Floating Airborne Wind Energy System With Submersible Platform
AssigneeWindlift LLC
InventorsRob Creighton, Andrew Stough
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Abstract
The exemplary embodiments herein provide an airborne power generation assembly comprising an airborne power generation unit, a submersible platform, an electrified tether winch attached to the submersible platform, an electrified tether connecting between the electrified tether winch and the airborne power generation unit, and a power output exiting from the submersible platform. Embodiments include an underwater docking station with a docking station tether connecting the submersible platform to the underwater docking station. The submersible platform or the underwater docking station may be anchored to the sea bed. Other embodiments include winches for the sea bed anchor tethers and docking station tether.
Claims20
An airborne power generation assembly comprising:
- an airborne power generation unit;
- a submersible platform which sinks to become fully submerged when filled with water;
- an electrified tether winch attached to the submersible platform;
- an electrified tether connecting between the electrified tether winch and the airborne power generation unit;
- and
- a power output exiting from the submersible platform.
An airborne power generation assembly comprising:
- an airborne power generation unit;
- a submersible platform;
- a ballast pump positioned to draw water into the submersible platform;
- an electrified tether winch attached to the submersible platform;
- an electrified tether connecting between the electrified tether winch and the airborne power generation unit;
- at least one sea bed tether connecting the submersible platform to the sea bed;
- a landing perch extending above the submersible platform.
An airborne power generation assembly comprising:
- an airborne power generation unit;
- a submersible platform capable of holding water so that the submersible platform can sink beneath an upper surface of a body of water;
- an electrified tether winch attached to the submersible platform;
- an electrified tether connecting between the electrified tether winch and the airborne power generation unit;
- an underwater docking station positioned beneath the submersible platform;
- at least one sea bed tether connecting the underwater docking station to the sea bed;
- and
- a docking station tether connecting the floating platform to the underwater docking station.
The airborne power generation assembly of claim
- a submersible platform winch attached to the docking station tether which is controlled by electrical signals from the airborne power generation unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.