Modular Buoyant Platform Structure for Stable Renewable Energy Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing offshore platforms fail to provide adequate buoyancy, stability, and means to mount renewable energy devices effectively, limiting the efficiency and safety of wave and wind power harnessing.
Innovation Solution
A buoyant platform with modular design and improved stability, featuring buoyancy members, mooring members, and renewable energy devices that are securely attached or housed within, allowing for optimal force counteraction and minimal residual internal forces, enabling efficient renewable energy capture, conversion, and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional offshore platforms are used, then structural support is provided, but adequate buoyancy and stability are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is divided into multiple buoyancy members (first, second, and third buoyancy members) positioned at different locations. Each buoyancy member provides localized buoyant force, and their combined effect achieves overall platform stability and adequate buoyancy that cannot be achieved with a single conventional structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The buoyancy members are specifically designed to counteract the weight of the renewable energy devices and platform structure. The buoyant forces generated by these members balance the gravitational forces, providing both adequate buoyancy and stability without requiring excessive structural reinforcement.
2Productivity
If renewable energy devices are mounted on conventional platforms, then energy capture is enabled, but mounting effectiveness and structural optimization are limited
Solution Approach 1:
Different buoyancy members are positioned at specific locations (first, second, and third buoyancy members) to provide localized support for different renewable energy devices. This allows each device to be optimally positioned and mounted according to its specific requirements, enhancing energy capture efficiency while avoiding a single complex mounting structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform design with multiple buoyancy members can accommodate various types of renewable energy devices (wave energy converters, wind turbines, etc.) at different positions. This universal mounting capability enables effective deployment of different energy capture technologies without requiring device-specific complex structures.
3Stability of the object's composition
If platform weight is increased for structural support, then stability improves, but buoyancy adequacy and residual internal forces worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing platform weight for stability, the invention uses buoyancy members that generate upward buoyant forces to counteract the platform and device weights. This approach provides the necessary stability while minimizing residual internal forces, as the buoyant forces directly balance the gravitational forces without creating additional structural stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter from weight-based stability to buoyancy-based stability. By utilizing the buoyant properties of the buoyancy members, the platform achieves stability through force balance rather than mass, thereby reducing residual internal forces while maintaining adequate buoyancy.
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 maximizes stability and safety, allowing for efficient capture, conversion, and storage of renewable energy, with modular configurations supporting various devices and minimizing structural loads.
Implementation Method 1
combining a buoyancy of the one or more buoyancy members with a weight of a renewable energy device such that the respective forces are optimally counteracted
Data Source
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AI summary
A buoyant offshore renewable energy system mounting platform is provided for positioning a renewable energy device in a body of water, the body of water comprising a surface and a bed, the platform comprising a framework, comprising at least three vertexes, and at least one mooring member for positioning the platform relative to the surface and bed of the body of water. Each of the at least three vertexes having at least one buoyancy member. The buoyancy member preferably comprising a plurality of buoyancy units wherein at least one of the buoyancy members comprises a renewable energy device selected from: a renewable energy convertor; a renewable energy harnessing apparatus; a renewable energy processing apparatus; a renewable energy storing apparatus; a renewable energy data capture apparatus; a data storing apparatus.