| CPC B63B 22/04 (2013.01) [A01G 33/00 (2013.01); A01K 61/65 (2017.01); B63B 1/246 (2013.01); B63B 79/10 (2020.01); B63H 11/04 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
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1. An upweller array disposed in a body of water and anchored to a seabed, the upweller array comprising:
a plurality of upweller systems that each include:
a buoy configured to float on the surface of the body of water,
a tether coupled to and extending downward from the buoy into the body of water, the tether comprising a cable configured to bend or flex, and
a hydrofoil rotor disposed in the body of water at a depth of between 30 to 150 meters based on a length of the tether and coupled to a terminal end of the tether, the hydrofoil rotor comprising:
a central hub, and
a plurality of blade assemblies extending radially from the central hub to define a diameter in a range of 5 to 30 meters, each of the plurality of blade assemblies including a member that extends from the central hub that is connected to a blade, the plurality of blade assemblies configured to pitch up and down relative to an axis defined by the tether with one configuration having the plurality of blade assemblies disposed within a common plane that is perpendicular to the axis defined by the tether with other configurations having the plurality of blade assemblies at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the axis defined by the tether, the plurality of blade assemblies configured to rotate about the axis defined by the tether such that the hydrofoil rotor acts as a free flow propeller that pumps water up towards the surface of the body of water that the hydrofoil rotor is disposed in, the plurality of blade assemblies configured to rotate about a member axis defined by a respective member of a respective blade assembly, and
a plurality of bridle assemblies extending from the tether to one of the plurality of blade assemblies, with each of the plurality of blade assemblies comprising two or more bridal assemblies coupled thereto;
a plurality of array lines extending between and coupling the plurality of upweller systems together into a rectangular grid configuration; and
a plurality of mooring systems respectively coupled to one or more of the plurality of upweller systems, the plurality of mooring systems anchored to the seabed and configured to hold the plurality of upweller systems at a location in the body of water in the rectangular grid configuration via the plurality of array lines.
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