Offshore Wind Energy Installation

Abstract

An offshore mast is erected to support a load. At least one stay cable supports the offshore mast. The stay cable has an end and an opposite end. The end of the stay cable attaches to an upper region of the offshore mast. The opposite end of the stay cable is anchored, perhaps to an ocean bed of the earth. The stay cable is oriented at an angle not exceeding ten degrees.

1 . An offshore wind turbine, comprising:
 an offshore mast;   a rotor assembly supported by the offshore mast, the rotor assembly having at least one outwardly extending propeller blade driven by an offshore wind; and   a stay cable supporting the offshore mast, the stay cable having an end attached proximate to a top of the offshore mast, the stay cable having an opposite end anchored offshore, the stay cable oriented to the offshore mast at an angle such that the outwardly extending propeller blade never collides with the stay cable as the wind drives the propeller.   
     
     
         2 . The offshore wind turbine of  claim 1 , wherein the angle is less than ten degrees from the offshore mast. 
     
     
         3 . The offshore wind turbine of  claim 1 , wherein the angle is less than seven degrees from the offshore mast. 
     
     
         4 . The offshore wind turbine of  claim 1 , further comprising a generator converting a mechanical energy of the rotor assembly into an electrical energy. 
     
     
         5 . The offshore wind turbine of  claim 1 , further comprising an alternator converting a mechanical energy of the rotor assembly into an electrical energy. 
     
     
         6 . The offshore wind turbine of  claim 1 , further comprising multiple ones of the stay cable supporting the offshore mast. 
     
     
         7 . The offshore wind turbine of  claim 1 , further comprising multiple propeller blades of the rotor assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The offshore wind turbine of  claim 1 , further comprising orienting the stay cable according to a height of a tip of the propeller blade. 
     
     
         9 . The offshore wind turbine of  claim 1 , further comprising a bearing that allows the rotor assembly to swivel in response to the wind. 
     
     
         10 . The offshore wind turbine of  claim 1 , further comprising a bearing mount that allows the rotor assembly to swivel about the offshore mast in response to the wind.