Power transmission system for connecting floating power plant to stationary conductors

Claim 2

A flexible power transmission line for transmitting power from a floating barge containing a power generating station to a submerged, relatively stationary transmission line which extends to a shore installation; one end of said flexible power line being electrically connected to terminals of said power generating station; said one end being vertically movable with the rise and fall of the tide of the body of water receiving the floating barge; a second end of said power transmission line being stationarily fixed relative to said first end and being connected to said submerged, relatively stationary transmission line; said flexible transmission line being at least generally horizontally disposed and having a length of at least about 100 feet and having a volume which displaces a given volume of water; said flexible transmission line having a weight which is evenly distributed along the length thereof and which is about equal to the weight of said displaced volume of water, whereby said flexible transmission line bends in the form of a catenary as said one end is moved vertically due to vertical movement of said barge.

Claim 3

The flexible transmission line of claim 1 wherein said line comprises an elongated central conductor and a watertight outer conductive housing concentric with said central conductor and insulated therefrom, and a gaseous dielectric under positive pressure filling the space between said central conductor and said outer housing; the weights of said central conductor and outer housing being less than the volume of water which is displaced by said outer housing; and auxiliary weight means connected to said line to increase the weight thereof to the said weight of water displaced by said outer housing.

Claim 4

The flexible transmission line of claim 1 wherein said second end of said transmission line is at a water depth which is always submerged, regardless of at least ordinary tidal conditions.

Claim 5

The flexible transmission line of claim 1 which further includes a vertically rising transmission line section connected at its bottom end to said one end and a horizontal transmission line section fixed above water level and having one end connected to the top of said vertically rising section and its other end connected to terminals of said power generating station.

Claim 6

A power generating and transmitting system comprising, in combination: a floating barge containing thereon an electric power generating station, a relatively stationary submerged power transmission line section extending from a shore installation to a region adjacent said barge, a relatively flexible horizontal power transmission line section, having a first end connected to said relatively stationary submerged power transmission line and a second end connected to said electric power generating station; said flexible transmission line section being fully submerged, regardless of the tide condition which raises and lowers the water surface level relative to said second end; said flexible transmission line section having a length of at least about 100 feet and having a volume which displaces a given volume of water; said flexible transmission line having a weight which is evenly distributed along the length thereof and which is about equal to the weight of said displaced volume of water, whereby said flexible transmission line bends in the form of a catenary as said one end is moved vertically due to vErtical movement of said barge.

Claim 7

A power generating and transmitting system comprising, in combination: a floating barge containing thereon an electric power generating station, a relatively stationary submerged power transmission line section extending from a shore installation to a region adjacent said barge, a relatively flexible horizontal power transmission line section, having a first end connected to said relatively stationary submerged power transmission line and a second end connected to said electric power generating station; said flexible transmission line section being fully submerged, regardless of the tide condition which raises and lowers the water surface level relative to said second end; said flexible transmission line section having a length of at least about 100 feet and having a volume which displaces a given volume of water; said flexible transmission line having a weight which is evenly distributed along the length thereof and which is about equal to the weight of said displaced volume of water, whereby said flexible transmission line bends in the form of a catenary as said one end is moved vertically due to vErtical movement of said barge.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 1 wherein said flexible transmission line section is submerged below the bottom of said barge.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 1 which further includes a sea wall surrounding said barge and means for mooring said barge against lateral movement within said sea wall; said relatively stationary transmission line section extending through said sea wall and being connected to said flexible transmission line at a region adjacent said sea wall.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 1 which further includes a vertically rising transmission line section connected at its bottom end to said one end and a horizontal transmission line section fixed above water level and having one end connected to the top of said vertically rising section and its other end connected to terminals of said power generating station.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 1 wherein said flexible line comprises an elongated central conductor and a watertight outer conductive housing concentric with said central conductor and insulated therefrom, and a gaseous dielectric under positive pressure filling the space between said central conductor and said outer housing; the weights of said central conductor and outer housing being less than the volume of water which is displaced by said outer housing; and auxiliary weight means connected to said line to increase the weight thereof to the said weight of water displaced by said outer housing.

Claim 12

The flexible transmission line of claim 2 wherein said auxiliary weight means includes a concrete sheath on said outer housing.

Claim 13

The flexible transmission line of claim 9 wherein said auxiliary weight means includes a concrete sheath on said outer housing.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 11 wherein said flexible transmission line section is submerged below the bottom of said barge.

Claim 15

A neutral buoyancy high voltage, high power transmission line for underwater installation, wherein said line can flex as a catenary in response to cantilever stress; said line comprising an elongated central conductor and a watertight outer conductive housing concentric with said central conductor and insulated therefrom, and a gaseous dielectric under positive pressure filling the space between said central conductor and said outer housing; the weights of said central conductor and outer housing being less than the volume of water which is displaced by said outer housing; and auxiliary weight means connected to said line to increase the weight thereof to the said weight of water displaced by said outer housing.

Claim 16

A neutral buoyancy high voltage, high power transmission line for underwater installation, wherein said line can flex as a catenary in response to cantilever stress; said line comprising an elongated central conductor and a watertight outer conductive housing concentric with said central conductor and insulated therefrom, and a gaseous dielectric under positive pressure filling the space between said central conductor and said outer housing; the weights of said central conductor and outer housing being less than the volume of water which is displaced by said outer housing; and auxiliary weight means connected to said line to increase the weight thereof to the said weight of water displaced by said outer housing.

Claim 17

The transmission line of claim 13 wherein said auxiliary weight means comprises a concrete-like sheath on said outer housing.