Offshore wind turbine jacket foundation based on wave energy corrosion prevention system

Abstract

The application discloses a wave energy-based offshore wind turbine jacket foundation with a corrosion prevention system, which comprises a frame body and a plurality of corrosion prevention structures arranged on the frame body. The corrosion prevention structure comprises a cylinder connected to the frame body, a pretreatment assembly for utilizing collected seawater energy, a multilayer spiral metal sheet, and a cathodic protection unit electrically connected to the pretreatment assembly and the spiral metal sheet. The buffer plate in the pretreatment assembly and the spiral metal sheet are both provided with solid-liquid friction electrode layers. The electric energy generated by the seawater scouring on the solid-liquid friction electrode layers is configured as the power supply of the cathodic protection unit. The structure can significantly solve the corrosion prevention problem caused by the traditional power supply in the offshore environment wind turbine tower drum, and achieve the purpose of power self-sufficiency by using a low-frequency energy generation structure. The power is directly applied to the cathodic protection, and permanent cathodic protection is provided for the structure significantly affected by corrosion. Meanwhile, the control device is regulated to achieve the current required by the suitable cathodic protection.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of offshore wind turbine technology, specifically to a jacket foundation for an offshore wind turbine based on a wave energy anti-corrosion system. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing global demand for clean energy, offshore wind power has developed rapidly as a sustainable energy source. However, offshore wind turbines are typically installed in marine environments where seawater contains large amounts of salts such as sodium chloride. When this salt spray adheres to the surfaces of steel joints and other components, it forms an electrolyte solution, posing a serious threat of corrosion to the turbine structure and becoming a major cause of structural failure. The future development direction of offshore wind turbines is deep-sea areas, characterized by high salinity, high humidity, and strong winds and waves; therefore, corrosion is an unavoidable problem for offshore wind turbines.

[0003] In existing technologies, cathodic protection using external current is commonly employed. This involves applying a cathodic current to the protected steel via an external power source. Traditionally, external power is transmitted via cables. While pipeline pre-laying and current distribution systems are relatively mature in near-shore areas, with the development of wind turbine areas, near-shore wind power output and space utilization can no longer meet the needs of new energy sources. Furthermore, if pipeline transmission is still used to provide external power in deep-sea areas, the following issues will arise: 1. In actual deep-sea wind power environments, due to the complexity of electrical systems and the variability of marine environments, it is impossible to precisely control the magnitude and distribution of protection current, which may result in over-protection or under-protection, thus affecting the corrosion protection effect. 2. The pre-laying of pipelines in deep sea areas will be subject to unavoidable external factors such as marine topography and deep-sea high pressure. The power supply casing is susceptible to high-pressure corrosion, resulting in harsh construction conditions and low feasibility. 3. Significant issues arise in the maintenance of pipelines and labor costs in the later stages.

[0004] Therefore, finding a completely new energy anti-corrosion system to replace the traditional cable anti-corrosion system has become the focus of research. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides a wave energy-based corrosion protection system for offshore wind turbine jacket foundations.

[0006] The technical solution of the present invention to solve the above technical problems is as follows: a marine wind turbine jacket foundation based on a wave energy anti-corrosion system, including a frame and multiple anti-corrosion structures arranged on the frame, and the anti-corrosion structures are arranged in zones according to the marine corrosion environment. The corrosion-resistant structure includes a cylinder detachably connected to the frame, a pretreatment component for collecting and filtering seawater and utilizing the energy of the collected seawater, multiple spiral metal sheets located inside the cylinder and arranged along the height of the cylinder, and a cathodic protection unit located on the cylinder and electrically connected to the pretreatment component and the spiral metal sheets respectively. The buffer plate in the pretreatment component and the spiral metal sheets both have solid-liquid friction electrode layers. The electrical energy generated by the seawater scouring the solid-liquid friction electrode layers is configured as the power supply for the cathodic protection unit.

