Floating wind mills
The SWAY system is a floating wind turbine for deep water offshore locations. It produces vast amounts of electricity which can be transport to land or to nearby offshore petroleum installations.
The SWAY technology is partially based on well known concepts from offshore oil and gas installations. It is a floating wind turbine tower with heavy ballast at the base ensuring that the centre of gravity is well below the flotation centre of the system.
The SWAY system
The SWAY system enables use of megawatt turbines (4 to 5mW and above). The rotors will be placed downwind behind an aerodynamic tower. The same side of the tower will always face the wind direction. Using a bearing at the bottom of the tower enables a design of maximum structural strength while reducing the weight of the tower (compared to traditional towers).
The system can be placed where the ocean is 100 to 400 metres deep. The bearing system enables the turbine to be mounted in a fixed position at the top of the tower, eliminating the need for the traditional yaw mechanism.
SWAY have also developed a system to control thrust forces acting on the rotor reducing fatigue.
Main advantages of the SWAY technology
- The SWAY foundation system enables wind turbines to be placed where the ocean is 100 to 400 metres deep
- The SWAY technology will reduce the cost of foundation significantly, compared to fixed structures at 45 metres depth
- Very small motions at the top of the tower
- The design of the upper part of the tower reduces/eliminates the turbulence, corresponding rotor fatigue problems and noise levels associated with standard designs for downwind mounted rotors
- Simple and less cost intensive installation and maintenance
- The position of each wind turbine is flexible according to fish resources and load centres
- The towers can be redeployed to other locations or towed to shore for major maintenance
Visit the SWAY website
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