Abstract:
The invention provides an artificial ice substrate that floats on a body of water. The top surface of the artificial ice reflects a portion of the sunlight back away from the earth. The bottom surface has nutrients for enhancing the growth of algae. Several weeks after placement of the artificial ice in the body of water, a ship with harvesting equipment, scrapes the algae off artificial ice and into a collection tank, re-applies nutrients to the underside of the ice substrate, and then deposits the artificial ice back into the lake or ocean. The marine plants are then converter into fuel. Besides creating carbon neutral fuel, this method provides carbon credits by means of reflecting sun energy back into space.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    This invention relates to system for lowering planetary temperature and reducing atmospheric CO 2 , and, more specifically, a system that provides a reflective structural foundation for algae growth and various methods for harvesting algae. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The polar ice caps of the planet earth reflect sunlight. This prevents solar energy from being absorbed by the earth&#39;s oceans. With the more recent shrinking of ice cap surface area, the amount of solar energy reflected away from the earth has lessened, and the amount of solar energy absorbed by the earth&#39;s ocean has increased, contributing to global warming. 
         [0006]    Algae growing in the sea are being used as a raw material to produce fuel. The algae absorb carbon dioxide, and releases oxygen. When algae die, it decomposes. The decomposition process gives off carbon dioxide. If algae are harvested/processed before it has a chance to decompose naturally, and then the algae are used as a fuel, this offsets carbon dioxide that would have been produced by burning fossil fuels. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The invention is a system for lowering planetary temperature and reducing atmospheric CO 2 , using novel artificial ice. The invention provides an artificial ice substrate deposited on a body of water such as a lake or ocean. The top surface of the artificial ice reflects a portion of the sunlight back away from the earth. The bottom surface has nutrients for enhancing the growth of algae. Several weeks after placement in the body of water, a ship pulls the artificial ice substrate onboard, scrapes the algae off into a collection tank, re-applies nutrients to the underside of the ice substrate, and then deposits the artificial ice back into the lake or ocean. 
         [0008]    In an alternate embodiment, to handle a harvesting surface area that is wider than a ship, an alternated ship construction with multiple floating booms and collection trays, and an end tug is provided. The booms with collection trays are extended from the ship, the artificial ice is pulled over the extended booms while the algae are collected. Then nutrients are re-applied and the artificial ice is deposited back into the lake or ocean. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, the ship harvests by rendering the entire artificial ice structure, including attached marine plants. 
         [0010]    Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the system of present invention where the artificial ice is shown in the form of floating sheets. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a first alternate embodiment of the artificial ice in the system of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of the artificial ice in the system of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the preferred embodiment of the system of the present invention wherein a ship processes the entire artificial ice structure including marine plants. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a top view of a first alternate ship embodiment wherein a ship in transit is towing a floating harvesting boom in the system of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , wherein the ship has deployed the boom into the working position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a side view and partial cutaway view of a ship harvesting algae from the artificial ice, re-applying nutrients, and re-placing the artificial ice into the water. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of prior art showing a pyrolysis method for converting plant material into fuel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]      FIG. 1  shows artificial ice, shown generally at  10 , according to the system of the present invention, in the form of floating sheets  12  floating on a body of water  14  such as a lake or ocean. The artificial ice  10  reflects solar light rays back to space. Also shown are marine plants  16 , such as algae, thriving on the underside of the floating sheet  12  and absorbing CO 2 . The artificial ice  10  has a top surface  18  that partially reflects, shown generally at R, sunlight. 
         [0021]    The light-reflecting top surface  18  can be specifically designed to reflect the most harmful spectra. The light-reflecting top surface  18  preferably has a 3-corner “retro reflector” surface to cause solar light rays to reflect back towards the sun. The 3-corner retro reflector surface can shorten the distance back out to space even where the wave action of the body of water  14  changes the angle of the floating sheet  12 . (It is noted that automobile tail lights and street signs use a 3-corner retro reflector surface.) 
         [0022]    The bottom surface of floating sheet  12  can be provided with a layer of plant nutrients or fertilizer  20 . The layer of plant nutrients or fertilizer  20  is preferably of the time-release variety. The floating sheet  12  and the fertilizer layer  20  are preferably specifically translucent at certain light frequencies to allow these specific light frequencies to reach the marine plants  16 . 
