The seawater intake structures are used, above all, in desalination plants, fish farms and refrigeration circuits for industries and combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power stations.
The function of these structures is to collect water of specific characteristics for the required function, and the design thereof must be carried out so that the negative impacts on the environment may be minimised to the upmost and with adequate characteristics relating to temperature, suspended solids, etc.
In this paper we shall focus upon open intake structures on the sea bed. These structures are elements which are, generally speaking, constructed from reinforced concrete or plastic elements(GRP) covered with concrete, the function of which is the collection of the seawater, which is then transported by means of underwater pipelines to the pump stations, which are located on
land.
After the types of intake structures have been defined, the principal design parameters shall be set out, and finally, we will describe the most recent experiences in which INCREA has participated as designer and PPA as manufacturer and installer.