Offshore Power System Using Compressed Air Buoyancy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional offshore power generating systems are expensive to operate and maintain, pose environmental risks to marine life, and risk toxic leaks or spills, while existing methods are not efficient in utilizing depth-related water pressure for energy generation.

Innovation Solution

An offshore power plant system that injects compressed air into seawater below the sea surface to reduce water density, causing it to rise and flow through a turbine, generating electricity using gravitational force, with the system capable of operating unmanned and using high voltage subsea cables for onshore electricity transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If conventional offshore power systems use turbines to convert kinetic energy from waves, then electricity can be generated, but the systems are expensive to operate and maintain and pose environmental risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectricity generationVSAvoidoperational cost and maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the harmful and costly components (surface turbines, mechanical moving parts exposed to waves) and replaces them with a simpler subsurface system using compressed air bubbles to create buoyancy-driven water flow through turbines located below the surface, reducing maintenance and operational complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Compressed air serves as an intermediary substance that is injected into the water to create bubbles, which reduce water density and create upward flow without requiring direct mechanical interaction with surface waves, thereby simplifying the system while maintaining power generation capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Power

If conventional offshore power systems operate at the surface, then wave kinetic energy can be captured, but there is risk of toxic leaks or spills and harm to marine life

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectricity generationVSAvoidenvironmental risk to marine life

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of capturing wave energy at the surface where it causes environmental harm, the system inverts the approach by operating below the surface where compressed air bubbles create controlled upward flow through subsurface turbines, eliminating exposure to marine life and preventing toxic leaks while still generating electricity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the harmful effect of wave motion into a beneficial controlled flow by using compressed air bubbles to create steady upward currents that drive turbines, transforming the chaotic surface wave energy into a controlled subsurface flow that generates power without environmental harm

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If compressed air is injected into water below the sea surface, then water density is reduced and water rises to flow through turbines, but energy input is required for compression

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy generation outputVSAvoidenergy input for air compression

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the physical parameters of water by injecting compressed air to create bubbles, which reduce water density and create buoyancy-driven upward flow. This parameter change (density reduction) enables gravitational flow through turbines without requiring additional energy input beyond the initial compression, converting potential energy from depth pressure into kinetic energy for power generation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This solution reduces pumping costs by 50%, minimizes environmental harm, and allows flexible location based on water depth, enabling efficient energy generation during droughts and reducing labor costs by operating remotely.

Implementation Method 1

injects compressed air into seawater below the sea surface to reduce water density

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDensity reduction:

Implementation Method 2

causing it to rise and flow through a turbine, generating electricity using gravitational force

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 3

flow through a turbine, generating electricity using gravitational force

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitational force: Gravitation

Implementation Method 4

water rotates blades to convert kinetic energy into potential energy via a generator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectKinetic energy to potential energy conversion:

Implementation Method 5

The electricity produced offshore will be transported to the onshore electricity grid through a high voltage subsea cable

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical energy transmission: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS11585313B2Offshore power system that utilizes pressurized compressed air

Publication Date: 2023.02.21 HYDROELECTRIC CORP

AI summary

A system that produces electricity offshore through a fixed installation, including a minimum of; one turbine, one generator, one compressor set, one high voltage subsea cable, and one control center; the generator is a gas driven generator that produces enough power to operate the electric motors, an onshore control center that operate and monitor the system, and all electricity generated through the water turbines and generators are transported to the onshore electricity grid through a high voltage subsea cable.