Floating structures and wind turbines

Abstract

The present invention relates to a floating structure and a wind power generation device, and according to one aspect of the present invention, the floating structure includes a plurality of columns that provide buoyancy and a connector that connects the plurality of columns, and at least one of the plurality of columns can include a plurality of interconnected pillar bodies and a hollow portion formed surrounded by the plurality of pillar bodies.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a floating structure and a wind power generation device, and more specifically, to a floating structure and a wind power generation device that float on the sea and support equipment arranged on the upper part thereof.

Background Art

[0002] Wind power generation is a technology that converts wind energy into mechanical energy to produce electricity, and has attracted attention as a clean energy source for reducing greenhouse gases. Such wind power generation devices are mainly installed on land, but wind power generation devices installed on land have problems such as noise problems and site securing problems. Therefore, recently, there has been an increasing tendency to install wind power generation devices at sea.

[0003] As one of the wind power generation devices installed at sea, there is a floating wind power generation device that floats and is installed at sea. Such a floating wind power generation device has the advantage that it is not affected by the water depth at sea and can be installed. In addition, it has the advantage that it can be installed in the deep sea with a deep water depth in order to utilize strong winds at sea to improve power generation efficiency.

[0004] In such a floating wind power generation device, power generation equipment is arranged on the upper part, and a floating structure for supporting the equipment is arranged on the lower part. When the floating structure is arranged at sea, a vortex is generated in the floating structure by the ocean current, and vibration can occur in the floating structure due to such a vortex. When vibration occurs in the floating structure, the floating structure may be damaged thereby, and there is also a problem that the safety of the power generation equipment arranged on the upper part of the floating structure is inhibited.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Embodiments of the present invention were invented against the above-described background, and aim to provide a floating structure and wind power generation device that can support power generation equipment and minimize vibrations caused by eddies at sea. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a floating structure includes a plurality of columns that provide buoyancy, and a connecting body that connects the plurality of columns, wherein at least one of the plurality of columns may include a plurality of interconnected columnar bodies and a hollow portion formed surrounded by the plurality of columnar bodies.

[0007] Each of the plurality of columns includes an upper surface having a polygonal shape, a lower surface having the same shape as the upper surface, and a side surface connecting the upper surface and the lower surface, and the plurality of columns can be interconnected by the adjacent side surfaces coming into contact with each other.

[0008] Each of the plurality of columns is formed extending in a first direction, the plurality of columns are arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a portion of the hollow portion may be filled with seawater.

[0009] The connecting body may include an equipment support portion that supports the equipment, a plurality of column support portions that are positioned at a predetermined distance from the equipment support portion and each support one of the plurality of columns, and a support connecting portion that connects the equipment support portion and the plurality of column support portions.

[0010] Each of the aforementioned column support portions may have a connecting hole that penetrates vertically.

[0011] The connecting hole can be connected to the hollow portion.

[0012] The connecting body may further include a plurality of support beams that connect the equipment support portion and the plurality of columns, respectively.

[0013] The horizontal cross-section of the hollow portion may have a circular shape.

[0014] The horizontal cross-section of the hollow portion may have a polygonal shape.

[0015] The horizontal cross-section of each of the aforementioned plurality of columns may be circular in shape.

[0016] The horizontal cross-section of each of the aforementioned plurality of columns may have a polygonal shape.

[0017] The hollow portions may have different cross-sectional areas depending on their height.

[0018] The lower portion may have a different width than the upper portion.

[0019] On the other hand, according to one aspect of the present invention, a wind power generation device includes a wind power generation facility that produces electricity by wind power, and a floating structure that supports the wind power generation facility and provides buoyancy, wherein the floating structure includes a plurality of columns that provide buoyancy, and a connecting body that connects the plurality of columns, and at least one of the plurality of columns may include a plurality of interconnected columnar bodies and a hollow portion formed surrounded by the plurality of columnar bodies.

