FLOATING WIND ENERGY HARVESTING APPARATUS WITH BRAKING ARRANGEMENT, AND A METHOD OF CONTROLLING A ROTATIONAL SPEED OF THE APPARATUS.

摘要

The present invention relates to a floating wind energy harvesting apparatus for offshore installation, comprising an elongated wind turbine body extending along a longitudinal wind turbine body axis; at least one blade attached to the wind turbine body for converting wind energy to rotation of the wind turbine body around the longitudinal wind turbine body axis; an energy converter coupled to the wind turbine body for converting the rotation of the wind turbine body to electrical energy; and a braking arrangement for controllably reducing a rotational speed of the wind turbine body. The braking arrangement comprises an inlet; an outlet; a water transporting arrangement coupled to the wind turbine body to transport water from the inlet to the outlet in response to rotation of the wind turbine body; and an access control arrangement for controllably preventing water form passing from through the water transporting arrangement. The invention also relates to a method of controlling a rotational speed of the wind energy harvesting apparatus floating in a body of water.