Floating platform

Abstract

The present invention relates to a floating platform (1) comprising a base frame (100) configured to serve as a support for a structure wherein the base frame (100) is attached to a base plate (200) by a plurality of struts (300) such that during operation the base frame (100) is supported by the base plate (200) by the struts (300) wherein the base frame (100) is supported by the base plate (200) by the struts (300), the floating platform (1) comprises a plurality of submerged floats (400) protruding from the base plate (200) to an intermediate distance between the base plate (200) and the maximum height of the struts (300) above the base plate (200). It also includes geometries that allow the platform to be manufactured exclusively from a flat plate.

Description

[0001] Object of the invention

[0002] The present invention is a floating platform particularly suitable for use as a base for a wind turbine located at sea.

[0003] The floating platform object of the present invention is able to increase the stability both with respect to the dynamic stability of the floating platform when it is being towed from the port to its final position in the offshore wind farm and with respect to the dynamic stability of the floating platform when it is being towed from said position to the port. The anchoring stability at the position in the offshore wind farm is also increased due to the change in geometry of the floating surface when it is not yet installed and therefore has a shallower draft, thus reducing the effect of the waves on the platform.

[0004] The floating platform object of the present invention can be applied to any type of structure intended to be positioned floating on the surface of the sea, in particular to structures intended to be used as supports for offshore wind turbines.

[0005] BACKGROUND AND TECHNICAL PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED

[0006] Floating platforms, in particular floating platforms dedicated to supporting wind turbines for offshore wind power generation, are usually built on land and transported by ship, being towed (pulled) from the port to its final position in the offshore wind farm. Once in its final position, the cables that are part of the anchoring system are connected to the platform. These cables exert a force with a vertical component that increases the apparent weight of the cable and therefore the draft of the cable, where the cable is usually attached to an anchor or bottom weight resting on the seabed.

[0007] At the end of the useful life of the floating platform, or when it is necessary to repair and / or replace any of the components that are part of the floating platform, it is necessary to unmoor the mooring cables from the floating platform and to tow the floating platform back to the port.

[0008] During the towing of the floating platform, stability is a critical factor, since the operating conditions require the platform to have little stability and, when the mooring cables are released, the presence of waves can cause the floating platform to sway uncontrollably and even possibly capsize, especially in the case of floating platforms on which high wind turbine towers are installed.

[0009] Furthermore, in its final position, the floating platform is expected to be as "transparent" (or immune) as possible to the waves, in order to avoid the risk of excessive sway or capsize. In order to ensure the stability of the floating platform in its final position, the anchoring system is configured with sufficient tension in the anchoring cables (usually by means of weights) to minimize the possible pitch or roll movements of the floating platform in the case of swells.

[0010] However, the geometry and the draft of the current floating platforms make it very difficult to control and reduce the heave and roll movements of the floating platform both during the towing phase of the floating platform to its final position and in the final position itself in the anchored condition.

[0011] Likewise, in the case of a floating platform used as a base for a wind turbine, in its final position, it is sometimes necessary to interrupt the operation of the wind turbine and arrange its blades with minimum wind resistance to reduce the overturning moment (bending moment) exerted by the wind on the floating platform through the tower of the wind turbine, so that this overturning movement does not increase the forces of the waves on the platform and can cause the platform to overturn; fundamentally, this is an event of shutting down the turbine to improve the survivability of the platform. SUMMARY

[0012] To remedy the aforementioned drawbacks, the present invention relates to a floating platform.

[0013] The floating platform (subject of the invention) comprises a base frame configured to act as a support for a structure (for example, a wind turbine).

[0014] The base frame is attached to the bottom plate by means of a plurality of pillars, so that in use (in the operating condition), the base frame is supported by the bottom plate through the pillars.

[0015] In a novel way, the floating platform, object of the invention, comprises a plurality of submerged floats which protrude from the bottom plate (for example, perpendicularly to the bottom plate) up to a distance comprised between the maximum height of the bottom plate and above the bottom plate of the pillars.

[0016] These submerged floats provide stability to the floating platform, which is advantageous during the towing manoeuvre of the floating platform between the port and the final position in the offshore wind farm, in which the floating platform is very little affected by the wind and the waves, since the submerged floats come out of the water and act as stabilising elements, thus increasing the stability.

