Barge Mounted Floating Power Plant

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a vessel includes a hull structure, a foundation, a plurality of springs, and plurality of hydraulic jacks. The hull structure is configured to float on water. The foundation is mounted on top of the hull structure and has significant mass. The foundation is configured to support a turbine structure and to absorb at least a portion of the forces or kinetic energy from the turbine structure. The plurality of springs are positioned between the hull structure and the foundation. The plurality of springs are configured to isolate the foundation from the effects of deflections in the hull structure, to absorb at least a portion of the forces or kinetic energy transferred from the turbine structure, and to transfer at least another portion of the forces or kinetic energy from the turbine structure to the hull structure. The plurality of hydraulic jacks are positioned between the hull structure and the foundation and are configured to adjust the degree of stiffness between the hull structure and the foundation, and to absorb forces or kinetic energy from the turbine structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a hull structure configured to float in water;   a concrete foundation mounted on top of the hull structure, the concrete foundation configured to:
 support a turbine structure, and 
 absorb at least a portion of forces or kinetic energy transferred from the turbine structure to the concrete foundation. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the concrete foundation has a mass of at least 1700 metric tons. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of energy absorption and transfer structures positioned between the hull structure and the concrete foundation, the plurality of energy absorption and transfer structures configured to isolate the concrete foundation from the effects of deflections in the hull structure.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of energy absorption and transfer structures positioned between the hull structure and the concrete foundation, the plurality of energy absorption and transfer structures configured to:
 absorb at least a portion of the forces or kinetic energy transferred from the turbine structure, and 
 transfer at least another portion of the forces or kinetic energy from the turbine structure to the hull structure. 
   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein at least some of the plurality of energy absorption and transfer structures are springs. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hull structure further comprises:
 structural brackets configured to transfer forces or kinetic energy received, at the hull structure from the turbine structure, to an outside of the hull and an added mass of the water surrounding the hull structure.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hull structure further comprises:
 a plurality of ballasts configured to adjust a buoyancy of the hull structure.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of adjustment structures positioned between the hull structure and the concrete foundation, the adjustment structures configured to adjust the degree of stiffness between the hull structure and the concrete foundation.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein at least some of the plurality of adjustment structures are hydraulic jacks. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein at least some of the plurality of adjustment structures are configured to absorb forces or kinetic energy from the turbine structure. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a hull structure configured to float in water;   a foundation mounted on top of the hull structure, the foundation configured to support a turbine structure; and   at least one of:
 a plurality of adjustment structures positioned between the hull structure and the foundation, the adjustment structures configured to adjust the degree of stiffness between the hull structure and the foundation, and 
 a plurality of energy absorption and transfer structures positioned between the hull structure and the foundation, the plurality of energy absorption and transfer structures configured to do at least one of:
 isolate the foundation from the effects of deflections in the hull structure, and 
 absorb at least a portion of the forces or kinetic energy transferred from the turbine structure, and 
 transfer at least another portion of the forces or kinetic energy from the turbine structure to the hull structure. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , comprising both of the plurality of adjustment structures and the plurality of energy absorption and transfer structures. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein at least some of the plurality of energy absorption and transfer structures are springs. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein at least some of the plurality of adjustment structures are hydraulic jacks. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein at least some of the plurality of adjustment structures are configured to absorb forces or kinetic energy from the turbine structure. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the hull structure further comprises:
 structural brackets configured to transfer forces or kinetic energy received, at the hull structure from the turbine structure, to an outside of the hull and an added mass of the water surrounding the hull structure.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the hull structure further comprises:
 a plurality of ballasts configured to adjust a buoyancy of the hull structure.   
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 a hull structure configured to float in water;   a foundation mounted on top of the hull structure, the foundation configured to support a turbine structure;   a plurality of adjustment structures positioned between the hull structure and the foundation, the adjustment structures configured to:
 adjust the degree of stiffness between the hull structure and the foundation, and 
 absorb forces or kinetic energy from the turbine structure; and 
   a plurality of energy absorption and transfer structures positioned between the hull structure and the foundation, the plurality of energy absorption and transfer structures configured to:
 isolate the foundation from the effects of deflections in the hull structure, and 
   absorb at least a portion of the forces or kinetic energy transferred from the turbine structure, and   transfer at least another portion of the forces or kinetic energy from the turbine structure to the hull structure.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the foundation is a composite made of concrete. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the hull structure further comprises:
 a plurality of ballasts configured to adjust a buoyancy of the hull structure.