[0007] Furthermore, the pretreatment assembly includes a buffer plate, a seawater collector, a receiving cavity, a filtration unit, a first fluid control unit, and a second fluid control unit; The receiving cavity is located inside the cylinder. A drain hole is provided at the upper end of the cylinder, which is connected to the receiving cavity. The seawater collector is located above the receiving cavity. One end of the buffer plate is connected to the connection between the seawater collector and the receiving cavity. The other end of the buffer plate is inclinedly set on the outer wall of the cylinder by a support rod. The first fluid control unit is located on the side wall of the receiving cavity and is used to control the flow rate of seawater. The seawater output by the first fluid control unit is filtered by the filter unit. The second fluid control unit is located below the filter unit.

[0008] Furthermore, the buffer plate is equipped with a sealed watertight interface, which is connected to the charging controller via a wire.

[0009] Furthermore, the fluid control unit includes a float, a mass block, a spring, an elastic block, a pulley, and a baffle; The elastic block is located in the interlayer of the cylinder. One end of the spring is connected to the elastic block, and the other end of the spring is connected to the mass block. The pulley is movably connected to the inner wall of the cylinder. The end of the baffle is connected to the pull rope. The end of the pull rope away from the baffle passes around the pulley and is connected to the mass block. The float is arranged in the accommodating cavity by the rod. The size of the water inlet is adjusted and controlled by the movement of the baffle, thereby controlling the amount of seawater entering the accommodating cavity.

[0010] Furthermore, a one-way membrane is installed inside the cavity, and a seawater desalination membrane is installed below the one-way membrane.

[0011] Furthermore, the filtration unit includes multiple layers of filter tanks, which are filled with columnar activated carbon, fiber balls and ceramic filter elements from top to bottom.

[0012] Furthermore, the second fluid control unit includes a sensor for detecting water volume, a receiver communicatively connected to the sensor, and an actuator connected to the receiver, wherein the actuator is connected to a sandwich ring with different limiting holes.

[0013] Furthermore, a water storage tank is connected below the drain hole, and a water flow control plate is installed at an angle at the outlet end of the water storage tank. Furthermore, the cylinder is equipped with pre-embedded pipes, and the spiral metal sheet is electrically connected to the cathodic protection unit through wires embedded in the pre-embedded pipes. A baffle plate is provided at the end of the spiral metal sheet, and a copper electrode is provided on the baffle plate. The copper electrode is connected to the wire. Furthermore, the cathodic protection unit includes a charging controller, a capacitor, and an anode fixing component. The current generated by the solid-liquid friction electrode layer is connected to the charging controller. The charging controller is electrically connected to the capacitor to store voltage as a power source. The positive and negative leads from the power source are buried along the pre-embedded pipeline. The positive lead is connected to the interior of the auxiliary anode, and the negative lead is connected to the easily corroded area of ​​the steel. A pulley is provided on the top of the anode fixing component to adjust the distance between it and the steel.

