JP2025516699A - Floating Marina - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a floating structure for floating in open water, the floating structure (2, 2') configured to serve as a mooring point for ships, comprising a surrounding structure (10) and an internal space (20), the surrounding structure (10) enclosing the internal space (20), the surrounding structure (10) including an opening (12) for ships to enter the internal space (20) from the open water and vice versa, for mooring at least one ship at a ship mooring point 18 of the floating structure (2, 2'), the floating structure (2, and a connection point (24) for connecting a mooring line (6) to float the floating structure (2, 2') at a predetermined location in the open water, the connection point (24) being on a first side of the surrounding structure (10) and the opening (12) being located on a substantially opposite side of the surrounding structure (10) such that the opening (12) is located at a downstream end of the floating structure (2, 2'), and the wave energy harvesting system comprises a plurality of floating bodies, each of which can move vertically independently of one another to follow the movement of ocean waves when placed on the sea surface.
[Selected figure] Figure 3

Description

Identification of the parties involved

The inventors of the invention described in this patent document are Alain Jacquard of Sainte-Croix, Switzerland and Lucien Villamoz of Feusisberg, Switzerland. The applicant is Legacy Foundry AG, Switzerland.

Copyright and Legal Notices

Portions of the disclosure in this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. Applicant has no objection to third parties facsimile reproduction of the patent document as held by the Patent and Trademark Office of record, but otherwise reserves all copyrights in all cases. Additionally, the disclosure of third party patents or articles in this application should not be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate such material by reason of prior art.

The present invention relates to floating areas, and in particular to a floating wave damper used to reduce the effects of waves on a floating area, whereby the floating area, exemplified by a marina, can be located offshore.

Floating marinas or the floating parts of marinas can only be built in protected waters, as they cannot withstand the impact of waves generated offshore. Moreover, almost all coasts close to populated areas are built up, making it virtually impossible to further expand existing land-based marinas.

What is needed are floating marinas that can withstand the waves found offshore and protect the boats moored there.

Additionally, what is needed is a system that can attenuate the effects of waves so that floating infrastructure does not have to face the full strength of offshore waves.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a system that also allows the construction of floating islands that can withstand waves and harvest part of the energy provided by the waves.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for storing energy harvested from waves and providing energy on demand to a user of any floating structure.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method for operating such a system.

The object of the present invention is to provide a floating structure that can be installed offshore. This object can be achieved by a floating structure for floating in open waters, preferably an offshore marina, the floating structure being optionally adapted to serve as a ship mooring site, comprising:

- A floating structure having a surrounding structure and an interior space, the surrounding structure enclosing the interior space and including an opening for vessels to enter and leave the interior space from open water in order to moor at least one vessel at a vessel mooring location of the floating structure.

- A connection point for mooring mooring lines to float a floating structure in a predetermined area of the open ocean, the connection point being on a first side of the surrounding structure and the opening being located substantially on the opposite side of the surrounding structure, the opening being located at the downstream end of the floating structure.

This problem is solved by a wave energy harvesting system, which is preferably a wave damping device, which has a number of floating bodies, each of which can move vertically independently of one another such that when the floating body is positioned on the sea surface, it follows the movement of the ocean waves.

The invention is based on the realization that the floating structure itself can act as a wave energy harvesting system for ships entering the interior space. Thus, high waves that may occur in the open sea do not affect the movement of the ship within the inner space. Furthermore, by locating the anchor connection point on a first side of the surrounding structure and locating the opening for the ship to enter the inner space on a side of the surrounding structure, i.e. substantially on the side opposite the first side, it is easier to control the mooring of the ship in the mooring slot or slip.

Furthermore, the floating structure includes a wave energy harvesting system, preferably a wave damping device, fixed to the surrounding structure at a first side of the surrounding structure. The inner space and the opening are thus kept free from higher waves, facilitating entry or exit into or from the inner space or maneuvering at the mooring site. Such a wave energy harvesting system can also be used to protect islands, coastlines, reefs, etc. from strong waves.

In a further development of the floating structure or wave power system, the wave power system includes a number of floating bodies, each of which can move vertically independently of one another so that when placed on the sea surface, they can follow the movement of the ocean waves. Thus, the strength of the waves is attenuated and energy can be stored for later use. Furthermore, the weight of the floating structure causes a relative movement of the floating bodies.

In a further development, the wave energy harvesting system includes an energy conversion system adapted to generate electrical energy based on the relative motion of the floating bodies.

