Offshore Energy Generation System (OEGS)

Abstract

Disclosed is an Offshore Energy Generation System (OEGS), zero greenhouse gases emissions during operations, earthquake and tsunami proof, nuclear meltdown safe, floating ship-shaped, moored. The INVENTION delivers clean energy in the form of electricity and/or ammonia (NH.sub.3) and freshwater to offshore or onshore consumers. The INVENTION is effective, affordable and reliable solution for the global climate change and the freshwater scarcity crisis. By deploying this INVENTION across the world, the net zero emissions targets from IPCC can be achieved and the water scarcity crisis mitigated. The INVENTION enables better safety of the population served, optimal use of land, eliminate land use conflicts and enables the protection of the world cultural heritage. The INVENTION comprises of an electric power generation system based on nuclear or hydrogen (H.sub.2) fuel cells, ammonia generation, freshwater generation, offshore cranes, data processing centers, blockchain, helideck, telecommunications system, automation and control system, nitrogen and hydrogen generation systems.

Claims

1. An INVENTION comprising: A floating ship-shaped facility safely moored to the seabed eliminating earthquakes and tsunamis impacts on the technical integrity of the INVENTION. An Electric Power Generation System based on nuclear fission or nuclear fusion or Hydrogen (H2) fuel cell. A steam generation system. A seawater collection system. A freshwater generation system using the seawater collected on location and the residual thermal energy generated by the INVENTION. A Hydrogen (H.sub.2) Generation system using the freshwater distilled onboard and the electrical energy generated onboard the INVENTION. A Nitrogen (N.sub.2) Generation System using compressed air and the electrical energy generated onboard the INVENTION. An Ammonia Generation System using the Hydrogen (H.sub.2), the Nitrogen (N.sub.2) and the electrical energy generated onboard the INVENTION. A cooling water system. An electric power export facilities and cables connecting to the consumers, being other offshore structures like FPSOs (Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading), semi-submersible, spars or alike. Or connecting to the host country electrical power grid. A freshwater export system. An ammonia export system. Multiple Offshore Cranes for safe and reliable operations and material handling Living quarters with Helideck. A state of art automation, control and safety system.

2. The INVENTION according to claim 1 wherein said Floating ship-shaped facility safely moored to the seabed could have Type 1: Spread mooring or Type 2: Turret mooring.

3. The INVENTION according to claim 2 wherein said Spread mooring could have where mooring lines are connected to the seabed by means of suction piles, anchors or torpedoes anchors.

4. The INVENTION according to claim 2 wherein said Spread mooring the ship-shaped floating structure could be outfitted with mooring equipment on the perimetry (forward-portside, forward-starboard side, aft-portside and aft-starboard side), where the mooring lines will be connected and properly tensioned as illustrated in the FIGS. 2 and 3.

5. The INVENTION according to claim 2 wherein said Turret mooring, where the bow of the ship-shaped floating structure is outfitted with a turret equipment, as illustrated in the FIGS. 4 and 5

6. The INVENTION according to claim 5 wherein said Turret mooring, the said turret could be installed internally or externally to the ship-shaped structure.

7. The INVENTION cording to claim 5 wherein said Turret mooring, the said turret has the option of being outfitted with a disconnectable system. The INVENTION according to claim 5 wherein said Turret mooring, the said electrical power export line, the freshwater export line and the ammonia export lines pass inside the said turret and are laid on the seabed. The inner portion of the turret outfitted with mooring equipment, where the mooring lines are connected and properly tensioned.

8. The INVENTION according to claim 1 wherein said electric power generation system based on nuclear fission of fusion will be provided with a said cooling water system that will minimize, and almost eliminate, the possibility of a severe nuclear meltdown.

9. The INVENTION according to claim 1 wherein said a freshwater export system to be exported to shore or other offshore or subsea systems via pipelines and/or other marine vessels.

10. The INVENTION according to claim 1 wherein said an ammonia export system to be exported to shore, or other offshore or subsea systems via pipelines and/or other marine vessels.

11. The INVENTION according to claim 1 could also be used to provide energy for other offshore facilities offshore or subsea systems, such as offshore oil and gas production systems needing energy for carbon capture via reinjection into the reservoir, e.g., spars, semis-submersibles, FPSO (Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading) or similar; offshore marine terminals, ports, industrial or recreational parks, offshore and/or underwater computer data centers, aerospace offshore facilities, offshore fish and food processing, etc.

12. The INVENTION according to claim 1 could be fabricated to provide any combination of electric power and/or ammonia and/or freshwater. To help resolve the customer needs and alleviate the climate challenge and water scarcity.