[0014] The present invention offers the following advantages: The wave energy-based corrosion protection system for offshore wind turbine jacket foundations provided by this invention significantly solves the corrosion problems associated with traditional power sources in offshore wind turbine towers. It utilizes low-frequency energy to achieve structural electrical self-sufficiency and provides permanent cathodic protection for structures significantly affected by corrosion. Furthermore, this solution is suitable for mass production in factories, allowing installation on existing structures without affecting their performance. It provides multiple layers of protection for the installation area. In addition, the device is detachable, facilitating equipment maintenance and reducing maintenance costs. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the layout of the anti-corrosion device in this invention; Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the entire invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the seawater pretreatment component device in the tidal zone of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the seawater pretreatment component device in the fully immersed zone of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the accommodating cavity and the first fluid control unit in this invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second fluid control unit in this invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of triboelectric power generation in this invention; Figure 8 This is a diagram showing the arrangement of the spiral metal sheet material in this invention; Figure 9 This is a diagram showing the arrangement of the water storage tank and the water flow control plate in this invention; Figure 10 This is a diagram showing the arrangement of the barrier plates in this invention; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the arrangement of the rubber interlayer and spring oscillator in this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0016] The principles and features of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The examples given are only for explaining the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0017] like Figures 1 to 2 As shown, a wave energy-based corrosion protection system for offshore wind turbine jacket foundations includes a frame 1 and multiple corrosion protection devices 2 arranged on the frame 1. The corrosion protection devices 2 are arranged in zones according to the marine corrosion environment, specifically divided into tidal zones and fully submerged zones. The seawater power generation device located in the fully submerged zone utilizes seawater below the lowest water level for power generation. A seawater controller inside the containment cavity 212 controls the seawater entering the power generation device to ensure continuous power generation under optimal seawater conditions. The seawater power generation device located in the tidal zone utilizes seawater in wave-like patterns and seawater splashed onto the tower structure for power generation. It is also equipped with a seawater control device to ensure continuous power generation at optimal efficiency. The entire jacket is divided into sections using cables and lifting lugs. A current detection device in each section detects structural corrosion. The cables include auxiliary anodes and current conduction lines. The auxiliary anodes directly contact the tower frame, forming a cathodic protection structure. The currents of each tower frame device are interconnected, and a unified voltage controller regulates the current and voltage. The current and voltage distribution of the tower is controlled by either a unified voltage controller or a voltage controller within the tidal zone device.

[0018] The anti-corrosion device 2 adopts a semi-circular splicing design, allowing direct installation into existing wind turbine tower structures. It utilizes a rotating shaft and spring-loaded bolts for structural fixation. An inner rubber layer ensures stress concentration and galvanic corrosion prevention, while angle steel is used to secure the structure in the tidal range and full immersion zone, and to transmit loads. The angle steel connections are welded, facilitating disassembly and maintenance. Furthermore, this design uses rubber materials for sealing, with bidirectional rubber layers at the joints between components. Bidirectional bolts tighten from both top and bottom for a good seal. To ensure stability under wave action, a rubber interlayer 5 and spring vibrators 6 are incorporated on the outer layer. These provide stability and impermeability to the device itself, and damping to reduce vibration in the wind turbine tower. Regarding maintenance, this patent employs a component splicing method, allowing all parts to be mass-produced in the factory. Component connections use snap-fit ​​and bolts, facilitating maintenance and replacement by workers and providing favorable conditions for intelligent management of the device.

[0019] The anti-corrosion device 2 includes a cylinder 20 detachably connected to the frame 1, a pretreatment component 21 for collecting and filtering seawater and utilizing the energy of the collected seawater, a multi-layered spiral metal sheet 22 located inside the cylinder 20 and arranged along the height direction of the cylinder 20, and a cathodic protection unit 23 located on the cylinder 20 and electrically connected to the pretreatment component 21 and the spiral metal sheet 22 respectively. The buffer plate 210 in the pretreatment component 21 and the spiral metal sheet 22 both have a solid-liquid friction electrode layer 30. The electrical energy generated by the seawater scouring the solid-liquid friction electrode layer 30 is configured to supply electrical energy to the cathodic protection unit 23.

[0020] In addition, in the pretreatment component 21, all metal parts in contact with seawater are coated with anti-corrosion treatment. The seawater collection component and filter tank are detachable structures, and the filter material can be replaced in real time. The cylinder 20 is equipped with a rotating shaft and bolts. The connection between the receiving cavity 212 and the filter tank is made by an outward bolt connection with a rubber interlayer in the middle to ensure the airtightness of the device. The parts in contact with the steel tower are equipped with a rubber layer to facilitate the installation of existing wind turbine tower structures.

[0021] The pretreatment component 21 includes a buffer plate 210, a seawater collector 211, a receiving cavity 212, a filtration unit 213, a first fluid control unit, and a second fluid control unit. It should be noted that when located in the tidal zone, it includes the buffer plate 210, seawater collector 211, receiving cavity 212, filtration unit 213, first fluid control unit, and second fluid control unit; when located in the fully immersed zone, it includes the receiving cavity 212, filtration unit 213, first fluid control unit, and second fluid control unit.