[0020] Each of the plurality of columns includes an upper surface having a polygonal shape, a lower surface having the same shape as the upper surface, and a side surface connecting the upper surface and the lower surface, and the plurality of columns can be interconnected by the adjacent side surfaces coming into contact with each other.

[0021] The connecting body may include an equipment support section that supports the wind power generation equipment, a plurality of column support sections that are positioned at a predetermined distance from the equipment support section and each support one of the plurality of columns, and a support connecting section that connects the equipment support section and the plurality of column support sections.

[0022] Each of the aforementioned column support portions may have a connecting hole that penetrates vertically.

[0023] The connecting body may further include a plurality of support beams that respectively connect the equipment support portion and the plurality of columns.

Advantages of the Invention

[0024] In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of columns include a plurality of column bodies and a hollow portion, so that seawater is filled in the hollow portion, and the horizontal mass and inertia of the floating structure can be increased by the seawater filling the hollow portion, and horizontal translational motion and rotational motion can be reduced by high waves and strong winds at sea. Therefore, the dynamic motion resistance performance can be improved.

[0025] In addition, since the dynamic motion resistance performance is improved by providing the hollow portion in the plurality of columns, the acceleration of the turbine nacelle and the bending moment of the wind power generation device can be reduced.

[0026] Furthermore, by forming the column bodies included in the plurality of columns not integrally but by assembling a plurality of column bodies, a processing step with a high degree of difficulty such as bending can be omitted, so that the column productivity can be increased.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027] [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing a wind power generation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] [Figure 2] It is a diagram for explaining a floating structure of a wind power generation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] [Figure 3] It is a diagram for explaining a column of a wind power generation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] [Figure 4]This is a diagram illustrating the column of a wind power generation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] [Figure 5] This is a diagram illustrating the column of a wind power generation device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] [Figure 6] This is a diagram illustrating the column of a wind power generation device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] [Figure 7] This is a diagram illustrating the column of a wind power generation device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] [Figure 8] This is a diagram illustrating the column of a wind power generation device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0035] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are provided as examples to adequately convey the idea of ​​the present invention to those who have ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below and may be embodied in other forms. For clarity in describing the present invention, parts unrelated to the description have been omitted from the drawings, and in the drawings, the width, length, thickness, etc., of the components may be exaggerated for convenience. The same reference numerals throughout the specification refer to the same components.

[0036] A wind power generation device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The wind power generation device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be installed floating on the sea so as to generate electricity using offshore wind power. Such a wind power generation device 10 includes a floating structure 100 and power generation equipment 200.

[0037] The power generation equipment 200, schematically shown in Figure 1, is positioned on top of the floating structure 100 and can be rotated by offshore wind power to produce electricity. In such a power generation equipment 200, a wind turbine is installed at the top of a support column, and the wind turbine may include multiple blades and a nacelle. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the power generation equipment 200 described above is positioned on top of the floating structure 100, but various other types of equipment may be positioned on top of the floating structure 100 as needed.

[0038] The floating structure 100 is installed on the sea so as to float on the sea surface and supports the power generation equipment 200. Such a floating structure 100 includes columns 110 and connecting members 120.

[0039] Multiple columns 110 are arranged on the upper part of the connecting body 120. As shown in Figure 1, three columns 110 may be arranged on the upper part of the connecting body 120 at intervals from each other, and more may be arranged as needed. Multiple columns 110 may be arranged at equal distances from each other. Such columns 110 include a columnar body 112 and a hollow section 114.

[0040] Multiple columns 112 may be provided, and these columns 112 may be arranged adjacent to one another. Such columns 112 may have a predetermined length and their cross-section may be circular or polygonal. In this embodiment, the case in which the cross-section of the column 112 is circular will be described.

[0041] The column 112 may be a structure with a filled interior. In this case, the material forming the column 112 may be a buoyant material. Furthermore, if necessary, the column 112 may be manufactured from a material such as metal, and when such a material is used, it may be manufactured to have an empty space inside. Therefore, the column 112 can float on water on its own and can have buoyancy above a predetermined level.

