V-Shaped Floating Platform for Wind Energy Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional wind farms occupy large areas, are not aesthetically pleasing, and face challenges with intermittent wind energy production, complex power delivery, and maintenance when located onshore, while offshore installations require complex underwater support structures.

Innovation Solution

A floating wind farm with a V-shaped platform supporting multiple wind machines, which compresses or liquefies air for steady power generation, featuring collapsible towers, detachable anchors, and integrated air separation capabilities, allowing for optimized positioning, maintenance, and transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wind machines are located onshore, then maintenance is easier, but they occupy large area and are not aesthetically pleasing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance easeVSAvoidland occupation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves wind machines from the land (2D surface) to the water (3D space utilization), allowing wind farms to be located offshore where space is abundant and does not compete with land use for other purposes, thereby resolving the contradiction between land occupation and energy production

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If wind machines are located offshore, then land occupation is reduced, but complex underwater support structures are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveland occupationVSAvoidsupport structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the support structure from the underwater domain and replaces it with a floating platform that operates on the water surface, eliminating the need for complex underwater foundations and anchoring systems while maintaining offshore location benefits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The floating platform serves multiple functions: it supports wind machines for electricity generation, stores compressed air for energy storage, and can be equipped with wave energy converters, making the structure versatile and reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If wind machines operate intermittently, then wind resource utilization is flexible, but power delivery becomes complex and storage is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewind utilization flexibilityVSAvoidpower delivery complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines wind energy conversion with compressed air energy storage in a single floating platform, where excess wind energy compresses air into storage tanks, and stored air drives generators when wind is unavailable, simplifying power delivery by integrating generation and storage functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary compression of air during periods of high wind availability, storing energy in advance for later use during low-wind periods, thereby smoothing out intermittent power generation and simplifying the power delivery system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If traditional floating wind farms generate electricity directly, then power delivery is straightforward, but production varies with wind intermittency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower delivery simplicityVSAvoidsteady power production

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operational parameter from direct wind-to-electricity conversion to wind-to-compressed-air-to-electricity conversion, using the compressibility of air as an intermediate energy storage medium to decouple generation from delivery and ensure steady power output

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

The solution provides a compact, aesthetically acceptable, and efficient means of generating steady power, simplifying maintenance and transport, while enabling air storage for continuous energy production even during intermittent winds.

Implementation Method 1

a floating wind farm comprises a plurality of wind machines positioned on a generally V-shaped floating platform member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

The wind machines power air compressors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWind power: Wind Power

Implementation Method 3

the wind machines to compress and/or liquefy air which is then stored in the floating platform

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 4

electrical generators, refrigeration equipment and other required equipment for liquefying air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLiquefaction: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentUS9188108B2Floating wind farm

Publication Date: 2015.11.17 WILLIAMS HERBERT L

AI summary

A floating wind farm having wind machines positioned on a generally V-shaped floating platform, the platform being tethered to an anchor such that the platform is free to be repositioned by the wind for optimum production. The wind machines power air compressors and the floating platform itself comprises large storage chambers to receive the compressed air, or storage chambers to receive liquefied air.