574 results about "BARGE" patented technology

An apparatus is disclosed for a turbine for generating electrical power from water or air flow comprising at least one rotor disk having a plurality of hydrofoil blades, a guide vanes, a cylindrical housing, and a generator means. A rim generator comprising a magnet race rotor rim and fixed stator coils in the housing is used. The apparatus is fitted with a screen to stop the ingress of debris and marine life, and a skirt augmenter device to reduce the Betz effect. The apparatus is preferably for sub-sea deployment and driven by tidal currents, but may be powered by river current or wave driven air or by wind. The apparatus may be deployed on at least one telescoping pole, tethered to the sea-bed and kept buoyant by buoyant concrete in the housing, inserted in a dam, under a barge or in a tidal power array.

Device, system and method for sampling of soft sediments with retention of sample material and profile. A barge is anchored and stabilized in position; sampling tubes are driven through underlying sediments using continuous and controllable translational pneumatic force; a torpedo-shaped end piece leads the sampling tubes into the sediments. Once at desired depth, a rotational force is applied to sampling tubes. Fins located around torpedo prevent the torpedo from rotating and connection between leading sampling tube and torpedo is tightened. O-ring located between torpedo and leading sampling tube is squeezed as a result of such tightening and bulges inward pinching the core inside sampling tube. During retrieval, core is more likely to break at the location of the pinch which has introduced structural discontinuity; core above the pinch is capped by compacted material at the pinch. O-ring does not disturb sample integrity during descent. Winch and pulley mechanism may assist.

An approach is provided for virtual agent session monitoring and barge-in. A platform monitors content of a communication session between a virtual agent and a user and determines whether the content satisfies a pre-defined rule. Further, the platform selectively initiates a barge-in of the communication session by a live agent based on the determination.

A marine power system comprises a motor for providing propulsion. It also comprises an energy storage unit (ESU) for storing and supplying energy to the motor. A prime power system is connected to the ESU and motor for selectively providing energy to these subsystems through a bus. The motor selectively receives energy from the prime power system and the ESU and can supply regenerative braking energy to the bus. The system can also accommodate multiple generator sets providing system power. The ESU can also provide starting power for the prime power system. Alternately, the prime power system drives a mechanical power system output shaft connected to the motor, and the marine system comprises an alternator driven by the prime power system output shaft. The ESU can transmit energy to the alternator. The prime power system can be located on a tugboat displacing a barge carrying the energy storage unit.

A speech recognition system plays prompts to a user in order to obtain information from the user. If the user begins to speak, the prompt should stop. However, the system may receive sounds other than speech from the user while playing a prompt, in which case the prompt should continue. The system temporarily stops a prompt when it detects a sound or when it preliminarily determines that a detected sound may be a target sound (such as words from the user). The system then determines whether the received sound is a target sound or some other sound (such as coughing or a door shutting). If the received sound is not determined to be a target sound, then the prompt is resumed. The prompt can be resumed at any appropriate point, such as the point where it was stopped, a prior phrase boundary, or the beginning of the prompt.

A method for the structural design and engineering of an offshore wind power generator unit hoisting platform is provided, which is characterized in that: a special barge is adopted to convey the offshore wind power generator unit and a self-elevating wind power generator unit hoisting platform to an offshore wind tower body that has been installed beforehand; elevate a hoisting platform (1) step by step to the top of the wind tower body; lock and elevate the hoisting platform (1) with the wind tower body (14); elevate a hoisting pallet (10) and the wind power generator unit (12) to the top of the wind tower body (14) and then displace them to the position right above the top of the tower body (14), overlap with a connecting center at the top of the tower body and then carry out connection and fixing; hoist a blade (13) to the to the top of the wind tower body (14); install the blade (13) on the generator unit. Finally, lower down the hoisting platform step by step and return it to the special barge to complete the hoisting operation.

A tidal-powered desalinization system is mounted on a barge that oscillates about fixed pier structures, generating a two-way pumping action. The two-way pumping action is changed to a single direction flow of seawater. The sea water is directed into an on-board desalinization system. Fresh water is produced and collected in reservoirs, without an intervening generation of electricity.

