Floating wind turbine with controllable yaw position

1. Marine energy production assembly ( 1 ) comprising:

anchoring means ( 2 ) for fixing to a seabed ( 3 );

a floating wind turbine ( 4 ) comprising a turbine ( 7 ) having a fixed axis of rotation (A-A) of a rotor ( 71 ) with respect to a floating structure ( 5 ) of the floating wind turbine ( 4 ), the floating wind turbine ( 4 ) being linked to the anchoring means ( 2 ) and being intended to pivot around them in such a way that the axis of rotation (A-A) of the turbine ( 7 ) is substantially parallel to a wind direction (V),

means ( 8 ) for determining the wind direction (V);

characterised in that it comprises:

means ( 81 ) for detecting an orientation of the floating wind turbine ( 4 ) with respect to the wind direction (V);

means ( 9 ) for detecting an inclination of the floating wind turbine ( 4 ) about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation (A-A) of the rotor ( 71 ) of the turbine ( 7 );

means ( 10 ) for controlling the inclination of the floating wind turbine ( 4 );

a computation unit ( 11 ) for receiving information from the means ( 8 ) for detecting the wind direction (V), means ( 9 ) for detecting the inclination of the floating wind turbine ( 4 ), and means ( 81 ) for detecting the orientation of the floating wind turbine ( 4 ) with respect to the wind direction (V), so as to transmit an instruction to the means ( 10 ) for controlling the inclination of the floating wind turbine ( 4 ) and alter the orientation of the floating wind turbine ( 4 ) with respect to the wind direction (V).

2. Assembly according to claim 1 , characterised in that the means ( 10 ) for controlling the inclination comprise a ballast system having:

a first reservoir ( 121 ) and a second reservoir ( 122 ), which are each fixed with respect to a floating structure ( 5 ) of the floating wind turbine ( 4 ), are fixed on either side of the axis of rotation (A-A) of the turbine ( 7 ), and are suitable for acting on the inclination of the floating wind turbine ( 4 );

pumping means ( 123 ) configured for conveying a liquid or semi-liquid weight from the first reservoir ( 121 ) to the second reservoir ( 122 ) or vice versa.

3. Assembly according to claim 1 , characterised in that the means ( 10 ) for controlling the inclination comprise:

a mass ( 13 ) mounted movably on a floating structure ( 5 ) of the floating wind turbine ( 4 );

means ( 14 ) for guiding the displacement of the mass ( 13 ), defining a guide path extending on either side of the axis of rotation (A-A) of the turbine ( 7 );

motor means ( 15 ) for displacing the mass ( 13 ) on the guide means ( 14 ).

4. Assembly according to claim 1 , characterised in that the means ( 10 ) for controlling the inclination comprise means ( 16 ) for adjusting the torque of the turbine ( 7 ) to vary the torque of the turbine ( 7 ) as a function of an instruction from a computation unit ( 11 ).

5. Assembly according to claim 1 , characterised in that the means ( 8 ) for determining the wind direction comprise a vane.

6. Assembly according to claim 5 , characterised in that the vane is fixed with respect to the floating wind turbine ( 4 ).

7. Assembly according to claim 6 , characterised in that the vane is fixed with respect to the anchoring means ( 2 ).

8. Assembly according to claim 1 , characterised in that the means ( 9 ) for detecting the inclination of the floating wind turbine ( 4 ) comprise an inertial unit fixed with respect to the floating wind turbine ( 4 ).

9. Process for altering the orientation of a floating wind turbine ( 4 ), carried out by a marine energy production assembly ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises the steps of:

determining the wind direction (V);

detecting the orientation of the floating wind turbine ( 4 ) with respect to the wind direction (V);

generating an instruction to alter the roll angle on the basis of the wind direction (V) and the orientation of the floating wind turbine ( 4 );

changing the roll angle of the floating wind turbine ( 4 ) responsive to the instruction.

10. A marine energy production apparatus comprising:

a floating structure;

a floating wind turbine assembly including a floating structure, a support structure including a plurality of legs, each leg having a first end fixed to said floating structure and a second end, a turbine comprising a nacelle and a motor mounted on the nacelle, the rotor having an axis of rotation that is fixed with respect to said floating structure and is substantially parallel to a wind direction;

means for detecting the wind direction;

means for detecting an orientation of said floating wind turbine with respect to the wind direction;

means for detecting an inclination of said floating wind turbine about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation the rotor;

means for controlling the inclination of said floating wind turbine with respect to the axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor;

a computation unit for receiving information from said means for detecting the wind direction, said means for detecting the inclination of the floating wind turbine, and said means for detecting the orientation of the floating wind turbine, and generating an instruction for controlling the inclination of said floating wind turbine, said means for controlling altering the inclination of said floating wind turbine responsive to said instruction.

11. The marine energy production apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for controlling the inclination of said floating wind turbine includes a ballast system having first and second reservoirs disposed on either side of the axis of rotation of the rotor.

12. The marine energy production apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for controlling the inclination of said floating wind turbine includes a guide path extending on either side of the axis of rotation of the turbine and a mass movably mounted on said guide path.

13. The marine energy production apparatus of claim 12 wherein the guide path includes is a straight rail extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor.

14. The marine energy production apparatus of claim 12 wherein the guide path is a circular rail having a center point disposed on a vertical axis that passes through a center of gravity of said floating structure.