Principle Power, Inc.

Marine Innovation & Technology

The Seasteading Institute

Dominique Roddier

Christian Cermelli

Antoine Peiffer

Alexia Aubault

Pauline Louazel

Bingbin Yu

Sam Kanner

Bing Bin Yu

Sriram Narayanan

Alireza Lahijanian

Catherine Busso

A method for controlling an inclination of a floating wind turbine platform to optimize power production, or to reduce loads on the turbine, tower, and platform, or both, includes receiving data associated with the inclination of the floating wind turbine platform and wind speed and direction data. An angle of difference between the turbine blade plane and the wind direction is determined, where the angle of difference has a vertical component. A platform ballast system is then caused to distribute ballast to reduce the vertical component to a target angle chosen to optimize power production, or reduce turbine, tower, and platform loads, or both.

Floating wind turbine platform controlled to optimize power production and reduce loading

A method for controlling an inclination of a floating wind turbine platform Position data associated with an orientation of the floating wind turbine is received. A heel angle in reference to the floating wind turbine platform is determined based on the position data. A first signal for adjusting at least one of a blade pitch of a set of turbine blades and a torque of a generator is sent based on the determined heel angle. A second signal for distributing ballast among at least three stabilizing columns is also sent. The second signal for distributing the ballast is based on the determined heel angle and the first signal. The first and second signals may be adjusted to account for startup and shutdown procedures and for future changes to wind speed and velocity.

Methods for controlling floating wind turbine platforms

A structure of a floating, semi-submersible wind turbine platform is provided. The floating wind turbine platform includes three elongate stabilizing columns, each having a top end, a keel end, and an outer shell containing an inner shaft. Each stabilizing column further includes a water entrapment plate. The floating wind turbine platform also includes three truss members, each truss member including two chord members and two diagonal members. The truss members connect the stabilizing columns to form a triangular cross-section. An elongate wind turbine tower is disposed over the top end of one of the three stabilizing columns.

Semi-submersible floating wind turbine platform structure with water entrapment plates

A method for controlling an inclination of a floating wind turbine platform comprising a generator, a set of turbine blades connected to a shaft inside a turbine nacelle, the turbine nacelle being mounted onto a tower, and at least three stabilizing columns is presented. Each of the at least three stabilizing columns have an internal volume for containing ballast. Position data associated with an orientation of the floating wind turbine is received. A heel angle in reference to the floating wind turbine platform is determined based on the position data. A first signal for adjusting at least one of a blade pitch of the set of turbine blades, and a torque of the generator is sent based on the determined heel angle. A second signal for distributing the ballast among the at least three stabilizing columns is also sent. The second signal for distributing the ballast is based on the determined heel angle and the first signal.

System and method for controlling offshore floating wind turbine platforms

A structure of a floating, semi-submersible wind turbine platform is provided. The floating wind turbine platform includes three elongate stabilizing columns, each having a top end, a keel end, and an outer shell containing an inner shaft. Each stabilizing column further includes a water entrapment plate at its keel cantilevered in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the stabilizing column. The floating wind turbine platform also includes three truss members, each truss member including two horizontal main tubular members and two diagonal tubular members. The truss members connect the stabilizing columns to form a triangular cross-section. An elongate wind turbine tower is disposed over the top end of one of the three stabilizing columns such that the longitudinal axis of the tower is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stabilizing column.

Floating wind turbine platform structure with optimized transfer of wave and wind loads

A floating wind turbine platform includes at least three stabilizing columns, where each stabilizing column has an internal volume for containing ballast. The floating wind turbine platform also includes a tower having mounted in vertical alignment over one of the columns, a turbine rotor coupled to an electrical generator mounted proximate to the upper end of the tower, main beams interconnected to the stabilizing columns, and water-entrapment plates attached to the lower ends of the stabilizing columns. The floating wind turbine platform further includes a ballast control system including an alignment sensor configured to detect a rotation of the tower, and a controller coupled to the alignment sensor for directing a transfer of the ballast from an internal volume of one column to another column upon the alignment sensor detecting rotation of the tower to adjust a vertical alignment of the tower.

Floating wind turbine platform with ballast control and water entrapment plate systems

A floating wind turbine platform includes stabilizing columns, a tower, water-entrapment plates connected to the stabilizing columns, and a ballast control system. The tower is mounted over one of the columns. The stabilizing columns include internal volumes for containing a ballast. The ballast control system includes an alignment sensor and a controller. The alignment sensor is configured to detect a rotation of the tower. The controller is configured to direct a transfer of ballast from one column to another column to adjust an alignment of the tower.

Floating wind turbine platform with ballast control and mooring system

A mooring system for a semi-submersible platform includes buoyancy structures for providing buoyancy to the semi-submersible platform, mooring lines connected to the buoyancy structures, and anchors embedded in the sea floor that are connected to the mooring lines. At least one-half of the mooring lines are attached to one of the buoyancy structures. A ballast control system for a wind turbine platform includes a sensor that is configured to detect a rotation of a wind turbine and a controller that is configured to direct a transfer of ballast to correct the of the wind turbine.

Asymmetric mooring system for support of offshore wind turbines

A floating wind turbine platform includes a floatation frame that includes at least three columns that are coupled to each other with horizontal main beams. A wind turbine tower is mounted above a tower support column to simplify the system construction and improve the structural strength. The turbine blades are coupled to a nacelle that rotates on top of the tower. The turbine's gearbox generator and other electrical gear can be mounted either traditionally in the nacelle, or lower in the tower or in the top of the tower-supporting column. The floatation frame includes a water ballasting system that pumps water between the columns to keep the tower in a vertical alignment regardless of the wind speed. Water-entrapment plates are mounted to the bottoms of the columns to minimize the rotational movement of the floatation frame due to waves.

Column-stabilized offshore platform with water-entrapment plates and asymmetric mooring system for support of offshore wind turbines

A method for providing a sustainable offshore community that includes a floatable, low cost platform structure which covers a large amount of real estate and is supported above the surface of the ocean from columns which pass through the structure such that the extremities of the structure are supported with stays that run from the top of the columns to the extremities of the platform. This type of staying structure permits the formation of the large floatable platform for supporting self sustaining communities by providing sizeable living and recreational areas, thus to permit an offshore community to exist at sea for a number of years.

Floating structure for support of mixed use facilities

An apparatus for use in offshore oil or gas production in which a plurality of vertical stabilizing columns are supported on a submerged horizontal water entrapment plate is provided to support minimum offshore oil and gas production facilities above a subsea wellhead, or subsea processing facilities, or a submarine pipeline, and whose main function is to provide power or chemicals or to perform other operations such as compression, injection, or separation of water, oil and gas. The apparatus is maintained in the desired location by a plurality of mooring lines anchored to the sea-bed. The respective size and shape of the columns and water entrapment plate are designed to provide sufficient buoyancy to carry the weight of all equipment on the minimum floating platform and mooring lines, umbilical and risers attached to it, and to minimize the platform motion during normal operations.

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Berkeley, CA, United States of America

Dominique Roddier