In a further development, the wave energy harvesting system comprises a ballast system by which the weight of the superstructure and thus the submerged depth of the floating body can be adjusted. Thus, the energy harvesting performance of the system can be adapted to local weather conditions such as wave height. The weight of the ballast system can be adjusted, for example, by injecting water into a tank of the ballast system, which is fixed to the superstructure.

In a further development, the energy conversion system comprises a pump system for pumping the fluid to the reservoir based on the relative movement between the floating bodies, and the energy conversion system further comprises an energy converter for converting the energy, preferably potential energy, of the fluid in the reservoir into usable energy, preferably thermal energy or electrical energy. The pump system provides the possibility of storing usable energy.

In a further development, the floating structure includes a superstructure.

The disclosed technology will now be described in more detail symbolically and exemplarily on the basis of the figures, in which like reference signs denote like components and reference signs with different indexes denote functionally equivalent or similar components.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the floating structure is fixed. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the floating structure of FIG. 1 in detail. FIG. 11 is a side view of another floating structure. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wave energy harvesting system in a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a wave energy harvesting system in a second embodiment. FIG.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The following description is exemplary in nature and describes the best mode of the invention known to the inventors at the time of filing this application, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. As a result, the arrangement and/or function of all elements in the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, the floating structures 2, 2' are fixed to the mooring point 4. The floating structures 2, 2' are connected to the mooring point 4 by mooring lines 6. The mooring lines 6 may be anchor chains or other means suitable for fixing the floating structures 2, 2' to the mooring point 4, in particular downstream of the mooring point 4. The floating structures 2, 2' are positioned depending on the position of the mooring point 4, in particular downstream of the mooring point 4, based on the movement direction W, W' of the surrounding water. More precisely, when the floating water has a direction along the arrow W, the floating structure 2 is positioned in the position shown in FIG. 1, and similarly, the floating structure 2' is positioned in the position shown in FIG. 1 when the water comes floating from the direction W'. Based on the length of the mooring lines 6, the floating structures 2, 2' are positioned within a circular area, for example with a radius of 500 m, with the mooring point 4 as the center of the circular area.

Now referring to FIG. 2, the floating structure 2, 2' of FIG. 1 is shown in detail. The floating structure 2, 2' is positioned according to the mooring points 4, the length of the mooring lines 6, and the floating water direction W, W'. The floating structure 2, 2' comprises a surrounding structure 10 and an internal space 20. Advantageously, the floating structure 2, 2' further comprises a space 16 for arranging a wave energy harvesting system 14, a building such as a restaurant, a shop or a service building. The surrounding structure 10 comprises an opening 12 for ships coming from the sea area surrounding the floating structure 2, 2' to enter the internal space 20. The internal space 20 can comprise at least one ship mooring location 18, advantageously at least two ship mooring locations 18.

The mooring line 6 can be connected to the surrounding structure 10 at a connection point 24 on a first side of the surrounding structure 10. The opening 12 for the vessel to enter the interior space 20 is located on the opposite side of the surrounding structure 10. The connection point 24 is therefore oriented in the direction of the oncoming wind or floating water, respectively. As a result, the opening 12 is oriented in the downstream direction, depending on whether it is located on the opposite side of the surrounding structure 10. The vessel entering the interior space 20 is therefore more likely to drive against the flowing water and control only small movements when maneuvering into the vessel mooring location 18. Furthermore, the floating structure 2, 2', in particular the surrounding structure 10 and the optional wave energy harvesting system 14, protects the area of the opening 12 from exposure to higher waves. Such higher waves, which can be avoided using the present invention, have the effect of complicating the entry of the vessel into the interior space 20.

Now referring to FIG. 3, the floating structure 2, 2' includes a surrounding structure 10 and an interior space 20. The floating structure 2, 2' further includes a wave energy harvesting system 14 and, optionally, a space 16 for locating a structure. A restaurant 30 is optionally located on the space 16. The surrounding structure 10 includes an opening 12 for a vessel to enter the interior space 20 from the waters surrounding the floating structure 2, 2'.

The mooring points 4 for mooring the floating structures 2, 2' are located, for example, on the mooring poles 40. The mooring lines 6 run completely underwater from the mooring poles 40 to the connection points 24. The connection points 24 are arranged on the surrounding structure 10, which can reach deep below the waterline. The surrounding structure 10, which is constructed to reach deep below the waterline, has the effect of protecting the floating structures 2, 2' from the effects of high waves crashing against the floating structures 2, 2'. The floating structures 2, 2' include interconnected floating elements 32 connected to the surrounding structure 10. The floating elements 32 are respectively attached to the surrounding structure 10, and each floating element 32 is vertically movable relative to the surrounding structure 10 and also vertically movable relative to its nearest neighboring floating element 32. Each floating element therefore follows the waterline vertically.

