Floating Energy Bridge With Integrated Road And Windmills
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Solution Overview
Problem
Floating windmills and bridges crossing bodies of water are not economically viable compared to land-based alternatives, necessitating a solution that reduces installation, maintenance, and operational costs while maintaining structural integrity and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A floating energy bridge with integrated windmills, featuring submerged buoyancy structures and prefabricated road elements, allowing for cost-effective installation and maintenance, with buoyancy elements supporting windmill towers and road structures, and incorporating features like truss structures and connectable modules for enhanced stability and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If floating windmills are deployed to generate green energy, then renewable energy production is improved, but installation and maintenance costs increase compared to land-based alternatives
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines bridge and windmill functions into a single integrated structure. The buoyancy structures that support the road also support windmill towers, and the same service vehicles can access both the road and windmill components. This merging eliminates the need for separate bridge and offshore windmill installations, thereby reducing overall installation and maintenance costs while maintaining renewable energy production capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy bridge structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides a road crossing for traffic, supports windmill towers for electricity generation, and enables service access for maintenance. The buoyancy structures and road structure are designed to fulfill both transportation and energy production roles, making the system universally functional and cost-effective compared to separate implementations.
2Ease of operation
If bridges are constructed to cross fjords or bodies of water, then transportation connectivity is improved, but construction and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges bridge construction with windmill installation into a single project. The same buoyancy structures, road elements, and service infrastructure serve both transportation and energy production purposes. This combination allows the bridge construction costs to be offset by windmill revenue generation, thereby improving transportation connectivity while reducing net construction and maintenance costs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If floating structures are used for windmills, then installation flexibility is improved, but structural stability and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The energy bridge is divided into modular elements including discrete buoyancy structures, road segments, and windmill tower positions. These standardized modules can be assembled in various configurations to adapt to different water crossings and wind resources, providing installation flexibility. At the same time, each module is designed with robust connections and stable buoyancy characteristics to ensure structural reliability during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of building traditional fixed offshore windmill foundations that prioritize stability but lack flexibility, the patent inverts the approach by using floating buoyancy structures that naturally adapt to water conditions. The buoyancy structures provide inherent stability through displacement while maintaining the flexibility to be deployed in various locations and configurations, thus achieving both structural reliability and installation adaptability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The energy bridge achieves economic viability by reducing installation and maintenance costs to levels comparable to land-based systems, with potential income generation through electricity sales, enabling toll-free crossings and community benefits over 20 years.
Implementation Method 1
The road structure between the anchoring ends is supported by the buoyancy structures
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides an Energy Bridge, comprising at least one buoyancy structure, preferably a plurality of buoyancy structures, and at least one windmill structure, preferably a plurality of windmill structures. The energy bridge is distinguished in that it further comprises a road structure, wherein the road structure preferably comprises a flat elongated horizontal surface of width of at least 2 m or 2,5 m and length equal to the length or longest dimension of the energy bridge, preferably without obstructions along the full length and width of the road structure, one anchoring structure or connection in either end or corner of the energy bridge, wherein the road structure is coupled directly to the buoyancy structures or truss structure coupled to the buoyancy structures, wherein the full weight of the road structure or the weight between said ends or between road structure element ends, is directly supported by the buoyancy structures or truss structure coupled to the buoyancy structures, wherein the windmill structures are coupled directly to the buoyancy structures or truss structure coupled to the buoyancy structures, wherein the full weight of the windmill structures is supported by the buoyancy structures or truss structure coupled to the buoyancy structures.