[0017] Furthermore, by having a reduced height (lower than that of the base frame), when the floating platform is connected to the anchoring system (by means of anchoring cables) thus increasing the apparent weight of the floating platform and raising the water level (draft line) with respect to the floating platform, the submerged floats are hidden below the draft line, making the floating platform completely immune or transparent to the waves of the final position, since it offers a very small surface to oppose the waves. When the submerged floats are completely submerged, the waves pass over the floats without causing the floating platform to sway or heave in a way that can compromise the stability of the floating platform.

[0018] The bottom plate is located as low as possible (far from the sea surface), so it is hardly affected by the waves.

[0019] Preferably, the cross section of the floor is polygonal, and more preferably rectangular. Moreover, preferably, the width of the cross section of the floor is greater than its height. This helps to make the floor more transparent to the waves (providing less resistance to the wave motion).

[0020] Due to its very flat geometry, the floor provides a great resistance to the vertical motion of the floating platform, thus helping to slow down and / or reduce the vertical acceleration, and therefore improving the stability of the floating platform.

[0021] Preferably, the struts are hollow, thus serving as floats. In this way, the floating platform has a huge buoyancy, which confers a great stability to it both when being towed and in the final position.

[0022] The floor can be hollow. This feature provides the floating platform with additional buoyancy, thus providing additional stability.

[0023] Preferably, the floating platform comprises a plurality of supports (or support elements) configured for attaching articulated arms (or bottom systems with pulleys, as disclosed in Spanish patent P201500839) for connecting the floating platform with the mooring lines. This feature makes the floating platform that is the object of the present invention suitable for being used with articulated arms (or swing arms), such as the ones described in Spanish patent application P202230449.

[0024] Therefore, although in some of the figures of the present patent application the floating platform is represented in combination with articulated arms (or swing arms), the floating platform that is the object of the present invention can be used without said articulated arms, but with pulleys instead of the articulated arms (although the pulleys are not shown in the figures).

[0025] These supports (or support elements) for the articulated arms are preferably positioned in correspondence with (on) the submerged floats.

[0026] According to a first embodiment of the floating platform that is the object of the present invention, the struts comprise straight sections with polygonal geometry, and are arranged in pairs, wherein each pair of struts comprises a "V" shaped geometry, wherein the ends of each pair of struts that correspond to the vertex of the "V" shape correspond to the base frame positioning, and wherein the ends of each pair of struts that are opposite to the vertex of the "V" shape correspond to the floor positioning. On the one hand (due to the straight sections with polygonal geometry), this feature makes the struts easier to manufacture, which in turn allows these struts to be manufactured in one shipyard and assembled in another shipyard (which is beneficial in cases where it is necessary to carry out repairs or assembly on site). On the other hand, the V-shaped geometry of the struts combined with the floor results in a truss geometry with a triangular structure, which provides the floating platform with a very high rigidity.

[0027] Preferably, in the first embodiment of the floating platform, the pillars comprise straight segments having a rectangular geometry.

[0028] Moreover, preferably, in this first embodiment of the floating platform, the base frame comprises a star geometry having a plurality of arms, wherein each arm of the base frame extends from the center of the floating platform to the vertex of a pair of pillars.

[0029] According to a second embodiment of the floating platform, the pillars comprise a cylindrical geometry. This geometry, although more difficult to manufacture, provides a greater buoyancy volume and allows to create space inside the pillars, thus facilitating access to the platform and improving the safety of maintenance personnel entering the platform through access points that can correspond to the positioning of these cylindrical pillars.

[0030] Preferably, according to this second embodiment of the floating platform, the base frame comprises a star geometry having a plurality of arms, wherein each arm of the base frame extends from the center of the floating platform to a pillar.

[0031] Moreover, preferably, according to this second embodiment, the floating platform comprises a plurality of frame walkways, wherein each frame walkway extends from the end of a pillar, positioned corresponding to the end of an arm of the base frame, to the transverse piece of one of the supports (or support pieces) of the articulated arm.

