ES2930070T3 - rotating floating platform - Google Patents

Abstract

A revolving floating platform, adapted to house power production systems, namely, but not limited to, solar panels. The technology now developed provides rotational movement to the entire platform, on the plane of the aquatic environment where it floats, its rotation capacity being independent of fixed and rigid structures. To achieve this independence, the rotating floating platform comprises a central floating module (1) directly or indirectly connected to at least two propulsion modules (5), where the connection to the bottom of the basin is made through a mooring unit. flexible that forms a floating rotation structure (4) where the drive and the axis of rotation act as one, thus creating a rotation platform. (Automatic translation with Google Translate, without legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

rotating floating platform

technical field

The present application describes a rotating floating platform.

Background of the invention

The current power plants based on photovoltaic cells, of different scales, are installed either on the ground (on the coast) or on pre-existing structures. These systems are rarely installed on water surfaces such as lakes, lagoons, ponds, dam reservoirs, rivers, among others.

Document WO 2012/131543 describes a floating solar panel structure that is made up of a floating platform that rotates on its vertical axis by means of a rail system, anchored to the bottom of the hydrographic basin and its margin. The rotational movement of the structure is limited to predefined positions and is held in place by fixing means of the turntable in reference to the fixed structure.

Document FR 2988164 describes a system where a rigid structure designed to house solar panels rotates around a central axis by means of floating components that move within a well-defined trajectory.

Document US 4786795 describes a platform that is uniquely designed to track the movement of the sun, by using a plurality of solar tracking subsystems that provide information for the control system to activate motors that can run forward or backward, rotating the platform on a fixed structure. The weight of the structure is supported by the fixed structure, which is fixed to the bottom of the basin. The platform can also be floating without being fixed to a central structure by means of a system of cables and pulleys that is fixed to the bottom of the basin and connected to the platform at its ends.

Document FR2928899A1 describes a floating support for oil production comprising a detachable mooring system for seabed anchor lines and bottom-to-surface connection pipes comprising: a mooring buoy for said lines and bottom-to-surface connection pipes , preferably said buoy being an annular buoy, and characterized in that said reel comprises:

- a sealed tubular outer structure comprising a bottom assembled in a sealed manner at the lower end of said sealed tubular outer structure, said tubular outer structure containing an internal structure integral with the casing at its upper end, said internal structure and the tubular structure external that cooperates with at least one lower rolling or friction bearing, allowing rotation of said internal structure, said external structure that does not rotate when the floating support is driven around said vertical axis of the cavity and said sealed tubular external structure ZZ ', and said lower friction or rolling bearing that is below the surface of the water but within said sealed outer structure.

Document WO2008115068 describes a floating platform for the drilling or production of hydrocarbons that comprises a semi-submersible main platform that carries processing and/or drilling equipment on its upper surface, and that is designed as an essentially flat-bottomed vertical cylinder. The main platform is provided with a vertical central axis which, at its lower end, is adapted for the reception and releasable blocking of an anchoring buoy that has fastening equipment for anchor lines and for elevators and umbilicals.

Brief description of the invention

The present application describes a rotating floating platform comprising:

a central floating module comprising

a central floating component and a ring-shaped outer component, said central floating component being provided with a bearing-type connection for coupling said outer component (3) and means for fixing a mooring unit of an anchor type, said outer component providing the connecting the central floating module to a plurality of propulsion modules by means of a fixing mechanism; Y

a plurality of propulsion modules coupled to the central floating module;

wherein each of said plurality of propulsion modules comprises at least one floating component and a motor unit coupled to said at least one floating component, the motor unit comprising an engine and a propeller; and a control unit comprising a processor and a communication module, wherein the communication module is configured to establish a wired/wireless communication link with an external entity, and the processor is configured to operate the engine and propeller of the motor unit of each one of said plurality of propulsion modules defining a rotation movement according to instructions received by the external entity.

In another embodiment of the rotating floating platform, the central floating module further comprises a mooring unit attached to the central floating component by a swivel and rope connection providing connection of the floating platform to the bottom of the basin.

In yet another embodiment of the rotating floating platform, the central floating module further comprises at least one floating component connected between the outer component of the central floating module and the propulsion module, by means of said fixing mechanism.

In yet another embodiment of the rotating floating platform, the fixing mechanism comprises a rope.

In yet another embodiment of the rotating floating platform, the motor unit of a propulsion module is coupled to two floating components by a rigidly mechanical tubular frame and by a connecting mechanism.

In yet another embodiment of the rotating floating platform, the connection mechanism comprises clamps and screws.

In yet another embodiment of the rotating floating platform, the connection between the rigidly mechanical tubular frame and the motor is provided with a vertical pole and a wooden plate, which holds the motor at a predefined distance between a lower surface of the platform and the I usually

General description

The technology now developed describes a rotating floating platform, which provides rotational movement to the entire structure, on the plane of the aquatic environment where it floats.

The system described herein is designed for, but not limited to, floating platforms adapted to house power production systems, namely, but not limited to, solar panels.

The main innovation of the present application is the ability to deploy the rotating floating platform in any aquatic environment, its ability to rotate independent of fixed and rigid structures. To achieve this independence, the rotating floating platform comprises a central floating module connected directly or indirectly to a plurality of propulsion modules, where the connection with the bottom of the basin is provided through a flexible mooring unit, forming a floating structure. rotating where the drive and the axis of rotation act as one, thus creating a platform of rotation.

The central floating module comprises a central floating component and an outer component that can rotate independently of the central floating component by means of a bearing-type connection, thus giving said outer component freedom of rotation.

