Offshore floating marina

Abstract

Provided is a floating structure for floating in open water, the floating structure (2, 2') configured to function as a mooring location for a ship, comprising a surrounding structure (10) and an internal space (20), the surrounding structure (10) surrounding the internal space (20), and the surrounding structure (10) including an opening (12) for a ship to enter the internal space (20) from open water or vice versa to leave, and having a connection point (24) for connecting a mooring cable (6) to float the floating structure (2, 2') at a predetermined location in open water, the connection point (24) being on a first side of the surrounding structure (10), and the opening (12) being arranged on a substantially opposite side of the surrounding structure (10), so that the opening (12) is arranged at the downstream end of the floating structure (2, 2'), and the wave energy harvesting system comprises a plurality of floating bodies that can move independently of each other vertically so that each floating body follows the movement of the sea waves when arranged on the sea surface.

Description

Identification of Related Parties

[0001] The inventors of the present invention described in this patent document are Alain Jacquard of Saint-Croix, Switzerland and Lucien Villamos of Voisins-le-Berger, Switzerland. The applicant is Legacy Foundry AG of Switzerland. Copyright and Legal Notice

[0002] Some of the materials disclosed in this patent document are subject to copyright protection. The applicant has no objection to third-party facsimile reproduction of the patent document disclosed as a patent record by the Patent and Trademark Office, but reserves all copyrights in all other cases. Also, the patents or articles of third parties described in this application should not be considered as an approval that the present invention has no right to precede such materials on the grounds of prior art.

Background Art

[0003] The present invention relates to a floating body area, and in particular to a floating wave damper used to reduce the influence of waves on the floating body area, whereby the floating body area exemplified by a marina can be installed offshore.

[0004] Floating marinas and the floating parts of marinas cannot withstand the influence of waves generated offshore, so they can only be constructed in protected sea areas. Furthermore, since almost all coasts near populated areas are already built, it is virtually impossible to further expand existing onshore marinas.

[0005] What is needed is a floating marina that can withstand waves as seen offshore and protect the boats moored there.

[0006] Furthermore, what is needed is a system that can attenuate the influence of waves so that the floating infrastructure does not need to face the full strength of offshore waves.

[0007] A further object of the present invention is to provide a system that enables the construction of a floating island that can withstand waves and harvest a part of the energy provided by the waves.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a system that stores the energy harvested from the waves and supplies energy on demand to the users of any floating structure.

[0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method for operating such a system.

Disclosure of the Invention

[0010] The problem of the present invention is to provide a floating structure that can be installed offshore. This problem can be solved by a floating structure for floating in open waters, preferably an offshore marina, and the floating structure is optionally configured to function as a ship mooring area and includes the following.

[0011] - There is a surrounding structure and an internal space, the surrounding structure surrounds the internal space, and in order to moor at least one ship at the ship mooring location of the floating structure, the surrounding structure includes an opening for the ship to enter the internal space from the open water or vice versa.

[0012] - A connection point for mooring a mooring cable to float the floating structure in a predetermined area of the open sea, the connection point is on the first side of the surrounding structure, the opening is substantially arranged on the opposite side of the surrounding structure, and the opening is arranged at the downstream end of the floating structure.

[0013] This problem is solved by a wave energy harvesting system, which is preferably a wave attenuation device. The wave attenuation device has a plurality of floating bodies, and the floating bodies can move independently of each other in the vertical direction so as to follow the movement of the sea waves when each floating body is arranged on the sea surface.

[0014] The present invention is based on the recognition that the floating structure itself can function as a wave energy harvesting system for ships entering the internal space. Therefore, high waves that may occur in the open ocean do not affect the movement of the ship within the inner space. Further, by arranging mooring connection points on the first side portion of the surrounding structure and arranging an opening for the ship to enter the inner space on the side surface of the surrounding structure, i.e., the side surface substantially opposite to the first side portion, it becomes easier to control the docking of the ship at the mooring slot or slip.