[0032] In any embodiment of the floating platform, the bottom plate can comprise a closed curved geometry, for example a circular geometry.

[0033] Preferably, the bottom plate comprises a geometry having a polygonal plane.

[0034] Thus, the bottom plate can comprise a triangular geometry. In this case, the submerged float can be positioned corresponding to the vertex of the triangular geometry of the bottom plate.

[0035] In the case where the bottom plate has a triangular geometry, with a triangular plane, the position corresponding to the projection on the bottom plate of the end of each arm of the cover base of each pillar preferably corresponds to the midpoint of each side of the bottom plate.

[0036] Alternatively, the bottom plate can comprise a regular hexagonal geometry (whose plane has a regular hexagonal geometry).

[0037] This regular hexagonal bottom plate geometry is suitable for larger floating platforms intended to support larger structures, as it provides greater stability and limits the overall dimensions of the platform.

[0038] Alternatively, the bottom plate can comprise an irregular hexagonal geometry (whose plane has an irregular hexagonal geometry with equal sides but different angles).

[0039] This irregular hexagonal floor geometry is suitable for intermediate size floating platforms (between floating platforms with triangular floor and floating platforms with regular hexagonal floor), intended to support structures larger than those supported by platforms with triangular floor, but not as large as those that floating platforms with floor with regular hexagonal geometry are able to support.

[0040] In floating platforms with floor with geometry with regular hexagonal planes and in floating platforms with floor with geometry with irregular hexagonal planes, the submerged floats are preferably positioned in correspondence with the alternate vertices of the hexagonal geometry of the floor.

[0041] In these cases, and when the base frame has a star geometry, the position corresponding to the projection on the floor of the end of each arm of the base frame of each pillar corresponds to a vertex of the hexagonal geometry of the floor.

[0042] Preferably, the floating platform comprises means for deploying and retracting at least one cable connecting the floating platform to the central counterweight. This makes it possible to vertically displace the central counterweight during the transport operations, using a cable winch housed inside the tower base.

[0043] In the floating platforms that are the object of the present application, due to the ratio between the volume of the floor and the volume of the pillars (the floor has about 80% of the total volume of the hull), when the tension of the counterweight and mooring cables is eliminated, the floating platform rises up to the top of the floor coming out of the water, thus greatly increasing its stability. This only occurs in port (in navigation there is the counterweight), but in port it greatly facilitates the assembly and construction operations of the platform.

[0044] The important difference with respect to other floating platforms in the state of the art is that in most of such floating platforms each element has only one function, i.e. it is either a fluid dynamics element or a structural element, but not both; in fact, when they need to dampen the motion, flat plates are attached (suitably reinforced), but they do not have volume. In contrast, in the floating platforms that are the object of the present application, the floor simultaneously fulfils three functions: it is structural (providing rigidity to the structure), it provides buoyancy, and it also provides damping for the vertical motion.

[0045] According to a third embodiment of the floating platform that is the object of the present application, the floating platform comprises a plurality of supports configured for coupling articulated arms for connecting the floating platform with mooring cables, wherein the floating platform comprises a plurality of structural arms and each support is connected to the vertex of the "V" shape of an adjacent pair of pillars by means of a respective structural arm.

[0046] This feature distributes the mooring line tension between the support members and the structural arms, which lightens the structural elements of the floating platform and enables a more efficient load distribution.

[0047] These structural arms also create new buoyancy chambers that increase the platform's buoyancy.

[0048] All of this (weight reduction, lightening of the structural elements, and creation of new buoyancy chambers due to the hollow structural arms) greatly increases the platform's buoyancy and its stability.

[0049] Preferably, according to this third embodiment of the floating platform, each structural arm is arranged coplanar with a corresponding adjacent pair of struts. This feature improves the load transfer from each support member of each articulated arm through each structural arm to each pair of V-shaped struts, which allows the structural elements of the platform to be designed with a more slender geometry, making them lighter.

[0050] Preferably, each support member comprises a first end connected to a corresponding structural arm and a second end connected to the submerged buoy.

[0051] Each articulated arm is supported on a crosspiece, and each end of the crosspiece is supported on a respective first end of a support member.

