Flexible fixing device for offshore wind power suspended section submarine cable and steel pipe pile
Through the modular design of the flexible fixing device, the rigid fixing problem of submarine cables in the suspended section of offshore wind power is solved, and the synchronous movement of submarine cables and bending limiters is achieved, which reduces wear and shaking, and improves the operating stability and safety of submarine cables.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510515225.9
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-23
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-22
AI Technical Summary
The rigid fixing method of suspended submarine cables in existing offshore wind power projects is difficult to effectively alleviate the risk of damage to the submarine cable body, especially in complex marine environments, which can easily lead to shaking and wear between the submarine cable and the bending limiter.
Flexible fixing devices are adopted, including pile clamps, cable clamp platforms and flexible limit units, and flexible support of the submarine cable system is realized through a modular design, allowing the submarine cable to move simultaneously with the bending limiter, reducing relative displacement and wear.
It significantly improves the structural reliability and service life of submarine cables, reduces the possibility of damage of vortex vibration, improves the operating stability and safety of submarine cable systems, and reduces construction difficulty and operation risks.
Smart Images
Figure CN120357371A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of ocean engineering, and particularly relates to a flexible fixing device for a submarine cable in a suspended section of an offshore wind turbine and a steel pipe pile. Background Art
[0002] In recent years, in China's offshore wind power projects, the design concept of the J-tube of submarine cables and the construction technology of submarine cable laying have led to a certain length of suspended sections of submarine cables on the pile foundations of offshore wind turbines. In some cases, the length of the suspended section of the submarine cable even reaches more than 15 m. Coupled with the increasingly severe problem of foundation scouring, the suspended length and suspended height of the suspended section of the submarine cable on the pile foundation are constantly increasing, which also poses a serious threat to the structural safety of the cable itself. Compared with the static submarine cable laid on the seabed, the operating conditions of the suspended section of the submarine cable have the characteristics of multiple load types, large randomness, and more complex and severe load conditions. Moreover, the direct action of the marine environmental load will cause the suspended section of the submarine cable to generate dynamic responses, resulting in large tension and bending moment loads. At the same time, the local suspension caused by the change of the seabed topography may also lead to vortex-induced vibration (VIV), which is very harmful to submarine cables.
[0003] Such as Figure 9 , the main reasons for the failure of the submarine cable in the suspended section on the foundation side of the wind power pile 10 are local over-bending of the submarine cable or contact wear with the seabed, etc. Due to the scouring problem, the suspended height and suspended length of the suspended section of the submarine cable are constantly increasing, which further exacerbates the swing amplitude and frequency of the suspended section of the submarine cable in the surge, and further increases the risk of cable failure. Currently, when dealing with the large-span suspended section of the submarine cable, small fixed piles 2 are generally driven to fix the submarine cable. Since the outside of the submarine cable body has been protected by a bending limiter and a submarine cable system 1 is formed, the submarine cable body with the bending limiter is rigidly fixed to the fixed pile together. Due to the certain gap between the submarine cable body and the bending limiter, the submarine cable body can still shake and rub inside the bending limiter rigidly fixed by the fixed pile under the huge wave and current conditions, which further causes the submarine cable body to be worn and damaged. Therefore, it is urgent to study a flexible fixing device for the submarine cable system in the suspended section of an offshore wind turbine and a fixed pile. Summary of the Invention
[0004] Aiming at the problem that the rigid fixing method adopted by the submarine cable system composed of the submarine cable body with a matching bending limiter in the existing offshore wind power project is difficult to effectively alleviate the risk of damage to the submarine cable body, the invention provides a flexible fixing device for a submarine cable in a suspended section of an offshore wind turbine and a steel pipe pile.
[0005] The present invention is implemented as follows. A flexible fixing device for an offshore wind power suspended section submarine cable and a steel pipe pile includes a submarine cable system and a fixing pile, and is characterized in that it includes a pile-holding clamp, a cable-holding platform, a cable-holding clamp, and a flexible limiting unit; the pile-holding clamp is fixed to the fixing pile and has a support shaft portion located on the side of the fixing pile; the cable-holding platform is installed on the support shaft through a clamp hole; the cable-holding clamp is installed on the cable-holding platform, the submarine cable system penetrates through the inner side of the cable-holding clamp, and N flexible limiting units that are circumferentially distributed and form a flexible support for the submarine cable system are installed on the inner side of the cable-holding clamp.
