Elmosa Seawater Intake Systems

The InvisiHeadpatented, the Pipeline whether it is made of steel, steel lined with polyethylene, concrete, or high density

polyethylene (HDPE) pipe, and the NatSeppatented all form the complete Elmosa offshore/onshore seawater intake system. The

omni directional InvisiHead (IH) intake head system adds to the performance of the offshore system. It is fitted to the upstream

end of the intake system pipeline located some distance into the sea from the shoreline. Entrance velocity is lower than 0.091

m/s (0.3 fps). The approach velocity is extremely slow - 0.0027 m/s (0.009fps) - the IH intake head becomes hydraulically

invisible to suspended matter. In other words, the Intake head does not act as a sink point and therefore does not suck in

debris

Super slow entrance velocities also lead to lower head losses and lower level draw downs at the pump intake basin. The IH

entrance section is hydraulically balanced and fine-tuned in lab tests to flow streams. The entrance dimensions are not

arbitrarily selected but hydraulically calculated and selected in multi dimensional approach and through model setup and

testing. Each dimension is a function of the steady flow velocity. Eddies, by this approach, are totally eliminated thus head

losses at the IH are reduced to a few millimeters.

MMTS - Elmosa Seawater Intake Systems

In conventional design methods a dimension - the height or the width - is arbitrarily chosen and the other is calculated by

dividing the estimated cross-sectional flow area by the chosen dimension to find the other. S hould the dimensions become out

of phase with the approaching flow streamlines – which is the case in nearly all designs - eddies will form at the entrance

vicinity and multiply causing turbulence and flow disturbances at the head entrance. This will cause a higher pressure drop,

higher suction and, therefore, higher head losses and level drop at the intake basin.

At Elmosa, we tune the flow with the height and the circumference of the InvisiHead. Once the three are in phase, the IH is

kept to minimum in size, the head loss is kept to minimum and thus level drop of water at the NatSep intake basin is

maintained at the absolute minimum. When that is done, less sediment and debris flow through, smaller pipelines will satisfy

the flow capacity required, smaller and shallower NatSep basins will be needed. These optimization factors translate into lower

initial investment and lower operation and maintenance costs for the intake system and for the plant as whole.

The InvisiHead

The InvisiHead

The key to preserving the intake integrity is to maintain the original ambient conditions at the spot where water is to be

drawn into the intake pipeline and transported onshore. Inferior designs of the upstream inlet of intake pipelines can lead to

creating high negative pressures at and around the inlet (Intake Mouth), which will result in the suction of sand, fish,

seaweed and other debris. The inlet has to be properly designed. The InvisiHead is created to address that very notion: be

hydraulically invisible and act like if you were not there.

Flow into the IH: Approach, Stabilization, Acceleration, Steady Flow

Many intake systems have either proven to be very costly to build, operate, and maintain; or have involved a great deal of

guesswork that produces less than optimal results. Offshore intake systems can be upgraded and highly improved by a

balanced and well-designed intake head system that fully utilizes the potential flow principle in guiding water particles in

smooth, uniform streamlines into the intake head. The InvisiHead intake head system conceived to act like no other intake

head. It is divided into four distinctive flow phases: Approach, Stabilization, Acceleration, Steady Flow

It was a meticulous task to tune the InvisiHead and to divide the through flow regime into four sequentially mating phases.

This process led to what the InvisiHead is. Super smooth flow transition from one phase to the next leads the flow through

into the pipeline upstream end. The way the flownets formed at and around the IH made it virtually invisible in hydraulic

terms to suspended matter. There where the InvisiHead borrowed its name.

The InvisiHead works as an outfall. Heat and effluent dispersion and dilution takes place at the immediate vicinity of the InvisiHead.

The InvisiHead system works also as an offshore submarine outfall. It diffuses the effluent in such a manner that it is not

allowed to rise up to the surface and be waved back. The dispersed effluent mixes with the ambient deep water and in a

short time it assumes physical and chemical properties similar to those of the surrounding seawater. Having that to take

place, the effluent remains below the surface. The InvisiHead works as an efficient heat transfer system when used as a

power plant cooling water outfall.

The NatSep is designed to separate any sediment that may flow through into the basin as part of the water

flowing into and through the IH. By the time the flow reaches the seawater pump bay it is free of sand and weeds.

The NatSep separation basin is where whatever sand and debris that flow into the IH, as part of the flow, get naturally

separated and settle at the NatSep intake basin long before it reaches the seawater pump intake bay. Cleaning of the

NatSep basin is done once or twice a year. Elmosa has discontinued the use of all screening systems including stationary

and traveling. They are needed no longer in the NatSep intake basins.

High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Pipe for Elmosa Seawater Intake Systems

Elmosa Offshore Seawater Intake systems consist of:

The InvisiHead is positioned at the upstream end of the intake pipeline located between 50 to 10,000 meters offshore

from the shoreline. The offshore distance depends on water depth, wave action, and on other site conditions. The IH is

usually located under a minimum of 2 meters. There is no maximum depth limit.

The intake pipeline is made of either concrete, steel, steel lined with polyethylene, or high density polyethylene (HDPE)

pipe. The pipeline is the link that connects the IH at the upstream offshore end with the NatSep separation basin located

at onshore downstream end.

The NatSep separation basin is where whatever sand and debris that flow into the IH is naturally separated and settled.

The flow reaching the pumps is clean and free of sand and debris.

Some of the Seawater Intake Systems and

Marine Projects we Have Done in Canada

Gananoque, Ontario, Canada,1996;

650 meters of 24 inch outfall HDPE

pipe

Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, 1995;

100 meter 48 inch outfall HDPE

diffusser

Ajax, Ontario, Canada, 1996;

2536 meters of 2100 mm concrete

pipe intake for a seawater intake

system.

Gananoque, Ontario, Canada,

1996;

650 meters of 24 inch HDPE outfall

pipe

Innisfill Ontario, Canada; 400 meter

900 mm HDPE Intake.

OTHER EXAMPLES

A 650’ cooling water outfall

Installation of a 24” Outfall

Installation of a 24” Intake pipeline

Installation of a 36” Outfall

Sinking of a 24” Outfall

Ballast weights being fixed to a 48”

pipe

3000 foot 48” cooling water outfall

Use of Skidway to convey 40”

line

Installing a 120” pipeline

Floating a double water intake pipeline

MMEEDDIITTEERRRRAANNEEAANN SSEEAAWWEEEEDDSS

The Sole Agent MMTS Misr Markets for Trading & Supplying Business Development Consultant h.mustafa@Rceworld.us +201113353994