[0052] According to a first variant of the third embodiment of the floating platform, each structural arm comprises a geometry that narrows in the center.

[0053] According to a second variant of the third embodiment of the floating platform, each structural arm comprises a prismatic geometry with edges that are pairwise parallel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0054] The following drawings have been included as part of the explanation of at least one embodiment of the invention.

[0055] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of the first embodiment of the floating platform, which is the object of the present invention, is shown.

[0056] Figure 2 A perspective view of a variant of the floating platform of Figure 1 is shown, in which the connection between the base frame and the struts is not welded, but is through pin joints.

[0057] Figure 3 A schematic perspective exploded view of the floating platform of Figure 1 is shown.

[0058] Figure 4 A perspective view of the floating platform of Figure 1 is shown, in which the wind turbine tower mounted on the floating platform can be observed. Although not shown, there is a wind turbine on the tower.

[0059] Figure 5 a perspective view of a floating platform of Figure 1 showing hinged arms for connection to mooring lines.

[0060] Figure 6 a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of a floating platform according to the first variant as object of the present invention, wherein the deck has a triangular geometry.

[0061] Figure 7 a perspective view of a floating platform of Figure 6 showing a wind turbine mounted on the floating platform.

[0062] Figure 8 a plan view of a floating platform in Figure 6 .

[0063] Figure 9 a perspective view of a floating platform of Figure 6 showing hinged arms for connection to mooring lines.

[0064] Figure 10 a schematic perspective view of a floating platform according to a second variant of the second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the deck has a hexagonal geometry.

[0065] Figure 11 a perspective view of a floating platform of Figure 10 showing a wind turbine mounted on the floating platform.

[0066] Figure 12 a plan view of a floating platform in Figure 10 .

[0067] Figure 13 a perspective view of a floating platform of Figure 10 showing hinged arms for connection to mooring lines. It also comprises diagonal braces reinforcing the structure of the floating platform.

[0068] Figure 14 a schematic perspective view of a floating platform according to a third variant of the second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the deck has an irregular hexagonal geometry with equal sides.

[0069] Figure 15 a perspective view of a floating platform of Figure 14 showing a wind turbine mounted on the floating platform.

[0070] Figure 16 a plan view of a floating platform in Figure 14 .

[0071] Figure 17 a schematic perspective view of the floating platform of Figure 14

[0072] Figure 18 a schematic plan view of the floating platform of Figure 14

[0073] Figure 19 a first perspective view of a first variant of the third embodiment of the floating platform.

[0074] Figure 20 a second perspective view of the floating platform of Figure 19

[0075] Figure 21 a second perspective view of the floating platform of Figure 19

[0076] a first perspective view of a second variant of the third embodiment of the floating platform. Figure 22

[0077] a second perspective view of the floating platform of Figure 23 Figure 22

[0078] Figure 24 a second perspective view of the floating platform of Figure 22 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0079] As mentioned above, the present invention relates to a floating platform (1).

[0080] The floating platform (1) comprises a base frame (100) and a floor (200), wherein the base frame (100) is configured for attaching a structure, such as a tower (2) of a wind turbine.

[0081] The base frame (100) is connected to the floor (200) by a plurality of struts (300), such that in use the floor (200) is located below the base frame (100) and the base frame (100) is held or supported by the floor (200) via the struts (300).

[0082] Preferably, the struts (300) are hollow, thus serving as floaters for the floating platform (1).

[0083] ​​​​​​The floating platform (1) comprises a plurality of submerged pontoons (400). The submerged pontoons (400) protrude from the bottom deck (200) and have a height lower than the height of the pillars (300) so that the maximum height of the submerged pontoons (400), measured from the bottom deck (200), is lower than the height of the base frame (100), also measured from the bottom deck (200).

[0084] Thus, the submerged pontoons (400) are configured to generate the buoyancy of the floating platform (1) so that, during the towing maneuver of the floating platform (1), when the floating platform (1) is not connected to the mooring lines (i.e. to the bottom lines (3) and to the central line (4) connecting the floating platform (1) to the central weight (5), for example as can be seen in Figure 9 Thus, the submerged pontoons (400) are configured to generate the buoyancy of the floating platform (1) so that, during the towing maneuver of the floating platform (1), when the floating platform (1) is not connected to the mooring lines (i.e. to the bottom lines (3) and to the central line (4) connecting the floating platform (1) to the central weight (5), for example as can be seen in

[0085] When the floating platform (1) is connected to the mooring lines, the effective weight of the floating platform (1) increases, thus submerging the submerged pontoons (400) below the waterline of the floating platform (1).