[0006] In the above technical solution, preferably, the cable-holding platform includes a clamp portion and a platform portion. A locking member for locking the clamp portion is installed at the open end of the clamp portion, and the cable-holding clamp is installed on the platform portion.
[0007] In the above technical solution, preferably, long slot holes are provided on the cable-holding clamp and the platform portion on the same circumferential surface; the flexible limiting unit includes a limiting screw, a flexible spring, and a limiting pressing block. The inner side surface of the limiting pressing block forms a curved surface whose shape is adapted to the outer side surface of the submarine cable system. The outer side portion of the limiting pressing block is connected to the limiting screw. The limiting screw penetrates through the long slot hole and a end nut is installed at the outer end portion. The flexible spring is sleeved on the limiting screw, and the flexible spring applies an elasticity to the limiting pressing block to press it against the submarine cable system.
[0008] In the above technical solution, preferably, the cable-holding clamp is provided with a U-shaped clamp portion and a bottom foot portion. The bottom foot portion is connected to the platform portion of the cable-holding platform through a fastener, and the U-shaped clamp portion and the platform portion of the cable-holding platform form a surrounding clamp structure through which the submarine cable system penetrates.
[0009] In the above technical solution, preferably, the bottom foot portion is a threaded rod inserted into the long slot hole of the platform portion, and a nut for locking the threaded rod is installed at the lower end of the threaded rod.
[0010] In the above technical solution, preferably, the outer side portion of the limiting pressing block is connected to N limiting screws radially distributed in a radial direction.
[0011] The flexible fixing device for the offshore wind power suspended section submarine cable and the steel pipe pile realizes the organic combination of various components through modular design, and has many advantages such as reasonable structure, perfect function, and strong adaptability.
[0012] The submarine cable system is fixed to the cable-holding platform by cable-holding clamps. Multiple flexible limiting units are arranged on the inner side of the cable-holding clamps. These limiting units are circumferentially distributed and provide flexible support for the submarine cable body. This flexible support method is significantly different from the traditional rigid fixing method. When the submarine cable system undergoes dynamic response, it can move together with the bending restrictor, enabling the bending restrictor and the submarine cable body to swing synchronously, thereby effectively reducing the relative displacement between the submarine cable and the inner wall of the bending restrictor, reducing the collision and wear of the submarine cable under high-frequency shaking conditions, and significantly improving the structural reliability and service life of the submarine cable system.
[0013] In addition, while improving the fixing effect, the device also retains the necessary flexibility, enabling the submarine cable to complete movement with a small stress response when subjected to multi-directional environmental loads such as surges and tidal currents, reducing the risk of local stress concentration and excessive bending, and reducing the possibility of damage induced by vortex-induced vibration (VIV). Compared with the existing scheme of using small fixed piles for rigid locking, the flexible fixing method proposed in the present invention effectively overcomes the problems of shaking and wear caused by the gap between the submarine cable and the bending restrictor, and improves the effectiveness of the overall protection system.
[0014] Meanwhile, the design of the flexible fixing device fully considers the convenience of underwater construction. By adopting the cooperation of a sleeve and a rotatable component, the device can be quickly installed on the underwater structure, significantly reducing the construction difficulty and operation risk.
[0015] In summary, the device not only improves the operation stability and structural safety of the suspended submarine cable, but also provides a practical technical solution and practical value for the engineering application of similar submarine cable protection problems in offshore wind power projects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the present invention;
[0017] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of the pile-holding clamp in the present invention;
[0018] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of the cable-holding platform in the present invention;
[0019] Figure 4 is Figure 3 the C-C view of
[0020] Figure 5 is Figure 3 the D-D view of
[0021] Figure 6 is Figure 3 the E-E view of
[0022] Figure 7 It is the side view of the cable clamping hoop in the present invention;
[0023] Figure 8 It is the structural schematic diagram of the flexible limiting unit in the present invention;
[0024] Figure 9 It is the schematic diagram of the suspended submarine cable described in the background art of the present invention. Detailed implementation manners
[0025] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention clearer and more understandable, the present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not used to limit the present invention.
