Offshore wind turbine foundation

Abstract

The application provides a marine wind turbine foundation. The marine wind turbine foundation comprises a hinged component configured to be installed on a seabed surface; a main support component having a first end and a second end arranged oppositely along the height direction of the main support component, the first end being connected to the hinged component, and the second end being configured to support a wind turbine tower; the hinged component is configured to limit the displacement of the main support component and enable the main support component to have a rotational degree of freedom, and the main support component adopts a truss structure; and an auxiliary support component comprising a plurality of tension support members arranged at intervals around the main support component, one end of each of the tension support members being connected to the first end or the second end of the main support component, and the other end of each of the tension support members being configured to be connected to the seabed surface. The technical scheme of the application solves the problem of excessive movement of a semi-submersible floating wind turbine and the problem of excessively high cost of a fixed truss foundation under the condition of large water depth.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of offshore wind power generation technology, and more specifically, to an offshore wind turbine foundation. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, with the deepening of global efforts to address climate change and transform the energy structure, wind power, as an efficient, clean, and renewable energy source, has experienced rapid development worldwide. Offshore wind power, in particular, has become a key area of ​​development due to its advantages such as higher and more stable wind speeds and the fact that it does not compete with onshore resources. Currently, the development of offshore wind power is gradually extending from shallow waters to deep seas to obtain greater wind energy resources and higher power generation potential.

[0003] However, deep-sea areas are typically deep, making conventional fixed foundation structures inadequate for their construction needs. At depths exceeding 50 meters, fixed foundations such as monopiles, jacket foundations, and gravity foundations experience a significant increase in length and structural weight, leading to challenges in structural strength and stability, while also increasing construction costs and the difficulty of offshore operations. Therefore, the economic viability and feasibility of fixed foundations in deep-sea environments are severely limited, necessitating the development of new foundation types more adaptable to these conditions.

[0004] To address the above challenges, floating wind power foundations have emerged as a core solution applicable to water depths exceeding 50 meters, or even hundreds of meters. Currently, various types of floating foundations have been developed globally, including semi-submersible, tension leg platforms (TLP), and barge-type foundations. Among them, the semi-submersible structure, due to its stable buoyancy layout and relatively mature design, has become the most widely used type in current commercial demonstration projects of floating wind power. However, existing semi-submersible floating foundations still face many technical bottlenecks: (1) Limited platform motion control capabilities: Semi-submersible platforms mainly rely on ballast systems and flexible anchor chain systems to achieve attitude control. Under the coupling effects of wind, waves, and currents, the platform's pitch, roll, and heave responses are large, which can easily lead to tower fatigue, increased blade error loads, and cable damage, affecting the stability of wind turbine operation and power generation efficiency; (2) Large structure and high material consumption: To improve stability, semi-submersible foundations are usually designed as large-volume, multi-buoy, or ring-shaped structures, requiring a large amount of steel or concrete materials, resulting in high construction and transportation costs. Meanwhile, large-sized structures require the use of large cranes and towing vessels when deployed at sea, increasing installation costs and technical risks. (3) The mooring system occupies a large amount of marine resources: semi-submersible systems use flexible anchor chains to connect to the seabed, requiring a large mooring radius. Typically, the mooring range of a wind turbine can reach hundreds of meters. This not only increases the dependence on seabed space but also limits the density of wind turbines in the wind farm, which is not conducive to intensive development and subsequent maintenance and management.

[0005] Against this backdrop, many researchers have attempted to leverage the advantages of other structural forms to reduce the weight of floating platforms and improve their motion suppression capabilities. Among these, fixed truss structures have been widely used in offshore oil platforms and shallow-water wind turbines. Their lightweight configuration, high rigidity, and clearly defined stress paths make them a structural type with extremely high material utilization efficiency. They offer significant advantages, particularly in small-scale modular construction and prefabricated building. However, traditional truss structures require rigid insertion or pile foundations to connect to the seabed. Their height is linearly related to water depth, and their length increases rapidly with water depth, posing challenges in construction and transportation. Furthermore, rigid connections limit the platform's free response to wave action, easily creating high stress concentration zones and placing higher demands on structural durability.

