The recently completed "ICE DREAM" project that demonstrates how Dassault Systèmes' technology for realistic imaging helps create a realistic research environment for an issue that may one day change the future of humanity as a whole
Has the solution to the global water crisis been found?
For over five decades governments, scientists and engineers have been preoccupied with the issue of the feasibility of extracting water from glaciers, an issue whose consequences may change the future of humanity as a whole. Over the years, research on the subject has been stopped or rejected outright due to complex technical and budgetary obstacles, since in order to conduct the required experiments, astronomical budgets must be raised, and the technology to do so does not yet exist. Over the years, the interest in conducting experiments on the subject waned and scientists turned to more realistic, cheaper and less controversial projects.
the course of the project
In a research project that is the first of its kind in the world, the renowned French engineer and researcher George Mougin, together with a team of world-renowned archaeologists and scientists, joined the project team of the XNUMXD company Dassault Systèmes, and with the help of the company's variety of computer software for imaging and simulation and a laboratory Virtual reality
(Virtual Reality) of the company, created a virtual world in XNUMXD, in which they simulated the migration of glaciers such as those found on the island of Newfoundland (Canada), the area chosen to carry out the experiment, towards the destination chosen to bring the glaciers - the Canary Islands (Atlantic Ocean), and for several months Conduct a complete science project in order to obtain unambiguous data that they can apply to a real-world experiment; From the amount of ice that melts from the glacier per day to the amount of fuel that the ship that will tow it will consume, and whether it will even be able to do so, or whether the glacier will sweep the ship away in the currents in the ocean.
Creating a virtual-realistic research environment
Through the creation of a "Lifelike experience" in the virtual reality laboratory of Dassault Systèmes, using the company's software that allows simulating various forces: the wind, heat, the laws of aerodynamics and other natural phenomena, and which are used by the largest companies in the world for realistic simulations of test flights (Boeing ), collision tests (BMW) and the period of the pyramids (Giza Archives in Boston), the Dassault Systèmes research team focused on examining three main issues:
• How to predict the way the glaciers will melt when they are dragged from their place?
• Is it possible to drag the glaciers from the island of Newfoundland in Canada to the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean? (The Canary Islands were chosen as a destination because this region is known for its water scarcity, desalination is used to produce drinking water)
• What will happen if the glacier breaks during the towing attempt?
Project findings:
After conducting dozens of simulations, the team came up with the following findings that give realistic and scientific validity to the research conducted:
• Using a normal pulling action, it is now known how a glacier weighing millions of tons can be dragged for a distance of several kilometers. In the example of the Canary Islands, the journey can be completed in 141 days.
• Through an effective system of protection against melting, we now know how to limit the melting of the glacier. In the example of the Canary Islands, the glacier lost an average of 38% of its mass.
• Using several tugs does not shorten the journey time, and only increases the fuel consumption of the ships.
• Finally, there is no point in trying to fight against the forces of nature when they are too strong. Such an attempt increases fuel consumption, and in the end, the caravan is carried with the wind anyway. This reasoning is completely consistent with the physical logic known as "assisted drift", which means adjusting the conditions to "natural drift" of the convoy.
And what is the next step?
For Mogin and his team, the next step is to travel to the island of Newfoundland and begin full-scale operational trials. The team still needs to find an industrial partner to bring the project to fruition. At this point, simulations and XNUMXD models will still be useful for creating scenarios that happen too quickly, scenarios that are too complex or dangerous to perform in the real world, as well as to complement and refine the results obtained in future experiments.
Below are videos that accompanied the course of the project:
21 תגובות
http://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%99%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%AA
Another resource for brides
First H:
Well - so you begin to understand:
You think it's the programming test. When is the programming test done? Do you do it when you know the answer? No!
We do this when the answer is not self-evident and that's all I said!
Imagine that in order to test the programming of the desalination issue, they had to build a facility that desalinates water in the scope and rate of the flow of the Banias in the winter. In such a case, the issue of desalination would not have been examined until today.
Fortunately for us - the issue of desalination can be tested even on a small scale, which is why there are desalination facilities in the world today.