[0015] Furthermore, the floating structure includes a wave energy harvesting system, preferably a wave attenuation device fixed to the surrounding structure at the first side portion of the surrounding structure. Therefore, since the inner space and the opening are kept free from higher waves, it becomes easier to enter or exit the inner space or to maneuver the ship at the mooring location. Such a wave energy harvesting system can also be used to protect islands, coastlines, reefs, etc. from the strength of the waves.

[0016] In a further development of the floating structure or wave power generation system, the wave power generation system includes a plurality of floating bodies, and each floating body can move independently in the vertical direction so as to follow the movement of the sea waves when arranged on the sea surface. Therefore, the strength of the waves is attenuated and energy can be stored for later use. Further, due to the weight of the floating structure, relative movement occurs with respect to the floating bodies.

[0017] In a further development, the wave energy harvesting system includes an energy conversion system adapted to generate electrical energy based on the relative movement of the floating bodies.

[0018] In a further development, the wave energy harvesting system includes a ballast system that can adjust the weight of the upper structure and thus the submergence depth of the floating bodies. Therefore, the energy harvesting performance of the system can be adapted to local weather conditions such as the height of the waves. The weight of the ballast system can be adjusted, for example, by injecting water into the tanks of the ballast system, and the tanks are fixed to the upper structure.

[0019] In a further development form, the energy conversion system includes a pump system for pumping a fluid into a reservoir based on the relative movement between the floating bodies, and the energy conversion system further includes an energy converter for converting the energy of the fluid in the reservoir, preferably the potential energy, into a usable energy such as thermal energy or electrical energy. The pump system provides the possibility of storing usable energy.

[0020] In a further development form, the floating structure includes an upper structure.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] The disclosed technology will be described in more detail symbolically and by way of example based on the figures. The same reference numerals indicate the same components, and reference numerals with different indices indicate components that are functionally equivalent or similar.

Figure 1

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Figure 4

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Figure 6

[0022] The following description is essentially exemplary and describes the best mode of the invention known to the inventor at the time of filing the present application, and does not limit the scope of the present invention in any sense. As a result, the arrangement and / or function of all elements in the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present application can be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, the floating structures 2, 2' are fixed to the mooring point 4. The floating structures 2, 2' are connected to the mooring point 4 by mooring cables 6. The mooring cables 6 may be anchor chains or other means suitable for fixing the floating structures 2, 2' to the mooring point 4, particularly on the downstream side of the mooring point 4. The floating structures 2, 2' are arranged according to the position of the mooring point 4, particularly on the downstream side of the mooring point 4, based on the movement directions W, W' of the surrounding water. More precisely, when the floating water has a direction along the arrow W, the floating structure 2 is arranged at the position shown in FIG. 1. Similarly, the floating structure 2' is arranged at the position shown in FIG. 1 when the water floats from the direction W'. Based on the length of the mooring cable 6, the floating structures 2, 2' are arranged within a circular area, for example, within a circular area with a radius of 500 m, with the mooring point 4 as the center of the circular area.

[0024] Next, referring to FIG. 2, the floating structures 2, 2' of FIG. 1 are shown in detail. The floating structures 2, 2' are positioned according to the mooring point 4, the length of the mooring cable 6, and the directions W, W' of the floating water. The floating structures 2, 2' include a surrounding structure 10 and an internal space 20. Advantageously, the floating structures 2, 2' further include a space 16 for arranging buildings such as a wave energy harvesting system 14, a restaurant, a shop, or a service building. The surrounding structure 10 includes an opening 12 for a ship coming from the surrounding sea area of the floating structures 2, 2' to enter the internal space 20. The internal space 20 can include at least one ship mooring location 18, preferably at least two ship mooring locations 18.

[0025] The mooring cable 6 can be connected to the surrounding structure 10 at the connection point 24 on the first side of the surrounding structure 10. The opening 12 for the ship entering the internal space 20 is arranged on the opposite side of the surrounding structure 10. Therefore, the connection points 24 are respectively directed in the direction of the oncoming wind or floating water. As a result, depending on the opening 12 being arranged on the opposite side of the surrounding structure 10, the opening 12 is directed downstream. Therefore, the ship entering the internal space 20 is more likely to control only small movements when driving against the flowing water and maneuvering into the ship mooring location 18. Further, the floating structures 2, 2', in particular the surrounding structure 10 and any wave energy harvesting system 14, protect the area of the opening 12 from being exposed to higher waves. Such higher waves that can be avoided using the present invention have the effect of complicating the entry of the ship into the internal space 20.

