OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES FOR INSTALLING SAME

1 . A process for installing a floating wind turbine support structure, comprising:

laying a plurality of mooring legs on a floor of a body of water;

positioning an anchor structure that includes a buoyancy module on a surface of the body of water;

connecting a first end of each mooring leg in the plurality of mooring legs to the anchor structure;

connecting a second end of each mooring leg in the plurality of mooring legs to the floor of the body of water;

lowering the anchor structure to a stable position below the surface of the body of water when the plurality of mooring legs is connected thereto;

positioning the floating wind turbine support structure above the anchor structure;

lifting the anchor structure and at least portion of the plurality of mooring legs such that the anchor structure is in a connectable position relative to a mooring structure of the floating wind turbine support structure; and

connecting the anchor structure to the mooring structure of the floating wind turbine support structure.

2 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising installing a wind turbine generator comprising a plurality of blades connected thereto such that the wind turbine generator and the plurality of blades is disposed on and supported by the floating wind turbine support structure.

3 . The process of claim 2 , wherein the floating wind turbine support structure supports the wind turbine generator and the plurality of blades connected thereto over the floating wind turbine support structure.

4 . The process of claim 3 , wherein:

the wind turbine generator and the plurality of blades connected thereto are supported at an elevation above the floating wind turbine support structure via a plurality of support arms,

each support arm in the plurality of support arms is located on a same side of the plurality of blades with respect to one another, and

the wind turbine generator is supported at the elevation above the floating wind turbine support structure via only the plurality of support arms.

5 . The process of claim 4 , wherein upon installation of the wind turbine generator, the wind turbine generator is fixed in a stationary position relative to the floating wind turbine support structure.

6 . The process of claim 5 , wherein the floating wind turbine support structure connected to the anchor structure is permitted to passively weathervane about the anchor structure.

7 . The process of claim 2 , wherein the floating wind turbine support structure comprises a first column, a second column, and a third column and a first support arm and a second support arm, wherein:

the first end of the first support arm and the first end of the second support arm each support the wind turbine generator at an elevation above the support structure,

the second end of the first support arm is connected to and supported by the first column and the second end of the second support arm is connected to and supported by the second column,

the anchor structure is connected to the third column, and

the support of the wind turbine generator at the elevation above the support structure consists of the first support arm and the second support arm.

8 . The process of claim 7 , wherein a central longitudinal axis of the anchor structure is offset and parallel with a central longitudinal axis of the third column when connected thereto.

9 . The process of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first support arm and the second support arm further comprise an adjustable rudder disposed between the first end and the second end thereof, and wherein the adjustable rudder is incorporated into the at least one of the first support arm and that second support arm such that a longitudinal axis of the adjustable rudder is located within the at least one of the first support arm and the second support arm, the process further comprising using the adjustable rudder to facilitate orientation of the floating wind turbine support system with respect to a wind direction during operation.

10 . The process of claim 2 , wherein:

the floating wind turbine support structure comprises an electrical slip ring comprising a fixed part and a rotating part rotatively connected together,

the fixed part of the electrical slip ring is connected to the anchor structure,

the rotating part of the electrical slip ring is connected to the floating wind turbine support structure, and

the electrical slip ring is configured to maintain electrical continuity between the fixed part and the rotating part during rotation therebetween, the process further comprising:

connecting a first end of a first cable to the wind turbine generator and a second end of the first cable to the rotating part of the electrical slip ring; and

connecting a first end of a second cable to the fixed part of the electrical slip ring and a second end of the second cable to a facility configured to receive electrical power generated by the wind turbine such that the wind turbine is electrically connected to the facility.

11 . The process of claim 2 , wherein:

the floating wind turbine support structure is an initial floating wind turbine support structure, and

the initial floating wind turbine support structure connected to the anchor structure is one of a number (N) of floating wind turbine support structures that make up a wind farm, the process further comprising:

disconnecting the initial floating wind turbine support structure from the anchor structure; and

connecting the anchor structure to a mooring structure of a spare floating wind turbine support structure that is one of a number (n) of spare floating wind turbine support structures.

12 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the anchor structure and the at least portion of the plurality of mooring legs is lifted via a lifting/lowering device disposed on a vessel that is connected to the anchor structure via a pull-in/let-out line.

13 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising:

installing a wind turbine generator on the floating wind turbine support structure such that the wind turbine generator is disposed on and supported by the floating wind turbine support structure; and

after installing the wind turbine generator on the floating wind turbine support structure, connecting a plurality of blades to the wind turbine generator.

14 . The process of claim 13 , wherein the installation of the wind turbine generator and the plurality of blades on the floating wind turbine support structure is facilitated via mechanical handling equipment disposed on the floating wind turbine support structure.

15 . The process of claim 14 , wherein:

upon installation of the wind turbine generator, the wind turbine generator is fixed in a stationary position relative to the floating wind turbine support structure, and

the floating wind turbine support structure connected to the anchor structure is permitted to passively weathervane about the anchor structure.

16 . The process of claim 13 , wherein:

the floating wind turbine support structure comprises an electrical slip ring comprising a fixed part and a rotating part rotatively connected together,

the fixed part of the electrical slip ring is connected to the anchor structure,

the rotating part of the electrical slip ring is connected to the floating wind turbine support structure, and

the electrical slip ring is configured to maintain electrical continuity between the fixed part and the rotating part during rotation therebetween, the process further comprising:

connecting a first end of a first cable to the wind turbine generator and a second end of the first cable to the rotating part of the electrical slip ring; and

connecting a first end of a second cable to the fixed part of the electrical slip ring and a second end of the second cable to a facility configured to receive electrical power generated by the wind turbine such that the wind turbine is electrically connected to the facility.

17 . The process of claim 13 , wherein the floating wind turbine support structure comprises a first column, a second column, and a third column and a first support arm and a second support arm, wherein:

the first end of the first support arm and the first end of the second support arm each support the wind turbine generator at an elevation above the support structure,

the second end of the first support arm is connected to and supported by the first column and the second end of the second support arm is connected to and supported by the second column,

the anchor structure is connected to the third column, and

the support of the wind turbine generator at the elevation above the support structure consists of the first support arm and the second support arm.

18 . The process of claim 17 , wherein a central longitudinal axis of the anchor structure is offset and parallel with a central longitudinal axis of the third column when connected thereto.

19 . The process of claims claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first support arm and the second support arm further comprise an adjustable rudder disposed between the first end and the second end thereof, the process further comprising using the adjustable rudder to facilitate orientation of the floating wind turbine support system with respect to a wind direction during operation.

20 . The process of claim 13 , wherein:

the floating wind turbine support structure is an initial floating wind turbine support structure, and

the initial floating wind turbine support structure connected to the anchor structure is one of a number (N) of floating wind turbine support structures that make up a wind farm, the process further comprising:

disconnecting the initial floating wind turbine support structure from the anchor structure; and

connecting the anchor structure to a mooring structure of a spare floating wind turbine support structure that is one of a number (n) of spare floating wind turbine support structures.