FLOATING MODULE FOR THE REDUCTION OF LOSSES BY EVAPORATION IN AQUEOUS BASED LIQUIDS

Abstract

A floating module for the reduction of losses by evaporation in aqueous-based liquids which includes two hexagonal, watertight, hollow cells and configured to accommodate an internal ballast; and a perimeter wing arranged on the horizontal axis of the floating module.

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9. A floating module for reduction of losses by evaporation in water-based liquids, comprising at least one cell of a polygonal plant that is watertight, hollow and is configured to accommodate a ballast inside an internal compartment; and a perimeter wing disposed on the horizontal axis of the floating module; in such a way that the module is configured to recover from the action of the wind a horizontal and floating position with respect to the water-based liquid.

10. The floating module of claim 9, wherein the interior of the cell is divided into at least two compartments by an intermediate sheet having different dimensions and configurations.

11. The floating module of claim 10, wherein at least one polygonal cell as well as the intermediate sheet are made by one or more different plastic polymers.

12. The floating module of claim 9, wherein at least one polygonal cell is hexagonal.

13. The floating module of claim 9, further comprising two polygonal cells.

14. The floating module of claim 9, further comprising a separating element configured to articulate the union between cells.

15. The floating module of claim 9, wherein the ballast is a liquid comprising an additive configured for fixing the ballast liquid to its working position.

16. The floating module of claim 9, where the floating module is obtained by a manufacturing process selected from extrusion, molding, thermoforming, injection of plastics or a combination thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Next, a series of drawings that help to better understand the invention and that are expressly related to an embodiment of said invention, which is illustrated as a non-limiting example thereof.

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a particular embodiment of a floating module object of the present invention of rectangular shape and formed by two hexagonal cells.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a partial section in perspective of an alternative embodiment of a floating module object of the present invention that includes an internal compartment configured to accommodate a ballast.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a diagram of the operation of the invention. Where is shown a cell (2) without compartment (FIG. 3a) and with compartment (FIG. 3b) according to the invention.

EXPLANATION OF A DETAILED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION AND EXAMPLES

[0020] As can be seen in the attached figures, the floating module (1) configured for the reduction of losses caused by evaporation in water-based liquids and, particularly, in water bodies, such as ponds, artificial lakes, etc. marshes or pools.

[0021] More specifically, each of the floating modules (1) consists of one or two sealed cells of polygonal plant, preferably hexagonal (2), which are independent of each other and configured as a hollow body and tightly configured to accommodate a ballast, preferably water, since it is the way to ballast the floating module (1).

[0022] Each of the modules (1) incorporates a perimeter wing (4) and allows to cover more or less watery surface depending on the overlap between the wings (4) of the modules (1)

[0023] According to different particular embodiments of the invention, the cells (2) can have different drafts and geometries as long as they maintain their polygonal shape, preferably hexagonal or bi-hexagonal in the plane of their working position. That is, the cells (2) have such a geometry that prevents the permanent stacking of some modules on others due to the wind, precisely due to the joint action of the location and span of the ballast and the rounded surface of the module (1).

[0024] The ballasting of the floating module (1) can be carried out by including in the manufacture a quantity of water in the different compartments of the cell or independent cells (2) that form the module (1). According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the ballasting of the modules (1) will be done by fixing said amount of water to its working position by adding thereto some kind of innocuous additive that thickens, gels or solidifies the ballast, confining it in the interior compartment of each cell (2).

[0025] The module (1) described allows to achieve a weight reduction in relation to those currently existing, and maintains the necessary wind resistance thanks to ballasting. The geometry of the modules (1) makes it possible to move the upper surface thereof away from the surface of the body of water so that there is no ponding effect on the module (1), or heating of the surface of the water body to cover.

[0026] In a particular embodiment of the invention the module (1) is made in a plastic polymer, although they can be made in any material that has equivalent mechanical characteristics. The cells (2) are articulated together by means of a separating element (3) that grants a degree of freedom in the axis orthogonal to the work plane.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention in which the hexagonal cells (2) are compartmented by means of a plastic sheet which can be laminar, as can be seen in said FIG. 3, or have greater or lesser thickness, or present any type of configuration.

[0028] The compartments (5) are separated by a sheet (7) made therein with the same material that the hexagonal cell or hexagonal cells (2), as a continuation of these, although they could also be made in any other material that would be considered advantageous in each particular case.

[0029] The function of the internal compartments (5) is shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3a shows, schematically, a cell (2) without compartments and ballasted (6). In case of wind action, the cell (2) will be placed in vertical position and orthogonal with respect to the water surface, the ballast (6) will be placed in its lower area and will have a stable vertical position. Since this verticality implies that the cell (2) is orthogonal to the aqueous surface, the module (1) without compartments could not fulfill its function of returning to the operating position in the presence of strong gusts of air.

[0030] However, when the cell or cells (2) are compartmentalized (5) then the situation is that shown in FIG. 4b. The ballast (6) is located in the lower compartment (5) of the cell (2) and, when there is a turn caused by a strong wind, the cell is turned 90 until reaching the orthogonal position mentioned above. However, in this case, the ballast (6) located in one of the compartments (5) of the cell (2) will accumulate on a single side, making the vertical position unstable and tending, therefore, to recover its horizontal position with respect to the aqueous liquid and thus fulfill the function for which it has been designed.

[0031] Finally, it should be noted that the floating module (1) can be made by extrusion, molding, thermoforming, injection of plastics, or a combination of these techniques. Subsequently, the module (1) will be processed and the necessary machining will be performed, such as the arrangement of the compartment (5) for ballasting, articulation of spacer elements (3) and configuration of perimeter wings (4) for, finally, cut it with the concrete desired shape.