[0026] Next, referring to FIG. 3, the floating structures 2, 2' include the surrounding structure 10 and the internal space 20. The floating structures 2, 2' further include a wave energy harvesting system 14 and optionally a space 16 for arranging a building. The restaurant 30 is optionally arranged on the space 16. The surrounding structure 10 includes a marine opening 12 for a ship to enter the inner space 20 from the sea area around the floating structures 2, 2'.

[0027] The mooring points 4 for mooring the floating structures 2, 2' are located, for example, on the mooring poles 40. The mooring cable 6 passes completely underwater from the mooring pole 40 to the connection point 24. The connection point 24 is arranged on the surrounding structure 10 that can reach deep below the waterline. The surrounding structure 10 constructed to reach deep below the waterline has the effect of preventing the floating structures 2, 2' from being affected by high waves hitting the floating structures 2, 2'. The floating structures 2, 2' include interconnected floating elements 32 connected to the surrounding structure 10. The floating elements 32 are respectively attached to the surrounding structure 10, and each floating element 32 is movable in the vertical direction with respect to the surrounding structure 10 and is also movable in the vertical direction with respect to its nearest adjacent floating element 32. Therefore, each floating element follows the waterline in the vertical direction.

[0028] In the present disclosure, the term "wave" is used to describe the waves of the water in the sea, lake, and / or ocean.

[0029] The system of the present invention includes a floating island made of a rigid superstructure supported on the wave crest by a plurality of floating bodies, and these floating bodies can move freely in the vertical direction, thereby following the up and down movement of the sea.

[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the systems 100, 200 include a rigid superstructure 1200, 2200 indicated above the wave surfaces 1302, 2302 by a flexible structure 1300, 2300 consisting of a large number, for example 10 or more, preferably 100 or more, and more preferably 1000 or more floating bodies 1310, 2310. The floating bodies 1310, 2310 can move freely relative to each other substantially in the vertical direction in accordance with the rising and falling movements of the waves 1302, 2302.

[0031] All or some of the floating bodies 1310, 2310 include alignment features 1314, 2314 that engage corresponding alignment features 1324, 2324 on the superstructures 1200, 2200, preventing creeping of the flexible structures 1300, 2300 relative to the superstructures 1200, 2200. Optionally, all or some of the floating bodies 1310, 2310 are maintained in an upright position by ballasts 1312, 2312 that can be installed below or inside the floating bodies 1310, 2310. Optionally, all or some of the floating bodies 1310, 2310 maintain their horizontal positions relative to each other and / or relative to the superstructures 1200, 2200 by vertically sliding corresponding interlocking features (not shown) as required. Optionally, all or some of the floating bodies maintain their upright states relative to each other by vertically sliding within corresponding interlocking features (not shown) as required.

[0032] The floating bodies 1310 and 2310 carry the superstructures 1200 and 2200 via pistons 1332 and cylinders 1334 that constitute a pump, or via an inflatable cushion 2332. The inflatable cushion may have a toroidal or toroidal, or other suitable shape or configuration, such as a multi-chamber configuration well known in the art. The cylinder 1334 or the inflatable cushion 2332 is fluidly connected to a one-way valve or an element of similar function (not shown) well known in the art, and the fluid pumped by the piston 1332 and the cylinder 1334 or the inflatable cushion 2332 is collected in the storage tanks 1414 and 2414. The fluid used for pumping may be air, water, or other suitable fluid known in the art. The storage tanks 1414 and 2414 are fluidly connected to the energy converters 1500 and 2500 via another piping system 1418 and 2418, and such systems include regulating means 1416 and 2416 for adapting the amount of fluid supplied to the energy converters 1500 and 2500. The piping systems 1412, 1416, 1418, 2412, 2416, 2418 and the storage tanks 1414, 2414 may include pressure transducers or adapters, and monitoring devices (not shown) well known in the art. The energy converters 1500 and 2500 may be generators, but (when the fluid is a compressible fluid) the height or pressure of the fluid can also be converted into another form of energy, such as mechanical movement.

