing the back flow of saltwater into said retention reservoir.

5. The saltwater intrusion prevention system of claim 1 wherein said retention reservoir further includes a weir gate controller for controlling the flow of said fresh water to a plurality of weir gate valves.

6. The saltwater intrusion prevention system of claim 1 wherein said retention reservoir further includes an overflow sump for collecting said fresh water passing through a plurality of weir gate valves.

7. The saltwater intrusion prevention system of claim 6 wherein said overflow sump further includes a level control for controlling the volume of fresh water within said overflow sump.

8. The saltwater intrusion prevention system of claim 1 further including a retention reservoir discharge culvert for directing said fresh water to said saltwater intrusion barrier subsystem.

9. A saltwater intrusion prevention system for use at an interface between a fresh water body and a saltwater body comprising:

a water recovery subsystem for recovering fresh water from a fresh water body;

a retention reservoir in fluid communication with said water recovery subsystem for receiving and redirecting said recovered fresh water; and

a saltwater intrusion barrier subsystem in fluid communication with said retention reservoir and positioned at an interface of said fresh water body and a saltwater body, said saltwater intrusion barrier subsystem including a plurality of submerged return discharge ports for vertically ejecting said recovered fresh water for providing a hydraulic mounding zone, and a fine air bubbler header for creating a mixing zone, said hydraulic mounding zone and said mixing zone for increasing the density of said fresh water for offsetting saltwater from said saltwater body.

10. The saltwater intrusion prevention system of claim 9 wherein said saltwater intrusion barrier subsystem further includes a pair of air compressor stations for providing compressed air to said fine air bubbler header.

11. The saltwater intrusion prevention system of claim 9 wherein said fine air bubbler header of said saltwater intrusion barrier subsystem is comprised of a plurality of submerged perforated pipes.

12. A saltwater intrusion prevention system for use at an interface between a fresh water body and a saltwater body comprising:

a water recovery subsystem for recovering fresh water from a fresh water body;

a retention reservoir in fluid communication with said water recovery subsystem including a debris screen and a course air bubbler header for receiving, filtering, oxygenating and redirecting said recovered fresh water; and

a saltwater intrusion barrier subsystem in fluid communication with said retention reservoir and positioned at an interface of said fresh water body and a saltwater body, said saltwater intrusion barrier subsystem including a plurality of submerged return discharge ports for vertically ejecting said recovered fresh water for providing a hydraulic mounding zone, and a fine air bubbler header for creating a mixing zone, said hydraulic mounding zone and said mixing zone for increasing the density of said fresh water for offsetting saltwater from said saltwater body.

13. The saltwater intrusion prevention system of claim 12 further including an air compressor station for providing compressed air to said course air bubbler header.

14. The saltwater intrusion prevention system of claim 12 further including a potable water treatment facility.

15. The saltwater intrusion prevention system of claim 12 wherein said retention reservoir further includes a chemical reagent injector for adding chemical flocculent to settle suspended solids in said fresh water.

16. The saltwater intrusion prevention system of claim 12 wherein said retention reservoir further includes a flow baffle for forcing solids to a bottom of said retention reservoir for collection.

17. The saltwater intrusion prevention system of claim 12 further including a first pump for pumping said fresh water from said retention reservoir to said fresh water body.

18. The saltwater intrusion prevention system of claim 12 further including a second pump for pumping said fresh water from said retention reservoir to a potable water treatment facility.