         [0023]    The floating sheet  12  can be constructed from sheets of organic material such as straw, corn stalks, corn cobs, bamboo, bagasse, etc. Fibers from the sheet can present a non-uniform bottom surface texture to form fiber protrusions that provide more surface area for marine plants, such as algae and plant plankton. In an alternate embodiment, the floating sheet  12  could be a layer of oil (preferably vegetable oil) which has reflecting pigment or the retro-reflecting particles infused within it. 
         [0024]    Therefore, the artificial ice  10  reduces global warming in two ways—first by reflecting some sunlight away from the earth, and second by growing marine plants that absorb the greenhouse gas CO 2 . 
         [0025]    In a first alternate preferred embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2 , an alternate construction for artificial ice  10 ′ differs from that of artificial  10  in  FIG. 1  in that floating sheet  12 ′ is provided with a number of apertures  22 . These apertures  22  allow light to pass through and allow a greater opportunity for marine plants  16  to receive light. Because the apertures allow unfiltered light to pass, it is possible to alter the reflectance characteristics of top surface  18 ′ to provide a higher reflectance (and less translucence of specific frequencies) as compared with the reflectance characteristics of top surface  18  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0026]    In a second alternate preferred embodiment,  FIG. 3 , the floating sheet  12 ′ of  FIG. 2  is further provided with a series of dividers  24  that define a series of spaces  26 . Dividers  24  help to arrest the flow of water, and thus help to arrest the flow of plant life. In other words, dividers  24  help to secure marine plants  16  to floating sheet  10 ′. 
         [0027]    In the system of the present invention, marine plants  16  must be harvested before significant decomposition. If harvested before decomposition, then at the point of harvest, the marine plants  16  have absorbed CO 2 , released oxygen, and have provided a net carbon reduction benefit in the effort to reduce greenhouse gases. 
         [0028]    Therefore, as to harvesting marine plants  16 , the system of the present invention provides a large ship  40  that processes artificial ice  10 ,  10 ′. As shown in  FIG. 4 , a ship  40  extends arms  42  to support a harvesting apparatus, shown generally at  44 . Harvesting apparatus  44  both pulls and renders artificial ice  10 ,  10 ′, including attached marine plants  16 , via grinding cutter  46 . It is noted that a pulling wheel (not shown) may be employed separately from grinding cutter  46 , or the pulling wheel function may be incorporated into a single grinding cutter  46  device. After rendering, the rendered product drops into collection tank  48 . From there, pump  50  pumps the rendered product via pipe  52  to a larger collection tank (not shown). 
         [0029]      FIGS. 5-8  illustrate a first alternate ship embodiment of the system of the present invention. In this first alternate ship embodiment, marine plants  16  are harvested, while artificial ice  10 ,  10 ′ is re-provisioned with nutrients or fertilizer  20 , and then re-deployed into the body of water  14 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , a ship  60  in transit is towing a floating harvesting boom apparatus, shown generally at  70 . Floating harvesting boom apparatus  70  is equipped with a tow cable  62  in parallel with pipes  63  that are in turn each connected to multiple supporting pontoons  64 . Each supporting pontoon  64  is provided with harvesting wheels  66 , and a collection trough  68 . 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , wherein the ship  60  has deployed the harvesting boom apparatus  70  into the working position. Each pontoon  64  supports a pair of harvesting wheels  66  and a collection trough  68 . 
         [0031]    As shown at the left side of  FIG. 7 , artificial ice  10 ,  10 ′ is lifted by harvesting wheel  66  which pulls floating sheet  12 ,  12 ′, while scraper  69  (alternately referred to as cutting wheel  69 ) separates marine plants  16  from floating sheet  12 ,  12 ′, and renders the marine plants  16 . The marine plants  16  drop into collection trough  68 . Pump  70  pushes the rendered material through Pipe  63 A to main collection tank  61  of ship  60 . 
         [0032]    Now largely free of marine plants  16 , floating sheet  12 ,  12 ′ is further pulled by the second harvesting wheel  66  and deposited back into the body of water  14 . Just before floating sheet  12 ,  12 ′ is re-deposited, pipe  63 B delivers a liquid fertilizer layer  20  through sprayer  72 . The fertilizer layer  20  may be sprayed onto the bottom surface of floating sheet  12 ,  12 ′, or the fertilizer layer  20  may be sprayed onto surface of the body of water  14  just as floating sheet  12 ,  12 ′ enters the water. Either way, fertilizer layer  20  is captured by floating sheet  12 ,  12 ′. It should be understood that if the embodiment of  FIG. 3  is used, the dividers  24  help retain the liquid fertilizer under floating sheet  12 ,  12 ′. 