[0033] The superstructures 1200 and 2200 are equipped with ballast systems 1202 and 2202 for adapting their weight to the height of the waves 1302 and 2302 and the surrounding weather conditions, thereby ensuring the optimal performance of the energy harvesting systems 100 and 200. The storage tanks 1414 and 2414 and / or the energy converters 1500 and 2500 and / or other equipment components of the systems 100 and 200 can be installed on another floating facility via the ballast 1202 and 2202 to ensure the maximum adaptability of the superstructure weight.

[0034] When waves 1302 and 2302 are higher than the sum of the height of the floating bodies 1310 and 2310 plus the immersion depth of the floating bodies 1310 and 2310 due to the floating bodies carrying the weights of the superstructures 1200 and 2200 (which can be adapted by using ballasts 1202 and 2202) and the weight of the floating bodies themselves, the floating bodies 1310 and 2310 do not permanently contact the superstructures 1200 and 2200 and follow the downward movement of the waves 1302 and 2302. Since the floating bodies 1310 and 2310 can move freely downward, they do not impose a weight on the superstructures 1200 and 2200. When the floating bodies 1310 and 2310 are pushed upward again by the waves, the floating bodies 1310 and 2310 actuate the pistons 1332 or the inflatable cushions 2332, pushing the pistons 1332 or the inflatable cushions 2332 upward until the floating bodies 1310 and 2310 carry the superstructures 1200 and 2200, thereby pumping fluid into the storage tanks 1414 and 2414 through the collection pipe systems 1412 and 2412. As a result, the storage tanks 1414 and 2414 constitute the storage of energy in the form of the collected fluid or, optionally, in the form of pressurized fluid if a compressible fluid is used.

[0035] When converting the stored energy into another form of energy, such as electricity, etc., the user opens the regulators 1416 and 2416 to generate the required energy on demand.

[0036] Referring next to FIG. 6, an example of the floating body 3300 of the present invention is shown. The main body 3310 of the floating body 3300 has a shape of a triangular prism with a basic shape of an equilateral triangle extending in the vertical direction, with male and female double tails or recesses provided alternately, and is extruded along the vertical axis with the same depth as the side length of the equilateral triangle, and includes mating male 3322 and female 3324 features, as well as alignment features 3314.

[0037] The floating structure of the present invention can provide mooring for any number of ships of any size as required.

[0038] The floating structure of the present invention may include appropriate services, specialized infrastructure and / or facilities, infrastructure and / or facilities for ship construction or repair, medical infrastructure and / or facilities, and / or leisure infrastructure.

[0039] As shown in the illustration, the floating structure is moored offshore and, like a ship at anchor, naturally faces leeward or downstream against the combined effects of wind and waves. As a result, when the entrance of the floating structure forms a floating marina, the ships moored there are maximally protected from the effects of wind and waves. The floating structure can be equipped with a motor, actively directed, or towed to any location as needed. The dimensions shown in this figure are for example only and do not imply limitations on the size and / or ratio of the subject matter of this invention.

[0040] The sides of the surrounding structure facing the combined effects of wind and waves may be protected by another floating infrastructure (wave attenuation device) as part of the floating structure designed to at least partially absorb the force of the waves hitting the surrounding structure. The wave energy harvesting system and the surrounding structure are attached together, but such attachment is done so that the wave energy harvesting system and the rest of the floating structure can move perpendicular to each other.

[0041] International Patent Application PCT / IB2019 / 056405 Modular Floating Structure and Construction Method and PCT / IB2020 / 056129 Modular Floating Area - in their entirety - are expressly incorporated herein by reference and relied upon to define features that may be claimed herein. This is because their entirety is considered to contribute to the solution of the technical problem underlying the invention, and some of the features that may be described below are particularly important.