[0006] In summary, in the existing technologies, the use of semi-submersible floating foundations can lead to excessive movement of the semi-submersible floating wind turbines, while the use of fixed truss foundations can result in excessively high costs under deep water boundary conditions. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The main objective of this invention is to provide an offshore wind turbine foundation that solves the problems of excessive movement of the semi-submersible floating wind turbine when using a semi-submersible floating foundation, and the excessive cost of using a fixed truss foundation under deep water boundary conditions.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides an offshore wind turbine foundation, comprising a hinged assembly configured to be installed on the seabed mud surface; a main support assembly having a first end and a second end disposed opposite to each other along the height direction of the main support assembly, the first end being connected to the hinged assembly, and the second end being used to support the wind turbine tower, the hinged assembly being constructed to limit the displacement of the main support assembly and to give the main support assembly rotational freedom, the main support assembly adopting a truss structure; and an auxiliary support assembly including a plurality of tension support members spaced apart around the main support assembly, one end of each tension support member being connected to the second end, and the other end of each tension support member being configured to be connected to the seabed mud surface.

[0009] Furthermore, the hinge assembly includes: a base with a ball socket on it, the base being disposed on the seabed mud surface; and a ball head member, the ball socket being used to accommodate the ball head member and rotatably engaging with it, the ball head member being connected to the first end.

[0010] Furthermore, the main support assembly includes a support column, a bottom connecting platform, a top connecting platform, and multiple truss support columns. The support column is connected to the hinge assembly to form a first end. The bottom connecting platform is set on the support column, and the wind turbine tower is provided on the top connecting platform to form a second end. The multiple truss support columns are spaced apart circumferentially along the support column. One end of each truss support column is connected to the top connecting platform, and the other end of each truss support column is connected to the bottom connecting platform.

[0011] Furthermore, at least one of the top connecting platform and the bottom connecting platform has a triangular orthographic projection on the cross-section of the supporting column, and there are three truss supporting columns, which are respectively set to correspond to the three vertices of the triangle.

[0012] Furthermore, the main support assembly also includes a bottom diagonal brace, which is inclined relative to the support column. One end of the bottom diagonal brace is connected to the bottom connecting platform, and the other end of the bottom diagonal brace is connected to the end of the support column away from the bottom connecting platform.

[0013] Furthermore, the angle between the bottom diagonal brace and the supporting column ranges from 30° to 60°.

[0014] Furthermore, the main support assembly also includes reinforcing members, with at least one reinforcing member provided between two adjacent truss support columns among the plurality of truss support columns.

[0015] Furthermore, there are multiple reinforcing members, which are arranged sequentially along the extension direction of the truss support column; and / or, the reinforcing member includes two diagonal bracing members, which are arranged crosswise, and the two ends of each diagonal bracing member are respectively connected to the adjacent truss support column.

[0016] Furthermore, the offshore wind turbine foundation also includes multiple floating damping components, which are spaced apart circumferentially along the main support assembly. The floating damping components are connected to the main support assembly and are closed cylindrical structures containing liquid.

[0017] Furthermore, 50% to 70% of the interior of the floating damper is filled with liquid.

[0018] Furthermore, the offshore wind turbine foundation also includes an attitude detection device installed inside the wind turbine tower to detect the attitude of the wind turbine tower; multiple tension adjustment devices, each corresponding to a multiple tension support member, to adjust the tension of the tension support member, which is mounted on the second end via the tension adjustment device; and multiple electrical signal receivers, each corresponding to a multiple tension adjustment device, which are connected to the tension adjustment device and electrically connected to the attitude detection device to control the tension of the multiple tension support members based on the attitude of the wind turbine tower detected by the attitude detection device.

[0019] Furthermore, the electrical signal receiver is installed inside the corresponding tension adjustment component. The offshore wind turbine foundation also includes multiple cable ducts and multiple cables that are installed one-to-one with the multiple cable ducts. The multiple cables are installed one-to-one with the multiple tension adjustment components. The cable ducts are located on the side of the second end away from the first end. One end of the cable duct is connected to the inside of the wind turbine tower, and the other end of the cable duct is connected to the inside of the tension adjustment component. The cables are run through the cable ducts and are used to electrically connect the electrical signal receiver and the attitude detection component.

