US 12,270,374 B2
Delivery of a high volume of floating systems for wind
James V Maher, Houston, TX (US); and Kim Mittendorf, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to Trendsetter Vulcan Offshore, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Trendsetter Vulcan Offshore, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Dec. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/390,946.
Application 18/390,946 is a continuation of application No. 17/672,674, filed on Feb. 15, 2022, granted, now 11,867,148.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/224,463, filed on Jul. 22, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/149,607, filed on Feb. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0117788 A1, Apr. 11, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F03D 13/25 (2016.01); B63B 35/00 (2020.01); E02B 17/02 (2006.01); F03D 13/10 (2016.01); B63B 35/44 (2006.01); E02B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC F03D 13/25 (2016.05) [B63B 35/003 (2013.01); F03D 13/10 (2016.05); B63B 2035/446 (2013.01); E02B 2017/0039 (2013.01); E02B 2017/0091 (2013.01); F05B 2240/95 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of installing and running a wind farm, the method comprising:
constructing a floating vessel by welding together a plurality of sections, each of the sections including a cylindrical plate and a stiffening ring welded inside the cylindrical plate, and two bulkheads;
towing the floating vessel to a platform located at a first location, wherein the first location is off-shore;
mounting a nacelle and blades on the floating vessel while the floating vessel is secured to the platform, the nacelle including a turbine;
towing the floating vessel, the nacelle, and the blades vertically to a second off-shore location different from the first location;
providing an off-shore substation on the platform;
collecting power generated by the turbine via a submarine cable connected to the off-shore substation; and
exporting the power generated by the turbine through another submarine cable.