A manual marine barge winch includes a housing, a winch-line holding drum mounted for rotation on the housing, a winch-line coupled to the drum and adapted to be wound onto and off of the holding drum to tension and pay out the winch, a drum drive for rotating the drum to tension and to pay out the winch line, and at least one winch-line engaging roller adapted to engage the winch line at least during tensioning of the winch. Preferably at least one of the winch line engaging rollers is a powered or driven roller for driving the winch line.

A system achieving a high density of transported natural gas by compressing it to high pressures typically above 5 MPa to transport the gas in a modified composition that permits a very low compressibility factor at near ambient temperature either above or below. This reduces greatly the size of the cooling systems that are required. In some cases cooling of the compressed gas may be achieved in a simple heat exchanger cooled by air or water. The transport of the gas takes place in self propelled ships or non-self propelled barges fitted with a cargo containment system capable of storing the cargo at high pressures, typically above 5 MPa and usually not above 25 MPa. The transport vessel may carry a store of higher molecular weight gases (c2 through c7) that when mixed with the incoming cargo results in a molecular weight of the mixture of at least 22 and possibly as high as 28 or higher. The store of higher molecular weight cargo may be gained from gases that condense during discharge of the vessel at its destination due to the adiabatic cooling of the cargo during discharge. These liquids may be retained aboard and transported back to the origin. If insufficient quantities of heavy gases are available at the origin they may be loaded at the destination. If required, the composition of the heavy gases transported back to the origin may be changed through partial discharge or partial receipt of additional hydrocarbons or a combination thereof at the destination point.

A wave-powered device having enhanced motion. The device including first, second, and third barges, with the second barge having a first reservoir and a second reservoir. The first and second reservoirs being coupled by a first passageway to permit a first fluid to selectively and passively move between the first and second reservoirs in a predetermined manner to increase the pitching moment of the second barge while the second barge pitches while floating over waves. A first coupling mechanism is coupled between the first and second barges to enable the first and second barges to move relative to one another, and a second coupling mechanism is coupled between the second and third barges to enable the second and third barges to move relative to one another.

Ballast water treatment apparatus and methods for preventing foreign aquatic invasive species form entering marine ecological zones by translocation in ship's ballast water. The apparatus includes a housing, a filter member, and UV water treatment chambers. Methods include use of a ship's fire hydrant system or ballast water discharge port for moving ballast water from the ship's ballast tanks into the apparatus for filtration and treatment. In-port service vessels and barges as well as dock-side service vehicles are equipped with the various treatment and filtration apparatus to provided in-port or dock-side ballast water treatment services. Related methods are also provided.

Wave energy conversion to produce electricity uses wave-engaging articulated, forward and after barges connected to a center inertial barge. A damper plate attached to the central barge minimizes heaving to increase stability. The barges use composite materials, steel or other materials that can withstand the impact and wear caused by a corrosive weather environment. A movable ballast weight in each barge adjusts the mass moment of inertia, and changes the natural pitching frequency. Electrical energy is generated from the motions of the barges and the movement of the movable ballast weights being converted by linear induction motor/generators and/or Pelton Wheel hydraulic systems connected to electrical generators. A dynamic computer control system controls the energy generating system to keep the forward/after barges and the movable ballast moving in phase with the wave excitation force. During dangerous wave action, the system is submerged and then re-surfaced when the waves have subsided.

Apparatus for remotely operated fluid pumping in work spaces, particularly suitable for the cleaning of enclosed space tanks such as those on marine vessels. The apparatus comprises one or more arm assemblies, each made up of two or more arm sections each, with the arm assembly mounted within of the tank. Hydraulic rotary actuators disposed between the arm sections provide up to 360 degree rotation of one arm section with respect to the next. A nozzle is mounted on a pair of hydraulic rotary actuators near the end of the arm assembly distal from the mount, with a hose supplying fluid from a supply pump to the nozzle. Fluids and solids from the cleaning operation can be pumped from the area being cleaned via a discharge pump to a holding vessel, such as a disposal barge. A video camera is mounted on the arm assembly, preferably at the nozzle, to permit an operator to remotely view the cleaning process and area. A control panel is preferably remotely located where an operator can fully control the device with the assistance of the video camera, including fluid flow, position of the arm assembly, and direction of fluid flow from the nozzle.

