Offshore Wind Turbine Base Anti-Accumulation via Electric Field

Solution Overview

Problem

Offshore wind turbines face issues with aquatic organisms accumulating on their bases, leading to reduced lifespan due to traditional coatings that dissolve in seawater and cause pollution.

Innovation Solution

An offshore wind turbine design that generates an electrical current on the outside of the base using a power supply system, creating an electric field to deter aquatic organisms from accumulating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional coatings containing cuprous oxide or organic tin are applied to the base surface, then aquatic organisms are prevented from accumulating, but the coatings dissolve in seawater causing marine pollution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanti-accumulation effectivenessVSAvoidmarine pollution

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical coatings with an electrical field-based anti-accumulation system. Instead of using chemical substances (cuprous oxide or organic tin coatings) that dissolve and pollute seawater, the invention applies electrical current to the base surface to create an electrical field that repels aquatic organisms, thus substituting chemical protection with electrical protection and eliminating marine pollution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an electrical field as an intermediary between the base and aquatic organisms. The electrical field acts as a mediator that prevents organism attachment without requiring direct contact between the base and harmful chemical coatings, thereby achieving protection without pollution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If no anti-accumulation measure is taken, then marine pollution is avoided, but aquatic organisms accumulate on the base reducing wind turbine lifespan

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarine pollution avoidanceVSAvoidwind turbine lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical coatings with an electrical field-based anti-accumulation system. Instead of using chemical substances (cuprous oxide or organic tin coatings) that dissolve and pollute seawater, the invention applies electrical current to the base surface to create an electrical field that repels aquatic organisms, thus substituting chemical protection with electrical protection and eliminating marine pollution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an electrical field as an intermediary between the base and aquatic organisms. The electrical field acts as a mediator that prevents organism attachment without requiring direct contact between the base and harmful chemical coatings, thereby achieving protection without pollution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 electric field effectively prevents aquatic organisms from attaching to the base, thereby extending the service life of the wind turbine without causing marine pollution.

Implementation Method 1

the power supply system being used to provide electrical energy to the base, so as to electrically energize a surface of the base to form an electric field

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric field: Electric Field

Implementation Method 2

seawater is injected into the reaction chamber through the inlet pipe to produce an oxidation-reduction reaction together with the reactant and the electrode to generate electrical energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation-reduction reaction: Redox Reactions

Data Source

PatentUS12292032B2Offshore wind turbine with anti-accumulation of aquatic organisms

Publication Date: 2025.05.06 NATIONAL KAOHSIUNG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

AI summary

An offshore wind turbine with anti-accumulation of aquatic organisms, comprising: a base with an interior space, the base being made of conductive material; a tower incorporated above the base; a nacelle, connected to the tower; a plurality of blades, each interconnected with the nacelle; and a power supply system electrically connected to the base and disposed within the interior space, the power supply system being used to provide electrical energy to the base to energize the surface of the base to form an electric field.