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DEWelectric
In the Arabic language, there are at least
ten names for water based upon salinity and potability. Beginning with ujaj, which is the bitterest and most
saline water, and ending with zulal,
clear, sweet, cool water. DEWelectric encompasses the principle of the bitterest
of water to the sweetest.
Water
has always been regarded as a precious resource in the Arab world and water
conservation is well-documented in Islamic teaching.
Fresh
water, a scarce resource in the UAE, is precious. It sustains all life, is
nourishing, cleansing, regenerative, purifying, and rich in symbolic
meaning.
Water
scarcity is one of the most pressing problems confronting humankind in the new
century. The natural water resources of the UAE will decrease by 16 per cent in
the next decade, requiring the second-largest build-up of desalination plants
in the world. Demand is soaring, with the country expected to increase
desalination capacity by 76 per cent by 2016, to 14.1 million cubic liters a
day.
Desalination
plants, while solving some problems, create others. Desalination is expensive,
energy intensive and emits greenhouse gases. Waste from the process is
highly concentrated brine that can contain biocides, high concentrations of
metal, and chlorine. Adequate and safe disposal of the concentrated brine
presents a significant environmental challenge. In addition, large marine
organisms, such as adult fish, invertebrates, birds, and even mammals, are
killed on the intake screen. Decomposition of these organisms can reduce the
oxygen content of the water near the discharge point, creating additional
stress on the marine environment.
DEWelectric
Our
team chose Site #2 to develop a significant series of closed loop power
generators by taking advantage of the coastal conditions provided on site. DEWelectric combines beauty, simplicity,
and function into responsible energy production through biomimicry while
demonstrating the potential for generating fresh water and clean, efficient
electrical power.
The
artwork consists of three components: an array of pneumatic condensers, a
channeled walkway, and a shaded community gathering space that celebrates the
vitality of water.
Pneumatic
Condenser
The
Namib Desert beetle (genus Stenocara) survives in the harsh environment
of the Namib Desert where only a half-inch of
rain falls annually. In response to the arid environment, the beetle has
developed a unique water collection mechanism. A series of small bumps on
the surface of its wings enable the beetle to collect water from fog that forms
in the early morning and blows across the desert floor. When the beetle positions
its body at 45 degrees the fog collects on its back and runs down the wings to
its mouth, supplying the animal with water necessary for its survival.
Mimicking the Namib Beetle, each ‘water
stalk’ condenser in DEWelectric is
designed to draw water out of the air while simultaneously generating
electricity and providing both fresh water and power to the region. Each
condenser is constructed from a pneumatic tube that circulates fluid cooled by
seawater. When the warm moist air
reaches the surface of the tubes, water vapor condenses on the colder surface
of the tower that is textured much like the beetle's hydrophilic shell. The coolant
is then returned to the sea in a closed loop system to be re-chilled
by the sea. The delta in temperature around the chilled water stock towers
creates a negative pressure that draws air down the column
spinning a 7.5 kilowatt wind turbine that generates electricity
to feed the grid as well as the pumps that draw the water from the sea to the
condensers.
A
total of 475 proposed towers are distributed in a semi-random
array that extends throughout the site in a pattern that resembles
the natural flow of water to or from a single source. Each tower,
approximately 4.5 meters in diameter and 16 meters high will generate 180
kilowatt hours per day of electricity and 485 liters of water per
day. This passive method of water collection also reduces
consumption from the grid by a total of 3,217,600 kilowatts of power per year, a conservative estimate
for even the most efficient and state of the art desalinization plant.
This is output scalable depending on desired performance
criteria. Supported on tripod legs that interlock together to add an
organic quality to the repetitive tower elements and supports, they tread
lightly on the land in order to reduce its impact to the site. These
support legs become a tensegrity structural system enhanced by a
protective shade covering device that collects and funnels water over the bowl
shaped ‘rain space’ gathering area. The cooling effects of the tower clusters
and shading devices creates comfortable places and subtle climatic shifts
for people to gather and explore the passive systems of YazIsland's DEWelectric that
benefits the entire region.
The
Approach
From
the road, cars come upon the vast blue-green field of ‘water stalk’ condenser
towers. The public is invited to park their car and approach the site via
a long concrete walkway sliced into the slightly inclined grade. Inspired by
the ancient system of water channels know as aflaj (sing. falaj),
a continuous conduit of water runs alongside the path and leads into the
immense hall of water, or RainSpace. As one nears the interior, the ambient
temperature drops and the water level rises. The channel of flowing water
serves as an indicator of water production and provides a circulatory pathway
to the entrance of the communal gathering space.
