An aging apparatus and method for accelerating the maturation of bourbon whiskey distilled spirit having characteristics associated with a much longer maturation process is provided. The method of accelerating the maturation of distilled spirits includes providing a storage warehouse secured in a waterway that produces waves and the storage warehouse has an enclosed interior. The method includes storing a plurality of barrels in the enclosed interior of the storage warehouse with the barrels being filled with distilled spirits. The method also includes moving the storage warehouse and the barrels therein by the waves of the waterway so as to circulate the distilled spirits within the plurality of barrels to thereby accelerate the maturation of the distilled spirits. The aging apparatus includes a base structure and a storage warehouse atop and secured to the base structure. The storage warehouse is sized to accommodate barrels filled with distilled spirts.

This invention provides a floating platform with canted columns, and a new method of mooring line makeup and installation method that can be used for the canted columns. In one embodiment, the platform includes 3 columns having upper ends projecting above water surface. The columns are canted or inclined inward from the corner of hull toward the top of column. The 3 columns converge at the top of column such that each column will lean against the other 2 columns. Each column connects to the other 2 columns. Horizontally disposed pontoons interconnect adjacent columns at the lower ends. The columns and pontoons form a closed structure hull to support a foundation structure directly above the top of column.

This invention provides a floating platform with canted columns, and a new method of mooring line makeup and installation method that can be used for the canted columns. In one embodiment, the platform includes 3 columns having upper ends projecting above water surface. The columns are canted or inclined inward from the corner of hull toward the top of column. The 3 columns converge at the top of column such that each column will lean against the other 2 columns. Each column connects to the other 2 columns. Horizontally disposed pontoons interconnect adjacent columns at the lower ends. The columns and pontoons form a closed structure hull to support a foundation structure directly above the top of column.

This invention is directed to a column floater with extended cylinder and a ring buoy-group, which comprises an upright buoy at a water surface, an extended cylinder, a positioning system and a topsides. The top of the upright buoy is above the water surface and a moonpool is either set or not in the center of the upright buoy through the top to the bottom. The extended cylinder, connecting to the bottom of the upright buoy and extending downwards, includes two types of fixed and sliding to form a column floater with fixed extended cylinder and a column floater with sliding extended cylinder respectively. The positioning system is one or two combined of mooring system and DP system. The column floater with extended cylinder is a new type floating platform with multi-purpose, combining advantages of the spar platform and the current cylindrical FPSO, high performance, safety and reliability.

This invention is directed to a column floater with extended cylinder and a ring buoy-group, which comprises an upright buoy at a water surface, an extended cylinder, a positioning system and a topsides. The top of the upright buoy is above the water surface and a moonpool is either set or not in the center of the upright buoy through the top to the bottom. The extended cylinder, connecting to the bottom of the upright buoy and extending downwards, includes two types of fixed and sliding to form a column floater with fixed extended cylinder and a column floater with sliding extended cylinder respectively. The positioning system is one or two combined of mooring system and DP system. The column floater with extended cylinder is a new type floating platform with multi-purpose, combining advantages of the spar platform and the current cylindrical FPSO, high performance, safety and reliability.

A floating power generation platform includes a water plane platform having a plurality of buoyant columns, and at least one tower extending above the water plane platform. The tower is configured to support at least one first power generation system and has a center core configured for stowing a deployable member. The floating power generation platform includes a deployable spar movable between a stowed position, in which the deployable spar is stowed within the center core of the tower, and a deployed position, in which the deployable spar is extended below the water plane platform.

A floating power generation platform includes a water plane platform having a plurality of buoyant columns, and at least one tower extending above the water plane platform. The tower is configured to support at least one first power generation system and has a center core configured for stowing a deployable member. The floating power generation platform includes a deployable spar movable between a stowed position, in which the deployable spar is stowed within the center core of the tower, and a deployed position, in which the deployable spar is extended below the water plane platform.

A wind turbine, having a floating foundation (1), a support structure (2) and a generator (3). The generator (3) is an up-wind generator. The floating foundation (1) is assembled from tubular steel sections (5, 6, 7, 8) of uniform diameter, forming a frame with a mooring turret (4) at one corner. The support structure (2) hays at least two beams (11, 12) extending substantially transverse to the floating foundation (1). The beams are connected at a first end to a respective opposite side of said foundation frame and at a second end to said nacelle (17). The support structure (2) and the floating foundation (1) form a triangle with the nacelle (17) fixedly mounted at the apex. The support structure (2) comprises tensioned backstays (13, 14, 15, 16) supporting the beams (11, 12) and ensuring that they are substantially subjected to compression forces only.

A wind turbine, having a floating foundation (1), a support structure (2) and a generator (3). The generator (3) is an up-wind generator. The floating foundation (1) is assembled from tubular steel sections (5, 6, 7, 8) of uniform diameter, forming a frame with a mooring turret (4) at one corner. The support structure (2) hays at least two beams (11, 12) extending substantially transverse to the floating foundation (1). The beams are connected at a first end to a respective opposite side of said foundation frame and at a second end to said nacelle (17). The support structure (2) and the floating foundation (1) form a triangle with the nacelle (17) fixedly mounted at the apex. The support structure (2) comprises tensioned backstays (13, 14, 15, 16) supporting the beams (11, 12) and ensuring that they are substantially subjected to compression forces only.

Provided is a semi-submersible floating foundation for supporting a wind power generation system. In one embodiment, the floating foundation includes a plurality of outer buoyant columns equidistantly spaced around a center buoyant column that are connected by buoyant structural pontoons. The center buoyant column supports a horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) or a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) energy system. The floating foundation includes motion attenuating extensions with or without porosity attached to the sides of the pontoons. Deepwater station-keeping system of the floating foundation includes a plurality of disconnectable and reconnectable taut or semi-taut mooring lines coupling one or more outer buoyant columns to seabed anchors. Inter-array power cable between a plurality of floating foundations may be free hanging or supported by buoyant modules. Export power cable from a floating foundation to seabed toward shore may be free hanging or supported by buoyant modules.