151results about "Buoyancy means" patented technology

A Method and Apparatus for Wake Enlargement System have been disclosed. By using water pick ups that are mounted or deployable on a boat controlled filling of ballast tanks is possible without the use of pumps.

A floating wind turbine comprising a hull (1), a wind turbine (2) mounted on top of the hull (1) and a counterweight (3) suspended below the hull (1) by means of counterweight suspension means (18) isdescribed. Also a method for the installation is described. The counterweight (3) comprises one or more counterweight buoyancy tanks (17). When the internal volume of the buoyancy tanks (17) is filled with air, the total buoyancy of the counterweight (3) is close to or greater than its weight. Hereby it is capable of floating in a towing / maintenance position with moderate or no support in the vertical direction from the hull (1) or other vessels. During towing, the hull substantially has the character of a barge, substantially relying on a large waterplane area and shallow draft to maintainstability. When the buoyancy tanks (17) are partly or completely flooded with water, the counterweight (3) will sink to an installed position at a level determined by the counter- weight suspension means (18). In this position the counterweight acts as a keel, stabilizing the foundation. The counterweight suspension means (18) are separately or jointly capable of transfer- ring both forces and moments to the hull (1), thereby enabling the counterweight (3) to stabilize the hull (1) when the counterweight (3) is in its installed position.

An offshore structure is separated into an upper structure and a lower structure. Part or whole of the lower structure is kept in an upright standing state in water. The upper structure is moved to above the lower structure kept in the upright standing state. A uniting step includes one or both of raising the lower structure to arrange the lower structure on a lower side of the upper structure and lowering the upper structure to arrange the upper structure on an upper side of the lower structure by submerging part of a carrier vessel on which the upper structure is mounted while being held by a pair of arm-shaped structures of the carrier vessel and integrating the lower structure with the upper structure. In this way, an offshore structure is moored safely at an offshore installation site without using a crane vessel.

A robotic ocean farm includes a plant support means such as a grid, with a submersible towing system incorporating means for navigation of the support grid in the open ocean, and means for positioning of the support grid in a first surfaced position for sunlight exposure of the plants and a second submerged position for nutrient gathering by the plants. The submersible towing system incorporates one or more tow boats connected to a forward periphery of the grid, each of the tow boats incorporating a propulsion system for navigation of the grid and maintaining lateral tension in the forward periphery of the grid. Additionally, one or more reaction boats are connected to an aft periphery of the grid. Each of the reaction boats incorporates a propulsion system for maintaining lateral tension in the aft periphery of the grid and reacting in concert with the tow boats to maintain longitudinal tension in the grid. A system for harvesting multiple independently operating farms incorporates a harvesting station which is placed or positions itself to meet the farms at predetermined locations during their voyage to harvest and replenish the plants carried on the farm grid. Base stations, separately or as a part of the harvesting station, communicate with the farms provide mutual support and informational exchange for optimized operation of the farms.

Floating construction comprising: a flotation base, comprising at least one essentially hollow body selectively fillable with ballast, where the maximum horizontal dimension of the flotation base is greater than the maximum vertical dimension of the floating base; a building supported by said flotation base preferably comprising a telescopic tower; downward impelling means; and at least three retaining cables the corresponding upper ends of which are attached to said flotation base, preferably in peripheral positions of the flotation base, and the corresponding lower ends of which are attached to said downward impelling means, such that said retaining cables are taut and apply a downward force on said flotation base that increases the stability thereof. And the installation method for this floating construction.

The invention relates to a floating structure comprising: a flotation base comprising at least one substantially hollow body which can be filled selectively with ballast, the maximum horizontal dimension of the flotation base being greater than the maximum vertical dimension of the flotation base; a construction supported on said flotation base preferably comprising a telescopic tower; downward thrust means; and at least three retaining cables, the upper ends of which are connected to the flotation base, preferably in peripheral positions of the flotation base, and the lower ends of which are connected to the downward thrust means, such that the retaining cables are under tension and apply to the flotation base a downward force which increases the stability of the floating structure. The invention further relates to a method of installing this floating structure.