[0086] Preferably, the maximum height of the submerged pontoons (400) above the bottom deck (200) is less than half the maximum height of the pillars (300) above the bottom deck (200).

[0087] The floating platform (1) preferably comprises a support (500) which can be configured for coupling and / or hooking articulated arms (600) to which the anchoring lines of the anchoring system of the floating platform (1) are connected. The floating platform also comprises bottom lines (3) connecting the floating platform (1) to an anchor or to a bottom weight (not shown) and central lines (4) connecting the floating platform (1) to a central weight (5).

[0088] The base frame (100) can comprise means for deploying and retracting at least one line connected to the central weight (5) corresponding to the center of said base frame (100). This feature is not shown in the figures. By deploying and retracting at least one connecting line with these means of the central weight (5), a winch (cable pull jack) located inside the base frame (100) (directly below the tower (2)) can be used to change the vertical position of the central weight (5). When the central weight (5) is lowered, it significantly improves the stability of the floating platform (1) (and therefore its safety) during the trip between the port and the wind farm. When the depth of the seabed is not sufficiently great, the central weight (5) can be raised by using this winch (to prevent it from scraping the bottom) to have the maximum stability compatible with the depth of this seabed.

[0089] Preferably, the base frame (100) comprises a star geometry.

[0090] Furthermore, preferably, the bottom plate (200) is not solid but comprises a hollow cross section, thus also serving as a float, providing buoyancy to the floating platform (1). This float (bottom plate (200)) is submerged very deep, thus it is hardly affected by waves.

[0091] According to a first embodiment of the floating platform (1), the struts (300) comprise a cross section having a polygonal geometry, for example rectangular. Furthermore, preferably, in this first embodiment of the floating platform (1), the struts (300) are arranged in pairs, wherein each pair of struts (300) is arranged in a “V” shape, with the apex of the “V” shape being connected to the base frame (100) (inverted “V” shape).

[0092] The submerged floats (400) are arranged alternately on the bottom plate (200), between each pair of struts (300) arranged in an inverted “V” shape.

[0093] Figure 1 、 2 , 3, 4 and 5 schematically illustrate a first embodiment of the floating platform (1), according to a variant, wherein the bottom plate (200) has a triangular planar geometry (with an inverted corner apex), and the base frame (100) has a geometry in the form of a trident (or trident arm), with one point on each side of the bottom plate (200), wherein each tip or arm of the base frame (100) connects the center of the base frame (100), on which the tower (2) of the wind turbine is located, with the apex of a pair of struts (300), and wherein the projection of the apex of the pair of struts (300) on the bottom plate (200) corresponds to the center of each side of the bottom plate (200).

[0094] From each end or tip of the base frame (100), a pair of struts (300) extends in the form of an inverted “V” shape, with the apex of the “V” shape being positioned in correspondence of the end or tip of the base frame (100), and the pair of struts (300) extending away from each other until being connected to the bottom plate (200) in the vicinity of the submerged floats (400).

[0095] This first embodiment makes it possible to manufacture struts having a polygonal cross section, preferably rectangular, which are easier to manufacture than cylindrical struts. Furthermore, the V-shaped geometry of the struts creates a floating platform having triangular sections (see Figure 3 ), which provides great rigidity to the floating platform.

[0096] In this first embodiment of the floating platform (1), the submerged float (400) has a polygonal cross-section (preferably rectangular) geometry and is forked or "U" shaped, configured to support the support (500) of the articulated arm (600), wherein said support (500) has an inverted "U" geometric shape formed by a transverse piece (500a) in the form of a transverse axis or perpendicular to the support plates and two parallel support plates, said transverse piece (500a) acting as a pivot axis for the articulated arm (600).