[0020] Furthermore, the tension adjustment component includes a mounting bracket disposed at the second end; a support cylinder disposed on the mounting bracket; an adjustment cylinder movably disposed relative to the support cylinder, the adjustment cylinder being installed inside the support cylinder and threadedly engaged with the support cylinder, the end of the tension support component away from the seabed mud surface extending into the adjustment cylinder and axially limiting the engagement with the adjustment cylinder, the tension support component and the adjustment cylinder being rotatably engaged; and a drive component controlled and connected to an electrical signal receiver, the drive component being driven and connected to the adjustment cylinder to drive the adjustment cylinder to rotate.

[0021] Furthermore, there are two support cylinders, which are spaced apart along the extension direction of the tension support member. There are also two adjusting cylinders and two driving members, which are used to drive the two adjusting cylinders to rotate in the same direction or in opposite directions, respectively.

[0022] By employing the technical solution of this invention, and through the coordinated design of hinged components, main support components, and auxiliary support components, the problems of excessive movement in semi-submersible floating wind turbine foundations and excessive cost of fixed truss foundations in deep water conditions in existing technologies are effectively solved. Specifically, by setting a hinged component at the bottom of the main support component, the foundation can achieve a displacement-restricted hinged connection on the seabed. This design releases some of the rotational constraints, allowing the structure to respond to movement generated by waves and wind loads. Simultaneously, the constraint effect of multiple tension supports in the auxiliary support component restricts the displacement of the truss, achieving effective control of the structural attitude. The main support component adopts a truss structure, which, compared to traditional solid structures, has lower weight and higher stability, reducing material requirements and lowering manufacturing and transportation costs. Furthermore, the uniform distribution of multiple tension supports better disperses the load, not only reducing stress concentration on individual tension supports and enhancing the reliability and stability of the system, but also reducing the load borne by the main support component. This eliminates the need to insert the main support component too deeply into the seabed mud, reducing its height, material requirements, and manufacturing and transportation costs. Therefore, the technical solution of this application can avoid excessive movement of the offshore wind turbine foundation to maintain its stability, while avoiding the problem of excessive engineering volume and cost caused by deep foundation construction required in fixed foundations, thereby effectively reducing construction costs. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. In the drawings:

[0024] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the offshore wind turbine foundation of the present invention is shown;

[0025] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A top view of the offshore wind turbine foundation;

[0026] Figure 3 It shows Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the hinge assembly;

[0027] Figure 4 It shows Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing the connection between the tension adjustment component and the tension support component;

[0028] Figure 5 It shows Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of the tension adjustment component.

[0029] The above figures include the following reference numerals:

[0030] 10. Wind turbine tower; 20. Tension support; 30. Base; 40. Ball joint component; 50. Support column; 51. Bottom connecting platform; 52. Top connecting platform; 53. Truss support column; 54. Bottom diagonal brace; 55. Reinforcing component; 60. Floating damping component; 71. Cable; 72. Cable duct; 80. Electrical signal receiver; 81. Mounting bracket; 82. Support cylinder; 83. Adjusting cylinder. Detailed Implementation

[0031] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0032] like Figures 1 to 5As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides an offshore wind turbine foundation, including a hinged assembly configured to be installed on the seabed mud surface; a main support assembly having a first end and a second end disposed opposite to each other along the height direction of the main support assembly, the first end being connected to the hinged assembly, and the second end being used to support the wind turbine tower 10, the hinged assembly being constructed to limit the displacement of the main support assembly and give the main support assembly rotational freedom, the main support assembly adopting a truss structure; and an auxiliary support assembly including a plurality of tension support members 20 spaced apart around the main support assembly, one end of the tension support member 20 being connected to the second end, and the other end of the tension support member 20 being configured to be connected to the seabed mud surface.

