FLOATING PLATFORM FOR HARNESSING WIND ENERGY

Abstract

The invention relates to a floating platform for harnessing wind energy, comprising a tower (1) with a wind turbine (2), and two horizontal, identical cylindrical floating elements (3) parallel to the main longitudinal axis of alignment, the tower and the floating elements being interconnected by bar structures (5). The floating elements are joined to a stabilising element (4) which is situated directly beneath the floating elements (3), said stabilising element comprising two substantially rectangular first concrete slabs (4a), which are solid or more lightweight, with a ribbed structure, arranged perpendicularly to the axes of the floaters and joined to said floaters by means of auxiliary structures.

Claims

1. A floating platform for harnessing wind energy, comprising a tower with a wind turbine, two horizontal, identical cylindrical floating elements made of reinforced or pre-stressed concrete, parallel and closed at their ends; and bar structures linking the tower to the floating elements, wherein a flat stabilising element joined to and situated directly beneath the floating elements, said stabilising element comprising two substantially rectangular first concrete slabs, solid or more lightweight, with a ribbed structure, arranged perpendicularly to the axes of the floating elements and joined to said floating elements by means of auxiliary structures.

2. The floating platform according to claim 1, wherein the stabilising element comprises two substantially rectangular second concrete slabs, either solid or more lightweight, with a ribbed structure, arranged parallel to the axes of the floating elements on the outer part thereof and joined to said floating elements by means of auxiliary structures.

3. The floating platform according to claim 1, wherein the floating elements have an ovoid shaped cross section, are closed at their ends by means of a convex form and are compartmentalised and internally stiffened with transverse partitions or bulkheads.

4. The floating platform according to claim 1, wherein the bar structures and the tower are made of reinforced or pre-stressed concrete.

5. The floating platform according to claim 1, wherein the bar structures and the tower are made of steel.

6. The floating platform according to claim 1, wherein the bar structures and the tower are made of a mixture of steel and concrete.

7. The floating platform according to claim 1, wherein it incorporates a buoy provided with anchoring means to the seabed and/or electrically transmitted rotating means, and/or rotating means for mooring comprising a swivel joint to which the moorings of the platform itself are joined.

8. The floating platform according to claim 7, wherein the anchoring means to the seabed comprise at least three mooring lines with their corresponding anchors and/or concrete blocks and/or piles for the fastening thereof to the seabed.

9. The floating platform according to claim 7, wherein the electrically transmitted rotating means comprise a swivel connector positioned on the buoy or on the platform itself and a cable coming from the seabed and reaching the platform itself.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0044] FIG. 1 is a schematic and perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the floating platform for harnessing wind energy of the present invention.

[0045] FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show schematic perspective views of a preferred embodiment of the floating platform for harnessing wind energy of the present invention, in greater detail.

[0046] FIG. 5 is a schematic and perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the floating platform for harnessing wind energy of the present invention incorporating a buoy.

[0047] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the floating platform for harnessing wind energy of the present invention incorporating a buoy, in greater detail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0048] As shown schematically in FIG. 1, the floating platform for harnessing wind energy using a wind turbine to generate energy, comprises a tower (1) with a wind turbine (2), floating elements (3), a stabilising element (4) and an assembly of bars (5).

[0049] The tower (1) and the floating elements (3) are interconnected by bar structures (5) and, simultaneously, the same bar structures (5) are linked to the floating elements (3), running between them.

[0050] The floating elements (3) are horizontal, identical cylindrical and parallel with an ovoid transverse cross section, in addition to being compartmentalised and internally stiffened with transverse partitions and bulkheads.

[0051] In this preferred exemplary embodiment, the floating elements, the tower and the bar assembly are made of reinforced or pre-stressed concrete.

[0052] In this preferred exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, the floating elements (3) have essentially conical ends.

[0053] As can be seen in the schematic representation in FIGS. 2 and 3, the floating elements (3) have a lower longitudinal stiffening rib (6), as a keel.

[0054] Also shown in FIG. 2 is how the floating elements (3) incorporate a substantially horizontal and flat submerged stabilising element (4) made up of four substantially rectangular slabs: two first slabs (4a) more lightweight and with a ribbed structure, arranged perpendicularly to the axes of the floating elements (3) at the ends and lower part thereof, and two second slabs (4b), also more lightweight and with a ribbed structure, positioned parallel to the axes of the floating elements (3) on the outer lower part thereof.

[0055] This stabilising element (4) is joined to the floating elements (3) by means of auxiliary bar structures (7). In this preferred exemplary embodiment, said slabs are made of reinforced or pre-stressed concrete.

[0056] As shown in the schematic representation of FIGS. 5 and 6, the floating platform for harnessing wind energy of the invention may incorporate a buoy (8) added to the platform of the invention, said buoy (8) being provided with anchoring means on the seabed, electrically transmitted rotating means and rotating means for mooring.

[0057] In the preferred embodiment shown schematically in FIGS. 5 and 6, the anchoring means on the seabed comprise three mooring lines (9) with their corresponding anchors (14) and/or concrete blocks and/or piles for the fastening thereof to the seabed, the electrically transmitted rotating means comprise a swivel connector (10) and a cable (11), the cable (11) coming from the seabed and reaching the platform of the invention, and the rotating means for mooring comprise a swivel joint (13), to which the moorings (12) of the platform itself are joined.

[0058] In this exemplary embodiment, the swivel connector is positioned on the buoy (8) itself.

[0059] The platform described is easily constructed and can be transported without difficulty by means of towing due to its reduced draft and the configuration of its floating hulls for navigation.

[0060] The details, shapes, dimensions and other accessory elements, as well as the materials used to manufacture the floating platform for harnessing wind energy of the invention, may be suitably substituted for others which are technically equivalent, and do not diverge from the essential nature of the invention, nor the scope defined by the claims included below.