Floating electrical generation platform

Abstract

A floating platform for providing electrical power to a requester of electrical power includes a power generator structured to produce electrical power in excess of 1 Megavolt-Ampere (MVA), at least one high-voltage electrical connector that is structured to couple to an electrical connection from the requester, and a power delivery system that is structured to supply the electrical power in excess of 1 MVA to the requester through the high-voltage electrical connector. The power generator may be turned by an engine running on biofuel. Methods of supplying power from a floating platform to a requesting vessel are also described.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A floating platform for providing electrical power to a requester of electrical power, the floating platform comprising:
 a power generator structured to produce electrical power in excess of 1 Megavolt-Ampere (MVA);   at least one high-voltage electrical connector that is structured to couple to an electrical connection from the requester; and   a power delivery system that is structured to supply the electrical power in excess of 1 MVA to the requester through the high-voltage electrical connector.   
     
     
         2 . The floating platform according to  claim 1 , in which the power generator comprises:
 an electrical generator; and   an engine coupled to the electrical generator.   
     
     
         3 . The floating platform according to  claim 2 , in which the engine is fueled by methanol. 
     
     
         4 . The floating platform according to  claim 2  in which the floating platform has a deck, and further comprising a fuel tank disposed on the deck that is structured to store fuel for the engine. 
     
     
         5 . The floating platform according to  claim 4 , in which the floating platform is formed on a floating hull, and in which the fuel tank is a first fuel tank, the floating platform further comprising:
 a second fuel tank disposed within the floating hull;   a first liquid communication path between the second fuel tank and the first fuel tank;   a second liquid communication path between the second fuel tank and the first fuel tank;   a pump structured to cause fuel from the second fuel tank to be transported to the first fuel tank through the first liquid communication path; and   a release structured to alternately prevent or allow fuel to gravity flow from the first fuel tank to the second fuel tank through the second liquid communication path.   
     
     
         6 . The floating platform according to  claim 1 , in which no identified hazard zones extend beyond a side of a deck mounted to the floating platform that is closest to the requester of electrical power. 
     
     
         7 . The floating platform according to  claim 6 , in which one or more identified hazard zones extend beyond a side of the deck furthest from the requester of electrical power while the floating platform is providing the electrical power in excess of 1 MVA to the requester. 
     
     
         8 . The floating platform according to  claim 1 , in which the at least one high-voltage electrical connector complies with an IEC/IEEE 80005-3 standard. 
     
     
         9 . The floating platform according to  claim 1 , in which the at least one high-voltage electrical connector comprises an Alternating Current connector that complies with an IEC/IEEE 80005-3 standard and a Direct Current connector that complies with an IEC/IEEE 80005-4 standard. 
     
     
         10 . A floating platform for providing electrical power to a requester of electrical power, the floating platform comprising:
 a hull having a port side and a starboard side;   an engine that uses a biofuel;   a power generator coupled to the engine and structured to produce electrical power in excess of 1 Megavolt-Ampere (MVA);   at least one high-voltage electrical connector according to an IEC/IEEE 80005 standard that is coupled to the power generator and further structured to couple to an electrical connection from the requester; and   a power delivery system that is structured to supply the electrical power in excess of 1 MVA to the requester through the high-voltage electrical connector.   
     
     
         11 . The floating platform according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a fuel storage tank located in the hull; and   a refueling port structured to couple the fuel storage tank to an external fuel supply container located separate from the floating platform, in which a hazard zone exists centered around the refueling port during times during which the refueling port is coupled to the external fuel supply container, and in which the hazard zone extends beyond no more than one of the starboard side and the port side of the hull.   
     
     
         12 . The floating platform according to  claim 11 , in which the hazard zone does not extend beyond the hull during times during which the refueling port is not coupled to the external fuel supply container. 
     
     
         13 . The floating platform according to  claim 10 , further comprising an emergency stop apparatus structured to selectively disconnect the power generator from the at least one high-voltage electrical connector based on user input. 
     
     
         14 . The floating platform according to  claim 10 , in which the engine is fueled by methanol. 
     
     
         15 . A method for providing electrical power from a floating platform to a requester of electrical power, the method comprising:
 coupling at least one high-voltage electrical connector according to an IEC/IEEE 80005 standard between the floating platform and the requester;   producing in excess of 1 Megavolt-Ampere of electrical power on board the floating platform; and   causing the electrical power produced on board the floating platform to be communicated to the requester through the at least one high-voltage electrical connector.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , in which producing in excess of 1 Megavolt-Ampere of electrical power comprises powering a methanol-fueled engine that is coupled to an electrical generator. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising removing exhaust gasses from exhaust produced by operating the engine. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising halting a transfer of electrical power between the floating platform and the requester after an emergency stop activated. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15  in which the requester is a cargo vessel, cruise ship, container ship, LNG carrier, or a tanker. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 storing electrical power produced by the electrical generator in one or more storage batteries;   coupling at least one Direct Current (DC) electrical connector according to an IEC/IEEE 80005-4 standard between the floating platform and the requester; and   causing electrical power stored in the one or more storage batteries to be communicated to the requester through the at least one DC electrical connector.