Floating spheres
Floating spheres are devices used to reduce evaporation and regulate water temperature in reservoirs. Made of high-density polyethylene, they contain water inside and are placed on the surface of the water.
This technology consists of floating spheres placed on water reservoirs to reduce water losses through evaporation and regulate water temperature. They are made of virgin or recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with a size between 4 and 5 inches and a weight of 520 grams, containing 460 cc of water inside. Thanks to this, the spheres sink up to half and their diameter is used to maximize coverage and stability, resisting winds of up to 180 km/h. By installing only one layer of these spheres, apart from protecting the water from the agents that cause evaporation, when the reservoir is covered, sun penetration is reduced, photosynthesis is reduced and, therefore, the presence of algae and other plants.
Water production and storage
Main theme:
South
Region:
100 - 200
Precipitation (mm):
Low
Application difficulty:
2, 6, 9 and 13
SDGs impacted:
Static
Energy used:
70 - 90
Efficiency (%):
Rural
Sector:
Reduces water loss through evaporation.
Expected environmental impact:
$25/m²
Estimated value:
1- Technologies that allow mitigating water losses - Redagrícola (redagricola.com) 2- https://aukaler.com.uy/barrier-ball/ 3- https://repositorio.uchile.cl/bitstream/handle/2250/182258/Alternativa-tecnologica-para-el-ahorro-de-agua-y-aumento-en-la-recuperacion-de-cobre-en-procesos-hidrometalurgicos.pdf?sequence=1
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