[0097] There are other possible variants (not shown in the figures) of the first embodiment of the floating platform (1), in which the bottom plate (200) comprises a geometric shape with a polygonal plane other than triangular (for example, with a regular hexagonal or irregular hexagonal plane) and in which the base frame (100) can comprise a star geometric shape with a number of points equal to or not three.

[0098] According to a second embodiment of the floating platform (1), the struts (300) have a cylindrical geometry. Preferably, in this second embodiment of the floating platform (1), the submerged float (400) also has a cylindrical geometry.

[0099] The struts (300) connect each end or tip of the base frame (100) to the bottom plate (200). In this second embodiment, there is a single cylindrical strut (300) that connects each end of the cover base (100) to the bottom plate (200).

[0100] In this second embodiment of the floating platform (1), the support (500) of the articulated arm (600) has an inverted "U" geometric shape formed by two parallel support plates or columns and a transverse piece (500a) in the form of a transverse plate or perpendicular to the support plates or columns, which acts as a support for the bearings of some of the pivots of the articulated arm (600).

[0101] In this second embodiment, the floating platform (1) comprises a plurality of frame walkways (700) that connect each end of the strut (300) positioned in correspondence with the base frame (100) with the transverse piece (500a) of the support (500) of the articulated arm (600).

[0102] Figure 6 、 Figure 7 、 Figure 8 and Figure 9 A first variant of this second embodiment of the floating platform (1) is shown, in which the bottom plate (200) has a triangular plane geometry (with rounded vertices) and the base frame (100) has a trident star geometry.

[0103] As shown in Figure 9 The floating platform (1) comprises at least one access point, for example in the form of a ladder (800) located on the pillars (300) and combined with a hatch (900) located above each end of the pillars (300) in a position corresponding to the base frame (100).

[0104] Figure 10 , Figure 11 , Figure 12 and Figure 13 shows a second variant of the second embodiment of the floating platform (1), wherein the base floor (200) has a regular hexagonal planar geometry (with rounded vertices) and the base frame (100) has a trident star geometry (or trident arms), wherein each tip or arm of the base frame (100) connects the center of the base frame (100) (on which the tower (2) of the wind turbine is located) with one end of the pillars (300), and wherein said pillars (300) are arranged to the alternating vertices of the regular hexagonal geometry of the base floor (200).

[0105] The submerged pontoons (400) are also located below the alternating vertices of the regular hexagonal geometry of the base floor (200), the pillars (300) and the submerged pontoons (400) being arranged alternately at the vertices of the regular hexagonal geometry of the base floor (200).

[0106] Figure 14 , Figure 15 , Figure 16 , Figure 17 and Figure 18 shows a third variant of the second embodiment of the floating platform (1), wherein the base floor (200) has an irregular hexagonal planar (with rounded vertices) geometry. This irregular hexagonal geometry is similar to the triangular geometry (as in the first variant of the second embodiment), wherein the midpoints of the sides of the base floor (200) are displaced slightly away from the center or central axis of the floating platform (1).

[0107] In this third variant of the second embodiment of the floating platform (1), the base frame (100) has a trident star geometry (or trident arms), wherein each tip or arm of the base frame (100) connects the center of the base frame (100) (on which the tower (2) of the wind turbine is located) with one end of the pillars (300), and wherein the pillars (300) are arranged in correspondence with the alternating vertices of the irregular hexagonal geometry of the base floor (200).

[0108] The submerged pontoons (400) are also located below the alternating vertices of the irregular hexagonal geometry of the base floor (200), the pillars (300) and the submerged pontoons (400) being arranged alternately at the vertices of the irregular hexagonal geometry of the base floor (200).

[0109] As Figure 17 illustrated, the floating platform (1) comprises at least one access point, for example in the form of a ladder (800) located on the pillars (300) and combined with a hatch (900) located above each end of the pillars (300) in a position corresponding to the base frame (100).

[0110] Figure 18 A plan view of the floating platform (1) according to a third variant of the second embodiment is illustrated. In this Figure 18 , the access areas (6) provided for vessels carrying maintenance personnel so that these maintenance personnel can enter the floating platform in a safe manner at the access points provided have been delineated by striped areas. In these access areas (6), it is ensured that the vessels are kept sufficiently far from the articulated arms (600) so as to avoid, in the case of possible waves, the swinging of the articulated arms (600) causing damage to the vessels and to the maintenance personnel.