What the current article deals with is a way to examine the subject of glacier transport in a small way.
Michael, I think it's a feasibility study - is it possible to do it, and yes, in order to show leaders in the field, the simulation helps public relations.
Regarding practical feasibility, as they said: "Astronomical budgets, and the technology to do this does not yet exist."
man (15)
A. Precisely because I don't know you, only what you write here conveys who you are and what you are, when you start with a condescending disdain for the idea and express cynicism towards those who carried out the research and then also pull out magic solutions that I have no idea where you got them from and on what basis (because you didn't bother to specify So I allow myself to categorize you into that very large group of people who express themselves in a similar way and behave as I described in my response. Because they don't know you, what's the point of the way you expressed yourself here? And what is the reader supposed to do, trust you that if you think you know something then it is necessarily also true, even without you bringing anything to support your words?
B. So let's please leave disdain that originates from a passing mood out because disdain and condescension are very contagious (I got infected with it because of religious and I admit that it is very difficult for me to get rid of it every time I talk to someone like that, especially when the disdain and condescension, which are clearly unjustified, is so strongly built into them ).
In a small addition to what Michael wrote, it's all a matter of cost and benefit (even if it turns out that the costs are relatively low but that the quantity or quality is limited, then they may not invest in it, just as happens with small or relatively unclean reservoirs of oil/gas/oil shale, etc.) . Bottom line when you say that way A is clearly better than way B can you illustrate financially why that is so obvious?
man:
What do you think of the idea that a person living by the sea in Tel Aviv would consume water from the streams in the north? After all, he has water near the house, so why are they building a national carrier?
Or what do you think about the fact that someone who lives in a very rainy area by the sea will consume water from the clouds that are miles up when he has water that he can pray at a distance of 50 meters?
Are these bad ideas?
As I said - there is no principle that determines this. It's all about costs.
H. First:
Not true. It is already written at the beginning of things:
"For over five decades governments, scientists and engineers have been preoccupied with the issue of the feasibility of extracting water from glaciers, an issue whose consequences may change the future of humanity as a whole. Over the years, research on the subject has been stopped or rejected outright due to complex technical and budgetary obstacles, since in order to conduct the necessary experiments, astronomical budgets must be raised, and the technology to do so does not yet exist."
Besides this is of course not an answer. When someone invests money they expect something in return. Do you think that if they say that they have now done for a lot of money a calculation that could have been done easily and for free, is this a worthy return to know who is paying?
to Camila (4)
A. According to the description you gave of my personal face, it seems to me that you do not know me.
B. The assumptions I made and expressed in a somewhat dismissive way were related to my mood, which at that moment also underestimated the coffee
My morning.
I still think that the idea of bringing water from a distant place is less good (less economic) than bringing water from a nearby place.
And once again there is the issue of desalination that stands in the way and maybe even laying a pipeline...
What do you think of an idea to drag a glacier from northern Canada to the shores of Israel, in order to add a source of fresh water?
To Michael - to your question "It is interesting, then, why did they run the entire project described in the article!"
Because they get money. The company does simulations and nothing else.
(From the company website: DS solutions enable imagining, simulating, and experiencing products)
Shit idea.
You can pray, and at the current rate they won't have glaciers to take when the technology develops.
And by the way, Adam Adom:
Is it not that hard to calculate?
It is interesting, then, for what they managed the entire project described in the article!
Adam Red:
exactly!
The economic calculation will be decisive!
There is no way that is "basically" better.
Michael Rothschild,
There is a constant decrease in the costs of desalination of sea water, see what is happening in Israel, for example, a decrease of tens of percent in the price of desalination of a cubic meter of water within a decade and much more so compared to previous decades. The technology is constantly being perfected and production costs are falling. We see such economic phenomena throughout the technological world (the decrease in the cost of solar cells in relation to their energy production capabilities - estimated at 3% to 5% per year, the decrease in the cost of producing chips in relation to the outputs they provide, etc.). I have no idea what the cost/benefit of dragging a glacier is in relation to the amount of water that such a drag will bring each time, to a selected point on the earth, but it is not that difficult to calculate it, in relation to the cost of desalination of sea water. The economic calculation, almost as always, will decide the scale here as well.