[0022] The accommodating cavity 212 is located inside the cylindrical body 20. A drain hole 24 is provided at the upper end of the cylindrical body 20, communicating with the accommodating cavity 212. A seawater collector 211 is located above the accommodating cavity 212. The seawater collector 211 has a petal-shaped structure and is used to collect seawater. Under the action of wave energy, seawater splashes onto the petal-shaped seawater collector 211 and the buffer plate 210 before entering the accommodating cavity 212. The petal-shaped seawater collector 211 is concave overall, with drainage grooves on its edges, increasing the area for seawater splashing and effectively collecting and transporting seawater into the accommodating cavity 212.

[0023] One end of the buffer plate 210 is connected to the connection point between the seawater collector 211 and the receiving cavity 212. The other end of the buffer plate 210 is inclinedly mounted on the outer wall of the cylinder 20 via a support rod. This serves two purposes: firstly, it reduces the impact of seawater, minimizing damage to the device and preventing marine debris from entering the filter tank; secondly, it effectively utilizes the frictional force of seawater scouring to generate electricity. A solid-liquid friction electrode layer 30 is designed along the thickness of the buffer plate 210, consisting of a plastic layer, a metal electrode, and a friction layer of polytetrafluoroethylene, forming a nano-triboelectric power generation device. A sealed watertight interface 216 is provided at the support position of the buffer plate 210. The watertight interface 216 is connected to the charging controller 230 via a wire, enabling the initial utilization of seawater energy by this device.

[0024] The first fluid control unit is located on the side wall of the accommodating cavity 212 and is used to control the seawater flow rate. The seawater output by the first fluid control unit is filtered by the filter unit 213. The second fluid control unit is located below the filter unit 213. The seawater flow rate is controlled for the first time by the first fluid control unit. Specifically, the first fluid control unit includes a float 2140, a mass block 2141, a spring 2142, an elastic block 2143, a pulley 2144, and a baffle 2145. The elastic block 2143 is located in the interlayer of the cylinder 20. One end of the spring 2142 is connected to the elastic block 2143, and the other end of the spring 2142 is connected to the mass block 2141. The pulley 2144 is movably connected to the inner wall of the cylinder 20. A pull rope is connected to the end of the baffle 2145. The end of the pull rope away from the baffle 2145 passes around the pulley 2144 and is connected to the mass block 2141. The float 2140 is arranged in the accommodating cavity 212 by a rod. The size of the water inlet 24 is adjusted and controlled by the movement of the baffle 2145, thereby controlling the amount of seawater entering the accommodating cavity 212. Utilizing the principle of buoyancy, the float 2140 moves with the water level, causing the mass block 2141 to move vertically. A pulley 2144 connects to a baffle 2145, which can move, thus controlling and regulating the seawater flow. A one-way membrane 218 (with a hydrophobic and hydrophilic layer) is located at the bottom of the first fluid control unit to prevent seawater from entering the device and damaging the underlying power generation unit. Below the one-way membrane 218 is a seawater desalination membrane 217, which consists of four layers: a surface membrane, a microporous membrane, a reverse osmosis membrane, and a surface membrane. The microporous membrane filters out fine particles; the reverse osmosis membrane has high-efficiency filtration capabilities, filtering out most salts and organic matter in the water, resulting in purer water.

[0025] The filtration unit 213 includes multiple layers of filter tanks, which are filled with columnar activated carbon, fiber balls and ceramic filter elements from top to bottom, to deeply purify the seawater after sedimentation and to deeply filter the seawater that has undergone the first sedimentation, ensuring the quality of the seawater entering the next stage.

