F05B2240/9151

MOORING STRUCTURE FOR OCEAN WAVE ENERGY CONVERTERS
20220219791 · 2022-07-14 ·

A mooring system for an Ocean Wave Energy Converters (OWEC) includes multiple structural members such as legs and braces that are linearly extendible and connected using mobile joints, each joint providing two degrees of freedom for rotations about the joint. Mobile joints also attach bottom ends of the legs to mooring points. A jacking system can change lengths of the extensible structural members to adjust depth of the OWEC for operation or for storm safety, to lift the OWEC out of the water for maintenance, or to align the OWEC to an incoming wave direction.

Exclusion barrier
11297824 · 2022-04-12 ·

An improved exclusion barrier including a plurality of elongate members extending in a generally upright condition between a sea floor and a sea surface. The elongate members are improved to provide a more uniform surface area for the prevention of sharks passing through upper portions of the barrier and maximizing the exclusion capabilities of the overall barrier network. The elongate members include, in addition to permanent magnets, hydro-electric power generation mechanisms for powering electro-magnets within the elongate members to produce a stronger electro-magnetic deterrent field across the barrier network, and also include telescoping mechanisms to allow for a variance in length of each member in coordination with changing wave and water levels and to provide additional pump action for hydro-electric power generation within each elongate member. The exclusion barrier is also secured to the sea floor by an anchoring base having evenly spaced anchoring locations.

Offshore Wind Turbines and Methods for Deploying and Installing Same

An offshore wind turbine includes a ballast adjustable hull. In addition, the offshore wind turbine includes a telescopic tower movably coupled to the hull. The tower has a central axis and comprises a plurality of nested concentrically arranged elongate tubulars. Further, the offshore wind turbine includes a ballast adjustable elevator disposed about the telescopic tower and movably coupled to the hull. The elevator is configured to lift one or more of the plurality of tubulars of the tower axially upward relative to the hull. Still further, the offshore wind turbine includes a nacelle coupled to an upper end of one of the plurality of tubulars of the tower. Moreover, the offshore wind turbine includes a rotor assembly coupled to the nacelle.

Wind turbine shipping method
10968895 · 2021-04-06 · ·

A method ships a wind tower by nesting a plurality of sections of the tower. The plurality of nested sections includes a radially outermost section. Each of the sections has a bottom end configured to be closer to a bottom of the tower, and a top end configured to be closer to a top of the tower. Each of the bottom ends has an internal flange and/or an external flange, and each of the top ends has the other of the internal flange and/or the external flange. The method mounts a removable force distribution fixture to the radially outermost section. The fixture suspends the radially outermost section to form a single shipping unit. The fixture is configured to distribute force along the tower when it is attached to a hinge and tilted up using a force generating member. The shipping unit is configured to ship as a single unit.

Energy generation, storage and management system
11063442 · 2021-07-13 ·

A system for generating, storing and managing energy features a solar-power center, a wind-power center, a hydrogen-power center with hydrogen fuel cells, a hydrogen supply center operable for producing hydrogen, and an energy storage center with both hydrogen storage tanks and one or more rechargeable batteries. An energy management subsystem monitors energy consumption from the system and available energy reserves at the power storage center, and manages the different centers based at least partly on the monitored consumption and reserves. A cooling loop circulates hydrogen for cooling of mechanical and electrical equipment, while heating loops use fuel cell waste heat and collected solar thermal energy for heat-requiring applications, such as warming of the battery storage in cold weather climates. Black-out/brown-out restart capability is included, as well as novel wind turbines whose rotor heights are autonomously adjusted to an optimal elevation based on wind conditions.

Fixture for tilt-up wind turbine installation
11053704 · 2021-07-06 · ·

A method installs a wind turbine. The method provides an assembled turbine in a non-vertical orientation. The turbine includes a tower, and a nacelle coupled to blades at the top end of the tower. The blades define a strike zone when the turbine is assembled. The method forms a hinged connection adjacent to or at the bottom end of the tower. The hinged connection is configured so that the assembled turbine may be tilted upwardly about a pivot point of the hinge. The method also controls a force distribution fixture to apply a force to the tower about the pivot point of the hinged connection to tilt the tower upwardly. The fixture includes a tension member. The tension member is tensioned between the fixture and the strike zone. The tension member at least in part counteracts a bending moment caused by the weight of the assembled turbine during tilt-up.

Marine Construction with Concrete Boat Landing Structure

The invention relates to a boat landing structure suitable for being used in a marine construction, wherein said marine construction comprises, essentially, a concrete shaft intended for being installed anchored at a depth level with respect to the water level, and wherein said boat landing structure comprises two substantially vertical and parallel ribs, integrated in the shaft of the marine construction and projecting out from same, wherein said ribs are made partially or entirely of concrete. Likewise, the space comprised between said ribs houses an access ladder suitable for being used by personnel accessing the marine construction from an operation boat. The invention also relates to a marine construction and a segment comprising the mentioned boat landing structure.

Self-Erecting Tower System and Associated Methods
20200347634 · 2020-11-05 · ·

A self-erecting structure system including an external structure apparatus including a plurality of external structure modules, each module comprising a plurality of legs, an internal structure apparatus configured to be temporarily be positioned within an area bounded by the external structure apparatus, the internal structure apparatus comprising a plurality of internal structure modules, and a platform member comprising, an inner aperture through which the internal structure apparatus may pass, an internal structure locking device, a plurality of outer apertures through which legs of the external structure apparatus may pass, a plurality of external structure locking devices, a primary lifting system, and a secondary lifting system configured. One of the primary lifting system and the second lifting system may raise the internal structure apparatus until a lower end thereof can be fixedly attached to the platform member. The platform member is configured to fixedly attach to the internal structure apparatus.

Energy Generation, Storage and Management System
20200343733 · 2020-10-29 ·

A system for generating, storing and managing energy features a solar-power center, a wind-power center, a hydrogen-power center with hydrogen fuel cells, a hydrogen supply center operable for producing hydrogen, and an energy storage center with both hydrogen storage tanks and one or more rechargeable batteries. An energy management subsystem monitors energy consumption from the system and available energy reserves at the power storage center, and manages the different centers based at least partly on the monitored consumption and reserves. A cooling loop circulates hydrogen for cooling of mechanical and electrical equipment, while heating loops use fuel cell waste heat and collected solar thermal energy for heat-requiring applications, such as warming of the battery storage in cold weather climates. Black-out/brown-out restart capability is included, as well as novel wind turbines whose rotor heights are autonomously adjusted to an optimal elevation based on wind conditions.

Floating structure and method of installing same

Floating construction comprising: a flotation base, comprising at least one essentially hollow body selectively fillable with ballast, where the maximum horizontal dimension of the flotation base is greater than the maximum vertical dimension of the floating base; a building supported by said flotation base preferably comprising a telescopic tower; downward impelling means; and at least three retaining cables the corresponding upper ends of which are attached to said flotation base, preferably in peripheral positions of the flotation base, and the corresponding lower ends of which are attached to said downward impelling means, such that said retaining cables are taut and apply a downward force on said flotation base that increases the stability thereof. And the installation method for this floating construction.