In this disclosure, the term "wave" is used to describe waves of water in the sea, lake, and/or ocean.

The system of the present invention includes a floating island made of a rigid superstructure supported above the wave crest by a number of floating bodies which are free to move vertically, thereby following the up and down motion of the ocean.

4 and 5, the system 100, 200 includes a rigid superstructure 1200, 2200 supported above the wave surface 1302, 2302 by a flexible structure 1300, 2300 consisting of a number of floats 1310, 2310, e.g., 10 or more, preferably 100 or more, and more preferably 1000 or more. The floats 1310, 2310 are free to move in a substantially vertical direction relative to each other in accordance with the ascending and descending motion of the waves 1302, 2302, respectively.

All or some of the floating bodies 1310, 2310 include alignment features 1314, 2314 that engage corresponding alignment features 1324, 2324 on the superstructure 1200, 2200 to prevent creeping of the flexible structure 1300, 2300 relative to the superstructure 1200, 2200. If necessary, all or some of the floating bodies 1310, 2310 are maintained in an upright position by ballasts 1312, 2312 that may be installed under or within the floating bodies 1310, 2310. If necessary, all or some of the floating bodies 1310, 2310 maintain their horizontal positions relative to each other and/or the superstructure 1200, 2200 by vertically sliding interlocking features (not shown) as needed. If necessary, all or some of the floating bodies maintain their upright positions relative to each other by vertically sliding within interlocking features (not shown) as needed.

The float 1310, 2310 carries the superstructure 1200, 2200 via a piston 1332 and a cylinder 1334 that constitute a pump, or via an inflatable cushion 2332. The inflatable cushion may have a toroidal or toroidal shape or other suitable shape or configuration, for example a multi-chamber configuration as known in the art. The cylinder 1334 or the inflatable cushion 2332 is fluidly connected to a one-way valve or similar functional element (not shown) as known in the art, such that the fluid pumped by the piston 1332 and the cylinder 1334 or the inflatable cushion 2332 is collected in a storage tank 1414, 2414. The fluid used for pumping may be air, water, or any other suitable fluid as known in the art. The storage tank 1414, 2414 is fluidly connected to the energy converter 1500, 2500 via another piping system 1418, 2418, which includes a regulating means 1416, 2416 for adapting the amount of fluid supplied to the energy converter 1500, 2500. The piping system 1412, 1416, 1418, 2412, 2416, 2418 and the storage tank 1414, 2414 may include pressure transducers or adapters, as well as monitoring devices (not shown), as are known in the art. The energy converter 1500, 2500 may be a generator, but may also convert the height or pressure of the fluid (if the fluid is a compressible fluid) into another form of energy, such as mechanical movement.

The superstructure 1200, 2200 is equipped with a ballast system 1202, 2202 to adapt its weight to the height of the waves 1302, 2302 and the surrounding weather conditions, thereby ensuring optimal performance of the energy harvesting system 100, 200. The storage tanks 1414, 2414 and/or the energy converters 1500, 2500 and/or other equipment parts of the system 100, 200 can be installed on separate floating installations to ensure maximum adaptability of the superstructure weight via the ballast 1202, 2202.

If the wave 1302, 2302 is higher than the sum of the immersion depth of the float 1310, 2310 due to the float carrying the weight of the superstructure 1200, 2200 (which can be accommodated by the use of ballast 1202, 2202) and its own weight, plus the height of the float, the float 1310, 2310 will not be in permanent contact with the superstructure 1200, 2200 and will follow the downward movement of the wave 1302, 2302. The float 1310, 2310 is free to move downwards, so there is no weight on the superstructure 1200, 2200. When the floating body 1310, 2310 is again pushed upward by the waves, it activates the piston 1332 or the inflatable cushion 2332, which pushes it upward until the floating body 1310, 2310 bears against the superstructure 1200, 2200, thereby pumping the fluid through the collection piping system 1412, 2412 to the storage tank 1414, 2414. As a result, the storage tank 1414, 2414 constitutes a store of energy in the form of collected fluid, and optionally in the form of pressurized fluid if a compressible fluid is used.

