CANTILEVERED TENSION-LEG STABILIZATION OF BUOYANT WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER OR FLOATING WIND TURBINE BASE

摘要

A device to stabilize, reduce, or control the wave or wind-induced heave (vertical), surge (lateral), or pitching (rolling) motion of a floating or semi-submerged buoyant base, raft, barge, buoy or other buoyant body such as the buoyant base of a wave energy converter or a floating wind turbine base. The device concurrently allows the floating base to self-orient or weathervane to substantially maintains its orientation with respect to the direction of oncoming waves, winds, or wind gusts. The device also facilitates maintaining the submerged depth or vertical orientation of the buoyant base relative to the still water line to compensate for tidal depth changes. The device utilizes a second substantially submerged buoyant body having a center of buoyancy and at least one tensioned seabed connection located substantially below and forward or up-sea or up-wind of the center of buoyancy of the buoyant base. A structural member, which can optionally also be buoyant or integral with the base or second submerged body, connects the submerged buoyant body with the floating base.