[0026] To solve the problem that the rigid fixing method adopted by the submarine cable system composed of the submarine cable body of the supporting bending limiter in the existing offshore wind power projects is difficult to effectively alleviate the risk of damage to the submarine cable body, the present invention particularly provides a flexible fixing device for the suspended submarine cable of an offshore wind power and a steel pipe pile. To further illustrate the structure of the present invention, it is described in detail below in conjunction with the drawings:
[0027] Please refer to Figure 1 , a flexible fixing device for the suspended submarine cable of an offshore wind power and a steel pipe pile, comprising a submarine cable system 1, a fixing pile 2, a pile clamping hoop 3, a cable holding platform 4, a cable clamping hoop 5 and a flexible limiting unit.
[0028] Please refer to Figure 2 , the pile clamping hoop is fixed to the fixing pile and has a support shaft part 3-1 located at the side of the fixing pile. The pile clamping hoop can be firmly installed on the fixing pile, and a support shaft part is arranged on its side for installing the cable holding platform, thereby ensuring that the whole device can be firmly attached to the wind power pile foundation. The pile clamping hoop includes a C-shaped clamping body and several connecting bolts, and the clamping body is surrounded by bolts outside the fixing pile. The pile clamping hoop can be firmly installed on fixing piles with different diameters, and different specifications of clamping bodies can be replaced according to engineering needs or supporting adjustments can be made by adjusting gaskets. The pile clamping hoop is integrally provided with a support shaft part on its side, and the support shaft part can be a whole-milled or welded structure, and its axis direction is perpendicular to the axis of the fixing pile. The support shaft part is used for installing the cable holding platform and can realize the rotational installation of the cable holding platform with the support shaft part as the axis, so as to improve the adaptability of the device to complex dynamic loads in the ocean, and further ensure that the whole device can be firmly and reliably attached to the wind power pile foundation, realizing the rigid-flexible coordination of the overall structure.
[0029] Please refer to Figures 3 - 6, the holding platform is installed on the support shaft through the holding hoop hole. Specifically, the holding platform includes a holding hoop part 4-1 and a platform part 4-2. The opening end of the holding hoop part is equipped with a locking component for locking the holding hoop part, and the platform part is equipped with a cable holding clamp. The cable holding platform is rotatably installed on the pile holding clamp through the support shaft, which not only simplifies the installation process, but also enables the device to produce a certain degree of adaptive adjustment according to the swing direction of the submarine cable, effectively coping with complex marine dynamic environments.
[0030] The cable-holding platform includes a hoop portion that embraces the outer circumference of the support shaft and a platform portion that extends horizontally. The hoop portion is a semi-circular open structure, and a connecting bolt is installed at the open end to lock the hoop portion to ensure that it fits tightly with the support shaft after installation and prevent the platform from rotating loose. The platform portion and the hoop portion are an integral structure, which can be processed into a rectangular or fan-shaped platform as required, and is provided with a reinforcing rib structure to improve the bearing stiffness and fatigue resistance. The structure adopts a modular design, which is convenient for rapid assembly and replacement at sea, which is conducive to improving construction efficiency and reducing later maintenance costs.
[0031] The cable clamp is installed on the holding platform, and the submarine cable system runs through the inner side of the cable clamp. N flexible limit units are installed on the inner side of the cable clamp, which are distributed in an annular direction and form flexible support for the submarine cable system. The setting of the flexible limit unit enables the limit pressure block to respond to the tiny displacement of the submarine cable in an elastic manner under the external disturbance such as waves or tides, which not only effectively buffers the impact load caused by the swing of the submarine cable, but also can avoid local damage caused by rigid pressure while maintaining the limit function, thereby significantly extending the service life of the submarine cable system and the bending limiter. The N limit units evenly arranged in an annular direction on the inner side of the cable clamp form a synchronous flexible support network with multiple distribution points, which can achieve uniform decomposition of multi-directional forces under load, effectively prevent the submarine cable system from swinging, local clamping or stress concentration under the action of surge waves, and enhance the overall operation stability of the system.