The
RainSpace
RainSpace
is an all-encompassing experience of water. As one enters the shaded water
chamber, the effect of the overhead condensers and the canopy of collectors
provides a significantly cooler environment than the surrounding desert
setting. RainSpace provides a communal gathering place where viewers experience
a continuously live event of ‘raining’ water. Water falls from above into a
‘carpet’ of inlaid channels that create an overall pattern inspired by the
natural world. Referencing the inherent beauty of Islamic patterns, the
continuous flow of water both above and below expresses infinity, unity,
harmony and balance. Similarly, at first glance the process may appear
extremely complex, yet the simple elegance of the system is revealed and
immediately understandable to the viewer. The ordered repetition of the overall
system, both above and below symbolizes a well-balanced whole. RainSpace
creates a visceral and sensory experience that celebrates and honors the value
of water in our lives.
Total DEWelectric Power and Water output
generation
·
Electricity: 180 kWh per day per tower or 85,500 kWh per day total (before seawater
pump correction)
·
Water: 1,354 liters per day per tower or 643,520
Liters per day total
·
Water production is equivalent to 3,217,600 kWh
reduced energy consumption from the grid (based on a conservative estimate for
state of the art desalinization water generation)
Environmental
Impact Statement
While the DEWelectric
condensers generate power to the grid, the greatest benefit of the art is
the collection of pure water, which is precious to the UAE. While water is
currently supplied to the area from the Umm Al Nar desalinization plant,
production in this manner consumes a tremendous amount of power in the process
resulting in the emission of greenhouse gasses and creates a toxic saline briny
sludge by-product that must be disposed of in a manner that greatly impacts the
balance of natural systems. DEWelectric eliminates
both of these substantial negative impacts through the creation of a passive
system that produces zero carbon emissions.
The proposal requires a
cooling loop at the floor of the seabed nested in the existing dredged areas
which would minimize disturbance to existing marine ecosystem and also
provide lower and more stable temperatures for cooling. This requires extending
beyond site boundaries; alternatively, it is possible that the chilling loop
can run underground with similar performance standards. In this scenario, the
site would require additional excavation beyond what is already required
for trenching a water distribution (system modeled after ancient falaj
system) as well as to carve out a ceremonial gathering space into the raised
contours of the site. The structural system for the towers are intended to
touch down lightly with minimal impact upon the landscape and arranged to leave
much of the site untouched. The cooling effect of the towers will create small
microclimatic temperature zones as the wind moves through the site creating
comfortable inhabitable outdoor places for people to occupy during even the
hottest times of the year.
In addition, the entire
installation provides a safe environment for visitors to explore and interact
in and amongst the ‘pneumatic condensors’ providing a means for people to learn
about the rich possibilities of passive water and energy harvesting in a direct
and experiential manner and gather around the celebration of water and clean
power.
Team:
zeroplus with Jennifer Dixon
zeroplus,
Joshua Brevoort, Lisa Chun and Ian Campbell
ten names for water based upon salinity and potability. Beginning with ujaj, which is the bitterest and most
saline water, and ending with zulal,
clear, sweet, cool water. DEWelectric encompasses the principle of the bitterest
of water to the sweetest.
Water
has always been regarded as a precious resource in the Arab world and water
conservation is well-documented in Islamic teaching.
Fresh
water, a scarce resource in the UAE, is precious. It sustains all life, is
nourishing, cleansing, regenerative, purifying, and rich in symbolic
meaning.
Water
scarcity is one of the most pressing problems confronting humankind in the new
century. The natural water resources of the UAE will decrease by 16 per cent in
the next decade, requiring the second-largest build-up of desalination plants
in the world. Demand is soaring, with the country expected to increase
desalination capacity by 76 per cent by 2016, to 14.1 million cubic liters a
day.
Desalination
plants, while solving some problems, create others. Desalination is expensive,
energy intensive and emits greenhouse gases. Waste from the process is
highly concentrated brine that can contain biocides, high concentrations of
metal, and chlorine. Adequate and safe disposal of the concentrated brine
presents a significant environmental challenge. In addition, large marine
organisms, such as adult fish, invertebrates, birds, and even mammals, are
killed on the intake screen. Decomposition of these organisms can reduce the
oxygen content of the water near the discharge point, creating additional
stress on the marine environment.
DEWelectric
Our
team chose Site #2 to develop a significant series of closed loop power
generators by taking advantage of the coastal conditions provided on site. DEWelectric combines beauty, simplicity,
and function into responsible energy production through biomimicry while
demonstrating the potential for generating fresh water and clean, efficient
electrical power.
The
artwork consists of three components: an array of pneumatic condensers, a
channeled walkway, and a shaded community gathering space that celebrates the
vitality of water.
Pneumatic
Condenser
The
Namib Desert beetle (genus Stenocara) survives in the harsh environment
of the Namib Desert where only a half-inch of
rain falls annually. In response to the arid environment, the beetle has
developed a unique water collection mechanism. A series of small bumps on
the surface of its wings enable the beetle to collect water from fog that forms
in the early morning and blows across the desert floor. When the beetle positions
its body at 45 degrees the fog collects on its back and runs down the wings to
its mouth, supplying the animal with water necessary for its survival.