[0042] As shown in Figure 3, the column 112 includes an upper surface portion 112a, a lower surface portion 112b, and a side surface portion 112c.

[0043] In this embodiment, the upper surface portion 112a may have a circular shape and a predetermined width. The lower surface portion 112b may have the same shape and width as the upper surface portion 112a. The side surface portion 112c connects the upper surface portion 112a and the lower surface portion 112b and forms the outer circumferential surface of the column 112.

[0044] The columnar bodies 112 described above can be arranged in such a way that their side surfaces 112c are in contact with each other when multiple columns are placed adjacent to one another. That is, the columnar bodies 112 have a predetermined length in a first direction, and multiple columns 112 can be arranged adjacent to each other in a second direction, where the first and second directions may be perpendicular to each other. In other words, the columnar bodies 112 have a predetermined length in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane, and multiple columns 112 can be arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction. Therefore, multiple columns 112 can be arranged in such a way that their side surfaces 112c are in contact with each other.

[0045] As described above, a hollow section 114 can be formed between multiple columns 112 by arranging them adjacent to each other in contact with one another. The hollow section 114 can be formed by being surrounded by multiple columns 112 by arranging them adjacent to each other in contact with one another. Therefore, the hollow section 114 can be formed to have a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction of the column 112, and can be formed with both ends in the longitudinal direction open.

[0046] Thus, at least three columns 112 can be arranged in contact with each other, so that a hollow section 114 is formed between the columns 112. In this embodiment, by arranging three cylindrical columns 112 with their side surfaces 112c in contact with each other, the cross-sectional shape of the hollow section 114 can have a substantially triangular shape with each side having an incised curved surface. Here, the cross-sectional shape of the hollow section 114 can be formed into different shapes depending on the shapes of the multiple columns 112.

[0047] The connecting body 120 supports a plurality of columns 110 and is positioned below the plurality of columns 110. Such a connecting body 120 includes an equipment support section 121, a column support section 123, a support connecting section 125, and a support beam 127.

[0048] The equipment support section 121 is positioned to support the power generation equipment 200 and may be located in the central part of the connecting body 120. The power generation equipment 200 may be a wind power generation facility capable of producing electricity by offshore wind power, and support columns for the power generation equipment 200 may be located there.

[0049] The column support section 123 is positioned at a predetermined distance from the centrally located equipment support section 121, and multiple such column support sections 123 may be provided. Each of these multiple column support sections 123 has a predetermined width to accommodate multiple columns 110, with multiple columns 110 positioned on top of each.

[0050] In this embodiment, since there are three columns 110, there may also be three column support sections 123. These three column support sections 123 are positioned at a predetermined distance from the equipment support section 121, and the three column support sections 123 may be arranged to be equally spaced apart from each other.

[0051] A connecting hole 123a may be formed in such a column support portion 123. The connecting hole 123a may be formed vertically in the column support portion 123 and may be connected to a hollow portion 114 formed in the column 110 located above the column support portion 123. Here, the shape of the connecting hole 123a may be the same as the shape of the hollow portion 114 of the column 110, but is not limited to this, and as shown in Figure 2, the cross-sectional shape may be circular, and a variety of shapes are possible.

[0052] The connecting hole 123a described above can be positioned so that when the column support 123 is placed on the sea together with the column 110, seawater can fill the hollow portion 114 formed in the column 110 from below the connecting hole 123a. Of course, when the floating structure 100 is placed on the sea, seawater can flow into the hollow portion 114 through the open surface at the top of the hollow portion 114, so the connecting hole 123a may not be formed in the column support 123. However, if the connecting hole 123a is formed in the column support 123, seawater can be rapidly filled in the hollow portion 114.