A vessel for transporting liquefied natural gas is provided. The vessel generally includes a gas transfer system for on-loading and off-loading natural gas to and from the vessel at essentially ambient temperature. The vessel further includes a gas processing facility for selectively providing liquefaction and regasification of the natural gas. The vessel also includes a containment structure for containing the liquefied natural gas during transport. The vessel may be a marine vessel or a barge vessel for transporting LNG over water, or a trailer vessel for transporting LNG overthe-road. A method for transporting LNG is also provided, that provides on-loading of natural gas onto a vessel, condensing the natural gas, storing the gas on the vessel in liquefied form, transporting the gas to an import terminal, vaporizing the gas, and off-loading the gas at the terminal.

The invention is a distributor tray for a column (1) for heating and/or material exchange between a gas (G) and a liquid (L), comprising at least one wall (6) defining compartments (8) on one of the surfaces of the tray. The walls are perforated (7) to allow part of the liquid to flow between compartments (8). Each compartment comprise at least one means (5) providing passage of the liquid through the tray and at least one means providing passage of the gas through the tray. The invention also relates to a gas/liquid contact column, a gas treatment unit, a CO₂ capture unit, a distillation unit, and an offshore floating barge comprising the distributor tray. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a tray

A novel barge structure for transporting fresh water from one marine environment location to another is described having critical parameters. The barge is constructed of flexible material and preferably is filled to less than 50 percent of its capacity, typically greater than about 25,000 tonnes, so as to float with flat upper and lower surfaces and to have a relatively shallow depth as compared with its length and width. The flexible nature of the structure enables waves to be accommodated without significant stresses which otherwise would require the use of high strength materials. A system of heavy straps acts to prevent propagating rips and to distribute the concentrated tow force over the bag.

The invention relates to a method for installing an offshore wind turbine (5) comprising the steps of preparing an offshore foundation (5) for receiving and retaining a part of said wind turbine, moving said wind turbine in substantially vertical (erected) position from an onshore position to a transit position on a barge system (2), transporting said barge system to the site of said offshore foundation (5), moving said wind turbine from said transit position to an installation position on said barge system, positioning said part of the wind turbine in relation to said foundation, and lowering the barge system in relation to the water level so that said part of the wind turbine engages with said prepared offshore foundation (5).

A stable floating barge-platform for offshore operations and a method for assembling same. The barge-platform is assembled from a plurality of substantially identical, buoyant modules, all of which have substantially the same outer configuration. The buoyant modules are constructed onshore and transported to an offshore location where they are positioned and connected together to form the platform. When connected, an opening will be present through the center of the platform. This opening reduces the bottom area of the platform and accordingly substantially reduces the wave forces on the platform.

A modular tank unit for utilizing vessels of opportunity to serve as carriers for transportation and handling of specialty liquids or flowable particulate products or to serve as a terminal ashore receiving and dispensing to truck, rail, barge or other receiving facilities. The modular tank unit has a rectangular intermodal framework of predetermined dimension and tare weight permitting its transportation by cargo vessel, hopper barge and by rail for positioning inland or at shore facilities. A tank may be adapted for other modes of transportation and may be removably secured within the rectangular framework. The modular tank unit in its smaller dimension can be transported empty by rail and can be positioned in the field by portable crane. The modular tank unit defines a pump compartment having a pumping and draining manifold and portable pump and valve assembly for fluid handling, enabling the modular tank unit to be “active” for power energized pumping or “passive” for gravity discharge.

Installation for harvesting energy of ocean currents (IHOC) in deepwaters is based on utilization of a semisubmersible platform and the multiple of vertically oriented Darrieus type hydraulic turbines. The turbines are located as close as possible to ocean surface, where speed of current is usually at its maximum. Since speed of current fluctuate during the seasons a system controlling buoyancy force of that keeps IHOC floating near surface is employed. The mooring system consists of three tethers, which prevent transferring of overturning moment applied to IHOC to anchoring base. The electric power generators are located in a machinery room on a structure well above sea level and would transmit electric power to the shore utilizing flexible cable. During hurricane it will be lowered to the depth preventing turbines from being affected by wave actions, at the same time it would keep machinery room above wave action. For the purpose of delivery assembled on shore Turbine Housing to destination site and installing it there a special convoy is formed consisting of Catamaran Delivery Barge and Stabilizing Platform.

The second Embodiment of this invention is designed to harvest energy of tides in deepwaters.