13. The INVENTION according to claim 1 could include with an onboard data center with computing and networking equipment for the purpose of collecting, storing, processing, distributing, or allowing access to large amounts of data or operations for telecommunications, internet or blockchain technologies for crypto currency operations or similar.

14. The INVENTION according to claim 1 could include freshwater storage tanks and/or ammonia storage.

15. The INVENTION according to claim 1 is outfitted with freshwater conditioning systems such as mineralization system and chlorination system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1—High level schematic process view, where the steam generator feeds steam to the steam turbine for electricity generation. The steam coming out the turbine is further used for seawater distillation process to generate freshwater. The remaining steam (not represented) could be used to power certain machines, as an example the freshwater export pumps, Ammonia (NH.sub.3) export pumps (or compressors), seawater intake pumps and others. From a fraction of the freshwater generated onboard, Hydrogen (H.sub.2) is generated via water electrolysis; Nitrogen (N.sub.2) is generated via commercially available systems. Utilizing the Hydrogen (H.sub.2) and the Nitrogen (N.sub.2), Ammonia (NH.sub.3) is generated, and exported to shore via pipeline in liquid or gaseous form.

[0022] FIG. 2—Schematic profile view of the ship-shaped floating structure, outfitted with spread mooring. It shows the general main components layout.

[0023] FIG. 3—Schematic plan view of the ship-shaped floating structure, outfitted with spread mooring. It shows the general main components layout.

[0024] FIG. 4—Schematic profile view of the ship-shaped floating structure, outfitted with Turret. It shows the general main components layout. Differentiation between internal turret and external turret are not shown.

[0025] FIG. 5—Schematic plan view of the ship-shaped floating structure, outfitted with Turret. It shows the general main components layout. Differentiation between internal turret and external turret are not shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The process starts with high heat generation reaction; this heat is transferred to the water surrounding the reactor. The water surrounding the reactor is circulated through a heat exchanger never enters in contact with the secondary heating medium of the heat exchanger. Steam will be generated in the secondary heating medium system. This steam is conditioned and directed to a steam turbine where high voltage electrical power will be generated. The steam that leaves the steam turbine is used in the process of freshwater distillation. From the freshwater distillation the remaining steam will be utilized to drive machinery and will be returned to the beginning of the process for further recirculation. Nitrogen (N.sub.2) is generated onboard via commercially available Nitrogen (N.sub.2) generation systems. Hydrogen (H.sub.2) is generated onboard utilizing a fraction of the freshwater produced via electrolysis process. Combining the Hydrogen (H.sub.2) and the Nitrogen (N.sub.2) in the Ammonia (NH.sub.3) Generation System, we'll have a carbon-free energy source that is exported to shore via subsea pipeline that connects the ship-shaped floating structure to the receiving terminal. The Ammonia (NH.sub.3) could be exported in liquid or gaseous phase, depending on the capabilities of the receiving customer. The receiving shore terminal processes the Ammonia (NH.sub.3) further for sales and distribution. Oxygen (O.sub.2) is a by-product from the Nitrogen (N.sub.2) Generation System and the Hydrogen (H.sub.2) Generation System and is to be safely vented to the atmosphere.

[0027] The INVENTION is outfitted with electrical transformers to condition the power for exportation. The power exported could be alternated current (AC) or direct current (DC), depending on the power level and the distance between the INVENTION and the substation onshore, or at the offshore consumer.

[0028] The subsea power export cable connects to the INVENTION and is laid on the seabed until it reaches the shoreline, or other offshore systems, where it's connected to the receiving substation for further conditioning and distribution to the consumers. This receiving substation, if needed could be located onshore, or in other offshore systems, such as offshore oil and gas production systems, e.g. spars, semi-submersibles, FPSO (Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading), etc.

[0029] If Freshwater is also required, the Seawater from the ocean will be pumped to the freshwater maker plant for distillation. Brine will be returned to the ocean and freshwater will be conditioned and stored in the ship-shaped tanks for further processing and exportation. The storage tanks layout and design are similar to the regular tanker ships found in the market today.

[0030] If Hydrogen (H.sub.2) is also required a Hydrogen (H.sub.2) generation system electrically driven will be supplied using electrolysis and the freshwater distilled as the inputs of the Hydrogen (H.sub.2) generation system.

[0031] If Nitrogen (N.sub.2) is also required a Nitrogen generation system electrically driven will be supplied using commercially available systems.

[0032] If Ammonia (NH.sub.3) is also required, an Ammonia (NH.sub.3) Generation System will combine Hydrogen (H.sub.2) and Nitrogen to produce Ammonia in the form of NH.sub.3. The generated Ammonia (NH.sub.3) is pumped to the shore terminal in liquid or gaseous form via pipeline connecting the ship-shaped floating structure and the shore terminal.