The platform is assembled by attaching any other floating components to the outer component using a fixing mechanism such as string, giving the platform the freedom to rotate around the central floating component. The central floating component is a buoy with fixing means for both the outer component and the mooring unit.

The revolving floating platform is free of fixed structures, and comprises a mooring unit of an anchor type, fixed to the central module by means of a rope and swivel joint, thus connecting it to the bottom of the basin. In the context of this application, an anchor-type connection is to be understood as a flexible-type connection made of a flexible connection element such as a rope, which has an anchoring mechanism at one of its ends to provide mooring of the entire platform. This approach has the advantage of not limiting the flat movement of the platform along the plane of the water.

The propulsion module comprises a motor unit, which is coupled to at least one floating component. Said engine unit comprises an engine operated by a control unit that has processor means configured to operate the respective engine, and therefore define the direction of rotation movement of the propeller coupled to it, according to instructions received by entities. external in charge of controlling the rotation movement of the platform. For this, the control unit also comprises a communication module configured to establish wired/wireless communication links with said external entities. The connection between the control unit and the motor is provided by a vertical bar that holds the motor at a predefined distance between the lower surface of the platform and the ground.

The motor unit further comprises a fixing mechanism for attaching said unit to the floating component. The fixing mechanism comprises a rigidly mechanical tubular frame that is attached to the floating structure, ie two floating components, by means of a connecting mechanism. Said connection mechanism could be of the clamp and screw type. The motor is attached to the clamping mechanism by a plate, serving as a spacer, through a screw type connection.

By combining these two subsystems, we can create a floating platform that rotates freely around an axis, created by the core module, powered by the momentum generated by the propulsion modules, creating a floating platform with the ability to rotate. For the sake of this solution, the propulsion modules are mounted at the ends of the floating platform, thus maximizing the moment of movement.

Brief description of the figures

To facilitate the understanding of this application, figures are attached that represent the preferred forms of implementation, which, however, are not intended to limit the technique described here.

Figure 1: Schematic representation of the central module (1), where the reference numbers represent:

2 - Floating component;

3 - External component;

10 - Central Floating Component;

Figure 2: Schematic representation of the propulsion module (5), where the reference numbers represent: 2 - Floating component;

6 - Engine unit;

Figure 3: Schematic representation of the motor unit (6), where the reference numbers represent:

7- Tubular frame;

8- Wooden plate;

9 - Engine;

Figure 4: Schematic representation of a particular embodiment of the modular floating platform (4) with installed propulsion modules (5) around the central module (1).

Description of embodiments

For a better understanding of this application, figures are attached that represent examples of forms of implementation that, however, are not intended to limit the technique described here.

In a particular embodiment, the central module (1) is circular in shape and has four floating components (2). Said floating components (2) are connected to their central floating module (10) through a rotating external component (3) in the form of a ring (3), by means of a mechanical connection, for example, a cable type. Said floating elements (2) are connected in turn to three other floating elements (2), each of them forming a floating platform (4), which is connected to the central module (1). By connecting more floating platforms (4) to this central structure it is possible to create a modular floating platform. To ensure the rotational movement of the entire structure, the propulsion modules (5) are attached to floating platforms (4) at predefined locations, specifically at the ends of the modular floating platform. The propulsion module (5) is assembled by mounting the motor unit (6) on floating components (2) by means of a screw type connection. The motor unit (6) itself has the means to connect the frame (7) to the wooden plate (8) and to the motor (9). In this way, the rotation movement of the entire structure is independent of the fixed and rigid structures.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present application have been described for illustrative purposes, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications, additions, and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope of the application. Therefore, the present application is not limited to the embodiments described above, being defined by the claims that follow, together with their included scope of equivalents.

Claims (7)

1. Rotating floating platform comprising: a central floating module (1), a plurality of propulsion modules (5) coupled to the central floating module (1), said central floating module (1) comprising a central floating component (10) and an outer component (3) in the form of a ring, said central floating component (10) being provided with a bearing-type connection for coupling said outer component (3) and means for fixing a mooring unit of an anchor type, said outer component (3) providing the connection of the central floating module (1) to said plurality of propulsion modules (5) by means of a fixing mechanism; wherein each of said plurality of propulsion modules (5) comprises at least one floating component (2) and a motor unit (6) coupled to said at least one floating component (2), the motor unit (6) comprising an engine (9) and a propeller; and a control unit comprising a processor and a communication module, wherein the communication module is configured to establish a wired/wireless communication link with an external entity, and the processor is configured to operate the motor (9) and the propeller of the motor unit (6) of each one of said plurality of propulsion modules (5) defining a rotation movement according to instructions received by the external entity. 2. Rotating floating platform according to any of the previous claims, wherein the central floating module (1) further comprises a mooring unit fixed to the central floating component (10) by means of a swivel connection and rope that provides the connection of the floating platform to the bottom of the basin. 3. Rotating floating platform according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the central floating module (1) further comprises at least one floating component (2) connected between the outer component (3) of the central floating module (1) and the module propulsion (5), by means of said fixing mechanism. 4. Rotating floating platform according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fixing mechanism comprises rope. Rotating floating platform according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the motor unit (6) of a propulsion module (5) is coupled to two floating elements (2) by means of a rigidly mechanical tubular frame (7) and by means of a connection mechanism. Rotating floating platform according to claim 6, wherein the connection mechanism comprises clamps and screws. Rotating floating platform according to any of the previous claims, where the connection between the rigidly mechanical tubular frame (7) and the motor (9) is provided with a vertical stick and a wooden plate (8), which holds the motor (9) at a predefined distance between a lower surface of the platform and the ground.