[0033] The aforementioned technical solution effectively solves the problems of excessive movement in semi-submersible floating wind turbine foundations and high costs of fixed truss foundations in deep water conditions by employing a coordinated design of hinged components, main support components, and auxiliary support components. Specifically, by setting hinged components at the bottom of the main support components, the foundation can achieve a displacement-restricted hinged connection on the seabed. This design releases some of the rotational freedom constraints, allowing the structure to respond to wave and wind loads. Simultaneously, the constraint effect of multiple tension supports 20 in the auxiliary support components limits the truss displacement, achieving effective control of the structural attitude. The main support components adopt a truss structure, which, compared to traditional solid structures, has lower weight and higher stability, reducing material requirements and lowering manufacturing and transportation costs. Furthermore, the uniform distribution of multiple tension support members 20 better disperses the load, reducing stress concentration on individual tension support members 20, enhancing the system's reliability and stability, and also reducing the load borne by the main support assembly. This eliminates the need to insert the main support assembly too deeply into the seabed mud, thus reducing its height, material requirements, and manufacturing and transportation costs. Therefore, the technical solution of this application avoids excessive movement of the offshore wind turbine foundation to maintain its stability, while also avoiding the problem of excessive engineering work and costs associated with deep foundation construction in fixed foundations, thereby effectively reducing construction costs.

[0034] It should be noted that the present invention provides a semi-fixed truss wind turbine foundation, which not only achieves better stability and motion performance by reducing the wave load on the foundation, but also allows the tower weight to be similar to that of a fixed single tower due to the smaller tower load, thereby reducing the cost of the foundation structure.

[0035] It should be noted that the wind turbine tower 10 is installed at the center of the top connecting platform.

[0036] It should be noted that the support column 50 bears all longitudinal loads for the offshore wind turbine foundation.

[0037] It should be noted that the multi-directional constraint effect of multiple tension support members 20 restricts the displacement of the main support component, thereby achieving the goal of maintaining stability of the main support component when subjected to large wave loads.

[0038] It should be noted that the aforementioned tension support 20 specifically refers to a cable. One tension support 20 consists of two cables, one end of which is fixedly connected to the seabed mud layer through a pre-embedded part. Multiple sets of tension support 20 are evenly arranged around the vertical axis of the main support component. Of course, the arrangement can also be adapted according to the actual geological conditions, ocean current direction, and water flow intensity on site. For example, one tension support 20 can also consist of one cable, or multiple sets of tension support 20 in different directions can be set to further reduce construction costs while ensuring load-bearing capacity.

[0039] like Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the hinge assembly includes: a base 30 with a ball socket, the base 30 being disposed on the seabed mud surface; and a ball head member 40, the ball socket being used to accommodate the ball head member 40 and rotatably engaging with the ball head member 40, the ball head member 40 being connected to the first end.

[0040] In the above technical solution, by setting up the cooperation between the ball socket and the ball head component 40, and connecting the first end of the main support component to the ball head component 40, the main support component is restricted in the horizontal direction of displacement, but the degree of freedom in the rotation direction of the main support component is released. This reduces the load dependence of the main support component on the seabed mud layer. Moreover, through the cooperation between the ball socket and the ball head component 40, the main support component is allowed to generate adaptive rotation within a certain range when subjected to lateral loads, improving the stability and adaptability of the main support component to lateral loads. At the same time, compared with the fixed connection, the hinged component composed of the ball socket and the ball head component 40 does not need to be inserted into the seabed mud surface as deeply, which is lower in cost and easier to construct. Through the constraint of multiple sets of cables in the auxiliary support component, the rotation of the main support component is restricted, thereby achieving the goal of maintaining the stability of the main support component under large wave loads. Therefore, it not only reduces the stress concentration at the connection between the structure and the seabed mud layer, but also enables the auxiliary support component to more effectively bear and distribute lateral loads, ensuring the safety and reliability of the entire structure in the marine environment.

[0041] It should be noted that the base 30 is fixedly connected to the seabed mud layer by pre-embedded seabed anchor piles to ensure the stability of the base 30. A limiting structure is provided between the ball head component 40 and the ball socket to prevent the ball head component 40 from detaching from the ball socket.

[0042] In one embodiment, the hinge assembly may be a ball joint.

[0043] like Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the main support assembly includes a support column 50, a bottom connecting platform 51, a top connecting platform 52, and multiple truss support columns 53. The support column 50 is connected to a hinged assembly to form a first end. The bottom connecting platform 51 is mounted on the support column 50, and the top connecting platform 52 is provided with a wind turbine tower 10 to form a second end. The multiple truss support columns 53 are spaced apart circumferentially along the support column 50. One end of each truss support column 53 is connected to the top connecting platform 52, and the other end of each truss support column 53 is connected to the bottom connecting platform 51.