[0033] A subsea pipeline connects the ship-shaped floating structure and is laid on the seabed until it reaches the shoreline where it's connected to freshwater city-grid for further processing and distribution.

[0034] If required a water pump export pumps system is provided that is responsible to transfer the freshwater from the storage tanks to the pipeline that connects to the city grid. If required an Ammonia (NH.sub.3) export system is provided from the storage tanks to the pipeline that connects to the consumers.

[0035] The ship-shaped floating structure is kept in place by a mooring system. Depending on the water depth, oceanic and meteorologic conditions, there are two types of mooring method that could be selected:

[0036] Type 1: Spread mooring, where mooring lines are connected to the seabed by means of suction piles, regular anchors or torpedoes anchors. The ship-shaped floating structure is outfitted with mooring equipment on the four corners (forward-portside, forward-starboard side, aft-portside and aft-starboard side), where the mooring lines will be connected and properly tensioned. This system has an inherent flexibility that allows the floating structure excursion within the operational limits of the whole system

[0037] Type 2: Turret mooring, where the bow of the ship-shaped floating structure is outfitted with a turret equipment, This turret equipment allows multiple 360 degrees free rotation around the center-point of the turret according to the prevailing weather (wind and ocean conditions). The turret could be installed internally or externally to the ship-shaped structure. The electrical power export line, the freshwater and Ammonia export lines pass inside the turret and is laid on the seabed until they reach the consumers. The inner portion of the turret outfitted with mooring equipment, where the mooring lines will be connected and properly tensioned. In case the INVENTION is installed in a hurricane area, disconnectable turret are to be selected. This system has an inherent flexibility that allows the floating structure excursion within the operational limits of the whole system.

[0038] For both types of mooring system, the mooring lines are designed with a combination of chain and synthetic mooring lines, according to the design specific to the installation area.

[0039] Advanced automation and control technology is to be utilized to control all the processes onboard the ship-shaped floating structure. Additionally, encrypted remote control capabilities are installed to enable control from the central control room located in a designated location onshore, where the operator has offices. Safe, reliable and secure remote control is archived by the selection of power cable outfitted with multicore fiber optics, which enables direct connection to the operator's network infrastructure.

[0040] The ship-shaped floating structure is to be outfitted with suitable accommodations for the crew living onboard in a rotation scheme. Helideck to be outfitted on the top of the accommodation in order to allow transportation of people and small parts. Cranes suitable for regular operation and special maintenance are to be outfitted on both sides of the ship-shaped floating structure. Other systems like lighting, air conditioning, compressed air, sewage, firefighting, navigational aids, entertainment, ballast, hot water, and others required by flag State, International Labor Organization and Classification Societies are to be installed to assure safety of man onboard.

[0041] For increased protection, the ship-shaped floating structure is outfitted with an emergency generator capable to sustain emergency systems in operation for a period of 21 days with intensive automation and remote control as described above. The INVENTION is also outfitted with an uninterruptable power system (UPS) that is able to sustain emergency systems operations for few minutes while the emergency generator is automatically started and put online.

[0042] The ship-shaped floating structure is outfitted with the isolation technology called “double hull” on the critical areas (side shell and bottom), according to the state of art shipbuilding current standards.

[0043] The ship-shaped floating structure is yet designed to be built in a regular shipyard, where the integration of the heat generator system will be carried out. The heat generating equipment supplier will deliver the system in large parts for further integration with the ship-shaped floating structure. The INVENTION is also designed to be wet-towed or dry-transported from the shipyard to the final operation location and later at the end of the design life, from the operation to the scrap yard or any other relocation required during the life of the asset.

[0044] The ship-shaped floating structure design life is between 20 and 60 years with major maintenance during the operational life.

[0045] The heat generating source technology chosen could be nuclear fusion, nuclear fission or Hydrogen (H.sub.2) fuel cell. All of them are viable solutions. The latter require a simpler system once electricity is produced directly from the fuel cell, excluding the requirement of steam handling and steam turbines.

[0046] The system is outfitted with multiple redundant emergency pumps and fail-open valves that ensures constant source of cooling medium (seawater) to the heat generating source in order to avoid overheating and further damages.

[0047] The diagram in FIG. 1 illustrates the process described above. The system is scalable from micro to giga generators and as many redundancy sub-systems as required by the client and regulatory authorities. Which will drive the size of the ship-shaped floating structure.

[0048] Additionally, the freshwater storage tanks serves the purpose to regulate the freshwater export flow and as an emergency secondary heat-sink system to cooldown the heat generator. The freshwater storage volume will depend on the operator's preference, could range from 0 hours of storage to multiple days.