The Selsam SUPERTURBINE^(TM) Off-Shore Concept
High shaft speed RPM - No transmission - Direct-drive generator
Lighter weight - Less material required -  Less Visual intrusion
Easily Towed and Installed in Deep Waters or Shallow - Plug-and Play
Floating, Tilting, and Moveable - Eliminates rigid foundation and associated permits
Self-aiming - Eliminates yaw control
Carbon fiber driveshaft replaces heavy steel tower
Does not twist cable - Eliminates slip rings or untwisting
Tilt-up deployment - No crane, large ship, nor large crew required
Tilt-down maintenance - Heavy components near surface level
Low maintenance costs - easily towed to shore or serviced at sea
A floating, tilting, self-aiming, array turbine reduced to a single moving part


The Selsam Off-Shore SUPERTURBINE^(TM)  lowers costs by eliminating all unnecessary components that do not directly contribute to power generation.  Flotation near the surface forms a fulcrum, with the weight of the rotors and driveshaft balanced by a downward force from mooring below.   The result, combined with the force of the wind, defining the projecting angle of the shaft.  The rotors can be staggered, spiral, or in line. Click on images to enlarge


The view looking from downwind and above during a calm, showing moorings below surface

 
The wind rotates the turbine blades, spinning the driveshaft to generate electricity Click images to enlarge


Side view showing mooring means, flotation canister, driveshaft at 25 degrees from horizontal


Because the generator is attached with a universal joint it allows for the unit to tilt but not rotate.  This innovation eliminates slip rings and the power cable unwinding procedure.  It is analogous to bending your back; You can tilt forwards, backwards, and side to side yet the nerves in your spinal column do not twist.   A simple bending stalk is an equivalent structure.  Many other mooring methods, including interconnected mooring grids, are appropriate depending on windfarm layout, number and size of turbines, local marine traffic, tides, currents, waves, and depth. Click images to enlarge

 
The generator is located close to the top bearing for easy access and a consistent airgap.
The shroud extends high above the water line to minimize salt water splashing the seal.
The seal can be under oil or air pressure to ensure protection from the elements. Click images to enlarge


The simplicity of the offshore Selsam SUPERTURBINE^(TM) is reflected in its visual appeal


The spider and floating generator housing are partly submerged, keeping cables tight. Click to enlarge


the offshore Selsam SUPERTURBINE^(TM) under a full moon in a tropical environment


Minimalist structure offers minimal visual impact


Multiple, synchronous, small rotors blend into the background better than individual larger ones.

 
Designed to work with Nature, not against her, the offshore Selsam SUPERTURBINE^(TM) may intentionally lay down by flooding chambers, or even completely submerge to survive extreme storm events. Click image to enlarge

 
Ideal for harsh environments such as the North Sea, the offshore Selsam SUPERTURBINE^(TM) appears as reeds bending in the wind, and is deep-water ready, placed where few eyes can object

Click images to enlarge
 
In clear weather the offshore Selsam SUPERTURBINE^(TM) is as fascinating as it is picturesque Click images to enlarge

 
Safe for shipping lanes, the relatively lightweight, movable, floating offshore Selsam SUPERTURBINE^(TM) is unlikely to sink a vessel.  Bumpers may form part of buoyant enclosure.

 
Energy companies will be happy to transport and market electricity and Hydrogen Fuel produced from seawater by the offshore Selsam SUPERTURBINE^(TM)   Synthetic liquid fuels derived from hydrogen, and desalinated water are also possible, using energy from the abundant wind resource available far offshore. Click images to enlarge

 
The offshore Selsam SUPERTURBINE^(TM) will help energy companies to bring about an abundant future

 
Bending in the breeze, the SUPERTURBINES^(TM) are not visually intrusive Click images to enlarge

 
With increasing distance, the offshore Selsam SUPERTURBINE^(TM) merges into the seascape

With addition of a blimp, the offshore Selsam SUPERTURBINE^(TM) can become even more powerful.  The thickened hollow base of the driveshaft is buoyant, spinning in the water, acting as the main bearings of the turbine, with the entire apparatus tethered by the relatively small bearings of the generator, located within the floating base.  This patented, spinning, aqueous bearing system may also be used in above models with no blimp.




 

3-D renderings above by world-famous, former Dreamworks animator
Michael Sanchez
Michael's website is at: http://www.Childrenofthewind.net
e-mail: mikesa1971@AOL.com

   click image
The floating, tilting, offshore Selsam SUPERTURBINE^(TM) has patents issued in the U.S. and pending worldwide.  Doug wrote the cover story Floating, Tilting, Multi-Rotor Turbines for the July/August 2005 issue of Windtech International Magazine, published from the Netherlands

Conventional wisdom from windfarm planning separates rotors by several diameters for reasonable performance.  Our constant, vertically offset geometry allows closer placement because positioning of the rotor array relative to the wind direction is predetermined.  Since the top of one wake transits the lower edge of the succeeding rotor, energy normally lost to wake vorticity is recaptured.  Like a flock of geese, each rotor favorably affects the next in line. Like a set of louvres, the tilted rotors pull in fresh wind from above, deflecting their wakes downward to insure fresh wind for succeeding rotors and, like a stack of kites, to add overall lift which helps support the driveshaft against gravity and downwind thrust forces.  The rotors act as gyroscopes or spinning tops, stabilizing the driveshaft where they are attached.  Reduced wind shear at sea, the fact that the lowest rotor is first, and bending back of the upper shaft, all tend to equalize the power reaching all rotors

The concept is as simple as one could wish - a floating buoy with a projecting driveshaft and rotors.

A variety of float configurations are possible including a platform

It is possible for the water to act as the bearing, as shown above in Fig. 17 - the generator depends from the floating, rotating, cylindrical base, and is moored so as to counteract rotor torque

Superturbine Inc. is a California Corporation

It also works on land... Yes it is all patented

Early testing confirmed the stability of co-axial, multiple rotors on a carbon fiber driveshaft


Click on images above to see California Energy Commission -Sponsored Proof of Concept and Data