Patent ID: 7431623

Claim:
A modular vertical floating pipe, forming the cold water pipe of an ocean thermal energy conversion plant, having a diameter of more than 10 m and reaching depths of about 1,000 m, comprising: A) a plurality of pipe segments constructed from a group of materials consisting of concrete, steel, or other suitable material capable of operating in the marine environment for many years, with each said pipe segment having: 1) a longer and lower vertical section; 2) a shorter and upper section, either: i) vertical but with a slightly wider aperture than said lower vertical section; or ii) a slightly inclined segment, therefore gradually increasing the aperture with respect to said lower vertical section; B) an annular floater, having such predetermined dimensions to provide buoyancy to support the weight of the pipe segment and the floater and constructed either as a single ring, or, forming a ring by attaching together a plurality of arcuate segments, of such dimensions that would allow them to slide along the lower vertical section of the pipe segments and constructed from a group of materials consisting of plastic, cement or steel; C) means of attaching or tying contiguous pipe segments or floaters which could be used as means of supporting a weight to maintain the modular vertical floating pipe in a vertical position or as means of lowering the modular vertical floating pipe; D) means of sealing the connection between two pipe segments; whereby, by inserting the lower portion of one of said pipe segment into the upper portion of another pipe segment, a longer vertical pipe could be formed; whereby, by using as many pipe segments as needed, said longer vertical pipe could reach the desired depth; whereby, the upper pipe segment of the modular vertical floating pipe is attached to a floating platform, while the lower pipe segment is floating at the desired depth, above the ocean floor.