Hull for a floating wind turbine platform
AssigneeUniversity of Maine System Board of Trustees
InventorsHabib J. Dagher, Anthony M. Viselli, Mark Dwyer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hull for a semi-submersible wind turbine platform capable of floating on a body of water and supporting a wind turbine includes a keystone and at least three bottom beams extending radially outward of the keystone. Each bottom beam has a primary beam portion and a column base portion, wherein the column base portion is configured to support an outer column of the hull thereon, and wherein the primary beam portion defines a first ballast compartment therein. The first ballast compartment is in fluid communication with water in the body of water in which the hull is floating.
Claims16
A hull for a semi-submersible wind turbine platform capable of floating on a body of water and supporting a wind turbine, the hull comprising:
- a keystone;
- and
- at least three bottom beams extending radially outward of the keystone, the hull characterized in that:
- each bottom beam has a primary beam portion and a column base portion, wherein the column base portion is configured to support an outer column of the hull thereon, and wherein the primary beam portion defines a first ballast compartment therein;
- the first ballast compartment is in fluid communication with water in the body of water in which the hull is floating;
- and
- a water distribution system mounted in at least one of the keystone and each of the bottom beams, wherein the first ballast compartment is in fluid communication with water in the body of water in which the hull is floating via the water distribution system, wherein portions of the water distribution system are mounted in the keystone and in each of the bottom beams, and wherein the water distribution system includes:
- a sea chest formed in one of the keystone and a bottom beam, the sea chest open to water in the body of water in which the hull is floating;
- first ballast fill pipes extending between the sea chest and each of the first ballast compartments;
- and
- a water pump mounted to the first ballast fill pipes between the sea chest and each of the first ballast compartments, the water pump configured to pump water in and out of the first ballast compartments.
A hull for a semi-submersible wind turbine platform capable of floating on a body of water and supporting a wind turbine, the hull comprising:
- a keystone;
- at least three bottom beams extending radially outward of the keystone, the hull characterized in that each bottom beam is substantially cylindrical in shape and has as substantially circular transverse cross section;
- and
- a water distribution system;
- wherein each bottom beam has a primary beam portion and a column base portion;
- wherein the column base portion is configured to support an outer column of the hull thereon;
- wherein the primary beam portion defines a first ballast compartment therein;
- wherein the first ballast compartment is in fluid communication with water in the body of water in which the hull is floating;
- wherein the first ballast compartment is in fluid communication with water in the body of water in which the hull is floating via the water distribution system;
- wherein portions of the water distribution system are mounted in the keystone and in each of the bottom beams;
- and
- wherein the water distribution system includes:
- a sea chest formed in one of the keystone and a bottom beam, the sea chest open to water in the body of water in which the hull is floating;
- first ballast fill pipes extending between the sea chest and each of the first ballast compartments;
- a water pump mounted to the first ballast fill pipes between the sea chest and each of the first ballast compartments, the water pump configured to pump water in and out of the first ballast compartments;
- and
- a watertight pump room defined within the keystone within which the water pump and a portion of the water distribution system are mounted.
A hull for a semi-submersible wind turbine platform capable of floating on a body of water and supporting a wind turbine, the hull comprising:
- a keystone;
- and
- at least three bottom beams extending radially outward of the keystone, the hull characterized in that:
- each bottom beam has a primary beam portion and a column base portion, wherein the column base portion is configured to support an outer column of the hull thereon, and wherein the primary beam portion defines a first ballast compartment therein;
- and
- the first ballast compartment is in fluid communication with water in the body of water in which the hull is floating;
- wherein the column base portion of each bottom beam is separated from the primary beam portion by a watertight bulkhead, and wherein the column base portion defines a trim ballast compartment therein.
A hull for a semi-submersible wind turbine platform capable of floating on a body of water and supporting a wind turbine, the hull comprising:
- a keystone;
- and
- at least three bottom beams extending radially outward of the keystone, the hull characterized in that each bottom beam is substantially cylindrical in shape and has as substantially circular transverse cross section;
- wherein each bottom beam has a primary beam portion and a column base portion,
- wherein the column base portion is configured to support an outer column of the hull thereon, and wherein the primary beam portion defines a first ballast compartment therein;
- wherein the first ballast compartment is in fluid communication with water in the body of water in which the hull is floating;
- wherein the column base portion of each bottom beam is separated from the primary beam portion by a watertight bulkhead;
- and
- wherein the column base portion defines a trim ballast compartment therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.