[0042] The floating body type wave energy harvesting system may include a rigid superstructure installed on a floating building member or buoy. The floating building member follows the movement of the waves, but is ballasted to consume the wave energy when rising by adjusting the buoyancy. The floating building member is guided vertically with respect to the superstructure by a linear guide system and / or an interlocking mechanism between them. The floating building member has a height equivalent to the height of the waves to be attenuated, and ideally it is desirable to be higher than the waves to be attenuated. For example, to attenuate the energy of waves with a height of 2 meters, a floating body with a height of 4 meters is used and adjusted with a weight so that about 75% of it is immersed in water, forming a wall with a height of 4 meters, of which 3 meters can be submerged below the water surface. Several rows of floating building members can be installed to sufficiently attenuate the wave energy.

[0043] To make the floating structure rigid and stable, a part of the structure extends below the water surface to a sufficient depth so that a ship can sail over it without contacting it. This underwater structural part also provides the necessary attachment parts for mooring at least one ship. The underwater structural part may be used to attach the floating structure to a mooring post.

[0044] Infrastructure similar to the wave energy harvesting system according to the present invention can be used to protect other floating infrastructure installed in the offshore area.

[0045] Infrastructure similar to the wave energy harvesting system according to the present invention can be used to reduce the impact of waves on the coast or coral reefs.

[0046] As an advantage, a floating structure is provided that can withstand waves as seen in the offshore area and protects the moored ships.

[0047] As a further advantage, there is provided a floating infrastructure that can attenuate the influence of waves to protect the floating infrastructure or reduce the influence of waves on the coast or coral reefs.

[0048] It should be understood that the specific embodiments disclosed and described in this application represent representative and optimal aspects of the present invention and are in no way intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0049] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the present invention can be embodied as a system, apparatus or method.

[0050] The present invention is described in this application with reference to block diagrams, devices, components, and modules according to various aspects of the present invention. Each functional block of the block diagram and combinations of the functional blocks of the block diagram can be implemented on a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing devices for manufacturing a machine by instructions executed on a computer or other programmable data processing device so that the functions specified in the block diagram can be achieved.

[0051] Therefore, the description of the block diagram supports combinations of methods for performing specific functions, combinations of steps for performing specific functions, and program instruction methods for performing specific functions. Each functional block of the block diagram and flowchart illustration and combinations of the functional blocks of the block diagram may be implemented by a special-purpose hardware-based computer system for performing specific functions or steps, or appropriate combinations thereof.

[0052] Also, the system of this application is intended for the use, sale and / or distribution of all articles, services or information having functions similar to those of this application.

[0053] The specification and drawings of this application are to be understood as illustrative rather than restrictive, and all improvements described in this application are intended to be included within the scope of the invention claimed in this application, even if not explicitly claimed at the time of filing. Therefore, the scope of the invention of this application should be determined not from the mere examples described above, but by the appended claims, or claims corrected or added later, or things legally equivalent thereto. All steps described in the claims of any method or process are executable in any order, unless otherwise specified, and are not limited to the specific order described in the claims. Furthermore, the elements and / or components described in the claims of the apparatus can also be assembled or operationally configured with various substitutions that produce substantially the same results as this application. Generally, the invention of this application is not limited to the specific configuration described in the claims.

[0054] The benefits, advantages, and solutions described in this application should not be considered essential, necessary, or indispensable features or elements of any or all of the claims.

[0055] The terms "consisting of", "composed of", and other similar expressions used in this application are used to represent a non-limiting list of elements, and the devices, processes, methods, articles, or configurations of the present invention composed of that list of elements do not necessarily include only the described elements, but may also include other elements described in this specification. Also, expressions such as "including", "comprising", or "essentially including" are not used with the intention of limiting the scope of the invention to only the recited elements, unless otherwise specified. Combinations and / or improvements of the above-described elements, materials, or structures used in the implementation of the present invention can also be changed or adapted to other designs by those skilled in the art without departing from the general principles of the present invention.