[0026] The second fluid control unit includes a sensor 2150 for detecting water volume, a receiver 2151 communicatively connected to the sensor 2150, and an actuator 2152 connected to the receiver 2151. The actuator 2152 is connected to a sandwich ring 2153 with different limiting holes. The sensor 2150 uses an induction plate attached to the filter wall to control the seawater flow in real time. The sensor 2150 serves two purposes: firstly, it allows for precise control of the water flow for subsequent solid-liquid friction power generation, ensuring it operates within the optimal power generation efficiency range; secondly, the actuator 2152 is powered by the friction power generation device, allowing for immediate stoppage of seawater in case of device failure, ensuring the integrity of the lower-level device until maintenance personnel can perform repairs.

[0027] A water storage tank 25 is connected below the drain hole 24, and a water flow control plate 26 is inclinedly installed at the outlet end of the water storage tank 25. This serves two purposes: firstly, to collect purified water and allow it to flow out uniformly after reaching a certain volume, providing a certain time redundancy for the lower-level solid-liquid power generation device; secondly, to provide a uniform direction and velocity for the outflowing water, reducing frictional consumption and energy loss of the purified water. In this design, to achieve optimal water flow control, the angle between the lowest point of the water flow control plate 26 and the horizontal plane is not less than 15 degrees, and the height of the arc-shaped plate is controlled at approximately 20 to 50 cm, ensuring that the initial velocity of the water entering the solid-liquid friction electrode layer 30 is sufficient to overcome the maximum dynamic friction force while not exceeding the splash velocity.

[0028] An embedded pipe 27 is installed inside the cylinder 20. A spiral metal sheet 22 is electrically connected to the cathodic protection unit 23 via a wire embedded in the embedded pipe 27. Seawater flowing out through the second fluid control unit drips onto the inclined spiral metal sheet 22. Under the influence of gravity and initial velocity of the seawater, the water droplet slides down in a circular direction. The surface of the spiral metal sheet 22 is coated with three layers of material: a plastic layer in close contact with the metal sheet, a copper electrode with a fork pre-installed guide wire placed in the embedded pipe 27, and a PTFR friction layer ZIF-8 / MXene in contact with the water. A multi-layer spiral metal sheet 22 structure is arranged along the height of the cylinder 20, and each turn of the spiral metal sheet 22 constitutes a complete solid-liquid nano-triboelectric power generation structure. Considering the water flow rate, the system fully utilizes water energy through circulation. The metal cylinder 20 has pre-embedded wires, and the output current wires in the spiral metal plate 22 are laid along the pre-embedded wire conduit, connecting to the conduit to collect the current from each layer into the bottom charging controller 230 and capacitor 231. A detection port is designed on the outside of the cylinder 20 at the pre-embedded wire location for easy maintenance and to ensure current flow. A baffle plate 28 is installed at the end of the spiral metal plate 22, with copper electrodes connected to the wires. The baffle plate 28 serves two purposes: firstly, to utilize the positive charge generated by water friction, copper electrodes are attached to the surface of the baffle plate 28 to connect the wires, transferring energy from the water charge for secondary power generation; secondly, to ensure a certain flow velocity and direction for the water entering the lower layer, the baffle plate 28 is designed with a serrated shape of a certain height, fixing the water flow direction and improving power generation efficiency. A reverse filter tank and a negative pressure device are installed at the bottom outlet to prevent seawater from flowing back in.

[0029] The cathodic protection unit 23 includes a charging controller 230, a capacitor 231, and an anode fixing component 232. Current generated by the solid-liquid friction electrode layer 30 is fed into the charging controller 230. The charging controller 230 is electrically connected to the capacitor 231 to store voltage as a power source. Positive and negative leads from the power source are buried along pre-embedded pipelines. The positive lead connects to the interior of the auxiliary anode, and the negative lead connects to the easily corroded area of ​​the steel. A pulley 2144 is installed on the top of the anode fixing component 232 to adjust the distance between it and the steel. The anode fixing component 232 includes a telescopic rod, an anode protective outer layer, and an insulating part. The telescopic rod can adjust the position of the anode along its height. The anode protective outer layer has multiple groove-shaped holes to ensure normal electron flow and prevent excessive electron loss from the anode. The insulating part uses rubber or other insulating materials to prevent reverse electron flow, ensuring normal electron flow throughout the cathodic protection process.

