MOBILE MARINE ENERGY FACILITY «CASCAD»

https://doi.org/10.33815/2313-4763.2019.2.21.051-058

Abstract

In the past few decades, there has been an active development of wind energy projects on the coastal shelves of the seas. Numerous existing wind  arms and those under construction, operate, generating “green” electricity. The development of deep-sea sections of marine areas with intense wind activity  as begun. Two directions are being developed dynamically - the installation of windmills on various floating platforms, on anchor systems far in the open sea. The second type is the deep-sea offshore wind units with the floating principle of keeping the "classic" wind generators in an upright position. The development of these technologies indicates that the wind energy utilization in open seas and oceans with active wind load, has already begun and that  n the future this work will be further developed. But mostly, wind turbines are offered with horizontal shafts, which requires size enlargement in order to increase the power being generated. In addition, the hydropower potential is taken into account when designing such wind turbines. The project of the “Cascad” marine mobile energy facility is being proposed. The facility, located on a floating platform, includes an active sail, consisting of: a rotary support (large diameter rotary bearing) on which a frame of trusses under the fairing and two vertical turbines of a carousel type are mounted. The installation also has electric generators with multipliers mounted under the turbines on the load-bearing trusses. Electric generators transmit electric energy through electric cables and through the contactless device to the switchboard and energy storage. The active sail and underwater hydraulic turbines have a particular impact on the platform handling. The active sail on the rorary platform may be positioned at a certain predetermined angle to the wind, which will enable the platform to move in the direction of the wind and remain on the general course. Underwater hydroturbines are located on the starboard and port underwater sides of the catamaran. They can be one on each side or two on each side symmetrically. Their purpose is to generate electricity of the oncoming water flow while the platform is moved by the active sail. The devices in question can be of various sizes depending on the purpose and installed capacity. “Cascad” platforms can be installed on stationary anchor places and supply electricity to the nearest shore. They can be of ocean size with turbine capacities of several Gigawatts, with power consumption directly on board or with the transfer of electricity by charging and transporting it by electric power storage units.