[0053] As described above, filling the hollow portion 114 of the column 110 with seawater increases the horizontal mass and inertia of the floating structure 100, thereby reducing translational and rotational motion caused by ocean currents on the open sea.

[0054] The support connecting section 125 is provided to connect the equipment support section 121 and the column support section 123. As the column support section 123 is positioned at a predetermined distance from the equipment support section 121, the support connecting section 125 connects the equipment support section 121 and the column support section 123 to each other. That is, the support connecting section 125 is positioned extending outward from the centrally located equipment support section 121 to where the column support section 123 is located, and as shown in Figure 1, three of them may be connected outward from the equipment support section 121.

[0055] The support connection portion 125 can have a predetermined width as shown in the figure, and can be connected outward from the equipment support portion 121 and have a predetermined length.

[0056] The support beam 127 is positioned above the support connection 125, with one end connected to a column 110 and the other end connected to an equipment support 121. The support beam 127 serves to support multiple columns 110 so that they are more firmly connected to the connector 120. Multiple such support beams 127 may be positioned between a single column 110 and an equipment support 121, and may be positioned horizontally or at an angle.

[0057] Referring to Figure 4, the column 110 of the wind power generation device 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the wind power generation device 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the same descriptions as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0058] A column 110 according to a second embodiment of the present invention includes a columnar body 112 and a hollow portion 114. The columnar body 112 may be provided in multiple quantities, arranged adjacent to one another, and includes an upper portion 112a, a lower portion 112b, and a side portion 112c.

[0059] The upper surface portion 112a may have a hexagonal shape and a predetermined width. The lower surface portion 112b may have the same shape and width as the upper surface portion 112a. The side surface portion 112c connects the upper surface portion 112a and the lower surface portion 112b and may include six rectangular shapes as shown in Figure 4.

[0060] Multiple such columns 112 can be arranged so that their rectangular side surfaces 112c are in contact with each other, forming a hollow section 114 in the center. If the upper surface 112a and lower surface 112b have a hexagonal shape, and the four columns 112 are arranged so that their rectangular side surfaces 112c are in contact, the cross-sectional shape of the hollow section 114 can be formed into a square shape.

[0061] In this embodiment, the upper surface 112a and lower surface 112b of the column 112 were described as having a regular hexagonal shape. However, the upper surface 112a and lower surface 112b of the column 112 do not necessarily have a regular hexagonal shape, and as a result, the cross-sectional shape of the hollow portion 114 may be a general rectangular shape rather than a square shape.

[0062] Referring to Figure 5, the column 110 of the wind power generation device 10 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the wind power generation device 10 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the same descriptions as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0063] A column 110 according to a third embodiment of the present invention includes a columnar body 112 and a hollow portion 114. The columnar body 112 may be provided in multiple quantities, arranged adjacent to one another, and includes an upper portion 112a, a lower portion 112b, and a side portion 112c.

[0064] The upper surface 112a may have an octagonal shape and a predetermined width. The lower surface 112b may have the same shape and width as the upper surface 112a. The side surface 112c connects the upper surface 112a and the lower surface 112b and may include eight rectangular shapes, as shown in Figure 5.

[0065] Multiple such columns 112 can be arranged so that their rectangular side surfaces 112c are in contact with each other, forming a hollow section 114 in the center. Because the upper surface 112a and lower surface 112b have an octagonal shape, the six columns 112 can be arranged so that their rectangular side surfaces 112c are in contact with each other, thereby forming a hexagonal cross-sectional shape for the hollow section 114.

[0066] In this embodiment, the upper surface 112a and lower surface 112b of the column 112 were described as having a regular octagonal shape. However, the upper surface 112a and lower surface 112b of the column 112 do not necessarily have a regular octagonal shape, and as a result, the cross-sectional shape of the hollow portion 114 may be a general hexagon rather than a regular hexagon.