Moshe Hebrew:
What principle do you rely on?
As a principle, local solutions are preferable to overseas solutions (literally).
Refining and streamlining the desalination methods will make it possible to produce fresh water in any country that has an outlet to the sea and determine the rate of desalination without being at the mercy of the people of the north.
What can also be done is, instead of using cubes of expensive fuel to carry a glacier, you can go for an equally large project, but the technology for it has existed for thousands of years - climate change with the help of forests.
When huge forests are planted in arid areas, it will cause a climate change that will bring rain, which will support the continuation of the forest. It is much more profitable than transporting glaciers and the rains will provide all the water needed. This idea is not perfect at all, but it is just an idea in the air like this moving the glaciers.
I just want to correct a mistake from my first post: indeed, fresh water at the same temp and pressure will float above salt water at the same temp and pressure. The intention was that the fresh water that would be released from the glacier, at approximately zero degrees, would sink under the salt water. Eventually a bag of cold fresh water will be a ballast for the tug. Perhaps the right way is to wrap the iceberg, transport it from the cold area, let it warm up and the ice melt, reach the temperature of the sea water - the bag will float and it can be dragged and pumped from.
Especially for the "man" and others: "If their idea doesn't sound ridiculous the first time you hear about it, there is no chance"... Albert Einstein
At first it might not be worth it .. but you will find a way to make it efficient and successful .. come on man .. you have a chance .. given a glacier that reaches the Canary Islands in 141 days .. what do we do with it .. do you have a simulation to offer?
Ami (1)
Being skeptical is easy, answering the questions you raise (and a few others) is more difficult and requires research as we did. Without having my personal opinion on whether it is good or bad in relation to other methods of obtaining fresh water, I think you will agree that bigger skeptics than you ate the hat when airplanes started flying in the sky, spaceships left the earth and several other such examples.
man (3)
Are you also one of those who know exactly what the optimal solutions to all the problems in the world are but have never bothered to apply all this great knowledge they have? I have met many such people, when they are asked to do something themselves, all of a sudden all the confidence in their ideas and the cancellation they cancel others is replaced by a battery of excuses why it is not a good time for them to engage in real things. Where do your disparaging "assumptions" about research and scientists come from?
Sounds like a not so smart idea to say the least
But I guess that for the research the scientists went on several trips in northern Canada.... Played in the simulator….
Move the time and make room for more time (and a nice study came out).
I assume that there are differences between the journey of a tugboat dragging an iceberg behind it and a ship dragging water tanks behind it.
In favor of the glacier, it is said that there is no need to build a container for it.
In favor of the water tanks:
- All the water that came out of the source will reach the destination.
- Pumping water from a tank requires technology that is no longer in the sky.
- Water sources are much closer to the Canary Islands (water-rich northwestern Spain or African countries in the tropical region).
And why is importing water from distant places better than desalination?
For my people - fresh water floats on salt water (at the same temperature and pressure), since the water from the glacier (0 degrees) will be colder than the surrounding water (the ocean) it's a little more complicated...
For a good example of the phenomenon - in the Bosphorus Straits there is a strong southward current on the surface of the water (fresh water that flows from the rivers to the Black Sea continues to the Mediterranean Sea), but a salty water current to the north (Mediterranean water to the Black Sea). Local fishermen would lower their nets into the deep sea when they sailed north.
I am skeptical about this.
Even if they succeed in bringing the glacier and even if it pays off financially compared to other ways of creating drinking water - still no one has considered the enormous ecological hazard of bringing a glacier from one place to another. What does this mean in the glacier environment? How close do you plan to get to the beach? How exactly is the water produced? What is the life time of such a glacier from the moment it reaches its destination and the production operations begin?
If the glacier could be wrapped in a huge plastic so that clean water would not be lost, and all of this could be flooded so that it would not sink the towing ship (fresh water would sink under seawater) or then maybe there is something to talk about - because then this big bag of water could be placed away from the coast and pump the water from it in an orderly manner without the time pressure of a melting glacier.
This kind of technology will change demographics.
Best regards,
Ami Bachar