[0044] In the above technical solution, one end of the truss support column 53 is connected to the support column 50 by the bottom connecting platform 51, and the other end of the truss support column 53 is connected to the wind turbine tower 10 by the top connecting platform 52, so as to form a complete vertical support structure for the wind turbine tower 10, which constitutes a stable truss structure foundation to achieve effective support for the wind turbine.

[0045] In one embodiment, the stability and motion performance of the structure can be further optimized by adjusting parameters such as the number, angle, and material properties of the truss support columns 53, so as to adapt to the needs of different marine environments and the specifications of the wind turbine tower 10.

[0046] It should be noted that the supporting column 50 is preferably made of steel with a diameter of 8 meters and a wall thickness of 0.08 meters.

[0047] like Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, at least one of the top connecting platform 52 and the bottom connecting platform 51 projects as a triangle on the cross-section of the supporting column 50, and there are three truss supporting columns 53, which are respectively arranged corresponding to the three vertices of the triangle. This triangular layout significantly enhances the stability of the entire structure and its resistance to lateral loads. By evenly distributing the structural load across the three support points, it not only reduces stress concentration at individual support points but also improves the overall stiffness and stability of the structure.

[0048] It should be noted that both the top connecting platform 52 and the bottom connecting platform 51 preferably adopt an equilateral triangular structure, and three truss support columns 53 are preferably used. The three truss support columns 53 are used to connect the three vertices of the bottom connecting platform 51 and the three vertices of the top connecting platform 52, respectively, to form a uniform bearing effect. Of course, in other embodiments, the bottom connecting platform 51 and the top connecting platform 52 can also adopt structures with other cross-sectional shapes, and several truss support columns 53 can be used, as long as the truss support columns 53 can be evenly arranged along the circumference on the bottom connecting platform 51. Alternatively, according to the outer diameter requirements of the wind turbine tower 10, the size of the top connecting platform 52 and the spacing between the truss support columns 53 and the outer diameter of the truss support columns 53 can be increased to meet the strength requirements of the main support components.

[0049] like Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the main support assembly further includes a bottom diagonal brace 54, which is inclined relative to the support column 50. One end of the bottom diagonal brace 54 is connected to the bottom connecting platform 51, and the other end is connected to the end of the support column 50 away from the bottom connecting platform 51. This further enhances the connection stability between the support column 50 and the bottom connecting platform 51. Even with the hinged connection below the support column 50, the support column 50 maintains a reliable connection strength with the bottom connecting platform 51 despite rotation, thus strengthening the load-bearing capacity of the main support assembly.

[0050] It should be noted that the main support component includes multiple bottom diagonal bracing members 54, which are evenly arranged around the circumference of the support column 50. Preferably, there are three bottom diagonal bracing members 54. One end of each of the three bottom diagonal bracing members 54 is connected to the three vertices of the triangle of the bottom connecting platform 51, and the other end of each of the three bottom diagonal bracing members 54 is connected to the outer peripheral sidewall of the support column 50 to form a stable double triangle layout.

[0051] like Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the included angle between the bottom diagonal brace 54 and the support column 50 ranges from 30° to 60°. Thus, when the included angle is within this range, the bottom diagonal brace 54 can effectively disperse the lateral loads caused by external factors such as waves and wind. Through the reasonable angle design between the bottom diagonal brace 54 and the support column 50, effective control of structural movement is achieved, reducing fatigue damage to the main support components.

[0052] Specifically, the angle between the bottom diagonal brace 54 and the support column 50 is preferably 30°.

[0053] like Figure 1 and Figure 3As shown, in some embodiments, the main support assembly further includes a reinforcing member 55, and at least one reinforcing member 55 is provided between two adjacent truss support columns 53. In this way, the multiple truss support columns 53 can be interconnected to form a complete load-bearing structure, while strengthening the structural strength of the truss support columns 53.