To convert the stored energy into another form of energy, such as electricity, the user opens regulators 1416, 2416 and generates the requested energy on demand.

6, an example of a float 3300 of the present invention is shown. The body 3310 of the float 3300 is a triangular prism with a vertically extending equilateral triangle base shape, alternating male and female dovetails or recesses, extruded along the vertical axis to a depth equal to the length of the sides of the equilateral triangle, and includes interlocking male 3322 and female 3324 features, as well as alignment features 3314.

The floating structure of the present invention can provide mooring for any number of vessels of any size as required.

The floating structure of the present invention may include suitable services, specialized infrastructure and/or facilities, infrastructure and/or facilities for ship building or repair, medical infrastructure and/or facilities, and/or leisure infrastructure.

As shown, the floating structure is moored offshore and naturally faces downwind or downstream in the combined effects of wind and waves, just like an anchored vessel. As a result, if the entrance to the floating structure is formed as a floating marina, vessels moored there will be maximally protected from the effects of wind and waves. The floating structure can be motorized, actively oriented, or towed to any location as required. The dimensions shown in this figure are by way of example only and do not imply any limitations on the size and/or proportions of the subject matter of this invention.

The sides of the surrounding structure facing the combined effects of wind and waves may be protected by a separate floating infrastructure (wave attenuation device) as part of the floating structure designed to at least partially absorb the forces of waves striking the surrounding structure. The wave energy harvesting system and the surrounding structure are mounted together in such a way that the wave energy harvesting system and the rest of the floating structure can move vertically relative to each other.

International patent applications PCT/IB2019/056405 Modular floating structures and construction methods and PCT/IB2020/056129 Modular floating areas - their entire contents - are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are relied upon to define the features for which protection may be sought, as their entirety is believed to contribute to the solution of the technical problem underlying the invention, and certain features which may be described below are of particular importance.

A floating wave energy harvesting system may include a rigid superstructure mounted on a floatable building element or buoy. The floatable building element follows the wave motion but is ballasted to adjust its buoyancy to consume the wave energy as it rises. The floating building element is guided vertically relative to the superstructure by a linear guide system and/or linkages between them. The floating building element has a height comparable to the height of the waves to be attenuated, and ideally higher than the waves to be attenuated. For example, to attenuate the energy of a 2 meter high wave, a 4 meter high float can be used, weighted so that about 75% of it is submerged, to form a 4 meter high wall, of which 3 meters can be submerged below the water surface. Several rows of floating building elements can be installed to sufficiently attenuate the wave energy.

To make the floating structure rigid and stable, a portion of the structure extends below the waterline to a depth sufficient to allow vessels to sail over it without contact. This submerged portion of the structure also provides the necessary attachment for mooring at least one vessel. The submerged portion of the structure may also be used to attach the floating structure to a mooring pole.

Infrastructure similar to the wave energy harvesting system of the present invention can be used to protect other floating infrastructure installed offshore.

Infrastructure similar to the wave energy harvesting system of the present invention can be used to reduce the impact of waves on coasts or corals.

The advantage is that it provides a floating structure that can withstand waves such as those found offshore and protects moored vessels.

An added benefit is that the floating infrastructure is provided with the ability to attenuate the effects of waves to protect the floating infrastructure and reduce the impact of waves on coasts and corals.

It should be understood that the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein represent exemplary and best modes of the invention and are in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the present invention may be embodied as a system, device or method.

The present invention is described herein with reference to block diagrams, devices, components, and modules according to various aspects of the invention. It is understood that each functional block of the block diagrams, and combinations of functional blocks in the block diagrams, can be installed in a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, such that instructions executing on the computer or other programmable data processing device enable the functions identified in the block diagrams.

Thus, the depiction of the block diagrams supports combinations of methods for performing particular functions, combinations of steps for performing particular functions, and program instruction methods for performing particular functions. Each functional block of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, and combinations of functional blocks in the block diagrams, may be implemented by a special purpose hardware-based computer system that performs the particular functions or steps, or any suitable combination thereof.

The system of this application is also intended for use, sale and/or distribution of any goods, services or information having similar functionality to this application.

The present specification and drawings are to be understood as illustrative and not limiting, and all improvements described herein are intended to be included within the scope of the claimed invention even if they are not expressly claimed at the time of filing. The scope of the present invention should therefore be determined by the appended claims, or any claims subsequently amended or added, or their legal equivalents, and not by the mere illustrative examples set forth above. The steps recited in any method or process claim may be performed in any order unless otherwise stated, and are not limited to the particular order recited in the claims. Furthermore, the elements and/or components recited in the apparatus claims may be assembled or operatively configured in various permutations to produce substantially similar results. In general, the present invention is not limited to the particular configurations recited in the claims.

