Lockheed Martin Corporation

Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc.

Patrick D Grandelli

Robert James Howard

Natalie B Levings

Joseph Van Ryzin

John Walter Rapp

Nicholas John Nagurny

Michael R Eller

Leslie David Kramer

Stephen Lee Bailey

John E Halkyard

Derek Matthew Beckner

Randy J Brown

Eliot Goldstein

Joe Van Ryzin

A floating support that can be joined with a floating platform while the floating platform is at a deployment location is disclosed. The support provides functionality to the floating platform in order to change, augment, upgrade, or diversify the platform's overall capability. In some embodiments, the present invention eases the serviceability of the platform by enabling a first support that has diminished capability to be readily replaced by a second support having superior capability&#x2014;without removing the floating platform from its deployment location. In some embodiments, the present invention enables platform operation that is analogous to 'plug and play' electronics systems. Further, in some embodiments, hydrodynamic performance of the floating platform can be changed with the addition or removal of one or more floating supports.

Floating platform with detachable support modules

A heat exchanger and a method for fabricating the heat exchanger are disclosed. The heat exchanger comprises a heat exchanger core that is formed from a plurality of stacked aluminum panels that are joined together via friction stir welding. Each panel in the core is formed from at least two aluminum extrusions that are joined to one another via friction stir welding.

Heat exchanger

A substance is added to cold ocean water in a cold water pipe of an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) system. The substance raises the freezing point of the ocean water in a cold water heat exchanger of the OTEC system, thereby forming an ice slurry. The substance is added at the depth of the apparatus. The ice slurry is transported from the point of addition in the cold water pipe to the cold water heat exchanger at the surface.

Clathrate ice thermal transport for ocean thermal energy conversion

Growing community of inventors

Kailua, HI, United States of America

Patrick D Grandelli