[0032] For details, please refer to Figure 7 The cable clamp and the platform are provided with a long slot hole 5-1 located on the same circumferential surface, and this circumferential surface is the positioning annular surface of the submarine cable system. Figure 8, the flexible limit unit includes a limit screw 6, a flexible spring 7 and a limit pressing block 8. The inner side of the limit pressing block forms a curved surface adapted to the outer side of the submarine cable system. The outer side of the limit pressing block is connected to the limit screw. The limit screw penetrates through the long slot hole and the outer end is installed with an end nut. The flexible spring is sleeved on the limit screw. The inner end of the flexible spring presses against the limit pressing block, and the outer end of the flexible spring presses against the inner side of the cable clamping hoop or the platform part of the cable holding platform. The flexible spring applies an elastic force to the limit pressing block towards the submarine cable system. By screwing the end nut of the limit screw, the pre-tightening force of the flexible spring can be adjusted. The rotatable end nut is used to adjust the axial compression degree of the limit spring, so as to realize the fine adjustment of the elastic adhesion force of the limit pressing block. This design enables the flexible limit unit to be quickly adapted to submarine cable systems of different models, different outer diameters and different sheath materials, improving the versatility and engineering applicability of the device. At the same time, it is also convenient for on-site adjustment during offshore installation or maintenance, significantly improving the construction efficiency and use flexibility.
[0033] The long slot hole structure also enables the limit screw to have a certain sliding space, and can realize fine adjustment positioning according to the slight eccentricity or swinging trend of the submarine cable, further improving the installation convenience and operation reliability.
[0034] The outer side of the limit pressing block is connected to N limit screws distributed radially. The inner side of the limit pressing block is custom processed into a matching curved surface according to the outer contour of the submarine cable system. It can not only achieve large-area fitting support, effectively reduce the sheath damage caused by local point pressing, but also form an annular equivalent support network structure under the action of the screws distributed radially at multiple points (N). Thus, when the submarine cable is stressed and swings, it can provide uniform radial support force, effectively avoiding stress concentration and enhancing the overall stability of the system under multi-directional loads.
[0035] The cable clamping hoop is provided with a U-shaped hoop part 5-2 and a bottom foot part 5-3. The bottom foot part is connected to the platform part of the cable holding platform through fasteners. The U-shaped hoop part and the platform part of the cable holding platform form a surrounding hoop structure penetrated by the submarine cable system. The bottom foot part is a threaded rod inserted into the long slot hole of the platform part, and a nut for locking the threaded rod is installed at the lower end of the threaded rod.
[0036] When the submarine cable system is subjected to periodic waves or tides, its swing or micro-displacement does not immediately cause a strong relative displacement between the pressure block and the submarine cable, but the dynamic stress absorption and slow release are completed through the slight sliding fit of the limit screw in the long slot hole and the axial compression of the flexible spring. This is equivalent to introducing a "flexible stress escape path" in the rigid limit system, thereby greatly reducing the wear impact and contact fatigue between the cable body and the limit surface, extending the life of the structure while protecting key components (such as the cable body sheath and bending limiter). The long slot hole structure gives each limit screw the freedom of micro-displacement in its axial direction, so that each limit pressure block can form an automatic equidistant fine-tuning distribution according to the actual position of the cable body during initial installation or operation. Even if there is a certain eccentricity in the cable body, the limit pressure block can still be distributed around it by "automatic positioning", thereby forming an approximately circularly symmetrical support system as a whole, improving the system's tolerance to eccentricity and eccentric load and the steady-state support effect, which is difficult to achieve with traditional rigid limit structures. The radial limit structure combined with the long slotted hole not only allows the installer to make initial pre-adjustments according to the actual cable diameter and position offset, but also enables the device to automatically release the position changes caused by the settlement, tension or relaxation of the submarine cable during long-term operation, avoiding structural damage or stress concentration caused by rigid clamping, thereby improving the working condition adaptability and long-term operation reliability of the equipment. Since the limit pressure block does not rely on a fixed position but is adjustable for positioning and can float slightly, the impact of the processing error and tolerance accumulation of the entire platform on the final use effect is greatly reduced. This not only improves the assembly tolerance of the structure, but also significantly reduces the requirements for precision processing of components, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and offshore installation difficulties, which is extremely valuable for large-scale engineering applications. If the force transmission of individual limit screws decreases due to impact loosening, spring fatigue, etc., its load can be automatically shared among other limit screws that are still within the elastic range, forming a structural behavior similar to a "flexible limit redundant network", enhancing the stability of the system against local failures, reducing maintenance frequency, and improving the long-term operation safety of the device.