[0111] According to a third embodiment of the application, as Figure 19 , Figure 20 , Figure 21 , Figure 22 , Figure 23 and Figure 24 illustrated, the base frame (100) of the floating platform (1) has a star geometry with a plurality of tips (or arms), wherein each tip or arm of the base frame (100) connects the center of the base frame (100) (on which the tower (2) of the wind turbine is located) with the vertex of a pair of pillars (300), and wherein the projection of said vertex of said pair of pillars (300) on said bottom plate (200) is located in the center of each side of said bottom plate (200).

[0112] Figure 19 , 20 , 21, 22, 23 and 24 illustrate variants of this third embodiment in which the bottom plate (200) has a triangular geometry (with beveled vertices) and the base frame (100) comprises a trident star geometry (or trident arms), with one point on each side of the bottom plate (200).

[0113] From each end or tip of the base frame (100), a pair of pillars (300) extends in the form of an inverted "V", the vertex of the "V" corresponding to the end or tip of the base frame (100) being located and the pair of pillars (300) extending away from each other until connecting with the bottom plate (200) in the vicinity of the submerged buoyancy body (400).

[0114] Similarly to the first embodiment, this third embodiment also makes it possible to manufacture struts having a polygonal cross-section, preferably rectangular, which are easier to manufacture than cylindrical struts. Moreover, the V-shaped geometry of the struts creates a floating platform having truss-shaped portions (see Figure 21 and 24 ) which provide the floating platform with a very high rigidity.

[0115] According to the third embodiment of the floating platform (1), each submerged float (400) acts as a support for the first end (501) of a respective support (500) of a hinged arm (600).

[0116] Each hinged arm (600) is configured to rest on a crosspiece (500a) and each end of this crosspiece (500a) in turn rests on a respective support (500) supported on a submerged float (400).

[0117] Thus, the first end (501) of each support (500) connects the support (500) with the crosspiece (500a) acting as a support for the respective hinged arm (600). The second end (502) of each support (500) connects each support (500) to the corresponding submerged float (400).

[0118] In this third embodiment, two structural arms (701) extend from each vertex of the "V" shape of each pair of struts (300), corresponding to the positioning of the ends or tips of the base frame (100), wherein each structural arm (701) connects the vertex of a pair of struts (300) having a "V" shaped geometry with the first end (501) of a support (500) supported on a submerged float (400) adjacent to the pair of struts (300).

[0119] In this third embodiment of the floating platform (1), the assembly formed by each support (500), the submerged float (400) on which the support (500) rests, and the structural arm (701) connecting the first end (501) of the support (500) with the vertex of the "V" shape of the adjacent pair of struts (300) is arranged coplanar with the pair of struts (300) in the "V" shape.

[0120] Thus, in this third embodiment of the floating platform (1), each hinged arm (600) is supported on a respective crosspiece (500a) which in turn is supported on a pair of supports (500), each connected to the vertex of the "V" shape of a respective pair of struts (300) by means of a respective structural arm (701).

[0121] By means of the configuration described for this third embodiment of the floating platform (1), the tension of each mooring cable (connected to each articulated arm (600)) can be transmitted to the two structural arms (701) by means of the respective articulated arm (600) and the respective crosspiece (500a) and from there to the pair of struts (300).

[0122] Therefore, in this third embodiment, it is possible to reduce the working stresses of the support members (500) according to the first embodiment with respect to the floating platform (1) by distributing the loads (borne by each support member (500) in the first embodiment) between the support members (500) and the structural arms (701), which in turn allows to lighten the structure and to enable the use of more elongated geometries for all the components of the structure of the floating platform (1), while being able to dispense with some of the stiffening plates normally used to ensure the correct assembly of the different structural elements.

[0123] In Figure 19 , 20 and 21, a first variant of the third embodiment is shown, in which each structural arm (701) comprises a geometry with a tapered narrowing at the intermediate span of the structural arm (701).

[0124] Figure 19 and 20 a perspective view of this first variant of the third embodiment is shown.

