Patent · US Active

Vertically installed spar and construction methods

US8689721B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
11References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 11, 2011
Grant dateApr 8, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 27, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/49826
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A vertically installed Spar-type floater for offshore wind turbine and related construction method are provided. The floating system is a gravity stabilized deep-draft floater including a plurality of vertically extending columns, each column containing a ballast material; a ballast tank coupled to the lower end of each of the columns; a top deck having a plurality of through-bores approximate its periphery coupled to the upper end of each of the columns; a wind turbine assembly supported by the top deck at the center; a plurality of mooring lines linking the floating system to the sea floor. The floating system has a temporary vertically towing configuration which allows the entire floating wind turbine system to be assembled at a quayside and towed vertically to an offshore site, and self-installed into operating configuration.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.