[0054] like Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, there are multiple reinforcing members 55, which are arranged sequentially along the extension direction of the truss support column 53; and / or, each reinforcing member 55 includes two diagonal braces, which are arranged crosswise, with both ends of each diagonal brace connected to the adjacent truss support column 53. In this way, the crosswise arrangement of the two diagonal braces forms an X-shaped structure, providing better stability and shear resistance to the main support assembly. Simultaneously, this truss structure eliminates the need for an integral steel support structure, reducing steel consumption while ensuring stability and effectively lowering construction costs.

[0055] like Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, the offshore wind turbine foundation also includes multiple floating damping elements 60, which are spaced apart circumferentially along the main support assembly. The floating damping elements 60 are connected to the main support assembly and are closed cylindrical structures containing liquid.

[0056] In the above technical solution, floating damping elements 60 are distributed circumferentially along the main support assembly and connected to the truss support columns 53. In this way, under wave action, the main support assembly can quickly reduce the lateral movement of the structure through the sloshing effect of the liquid inside the floating damping elements 60, thus playing a damping role, effectively suppressing large-amplitude structural movements, reducing the fatigue load on the wind turbine tower 10, and improving the overall system stability. Due to the installation of the floating damping elements 60, the main support assembly's resistance to wave loads is enhanced, and its lightweight design helps reduce the weight and construction cost of the entire foundation.

[0057] In other embodiments, the number and distribution of the floating damping elements 60 can be adjusted according to the wave characteristics of the specific sea area and the stability requirements of the main support components to achieve the best damping effect and economic balance.

[0058] In some embodiments, the interior of the floating damper 60 is filled with liquid to 50% to 70%. This allows the floating damper 60 to contain a certain amount of gas, enabling it to assist the truss support column 53 in bearing pressure in the seabed environment, and to provide some support to the truss support column 53 using the buoyancy of the water. At the same time, the floating damper 60 contains a certain amount of liquid to form a damping effect.

[0059] In some embodiments, the floating damping element 60 is a damping float, which is fixed to the truss support column 53 by welding or other fixing methods.

[0060] In some embodiments, the supporting column 50, the truss supporting column 53, the bottom diagonal brace, and all other members are cylindrical steel members. The inner and outer diameters of each member are consistent across all cross-sections. Due to the open central section characteristic of the truss structure, it experiences less wave load compared to a monopile foundation.

[0061] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, the offshore wind turbine foundation further includes: an attitude detection device disposed inside the wind turbine tower 10, used to detect the attitude of the wind turbine tower 10; multiple tension adjustment devices, each corresponding to a multiple tension support 20, used to adjust the tension of the tension support 20, the tension support 20 being mounted on a second end via the tension adjustment devices; and multiple electrical signal receivers 80, each corresponding to a multiple tension adjustment device, the electrical signal receivers 80 being controlled and connected to the tension adjustment devices, and all multiple electrical signal receivers 80 being electrically connected to the attitude detection device to control the tension of the multiple tension support 20 according to the attitude of the wind turbine tower 10 detected by the attitude detection device.

[0062] In the above technical solution, the attitude detection device can effectively detect the attitude state of the wind turbine tower 10, and transmit the attitude data of the wind turbine tower 10 to the electrical signal receiver 80. The electrical signal receiver 80 then controls the tension adjustment device to adjust the tension of the tension support 20. The tension support 20 controls the attitude of the main support assembly through changes in its own tension. This linkage control system can automatically adjust the tension of the tension support 20 according to the actual attitude of the wind turbine tower 10, realizing real-time optimization of the dynamic attitude of the offshore wind turbine foundation, thereby improving the stability of the offshore wind turbine foundation operation. In the face of complex sea conditions, it can effectively reduce the vibration and stress concentration of the main support assembly and extend the structural life.

[0063] It should be noted that the aforementioned attitude detection device specifically refers to a displacement sensor or attitude sensor. After sensing the displacement of the wind turbine tower 10, the displacement sensor or attitude sensor summarizes the displacement data and transmits it to the electrical signal receiver 80 in the form of an electrical signal. The electrical signal receiver 80 outputs an adjustment command to the tension adjustment device in real time based on the data, thereby adjusting the tension of the tension support 20.

[0064] Specifically, the electrical signal receiver 80 uses a single-chip microcomputer to perform logic control on the tension adjustment component.