[0125] In Figure 22 , Figure 23 and Figure 24 a second variant of the third embodiment is shown, according to which each structural arm (701) comprises a prismatic geometry with edges that are pairwise parallel.

[0126] Figure 22 and 23 a perspective view of this second variant of the third embodiment is shown.

[0127] Figure 21 and Figure 24 corresponding exploded perspective views of the different structural elements of the floating platform (1) according to the first and second variants of the third embodiment are shown, in which it can be seen that each pair of struts (300) of the “V” shape is made in the same truss component (1000) together with the two structural arms (701), each structural arm (701) being connected to a corresponding support member (500) and each support member (500) being connected to the submerged float (400).

[0128] The pair of pillars (300) in "V" shape, together with the structural arms (701), the support (500) and the submerged buoyancy body (400), are arranged according to the same plane in each truss component (1000), which facilitates the manufacture of the truss components (1000) and optimizes the distribution of loads and / or stresses when the floating platform (1) is in use.

[0129] The V-shaped geometry of the pillars and the geometry of the truss components (1000) result in a floating platform (1) with extremely high rigidity and load capacity at a reduced weight.

[0130] In addition to the structural function of the structural arms (701), these allow the maintenance personnel of the floating platform (1) to access the first end (501) of the support (500) from the base frame (100) (by means of the walkways) to carry out monitoring and / or maintenance work on the articulated arms (600).

[0131] A possible variant (not shown in the figures) exists for the third embodiment of the floating platform (1), in which the bottom plate (200) comprises a geometry with a polygonal plane other than triangular (for example, with a regular or irregular hexagonal plane), and in which the base frame (100) can comprise a star geometry with a number of points equal to or not three.

Claims

1. A floating platform (1) comprising a base frame (100) configured to serve as a structural support, wherein, The base frame (100) is attached to the base plate (200) via a plurality of supports (300), such that in the operating state, the base frame (100) is supported by the base plate (200) via the supports (300), wherein the floating platform (1) is characterized in that the floating platform (1) includes a plurality of submersible floats (400), the plurality of submersible floats (400) protruding from the base plate (200) to the base plate (2) located between the base plate (200) and the supports (300). The distance between the maximum heights above 00), wherein the pillars (300) comprise straight segments having polygonal geometry and are arranged in pairs, wherein each pair of pillars (300) comprises a "V" shaped geometry, wherein the end of the pillar (300) in each pair corresponding to the vertex of the "V" shape is positioned correspondingly to the base frame (100), and wherein the end of the pillar (300) in each pair corresponding to the vertex of the "V" shape is located on the base plate (200).

2. The floating platform (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support column (300) is hollow.

3. The floating platform (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The base plate (200) is hollow.

4. The floating platform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The floating platform (1) includes a plurality of support members (500) configured to couple a hinged arm (600) for connecting the floating platform (1) to a mooring cable.

5. The floating platform (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The support (500) is positioned to be attached to the submerged float (400).

6. The floating platform (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support (300) includes a straight section having a rectangular geometry.

7. The floating platform (1) according to claim 1 or 6, characterized in that, The base frame (100) includes a star-shaped geometry with multiple arms, wherein each arm of the base frame (100) extends from the center of the floating platform (1) to the apex of a pair of pillars (300).

8. The floating platform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The base plate (200) comprises a triangular geometry.

9. The floating platform (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The base plate (200) comprises a regular hexagonal geometry.

10. The floating platform (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The base plate (200) comprises an irregular hexagonal geometry.

11. The floating platform (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The floating platform includes multiple structural arms (701), wherein each support (500) is connected to the apex of a "V" shape of an adjacent pair of pillars (300) via the corresponding structural arm (701).

12. The floating platform (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that, Each structural arm (701) is arranged to be coplanar with the corresponding adjacent pair of struts (300).

13. The floating platform (1) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, Each support (500) includes a first end (501) connected to the corresponding structural arm (701) and a second end (502) connected to the submerged float (400).

14. The floating platform (1) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that, Each structural arm (701) includes a geometry that tapers at the center.

15. The floating platform (1) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that, Each structural arm (701) comprises a prismatic geometry with two parallel sides.

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