US 12,394,530 B2 · Offshore energy generation system (OEGS)

Abstract

An offshore energy generation system (OEGS), is described. The offshore energy generation system delivers clean energy in the form of electricity and/or ammonia (NH3) and freshwater to offshore or onshore consumers. By deploying this offshore energy generation system, the net zero emissions targets from IPCC can be achieved and the water scarcity crisis mitigated. The offshore energy generation system 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 offshore energy generation system comprises of an electric power generation system based on nuclear or hydrogen (H2) fuel cells, ammonia generation, freshwater generation, offshore cranes, data processing centers, blockchain, helideck, telecommunications system, automation and control system, nitrogen and hydrogen generation systems.

An offshore energy generation system comprising:

an offshore floating facility designed for mooring to a seabed portion;
an offshore seawater collection system arranged on the floating facility and configured for collecting a volume of seawater;
an offshore heat generating system configured for generating heat from a heat generation reaction, wherein the heat is transferred to water surrounding the offshore heat generating system, and wherein the water being circulated through a heat exchanger is without direct contact with a secondary heating medium in the heat exchanger;
an offshore steam generation system, operatively coupled with the offshore seawater collection system and the offshore heat generating system, configured for generating steam in the secondary heating medium by transferring the heat from the water circulated through the heat exchanger;
an offshore electric power generation system, operatively coupled with the offshore steam generation system, configured for generating electric power by using the steam generated by the offshore steam generation system;
an offshore freshwater generation system, operatively coupled with the seawater collection system and the offshore steam generation system, configured for distilling seawater by using the volume of seawater collected by the offshore seawater collection system and a portion of steam coming out from the offshore electric power generation system, wherein a remaining portion of the steam coming out from the offshore electric power generation system is utilized to drive one or more of machineries of the offshore energy generation system including at least one of:
an offshore freshwater export system, an offshore ammonia export system, and the offshore seawater collection system;
an offshore hydrogen (H2) generation system, operatively coupled with the offshore freshwater generation system and the offshore electric power generation system, configured for generating hydrogen using electrolysis of a fraction of the freshwater generated from the offshore freshwater generation system;
an offshore nitrogen (N2) generation system, operatively coupled with the offshore electric power generation system, configured for generating nitrogen by using atmospheric air and the electric power generated by the offshore electric power generation system;
an offshore ammonia generation system, operatively coupled with the offshore electric power generation system, the offshore hydrogen (H2) generation system and the offshore nitrogen (N2) generation system, configured for generating ammonia by using the hydrogen (H2), the nitrogen (N2) and the electric power generated by the offshore hydrogen generation system, the offshore nitrogen generation system and the offshore electric power generation system, respectively;
an offshore electric power export system, operatively coupled to the offshore electric power generation system, configured for exporting the generated electric power;
the offshore freshwater export system, operatively coupled to the offshore freshwater generation system, configured for exporting the freshwater;
the offshore ammonia export system, operatively coupled to the offshore ammonia generation system and an offshore ammonia storage tank, configured for exporting the generated ammonia;
an offshore freshwater storage tank operatively coupled to the offshore freshwater export system, wherein the offshore freshwater storage tank is configured to:
regulate freshwater export flow, and
serve as an emergency secondary heat-sink system to cool down the offshore heat generating system, wherein a freshwater storage volume is adjusted based on operator preference and depending on specific operational requirements;
multiple offshore cranes arranged on the floating facility;
living quarters arranged on the floating facility;
a helideck arranged on the floating facility;
and
an automation system for controlling the floating facility.

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Offshore energy generation system (OEGS)

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Offshore energy generation system (OEGS)

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6