Lovelock CO2 reduction 10metre OD 200m long tubes

[zoomi]

James Lovelock has proposed the construction of massive ocean pipes "100 to 200 metres long, 10 metres in diameter and with a one-way flap valve at the lower end for pumping by wave movement" to pump water up from below the thermocline to "fertilize algae in the surface waters and encourage them to bloom.

The idea is theoretical, and the authors note that it "may fail, perhaps on engineering or economic grounds".

My prelim calc indicate that steel & relevant buoy would be far too heavy so it would have to be plastic/GRP. But out in the big bad offshore world they would have to be pretty meaty with a large t/D ratio. Anyone know a manufacturer of big GRP pipes?

I suspect the idea is untenable but as an engineer I want to know how unfeasible it is.

cheers

 

[narenr]

With 10m diameter, it is a tank and not a pipe anymore with external pressure and wave loads governing. From bouyancy point, it would be more feasible with heavier material steel or concrete. A Turkish company make 3-4m diameter PE pipelines for water transportation systems, cannot recall the name.

Narendranath R
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http://www.narendranath.itgo.com.

 

[zoomi]

From what I understand it's filled with water (pressure neutral) and has water moving up and down in it. There might be a mini water hammer effect in it though.