Mimicking the Namib Beetle, each ‘water
stalk’ condenser in DEWelectric is
designed to draw water out of the air while simultaneously generating
electricity and providing both fresh water and power to the region. Each
condenser is constructed from a pneumatic tube that circulates fluid cooled by
seawater. When the warm moist air
reaches the surface of the tubes, water vapor condenses on the colder surface
of the tower that is textured much like the beetle's hydrophilic shell. The coolant
is then returned to the sea in a closed loop system to be re-chilled
by the sea. The delta in temperature around the chilled water stock towers
creates a negative pressure that draws air down the column
spinning a 7.5 kilowatt wind turbine that generates electricity
to feed the grid as well as the pumps that draw the water from the sea to the
condensers.
A
total of 475 proposed towers are distributed in a semi-random
array that extends throughout the site in a pattern that resembles
the natural flow of water to or from a single source. Each tower,
approximately 4.5 meters in diameter and 16 meters high will generate 180
kilowatt hours per day of electricity and 485 liters of water per
day. This passive method of water collection also reduces
consumption from the grid by a total of 3,217,600 kilowatts of power per year, a conservative estimate
for even the most efficient and state of the art desalinization plant.
This is output scalable depending on desired performance
criteria. Supported on tripod legs that interlock together to add an
organic quality to the repetitive tower elements and supports, they tread
lightly on the land in order to reduce its impact to the site. These
support legs become a tensegrity structural system enhanced by a
protective shade covering device that collects and funnels water over the bowl
shaped ‘rain space’ gathering area. The cooling effects of the tower clusters
and shading devices creates comfortable places and subtle climatic shifts
for people to gather and explore the passive systems of YazIsland's DEWelectric that
benefits the entire region.
The
Approach
From
the road, cars come upon the vast blue-green field of ‘water stalk’ condenser
towers. The public is invited to park their car and approach the site via
a long concrete walkway sliced into the slightly inclined grade. Inspired by
the ancient system of water channels know as aflaj (sing. falaj),
a continuous conduit of water runs alongside the path and leads into the
immense hall of water, or RainSpace. As one nears the interior, the ambient
temperature drops and the water level rises. The channel of flowing water
serves as an indicator of water production and provides a circulatory pathway
to the entrance of the communal gathering space.
The
RainSpace
RainSpace
is an all-encompassing experience of water. As one enters the shaded water
chamber, the effect of the overhead condensers and the canopy of collectors
provides a significantly cooler environment than the surrounding desert
setting. RainSpace provides a communal gathering place where viewers experience
a continuously live event of ‘raining’ water. Water falls from above into a
‘carpet’ of inlaid channels that create an overall pattern inspired by the
natural world. Referencing the inherent beauty of Islamic patterns, the
continuous flow of water both above and below expresses infinity, unity,
harmony and balance. Similarly, at first glance the process may appear
extremely complex, yet the simple elegance of the system is revealed and
immediately understandable to the viewer. The ordered repetition of the overall
system, both above and below symbolizes a well-balanced whole. RainSpace
creates a visceral and sensory experience that celebrates and honors the value
of water in our lives.
Total DEWelectric Power and Water output
generation
·
Electricity: 180 kWh per day per tower or 85,500 kWh per day total (before seawater
pump correction)
·
Water: 1,354 liters per day per tower or 643,520
Liters per day total
·
Water production is equivalent to 3,217,600 kWh
reduced energy consumption from the grid (based on a conservative estimate for
state of the art desalinization water generation)
Environmental
Impact Statement
While the DEWelectric
condensers generate power to the grid, the greatest benefit of the art is
the collection of pure water, which is precious to the UAE. While water is
currently supplied to the area from the Umm Al Nar desalinization plant,
production in this manner consumes a tremendous amount of power in the process
resulting in the emission of greenhouse gasses and creates a toxic saline briny
sludge by-product that must be disposed of in a manner that greatly impacts the
balance of natural systems. DEWelectric eliminates
both of these substantial negative impacts through the creation of a passive
system that produces zero carbon emissions.
The proposal requires a
cooling loop at the floor of the seabed nested in the existing dredged areas
which would minimize disturbance to existing marine ecosystem and also
provide lower and more stable temperatures for cooling. This requires extending
beyond site boundaries; alternatively, it is possible that the chilling loop
can run underground with similar performance standards. In this scenario, the
site would require additional excavation beyond what is already required
for trenching a water distribution (system modeled after ancient falaj
system) as well as to carve out a ceremonial gathering space into the raised
contours of the site. The structural system for the towers are intended to
touch down lightly with minimal impact upon the landscape and arranged to leave
much of the site untouched. The cooling effect of the towers will create small
microclimatic temperature zones as the wind moves through the site creating
comfortable inhabitable outdoor places for people to occupy during even the
hottest times of the year.
In addition, the entire
installation provides a safe environment for visitors to explore and interact
in and amongst the ‘pneumatic condensors’ providing a means for people to learn
about the rich possibilities of passive water and energy harvesting in a direct
and experiential manner and gather around the celebration of water and clean
power.
Team:
zeroplus with Jennifer Dixon
zeroplus,
Joshua Brevoort, Lisa Chun and Ian Campbell
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