[0056] The patents and documents cited above are incorporated herein by reference to the extent not inconsistent with the present disclosure, unless otherwise stated.

[0057] Other features and embodiments of the present invention are described in the appended claims.

[0058] Furthermore, the present invention is considered to be composed of all possible combinations of all the features described in this specification, the appended feature set and / or the drawings, which are considered to have novelty, inventiveness and industrial applicability.

[0059] Additional features and functionality of the present invention are described in the appended claims and / or the abstract. Those claims and / or the abstract are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety and considered to be part of the filed application.

[0060] In the embodiments of the invention described above, various changes and improvements can be made.

[0061] Although specific and particular embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed and described, extensive improvements, changes and substitutions are contemplated in the above disclosure. The above description includes many specific details, but is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one or other preferred embodiments. In some cases, some features of the present invention may be used without using the corresponding other features.

[0062] Therefore, the above description should be construed broadly and understood as merely an example or illustration, and the spirit and scope of the present invention should be limited only by the claims finally issued in this application.

Claims

**Claim 1** A floating structure (2, 2'), preferably a floating marina, that floats in open water and is configured to function as a mooring location for boats. The floating structure (2, 2') consists of a surrounding structure (10) and an internal space (20). The surrounding structure (10) encloses the internal space (20). To moor at least one boat at the boat mooring location 18 of the floating structure (2, 2'), the surrounding structure (10) includes an opening (12) for the boat to enter or leave the internal space (20) from the open water. The floating structure (2, 2') is provided with a connection point (24) for connecting a mooring cable (6) to float the floating structure (2, 2') at a predetermined location in the open water. The connection point (24) is on the first side of the surrounding structure (10). Since the opening (12) is arranged on the substantially opposite side of the surrounding structure (10), the opening (12) is arranged at the downstream end of the floating structure (2, 2'), the floating structure (2, 2'). **Claim 2** The floating structure (2, 2') according to claim 1, wherein a wave energy harvesting system (14) fixed to the surrounding structure (10) is provided on the first side of the surrounding structure (10). **Claim 3** The wave energy harvesting system (14) includes a plurality of floating bodies. The floating bodies can move independently of each other in the vertical direction so as to follow the movement of sea waves when each floating body is placed on the sea surface. The floating structure (2, 2') according to claim 2. **Claim 4** The floating structure (2, 2') according to claim 3, which is provided with an energy conversion system capable of generating electrical energy based on the relative movement of the floating bodies. **Claim 5** The energy conversion system includes a pump system for pumping a fluid into a reservoir based on the relative movement between the floating bodies, preferably the relative vertical movement. The energy conversion system further includes an energy converter for converting the energy of the fluid in the reservoir, preferably the potential energy, into usable energy, preferably thermal energy or electrical energy. The floating structure (2, 2') according to claim 4. **Claim 6** The floating structure (2, 2') according to claim 5, wherein the floating structure (2, 2') is provided with an upper structure supported by the floating bodies. **Claim 7** A wave energy harvesting system, preferably a wave attenuation device, comprising a plurality of floating bodies, wherein each floating body can move independently in the vertical direction so as to follow the movement of ocean waves when disposed on the sea surface.

8. The wave energy harvesting system according to claim 7, further comprising an energy conversion system, wherein the energy conversion system is capable of generating electrical energy based on the relative movement of the floating bodies.

9. The wave energy harvesting system according to claim 8, wherein the energy conversion system includes a pump system for pumping a fluid into a reservoir based on the relative movement between the floating bodies, and the energy conversion system further includes an energy converter for converting the energy of the fluid in the reservoir, preferably the potential energy, into an available energy, preferably thermal energy or electrical energy.

10. The wave energy harvesting system according to claim 8, further comprising a ballast system (1202, 2202) for adjusting the weight of the upper structures (1200, 2200), thereby adjusting the immersion depth of the floating bodies (1310, 2310).

11. The floating body structure (2, 2') according to claim 1, comprising the wave energy harvesting system according to claim 7.

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