Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Gewinnung von Energie durch Ausnuetzung des Temperaturgefaelles zwischen verschiedenen Schichten des Meeres

摘要

1,059,050. Offshore equipment. J. H. ANDERSON and J. H. ANDERSON Jr. Aug. 24, 1965 [Aug. 31, 1964], No. 36420/65. Heading E1H. [Also in Divisions Fl and F4] The power plant includes a buoyant hull 10 floating with its upper end above the level 12 of the sea and having a depending submerged open framework 14 for supporting parts of the plant below the water level. The hull defines a space for one or more turbines 20, an electric generator 22 and living space for the operating crew. A balast tank 24 can be used to adjust the height of the hull in the sea. Also supported by the framework is a depending access tube 28 compression chambers 30 having doors opening to the sea are provided at spaced locations along the access tube so that divers may enter the water at different levels for maintenance purposes. Pumps some of which are shown, are mounted on the exterior of the access tube with their motors located inside the tube. Divers descend the tube 28 in an elevator. The uppermost compression chamber is provided with an intermediate watertight door. To aid in maintaining a vertical positon motor driven propellers 142 may be provided on the hull. The thrusters 118 may be controlled by the crew. Buoyancy tanks may be disposed in a circular pattern around the hull. (see Division F1).