[0067] Referring to Figure 6, the column 110 of the wind power generation device 10 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the wind power generation device 10 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the same descriptions as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0068] A column 110 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention includes a columnar body 112 and a hollow portion 114. The columnar body 112 may be provided in multiple quantities, arranged adjacent to one another, and includes an upper portion 112a, a lower portion 112b, and a side portion 112c.

[0069] The upper surface portion 112a may have a shape that widens the side surface of a frustum of a cone. That is, the upper surface portion 112a may have a predetermined radius and a shape in which a portion of the central part of a sector with a central angle of 90 degrees is cut off. Here, the shape of the portion of the central part of the cut-off sector may be a sector with a relatively small radius and a central angle of 90 degrees.

[0070] Therefore, the upper surface portion 112a has a shape enclosed by two curves and two straight lines, where the radius of the outer curve is greater than the radius of the inner curve, and the two straight lines may be a straight line connecting one end of the outer curve to one end of the inner curve and a straight line connecting the other end of the outer curve to the other end of the inner curve.

[0071] Here, if necessary, the inner and outer curves of the upper surface portion 112a are not necessarily formed as curves, but may each be straight lines, or the inner and outer curves may be free curves that are not circular arcs.

[0072] The lower portion 112b can have the same shape and width as the upper portion 112a.

[0073] The side portion 112c connects the upper portion 112a and the lower portion 112b, and as shown in Figure 6, it may have two rectangular surfaces and two curved surfaces. The two curved surfaces may be an outer curved surface connecting the outer curves of the upper portion 112a and the lower portion 112b, and an inner curved surface connecting the inner curves of the upper portion 112a and the lower portion 112b. The two rectangular surfaces may be surfaces connecting the outer curved surface and the inner curved surface.

[0074] The columnar bodies 112 having the shape described above can be arranged so that their rectangular side portions 112c are in contact with each other, and the upper portion 112a has a fan shape with a central angle of 90 degrees, so that four columnar bodies 112 can be arranged so that the rectangular side portions 112c are in contact with each other, and the cross-sectional shape of the hollow portion 114 can be formed to be circular.

[0075] In this embodiment, it was explained that four columns 112 are used because the upper surface 112a and lower surface 112b of the column 112 have a fan shape with a central angle of 90 degrees. However, the number of columns 112 used may change when the central angles of the upper surface 112a and lower surface 112b change.

[0076] Referring to Figure 7, the column 110 of the wind power generation device 10 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the wind power generation device 10 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the same descriptions as those for the first and fourth embodiments will be omitted.

[0077] The upper surface portion 112a can have a cut sector shape, which is the shape of a frustoconical base with its sides widened, as in the fourth embodiment, and can have a predetermined width.

[0078] The lower surface portion 112b may have the same shape as the upper surface portion 112a, and may have a larger area than the upper surface portion 112a. That is, the lower surface portion 112b may have a shape enclosed by two curves and two straight lines, and the curves and straight lines of the lower surface portion 112b may each be larger than the curves and straight lines of the upper surface portion 112a.

[0079] The side portion 112c connects the upper portion 112a and the lower portion 112b, and as shown in Figure 7, it can have two rectangular surfaces and two curved surfaces. The two curved surfaces forming such a side portion 112c can be arranged at an angle, as shown in the figure.

[0080] Therefore, the column 112 can have a shape in which the curved surface of the side portion 112c becomes more inclined from the upper portion 112a to the lower portion 112b. As a result, the shape of the hollow portion 114 formed by the four columns 112 can be a truncated cone shape, that is, the hollow portion 114 can have different cross-sectional areas depending on the height as you go from the top to the bottom.

[0081] Referring to Figure 8, the column 110 of the wind power generation device 10 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the wind power generation device 10 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, the same descriptions as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0082] A column 110 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention includes a columnar body 112 and a hollow portion 114. The columnar body 112 may be provided in multiple quantities, arranged adjacent to one another, and includes an upper portion 112a, a lower portion 112b, and a side portion 112c.

