Offshore Wind Turbine Air Storage for Backup Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coastal locations often face power outages or supply shortages that are not met by land-based power plants, necessitating an independent and secure supplementary power supply that can be stored and accessed as needed.
Innovation Solution
An offshore electrical energy generation system comprising a buoy-mounted wind turbine, an air compressor, and an expansion turbine, which collects wind energy, compresses air, stores it in an underwater tank, and releases it on demand to generate electrical power, providing a secure backup or secondary supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If land-based power plants are used to supply electrical energy to coastal locations, then power generation is achieved, but reliability is insufficient during power outages or supply shortages
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by collecting wind energy and compressing air into the underwater storage tank during periods when power demand is low or wind conditions are favorable. This stored compressed air can then be released on demand during power outages or supply shortages, providing a reliable supplementary power supply that is independent of land-based power plants.
2Reliability
If an independent offshore power supply system is implemented, then reliability during outages is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple functions into a single integrated offshore platform: the buoy-mounted wind turbine collects wind energy, the air compressor compresses air using the wind energy, the underwater tank stores the compressed air, and the expansion turbine generates electricity when air is released. This consolidation into one self-contained system provides independent power supply reliability while managing complexity through functional integration rather than separate distributed components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes pneumatic principles by using compressed air as the energy storage medium and transmission medium. The air compressor compresses air during wind-powered operation, and the expansion turbine expands the compressed air to generate electricity during power outages. This pneumatic mechanism provides a reliable and compact way to store and release energy independently of the grid.
3Quantity of substance
If wind energy is collected and stored in an underwater tank, then energy storage capacity is improved, but loss of energy may occur during compression and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical state of air from atmospheric pressure to compressed high-pressure state in the underwater tank, enabling dense energy storage. The expansion turbine then reverses this parameter change by expanding the compressed air back to atmospheric pressure, converting the stored pneumatic energy into mechanical work to drive the generator. This parameter transformation enables efficient energy storage and retrieval.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to be self-service by using the wind energy collected during operation to power the air compressor, which then charges the underwater storage tank. During power outages, the same system uses the stored compressed air to drive the expansion turbine and generate electricity without requiring external power input. This self-sustaining operation minimizes energy loss by eliminating the need for external power supply during both charging and discharging phases.
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 system effectively utilizes renewable wind energy to store and release power as needed, offering a reliable supplementary power supply independent of land-based equipment, capable of meeting coastal energy demands during outages or shortages.
Implementation Method 1
A wind turbine is mounted to the buoy. An air compressor is stowed within the buoy and coupled to the wind turbine and configured to charge the air storage tank in response to receiving wind energy collected by the wind turbine.
Implementation Method 2
An air compressor is stowed within the buoy and coupled to the wind turbine and configured to charge the air storage tank in response to receiving wind energy collected by the wind turbine.
Implementation Method 3
An expansion turbine stowed within the buoy is configured to receive compressed air stored within the air storage tank and to decompress the compressed air to generate electrical energy.
Data Source
AI summary
In various embodiments, an offshore electrical energy generator is disclosed. The generator includes a buoy configured to float on a body of water. A wind turbine is mounted to the buoy. An air storage tank is configured for submersion. An air compressor is stowed within the buoy and coupled to the wind turbine and configured to charge the air storage tank in response to receiving wind energy collected by the wind turbine. An expansion turbine is stowed within the buoy and is configured to receive compressed air stored within the air storage tank and to decompress the compressed air to generate electrical energy.