[0065] Limited by the influence of underwater electromagnetic environment factors, such as Figure 4As shown, in some embodiments, the electrical signal receiver 80 is disposed within the corresponding tension adjustment component. The offshore wind turbine foundation also includes multiple cable conduits 72 and multiple cables 71 that are disposed one-to-one with the multiple cable conduits 72. The multiple cables 71 are disposed one-to-one with the multiple tension adjustment components. The cable conduits 72 are disposed on the side of the second end away from the first end. One end of the cable conduits 72 is connected to the interior of the wind turbine tower 10, and the other end of the cable conduits 72 is connected to the interior of the tension adjustment component. The cables 71 are passed through the cable conduits 72 and are used to electrically connect the electrical signal receiver 80 and the attitude detection component. In this way, the cable conduit 72 and the cable 71 running through the cable conduit 72 enable a wired connection between the attitude detection device and the electrical signal receiver 80, preventing wireless signal delays or disconnections that may occur in complex seabed environments. Furthermore, the wired connection allows the electrical signal receiver 80 to have a faster response speed, enabling it to transmit commands to the tension adjustment device in real time after the attitude detection device detects the displacement of the wind turbine tower 10. The tension adjustment device then quickly adjusts the tension support 20.

[0066] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, the tension adjustment component includes: a mounting bracket 81 disposed at the second end; a support cylinder 82 disposed on the mounting bracket 81; an adjustment cylinder 83 movably disposed relative to the support cylinder 82, the adjustment cylinder 83 being installed inside the support cylinder 82 and threadedly engaged with the support cylinder 82, one end of the tension support member 20 away from the seabed mud surface extending into the adjustment cylinder 83 and axially limiting the engagement with the adjustment cylinder 83, the tension support member 20 being rotatably engaged with the adjustment cylinder 83; and a drive member controlled and connected to the electrical signal receiver 80, the drive member being driven and connected to the adjustment cylinder 83 to drive the adjustment cylinder 83 to rotate.

[0067] In the above technical solution, after receiving the instruction from the electrical signal receiver 80, the driving component is driven to connect with the regulating cylinder 83, driving the regulating cylinder 83 to rotate, thereby moving the regulating cylinder 83 relative to the support cylinder 82, thereby changing the tension state of the tension support 20 from the tension force regulating component to the seabed mud surface, realizing the effective adjustment of the cable tension. Thus, the attitude of the wind turbine tower 10 can be adjusted by changing the cable tension, ensuring the maintenance of the safe attitude of the structure, thereby greatly improving the overall efficiency and economy of the wind power system.

[0068] It should be noted that the support cylinder 82 and the adjusting cylinder 83 are connected by threads. Due to the fixed connection between the support cylinder 82 and the mounting bracket 81, when the adjusting cylinder 83 rotates, the adjusting cylinder 83 will be displaced along the axial direction of the support cylinder 82, thereby causing the cable to change its tension. The cable is provided with a snap ring, and the cable is axially limited by the snap ring and the adjusting cylinder 83. The snap ring is also rotatably connected to the adjusting cylinder 83, so that when the adjusting cylinder 83 rotates, it cannot drive the snap ring to rotate synchronously with the cable. When the adjusting cylinder 83 is displaced along the axial direction of the support cylinder 82, it can drive the snap ring and the cable to move synchronously, thereby changing the cable tension.

[0069] Specifically, the axial limiting fit can be achieved by using a slot-type limiting form, or by using a bearing installed inside the adjusting cylinder 83, with the inner shaft of the bearing fixedly connected to the retaining ring. This application does not limit the form of the axial limiting fit.

[0070] like Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, there are two support cylinders 82, which are spaced apart along the extension direction of the tension support member 20. There are also two adjusting cylinders 83 and two driving members, which are used to drive the two adjusting cylinders 83 to rotate in the same direction or in opposite directions, respectively. In this way, the two driving members can drive the two adjusting cylinders 83 to rotate simultaneously, causing the two adjusting cylinders 83 to move closer or further apart, thereby changing the tension of the cable.