The benefits, advantages, or solutions described herein should not be construed as essential, required, or essential features or elements of any or all claims.

As used herein, the terms "consisting of," "comprising," and similar terms are used to express a non-limiting list of elements, and the apparatus, process, method, article, or composition of the present invention may include not only the elements listed, but also other elements described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "comprising," or "essentially comprising" are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to only the elements listed, unless otherwise specified. The combinations and/or improvements of the above-mentioned elements, materials, or structures used in the practice of the present invention may be modified or adapted to other designs by those skilled in the art without departing from the general principles of the present invention.

The patents and publications cited above are incorporated herein by reference to the extent not contrary to this disclosure, unless otherwise noted.

Other features and embodiments of the invention are set out in the accompanying claims.

Furthermore, the invention is considered to consist of all possible combinations of all features described in this specification, the accompanying feature sets and/or drawings that are considered to be novel, inventive and industrially applicable.

Additional features and functionality of the present invention are set forth in the accompanying claims and/or abstract, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and are to be considered part of the filed application.

Various modifications and improvements can be made to the embodiments of the invention described above.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described, a wide range of improvements, modifications, and substitutions are contemplated in the above disclosure. While the above description contains many specific details, these should not be considered as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of one or other preferred embodiments. In some cases, some features of the invention can be employed without the corresponding use of other features.

Accordingly, the foregoing description is to be construed broadly and understood as merely illustrative or exemplary, the spirit and scope of the invention being limited only by the claims ultimately issued on this application.

Claims (11)

A floating structure (2, 2') floating on an open water body, preferably a floating marina, configured to serve as a mooring place for ships, comprises a surrounding structure (10) and an internal space (20), said surrounding structure (10) enclosing said internal space (20), said surrounding structure (10) including an opening (12) for ships to enter said internal space (20) from said open water body and vice versa, in order to moor at least one ship at a ship mooring place 18 of the floating structure (2, 2'),
A floating structure (2, 2') comprising a connection point (24) for connecting a mooring line (6) to float the floating structure (2, 2') at a predetermined location in the open water area, the connection point (24) being on a first side of the surrounding structure (10) and the opening (12) being located on approximately the opposite side of the surrounding structure (10), such that the opening (12) is located at the downstream end of the floating structure (2, 2'). The floating structure (2, 2') according to claim 1, comprising a wave energy harvesting system (14) fixed to the surrounding structure (10) on a first side thereof. The floating structure (2, 2') of claim 2, wherein the wave energy harvesting system (14) comprises a plurality of floating bodies, each of which can move vertically independently of one another so as to follow the movement of ocean waves when placed on the sea surface. The floating structure (2, 2') according to claim 3, comprising an energy conversion system capable of generating electrical energy based on the relative motion of the floating bodies. The floating structure (2, 2') according to claim 4, wherein the energy conversion system includes a pump system for pumping fluid into the reservoir based on a relative motion, preferably a vertical relative motion, between the floating bodies, and the energy conversion system further includes an energy converter for converting the energy, preferably potential energy, of the fluid in the reservoir into usable energy, preferably thermal energy or electrical energy. The floating structure (2, 2') according to claim 5, wherein the floating structure (2, 2') comprises a superstructure carried by the floating body. A wave energy harvesting system, preferably a wave damping device, comprising a plurality of floating bodies, each of which can move vertically independently of one another when placed on the ocean surface such that each floating body follows the motion of ocean waves. The wave energy harvesting system of claim 7, further comprising an energy conversion system capable of generating electrical energy based on the relative motion of the floating body. The wave energy harvesting system of claim 8, wherein the energy conversion system includes a pump system for pumping fluid into the reservoir based on relative motion between the floating bodies, and the energy conversion system further includes an energy converter for converting energy, preferably potential energy, of the fluid in the reservoir into usable energy, preferably thermal energy or electrical energy. A wave energy harvesting system as described in claim 8, comprising a ballast system (1202, 2202) capable of adjusting the weight of the superstructure (1200, 2200) and thereby adjusting the immersion depth of the floating body (1310, 2310). A floating structure (2, 2') according to claim 1, comprising a wave energy harvesting system according to claim 7.

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