IP Library Granted Patent US 7,819,073
Granted Patent B2
US 7,819,073 · App. 11/921,520 · Granted Oct 26, 2010

Floating wind turbine installation

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,819,073
App. No.
11/921,520
Granted
Oct 26, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for coordinating a floating wind turbine installation. The wind turbine installation includes a buoyant body ( 1 ), a tower ( 2 ) arranged over the buoyant body, a generator ( 3 ) mounted on the tower which is rotatable in relation to the wind direction and fitted with a wind rotor ( 4 ), and an anchor line arrangement ( 5 ) connected to anchors or anchor points on the sea bed. Static heeling, φ s — max , at full wind load on the wind turbine is as low as possible, but preferably less than 8 degrees, and all eigenperiods for the installation are outside the waves' period range. The eigenperiod in pitch, T 05 (roll, T 04 ), is preferably less than 80% of the T 03 eigenperiod in heave. Moreover, the ratio between T 03 and T 05 is not close to 0.5 or 1.

Claims (29)

1. A floating wind turbine installation comprising:

a buoyant body;

a tower arranged over the buoyant body;

a generator housing mounted on the tower, the generator being rotatable in relation to a wind direction;

a wind rotor fitted to the generator housing; and

an anchor line arrangement for connecting to anchors or anchor points on a sea bed, wherein:

static heeling, φ s — max of the installation at full wind load on the wind turbine installation is less than a specified value;

eigenperiods in heave, T 03 , and pitch, T 05 and/or roll, T 04 , have a ratio such that T 05 and/or T 04 is less than T 03 ; and

a ratio between T 03 and T 05 is not close to 0.5 or 1.

2. A floating wind turbine installation as claimed in claim 1 , wherein static heeling φ s — max of the wind turbine installation at full wind load is less than 8 degrees.

3. A floating wind turbine installation as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the wind turbine installation is designed, in terms of dimensions and weight distribution, such that the eigenperiod in pitch is in the range of 22-28 seconds and the corresponding eigenperiod in heave is in the range of 30-35 seconds.

4. A floating wind turbine installation as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the wind turbine installation is designed, in terms of dimensions and weight distribution, such that the eigenperiod in pitch is in the range of 22-28 seconds and the corresponding eigenperiod in heave is in the range of 30-35 seconds.

5. A floating wind turbine installation as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the buoyant body is an elongated concrete structure and the tower is a steel structure.

6. A floating wind turbine installation as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the buoyant body is an elongated concrete structure and the tower is a steel structure.

7. A floating wind turbine installation as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the buoyant body is an elongated concrete structure and the tower is a steel structure.

8. A floating wind turbine installation as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the buoyant body is cylindrical.

9. A floating wind turbine installation as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the buoyant body is cylindrical.

10. A floating wind turbine installation as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the buoyant body is cylindrical.

11. A floating wind turbine installation as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the tower is cylindrical.

12. A floating wind turbine installation as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the tower is cylindrical.

13. A floating wind turbine installation as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the buoyant body is fitted, at its lower end, with a radial projection or lip that extends beyond the circumference of a top part of the buoyant body.

14. A floating wind turbine installation as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the buoyant body has a length of 100-150 m.

15. A floating wind turbine installation as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the buoyant body has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the tower.

16. A method of designing a floating wind turbine installation, the installation including a buoyant body, a tower arranged over the buoyant body, a generator housing mounted on the tower and being rotatable in relation to a wind direction, a wind rotor fitted to the generator housing, and an anchor line arrangement for connecting to anchors or anchor points on a sea bed, the method comprising determining dimensions and weight distribution for the installation such that:

static heeling, φ s — max , of the wind turbine installation at full wind load on the wind turbine installation is less than a specified value;

eigenperiods in heave, T 03 , and pitch, T 05 , and/or roll, T 04 , have a ratio such that T 05 and/or T 04 is less than T 03 ; and

a ratio between T 03 and T 05 is not close to 0.5 or 1.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the installation is designed such that static heeling φ s — max , of the wind turbine installation at full wind load on the wind turbine installation is less than 8 degrees.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the wind turbine installation is designed, in terms of dimensions and weight distribution, such that the eigenperiod in pitch is in the range of 22-28 seconds and the corresponding eigenperiod in heave is in the range of 30-35 seconds.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 21, 2013
From: STATOIL ASA
To: HYWIND AS
Reel/Frame 031649/0799 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2013
From: NORSK HYDRO ASA
To: STATOIL ASA
Reel/Frame 031547/0984 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2008
From: SVEEN, DAGINN; NIELSEN, FINN GUNNAR; HANSON, TOR DAVID
To: NORSK HYDRO ASA
Reel/Frame 020506/0359 →