         [0033]    Floating boom  70  can be extended in length to match the appropriate dimension of the artificial ice  10 ,  10 ′ by adding additional pontoon units. In this regard, for those floating booms  70  that are very long, to assist in control and to avoid pipe breakage, an additional tug boat  80  ( FIG. 6 ) may be employed at the end to enhance stability and control. 
         [0034]    After ship  60  has collected rendered marine plant  16  material, ship  60 , which is preferably a factory ship, processes the marine plant material  16 . In other words, the marine plant material can be processed into fuel that can be stored in the ship  60 . Specifically, the marine plant material  16  is converted to fuel using one of several methods including but not limited too: thermal decomposition using pyrolysis or gasification followed by condensation, fermentation followed by distillation, or enzymatic reduction. Pyrolysis is one of the preferred methods because it is fast, efficient and yields mostly a liquid fuel product. There are several known pyrolysis techniques. Thus, marine plant material in collection tank  61  is transferred via pipe to pyrolysis processing  109 . The resulting fuel is transferred via pipe to fuel tank  102 . 
         [0035]    It should be noted that most pyrolysis processes produce biomass oil, which in the present invention would be delivered by the ship at port. The biomass oil undergoes a second and further conversion to diesel oil. However, it should be noted that it is also possible to bypass the use of two separate conversion processes by using a single process: see prior art shown in FIG.  8 . If this process is used in pyrolysis processing ( FIG. 8 ), the resulting fuel is delivered via pipe to fuel tank labeled “gasoline+diesel” ( FIG. 8 ). 
         [0036]    The artificial ice  10 ,  10 ′ are preferably hundreds of feet wide and miles long. Additional tugs (not shown) can be used for towing the artificial ice  10 ,  10 ′ away from the floating boom  70 . 
         [0037]    Alternatively, the ship  60  can re-configure the floating boom  70  to consume the entire artificial ice sheet  10 ,  10 ′ in addition to the marine plants  16 , according to the process shown and described in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0038]    It should be noted that small solar powered boats (not shown) may be utilized to help maintain the position of artificial ice  10 ,  10 ′. Specifically, a solar powered boat may be connected by tow cable to artificial ice  10 ,  10 ′, at each of several corners. Each solar powered boat operates automatically to maintain a pre-selected GPS coordinate, making adjustments in position as circumstances require. This allows the artificial ice  10 ,  10 ′ to maintain a relatively fixed location for later harvesting. Alternately, several redundant transmitters may be attached to each artificial ice  10 ,  10 ′ section to transmit GPS coordinate location on a specified frequency to allow later harvesting. 
         [0039]    Besides fuel, there is another means, referred to as Carbon Credits, to derive benefit from the process described above. A Carbon Credit is a device which allows companies who exhaust excessive carbon into the atmosphere to offset their carbon by paying other companies who have the means to absorb carbon from the atmosphere. The “credit” is actually a paper representation of a specific amount of carbon, (or other greenhouse gas) which has been sunk or offset. The process described above can produce carbon credits in two ways. A) The reflective surface of floating sheet  12  ( FIG. 1 ), will send some portion of the sun&#39;s energy back into outerspace. The portion sent back into space will not contribute to planetary warming. This will be as effective as removing greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere. The amount of energy sent back into space will qualify for an equivalent amount of carbon credit. B) The marine plants grown,  16  ( FIG. 1 ) can be sequestered. “Sequestered” in this sense means to store or bury the material so that its carbon cannot return to the atmosphere. The marine material could be pumped into abandoned mines or pumped in to deep stagnant areas of the ocean where they will not release their carbon. Over time ground buried plants will evolve methane gas which could be burned on site to produce electricity. Producing electricity in this manor would negate part of the carbon credit but is still preferable to burning other fossil fuel because it would have fewer other pollutants such as sulphur. 
         [0040]    As various modifications could be made to the exemplary embodiments, as described above with reference to the corresponding illustrations, without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.