Water conservation using floating optically-reflective devices

Abstract

Embodiments generally relate to methods and apparatuses for conserving water in a reservoir. In one embodiment, the method comprises deploying onto the top surface of water in a reservoir a floatable device with a wettable lower surface. The device comprises a first element and a second element, the first element providing the device with a high albedo upper surface. In one embodiment the first element comprises a plurality of highly reflective particles and the second element comprises a binder configured to hold the reflective particles together.

1 . A method for conserving water in a reservoir, the method comprising:
 deploying onto the top surface of water in a reservoir a floatable device with a wettable lower surface;   wherein the device comprises a first element and a second element, the first element providing the device with a high albedo upper surface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first element comprises a plurality of highly reflective particles and wherein at least one of the first element and the second element provides the device with the wettable lower surface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the second element comprises a binder configured to hold the reflective particles together. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the reflective particles comprise hollow glass particles. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the binder comprises a biodegradable or compostable material. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the biodegradable or compostable material is PLA. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the device comprises a central member configured to be non-rigidly attached to an anchoring device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the upper surface of the device comprises a plurality of similarly shaped templates, each template non-rigidly attached to the central member. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the non-rigid attachment of the templates to the central member comprises a binder. 
     
     
         10 . A method for cooling a body containing water trapped in the form of ice, snow, or permafrost, the method comprising:
 deploying onto an upper surface of the body a floatable device with a wettable lower surface;   wherein the device comprises a first element and a second element, the first element providing the device with a high albedo upper surface.   
     
     
         11 . A method of forming a floatable high albedo device with a wettable lower surface, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of particles having a high reflectivity to incident light over a large solid angle of incidence;   providing a binder;   mixing the binder with the plurality of particles;   forming the mixture of binder and particles to a predetermined shape; and   exposing the shaped mixture to a predetermined temperature or through a predetermined sequence of temperatures for a predetermined time to form the device;   wherein the device comprises a wettable lower surface.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the plurality of particles comprises hollow glass particles. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the binder comprises a biodegradable or compostable material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the biodegradable or compostable material is PLA. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the predetermined shape comprises a central member configured to be non-rigidly attached to an anchoring device attached to the bed of a reservoir. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the predetermined shape comprises a plurality of similarly shaped templates, each template attached to the central member. 
     
     
         17 . A floatable high albedo device with a wettable lower surface, the device comprising:
 a plurality of highly reflective particles; and   a binder configured to hold the reflective particles together;   wherein the device comprises a high albedo upper surface and a wettable lower surface.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the reflective particles comprise hollow glass particles. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the binder comprises PLA. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 17  further comprising a central member configured to be attached to an anchoring device attached to one of the bed of a reservoir, the shore of a reservoir, and a reservoir dock. 
     
     
         21 . A floatable high albedo device with a wettable lower surface, the device comprising:
 a plurality of highly reflective particles; and   a container at least partially enclosing the plurality of highly reflective particles.