[0037] The materials of the pile clamp, cable clamping platform, cable clamp, limiting screw and flexible spring of the flexible limiting unit are all 355D, which has good corrosion resistance and toughness. The material of the limiting pressure block in the flexible limiting unit is polyester material, which has good corrosion resistance and toughness.
[0038] Working principle of the present invention:
[0039] The submarine cable system of the bending limiter system is fixed on the offshore wind power pile. The upper end of the submarine cable system enters the offshore wind power pile, the lower end is buried below the seabed, and the middle suspended section is fixed by the fixing pile, forming a relatively stable stress structure, so that the submarine cable system under the action of violent wave currents will not be bent or worn and damaged due to violent swaying. At the same time, the submarine cable system is effectively fixed on the cable holding platform by the cable holding clamp, and the flexible limiting unit in the cable holding clamp is in a flexible connection relationship with the submarine cable system, so that the submarine cable system and the bending limiter can swing synchronously, effectively reducing the risk of collision and wear inside the submarine cable and the bending limiter. At the same time, the pile holding clamp and the cable holding platform can flexibly adjust the installation angle underwater, so that the submarine cable system and the bending limiter can achieve the optimal flexible fixing state with the fixing pile.
[0040] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, and improvements made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A flexible fixing device for an offshore wind power suspended section submarine cable and a steel pipe pile, comprising a submarine cable system and a fixing pile, characterized in that: It includes a pile-holding clamp, a cable-holding platform, a cable-holding clamp and a flexible limiting unit; the pile-holding clamp is fixed to the fixed pile and has a support shaft portion located on the side of the fixed pile; the cable-holding platform is installed on the support shaft through a clamp hole; the cable-holding clamp is installed on the cable-holding platform, the submarine cable system penetrates through the inner side of the cable-holding clamp, and N flexible limiting units which are circumferentially distributed and form a flexible support for the submarine cable system are installed on the inner side of the cable-holding clamp.
2. The flexible fixing device for the submarine cable in the suspended section of the offshore wind power and the steel pipe pile according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cable-holding platform includes a clamp portion and a platform portion. A locking member for locking the clamp portion is installed at the open end of the clamp portion, and the cable-holding clamp is installed on the platform portion.
3. The flexible fixing device for the submarine cable in the suspended section and the steel pipe pile of the offshore wind power according to claim 2, characterized in that: Long slot holes located on the same circumferential surface are provided on the cable-holding clamp and the platform portion; the flexible limiting unit includes a limiting screw, a flexible spring and a limiting block. A curved surface whose shape is adapted to the outer side surface of the submarine cable system is formed on the inner side surface of the limiting block. The outer side portion of the limiting block is connected to the limiting screw. The limiting screw penetrates through the long slot hole and a terminal nut is installed at the outer end. The flexible spring is sleeved on the limiting screw, and the flexible spring applies an elasticity to the limiting block to push it towards the submarine cable system.
4. The flexible fixing device for the submarine cable in the suspended section of the offshore wind farm and the steel pipe pile according to claim 3, characterized in that: The cable-holding clamp is provided with a U-shaped clamp portion and a bottom foot portion. The bottom foot portion is connected to the platform portion of the cable-holding platform through a fastener, and the U-shaped clamp portion and the platform portion of the cable-holding platform form a surrounding clamp structure through which the submarine cable system penetrates.
5. The flexible fixing device for the offshore wind power suspended section submarine cable and steel pipe pile according to claim 4, characterized in that: The bottom foot portion is a threaded rod inserted into the long slot hole of the platform portion, and a nut for locking the threaded rod is installed at the lower end of the threaded rod.
6. The flexible fixing device for the submarine cable in the suspended section of the offshore wind farm and the steel pipe pile according to claim 5, wherein: The outer side portion of the limiting block is connected to N limiting screws radially distributed in a radial manner.