IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0250446
(2011-09-30)
|
등록번호 |
US-8776538
(2014-07-15)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Nagurny, Nicholas J.
- Jansen, Eugene C.
- Levings, Natalie B.
- Bailey, Stephen L.
- Howard, Robert J.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Lockheed Martin Corporation
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Kaplan Breyer Schwarz & Ottesen, LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
12 |
초록
▼
A pontoon that includes infrastructure for fluidically coupling a heat exchanger or heat exchanger module into each of the seawater and working-fluid distribution systems of an OTEC power generation system is provided. In some embodiments, a pontoon comprises: (1) a first passage for conveying seawa
A pontoon that includes infrastructure for fluidically coupling a heat exchanger or heat exchanger module into each of the seawater and working-fluid distribution systems of an OTEC power generation system is provided. In some embodiments, a pontoon comprises: (1) a first passage for conveying seawater between a first port and a second port at which a heat exchanger module can be connected; and (2) a conduit and connectors for connecting the heat exchanger module and the working fluid circulation system—even while the heat exchanger module is submerged. In some embodiments, pontoons in accordance with the present invention enable heat exchangers or heat exchanger modules to be added or removed to an OTEC system without disrupting the operation of other heat exchangers or heat exchanger modules in use in the OTEC system.
대표청구항
▼
1. An apparatus comprising: a pontoon that is dimensioned and arranged to mechanically coupled with an offshore platform, wherein the pontoon comprises;a first port;a second port;a first conduit that fluidically couples the first port and the second port;a caisson, wherein the caisson comprises a se
1. An apparatus comprising: a pontoon that is dimensioned and arranged to mechanically coupled with an offshore platform, wherein the pontoon comprises;a first port;a second port;a first conduit that fluidically couples the first port and the second port;a caisson, wherein the caisson comprises a second conduit and a third port, and wherein the third port is dimensioned and arranged to fluidically couple to the first port. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first port is dimensioned and arranged to mechanically and fluidically couple with a first heat exchanger module that includes a first heat exchanger. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the second port is dimensioned and arranged to mechanically and fluidically couple with a third conduit. 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first port comprises a first valve. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pontoon is characterized by positive buoyancy when the first conduit is filled with a first fluid. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pump that is dimensioned and arranged to pump the first fluid between the first conduit and the second conduit, wherein the caisson comprises the pump. 7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the pontoon further comprises a fourth port that is fluidically coupled with the first conduit, and wherein the fourth port is dimensioned and arranged to mechanically and fluidically couple with a second heat exchanger module that includes a second heat exchanger. 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pontoon further comprises a fourth port, a fifth port, and a third conduit that fluidically couples the fourth port and fifth port, and wherein the first conduit and third conduit are fluidically decoupled. 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first port is dimensioned and arranged to mechanically and fluidically couple with a first heat exchanger module that includes a first heat exchanger, and wherein the second port is dimensioned and arranged to mechanically and fluidically couple with a fourth conduit, and wherein the fourth port is dimensioned and arranged to fluidically couple with a second heat exchanger module that includes a second heat exchanger, and further wherein the fifth port is dimensioned and arranged to fluidically couple with a fifth conduit. 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pontoon further comprises a third conduit and a first-fluid connector that is dimensioned and arranged to fluidically couple the third conduit and a first heat exchanger module that includes a first heat exchanger. 11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising the first heat exchanger module, wherein the first-fluid connector comprises a first connector and a second connector, and wherein the first connector and second connector enable the flow of a second fluid between the third conduit and the first heat exchanger module when the first connector and second connector are joined. 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first-fluid connector is dimensioned and arranged to clear the first fluid from the first-fluid connector. 13. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising an injector for injecting a second fluid into the first-fluid connector. 14. An apparatus comprising: a first pontoon that is dimensioned and arranged to mechanically couple to an offshore platform, the first pontoon comprising;a first port;a second port;a first conduit for conveying seawater, the first conduit being fluidically coupled with the first port and second port;a first connector;a second connector;a second conduit for conveying a working fluid, the second conduit being fluidically coupled with the first connector and the second connector; anda first caisson, wherein the first caisson comprises a third conduit and a third port, wherein the third port is dimensioned and arranged to fluidically couple with the first port. 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first connector is dimensioned and arranged to clear seawater from the first connector. 16. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising an injector for injecting a second fluid into the connector. 17. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a second pontoon that is dimensioned and arranged to mechanically couple to the offshore platform, the second pontoon comprising a fourth port, a fifth port, and a fourth conduit that is fluidically coupled with the fourth port and fifth port. 18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising: a first heat exchanger module that includes a first heat exchanger, the first heat exchanger module being reversibly attachable to each of the first pontoon and the second pontoon such that the first heat exchanger module is fluidically coupled to each of the first port and fourth port;wherein the first pontoon receives seawater at the second port and conveys it to the first port; andwherein the second pontoon receives seawater at the fourth port and conveys it to the fifth port. 19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first pontoon comprises: a first pontoon section that comprises the first port, second port, and the first conduit; anda second pontoon section that comprises a fourth port, a fifth port, and a fourth conduit for conveying seawater, the fourth conduit being fluidically coupled with the fourth port and the fifth port;wherein the first pontoon section and second pontoon section are fluidically decoupled. 20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a second pontoon that is dimensioned and arranged to mechanically couple to the offshore platform, the second pontoon comprising: a third pontoon section that comprises a sixth port, seventh port, and a fifth conduit that is fluidically coupled with the sixth port and seventh port; anda fourth pontoon section that comprises an eighth port, a ninth port, and a sixth conduit that is fluidically coupled with the eighth port and ninth port;wherein the third pontoon section and fourth pontoon section are fluidically decoupled. 21. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a second heat exchanger module that includes a second heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger module being dimensioned and arranged to fluidically couple with each of the sixth port and eighth port; wherein the second pontoon section receives seawater at the fifth port and conveys it to the fourth port;wherein the second heat exchanger module receives seawater and conveys it to the eighth port; andwherein the fourth pontoon section receives seawater at the eighth port and conveys it to the ninth port. 22. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the third port includes a first aperture and the first port includes a second aperture, and wherein each of the first aperture and the second aperture has substantially the same cross-sectional area and shape. 23. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a tension leg, wherein the tension leg comprises a fourth conduit that is fluidically coupled with the third port, and wherein the third port is dimensioned and arranged to fluidically couple with the first port. 24. A method comprising: mechanically coupling a first heat exchanger module and a first pontoon that is submerged and mechanically coupled to an offshore platform, wherein the first heat exchanger module includes a first heat exchanger, and wherein the first pontoon comprises a first port, a second port, and a first conduit for conveying seawater between the first port and the second port;connecting a first connector to enable flow of a working fluid between the first pontoon and the first heat exchanger module;enabling the flow of seawater between the first heat exchanger module and the first pontoon; andclearing seawater from the first connector, wherein seawater is cleared from the first connector based at least in part by pressurizing the first connector with a first gas. 25. The method of claim 24 further comprising: mechanically coupling the first heat exchanger module and a second pontoon that is submerged and mechanically coupled to the offshore platform, wherein the second pontoon comprises a third port, a fourth port, and a second conduit for conveying seawater between the third port and the fourth port;connecting a second connector to enable flow of the working fluid between the second pontoon and the first heat exchanger module; andenabling the flow of seawater between the first heat exchanger module and the second pontoon. 26. The method of claim 24 wherein seawater is also cleared from the first connector by creating a vacuum in the first connector. 27. The method of claim 24 wherein seawater is also cleared from the first connector by flushing the first connector with a first liquid.
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