Petrofac and Seawind Ocean Technology join forces to deploy two-bladed floating wind turbines

Energy efficiency and power are usually results of joint efforts of different resources. Turbines are just some of the more efficient producers of energy and we believe this technology will continue to be used. It will also improve and speed up for the better as more innovations and inventions are introduced by many companies.

Petrofac and Seawind Ocean Technology have started on a new partnership that will implement the use of two-bladed floating wind turbines. Petrofac will be using Seawind Ocean Technology’s turbines in many of its projects. The London-based company is known for its focus on building and operating facilities while Seawind is known for its turbines.

Designers: Petrofac and Seawind Ocean Technology

Seawind turbines can introduce improvements to most sea conditions including deepwater and cyclone-prone areas. The two-bladed floating turbines come with a concrete floating structure that can be used on most sea conditions. With a major partnership, Petrofac will help in the installation, assembly, and maintenance of the said turbines.

Seawind’s twin-blade technology can last up to 50 years. It can improve rotor stability and make generation more efficient. Officially called as the 6-126 turbine, this turbine comes with a teetering hinge that separates the shaft and rotor. Another advantage of Seawind’s tech is that the turbine is protected from harmful and heavy loads. The turbine also offers higher speeds as made possible by an active yaw control.

Seawind will benefit from the services Petrofac will be providing. Petrofac will offer design verification, engineering, procurement, and construction. This will be Seawind’s first-ever floating offshore wind turbine demonstrator in the European waters. We can expect the system to be operational by Q1 2024.

Petrofac will continue to deliver to clients results that are made possible by technology that works and innovation. Effective offshore application is possible with both Petrofac and Seawind’s efforts. The combined technologies and services will make harnessing energy with improved speed and efficiency. Another advantage of the system is that it can be assembled in a harbor with cranes. Sea installation won’t require any installation vessel.

Let’s take a look at the Seawind 6-126’s technical specs. Its rated capacity is 6.2MW while rotor speed is 20.8 rpm (rated power). The rotor’s diameter is 126 meters. The turbine can go beyond 50 meters and tip speed is 137 meters per second while the operating wind speed can go 3.5-25 m/s (12.5-90 km/h). It can withstand cyclones up to 70 m/s (250 km/h) with 90 m/s (325 km/h) gusts. All these are just numbers but we believe the technology will work and offer many benefits once operational.

The team-up of the two big companies is expected to succeed in this renewable energy project. Both have good track records in design and implementation. Petrofac, specifically, has obtained several contracts and partnerships with other groups in the UK and the global market that will support different projects concerning water, hydrogen, carbon capture, and storage. Seawind Ocean Technology, on the other hand, will continue to deliver strengthened execution capability.

The post Petrofac and Seawind Ocean Technology join forces to deploy two-bladed floating wind turbines first appeared on Yanko Design.

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Forget rotating restaurants, Turkish architect Hayri Atak’s entire skyscraper is designed to physically rotate with the wind! Designed to adorn the Dubai skyline, the Squall Tower is absolutely hypnotic to look at and may remind a few of Al Pacino’s casino building in Ocean’s Thirteen. It comes with three individual ribbon-shaped segments that helically twist around a central axis, with multiple branches connecting them all together.

The cross-section of each ribbon is designed to be streamlined, allowing it to effectively rotate with minimal drag. The entire building will complete a single rotation once every 48 hours (it isn’t going to spin like a top, obviously) and will do so at a fixed speed, with or without wind. This will give each of its occupants a complete 360° view of Dubai, alternating between ocean and city-facing views. Lastly, a helipad on the top of the building will allow patrons and visitors access from the top while rotating entrances on the base will provide ingress to each of the building’s 3 helical towers. There’s no word on when the construction for the Squall Tower will begin, although the building’s design has been unveiled on Hayri Atak’s website and social media.

Designer: Hayri Atak Architectural Design Studio

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Designer: Miguel Angel Bahri

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