Floating Wind Platform Stabilization via Buoyancy and Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Offshore wind energy harnessing faces challenges due to stability issues against wind, waves, and transient acceleration forces, making it difficult to effectively utilize power generated by wind turbines deployed in deep ocean regions.
Innovation Solution
A floating wind power platform with a combination of stabilizers, struts, and floats, along with an electronic motion control system and propellers, provides stability and orientation control, allowing for efficient energy capture and deployment in offshore environments without anchoring or tethering, and can be configured for both free-floating and moored platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a floating platform is deployed in deep ocean regions to harness wind energy, then access to high-wind deep ocean regions is enabled, but platform stability against wind, waves, and transient acceleration forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is divided into separate functional modules including a floating base, wind turbine assembly, and stabilization components. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function while maintaining overall system stability in deep ocean deployments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs counterbalancing mechanisms and stabilized floatation systems that use buoyancy forces to counteract the destabilizing effects of wind, waves, and turbine acceleration forces, maintaining platform stability despite the floating configuration
2Stability of the object's composition
If the platform uses stabilizers, struts, and floats to maintain stability, then platform stability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple stabilization functions are merged into integrated structural elements. The struts serve both as structural support and stabilization components, while the floats provide both buoyancy and stabilizing moments. This merging reduces the number of separate components needed compared to traditional approaches
Solution Approach 2:
The platform components are designed with multiple functions: the floating base provides both support and stabilization, the struts serve as both structural elements and stabilizing members, and the stabilizers contribute to both structural integrity and rotational stability. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity
3Measurement precision
If an electronic motion control system with propellers is added to control position and orientation, then positioning accuracy improves, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The platform uses passive stabilization through its floating base and stabilizer configuration to maintain position and orientation without requiring active control systems. The mechanical design provides inherent stability that reduces or eliminates the need for complex electronic motion control and propeller systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the need for complex active motion control systems by extracting the stabilization function into the passive mechanical design of the floating base and stabilizers. This eliminates the electronic control system, propellers, and associated complexity while maintaining positioning capability
4Ease of manufacture
If the platform is designed for free-floating deployment without anchoring, then ease of deployment improves, but stability against environmental forces worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The floating base is designed with optimized buoyancy distribution and stabilizing moments that counteract environmental forces such as wind, waves, and currents. This passive counterbalancing enables stable free-floating deployment without anchoring while maintaining platform position and orientation
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using active anchoring systems to prevent movement, the platform inverts the approach by designing a floating base that actively seeks and maintains stable equilibrium positions through passive buoyancy and stabilizing forces, enabling ease of deployment without anchors
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 platform maintains stability and efficiently captures wind energy, even in harsh offshore conditions, by using a combination of structural and dynamic stabilization methods, enabling effective energy production and positioning relative to wind direction.
Implementation Method 1
a floating base that is stabilized by a combination of stabilizers, struts, and floats
Implementation Method 2
The forward struts 134 and the aft strut 140 provide rotational stability to the floating wind power platform 100 about a vertical axis of the tower 108
Implementation Method 3
a wind turbine that is attached to the tower 108 and that converts wind energy into electrical energy
Implementation Method 4
The platform may furthermore include a motion control system 126 and a set of propellers 124. The propellers 124 and the motion control system 126 may control a position and an orientation of the floating wind power platform 100 relative to a direction of the wind
Data Source
AI summary
A floating wind power platform is suitable for offshore deployment in deep-sea environments. The platform includes a tower that supports a wind turbine and a base support structure that is stabilized by a combination of stabilizers, struts, and floats. The platform furthermore includes a set of propellers and an electronic motion control system to control position and orientation relative to the wind. The floating wind power platform may be deployed in groups of connected platforms tethered to a centralized fuel production platform, carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and sequestration platform, or other processing platform that transforms and/or utilizes energy captured from the wind power platforms.