[0083] The upper surface 112a may have a rectangular shape and a predetermined width. The lower surface 112b may have the same shape and width as the upper surface 112a. The side surface 112c connects the upper surface 112a and the lower surface 112b and may include four rectangular shapes, as shown in Figure 8. Here, two of the four rectangular shapes forming the side surface 112c may be relatively large, and the other two may be relatively small.

[0084] When multiple such columns 112 are arranged adjacent to each other, they can be positioned so that the small-area side surface 112c of one column 112 is in contact with the large-area side surface 112c of another column 112. In this way, by arranging multiple columns 112, each having a rectangular upper surface 112a and lower surface 112b, so that their side surfaces 112c of different sizes are in contact, a hollow portion 114 can be formed in the center.

[0085] As described above, the hollow section 114 formed by multiple columns 112 may have a rectangular cross-sectional shape.

Claims

1. Multiple columns that provide buoyancy, A connecting body that connects the plurality of columns, At least one of the aforementioned columns is Multiple interconnected columns, It includes a hollow section formed by being surrounded by the aforementioned plurality of columns, and a portion of which is filled with seawater, Each of the aforementioned plurality of columns is A top surface having a polygonal shape, A lower portion having the same shape as the upper portion, It includes a side portion connecting the upper portion and the lower portion, Each of the aforementioned plurality of columns is formed extending in the first direction, A floating structure in which the plurality of columns are arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and are interconnected such that the hollow portion is formed by the contact of adjacent side portions.

2. The aforementioned connecting body, Equipment support section that supports the equipment, A plurality of column support parts are arranged at a predetermined distance from the equipment support part, and each of the plurality of columns supports a plurality of columns, The floating structure according to claim 1, further comprising a support connecting portion that connects the equipment support portion and the plurality of column support portions.

3. The floating structure according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of column support portions has a connecting hole formed that penetrates in the vertical direction.

4. The floating structure according to claim 3, wherein the connecting hole is connected to the hollow portion.

5. The floating structure according to claim 2, wherein the connecting body further includes a plurality of support beams that connect the equipment support portion and the plurality of columns, respectively.

6. The floating structure according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal cross-section of the hollow portion is circular in shape.

7. The floating structure according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal cross-section of the hollow portion has a polygonal shape.

8. The floating structure according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal cross-section of each of the plurality of columns is circular in shape.

9. The floating structure according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal cross-section of each of the plurality of columns has a polygonal shape.

10. The floating structure according to claim 1, wherein the hollow portion has different cross-sectional areas depending on its height.

11. The floating structure according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion has a different area from the upper portion.

12. Wind power generation equipment that produces electricity using wind power, The system includes a floating structure that supports the wind power generation equipment and provides buoyancy, The floating structure is, Multiple columns that provide buoyancy, A connecting body that connects the plurality of columns, At least one of the aforementioned columns is Multiple interconnected columns, It includes a hollow section formed by being surrounded by the aforementioned plurality of columns, and a portion of which is filled with seawater, Each of the aforementioned plurality of columns is A top surface having a polygonal shape, A lower portion having the same shape as the upper portion, It includes a side portion connecting the upper portion and the lower portion, Each of the aforementioned plurality of columns is formed extending in the first direction, A wind power generation device in which the plurality of columns are arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and interconnected such that the hollow portion is formed by the contact of adjacent side portions.

13. The aforementioned connecting body, The equipment support section that supports the wind power generation equipment, A plurality of column support parts are arranged at a predetermined distance from the equipment support part, and each of the plurality of columns supports a plurality of columns, The wind power generation apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a support connecting portion that connects the equipment support portion and the plurality of column support portions.

14. The wind power generation apparatus according to claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of column support portions has a connecting hole formed that penetrates in the vertical direction.

15. The wind power generation apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the connecting body further includes a plurality of support beams that connect the equipment support portion and the plurality of columns, respectively.

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