Floating wind turbine platform with ballast control and water entrapment plate systems
US9446822B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 31, 2015 |
| Grant date | Sep 20, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 31, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/727
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A floating wind turbine platform includes at least three stabilizing columns, where each stabilizing column has an internal volume for containing ballast. The floating wind turbine platform also includes a tower having mounted in vertical alignment over one of the columns, a turbine rotor coupled to an electrical generator mounted proximate to the upper end of the tower, main beams interconnected to the stabilizing columns, and water-entrapment plates attached to the lower ends of the stabilizing columns. The floating wind turbine platform further includes a ballast control system including an alignment sensor configured to detect a rotation of the tower, and a controller coupled to the alignment sensor for directing a transfer of the ballast from an internal volume of one column to another column upon the alignment sensor detecting rotation of the tower to adjust a vertical alignment of the tower.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.