[0030] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A wave energy-based corrosion protection system for offshore wind turbine jacket foundations, characterized in that, It includes a frame (1) and multiple anti-corrosion devices (2) arranged on the frame (1), and the anti-corrosion devices (2) are arranged in zones according to the marine corrosion environment; The corrosion protection device (2) includes a cylinder (20) detachably connected to the frame (1), a pretreatment component (21) for collecting and filtering seawater and utilizing the energy of the collected seawater, a multi-layer spiral metal sheet (22) located inside the cylinder (20) and arranged along the height direction of the cylinder (20), and a cathodic protection unit (23) located on the cylinder (20) and electrically connected to the pretreatment component (21) and the spiral metal sheet (22) respectively. The buffer plate (210) in the pretreatment component (21) and the spiral metal sheet (22) both have solid-liquid friction electrode layers (30). The electrical energy generated by the seawater scouring the solid-liquid friction electrode layers (30) is configured as the electrical energy supply for the cathodic protection unit (23). The pretreatment component (21) includes the buffer plate (210), seawater collector (211), accommodating cavity (212), filtration unit (213), first fluid control unit and second fluid control unit; The accommodating cavity (212) is located inside the cylindrical body (20). A drain hole (24) is provided at the upper end of the cylindrical body (20). The drain hole (24) communicates with the accommodating cavity (212). The seawater collector (211) is located above the accommodating cavity (212). One end of the buffer plate (210) is connected to the connection position between the seawater collector (211) and the accommodating cavity (212). The other end of the buffer plate (210) is inclinedly set on the outer wall of the cylindrical body (20) by a support rod. The first fluid control unit is located on the side wall of the accommodating cavity (212) and is used to control the flow rate of seawater. The seawater output by the first fluid control unit is filtered by the filter unit (213). The second fluid control unit is located below the filter unit (213). The cylinder (20) is provided with a pre-embedded pipe (27). The spiral metal sheet (22) is electrically connected to the cathodic protection unit (23) through a wire pre-embedded in the pre-embedded pipe (27). A baffle plate (28) is provided at the end of the spiral metal sheet (22). A copper electrode is provided on the baffle plate (28). The copper electrode is connected to the wire. The cathode protection unit (23) includes a charging controller (230), a capacitor (231), and an anode fixing component (232). The current generated by the solid-liquid friction electrode layer (30) is connected to the charging controller (230). The charging controller (230) is electrically connected to the capacitor (231) to store voltage as a power source. The positive and negative wires of the power source are buried along the pre-embedded pipeline. The positive wire is connected to the interior of the auxiliary anode, and the negative wire is connected to the area of ​​the steel that is prone to corrosion. The top of the anode fixing component (232) is equipped with a pulley, and the distance between the component and the steel is adjusted by the pulley.

2. The offshore wind turbine jacket foundation based on a wave energy anti-corrosion system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The buffer plate (210) is provided with a sealed watertight interface (216), which is connected to the charging controller (230) via a wire.

3. The offshore wind turbine jacket foundation based on a wave energy corrosion protection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, A one-way membrane (218) is provided inside the accommodating cavity (212), and a seawater desalination membrane (217) is provided below the one-way membrane (218).

4. The offshore wind turbine jacket foundation based on a wave energy corrosion protection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The filtration unit (213) includes multiple layers of filter tanks, which are filled with columnar activated carbon, fiber balls and ceramic filter elements from top to bottom.

5. The offshore wind turbine jacket foundation based on a wave energy corrosion protection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second fluid control unit includes a sensor (2150) for detecting water volume, a receiver (2151) communicatively connected to the sensor (2150), and an actuator (2152) connected to the receiver (2151). The actuator (2152) is connected to a sandwich ring (2153) with different limiting holes.

6. The offshore wind turbine jacket foundation based on a wave energy corrosion protection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, A water storage tank (25) is connected below the drain hole (24), and a water flow control plate (26) is inclinedly installed at the outlet end of the water storage tank (25).

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