[0071] It should be noted that a single driving component can simultaneously drive both adjusting cylinders 83 to rotate, with the threaded connections between the two adjusting cylinders 83 and the support cylinder 82 set in opposite directions, achieving the same effect. Alternatively, one adjusting cylinder 83 can be fixed while the other rotating to move closer to or further away from the fixed adjusting cylinder 83 to adjust the cable tension. The maximum adjustment range of the cable can be designed with different specifications according to requirements.

[0072] In one embodiment, the driving element may be a servo motor.

[0073] In one embodiment, the tension adjustment element may be a cable tensioning device.

[0074] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0075] The offshore wind turbine foundation of this invention adopts an all-steel structure, can be modularly produced, and is easy to install and manufacture.

[0076] The offshore wind turbine foundation of this invention features a hinged connection between the supporting column 50 and the seabed mud layer. Compared to a fixed foundation, this design releases some of the constrained degrees of freedom, and further constrains are applied through auxiliary support components, allowing some of the load to be borne by the auxiliary support components, thereby reducing foundation construction costs.

[0077] The auxiliary support component of the offshore wind turbine foundation of the present invention consists of several cables evenly distributed in a circular shape. Multiple cables can better constrain the movement of the wind turbine tower 10, reduce the tension on a single cable, and thus reduce the difficulty of selecting cable materials.

[0078] The truss support columns 53 of the offshore wind turbine foundation of the present invention are connected by thinner diagonal bracing members, which are multiple "X" shaped, to provide better stability and shear resistance for the structure. The offshore wind turbine foundation adopts a truss structure as a whole, which can reduce the amount of steel used.

[0079] As can be seen from the above description, the embodiments of the present invention achieve the following technical effects: By employing a coordinated design of hinged components, main support components, and auxiliary support components, the problems of excessive movement in semi-submersible floating wind turbine foundations and excessively high costs of fixed truss foundations under deep water conditions in the prior art are effectively solved. Specifically, by setting hinged components at the bottom of the main support components, the foundation can achieve a displacement-restricted hinged connection on the seabed. This design releases some of the rotational constraints, allowing the structure to respond to movement generated by waves and wind loads. Simultaneously, the constraint effect of multiple tension supports in the auxiliary support components restricts the displacement of the truss, achieving effective control of the structural attitude. The main support components adopt a truss structure, which, compared to traditional solid structures, has lower weight and higher stability, reducing material requirements and lowering manufacturing and transportation costs. Furthermore, the uniform distribution of multiple tension supports better disperses the load, reducing stress concentration on individual supports, enhancing system reliability and stability, and decreasing the load on the main support assembly. This eliminates the need to insert the main support assembly too deeply into the seabed mud, reducing its height, material requirements, and manufacturing and transportation costs. Therefore, the technical solution of this application avoids excessive movement of the offshore wind turbine foundation to maintain its stability, while also avoiding the problem of excessive engineering work and costs associated with deep foundation construction in fixed foundations, thus effectively reducing construction costs.

[0080] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A type of offshore wind turbine foundation, characterized in that, include: The articulated assembly is configured to be mounted on the muddy surface of the seabed; The main support assembly has a first end and a second end arranged opposite to each other along the height direction of the main support assembly. The first end is connected to the hinge assembly, and the second end is used to support the wind turbine tower (10). The hinge assembly is configured to limit the displacement of the main support assembly and give the main support assembly a rotational degree of freedom. The main support assembly adopts a truss structure. The auxiliary support assembly includes a plurality of tension support members (20) spaced apart around the main support assembly, one end of each tension support member (20) being connected to the second end, and the other end of each tension support member (20) being configured to be connected to the seabed mud surface.

2. The offshore wind turbine foundation according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hinge assembly includes: A base (30) is provided with a ball socket, and the base (30) is disposed on the muddy surface of the seabed; A ball head component (40) is provided, and the ball socket is used to accommodate the ball head component (40) and rotates with the ball head component (40). The ball head component (40) is connected to the first end.

3. The offshore wind turbine foundation according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main support assembly includes a support column (50), a bottom connecting platform (51), a top connecting platform (52), and a plurality of truss support columns (53). The support column (50) is connected to the hinge assembly to form the first end. The bottom connecting platform (51) is disposed on the support column (50). The wind turbine tower (10) is disposed on the top connecting platform (52) to form the second end. The plurality of truss support columns (53) are spaced apart circumferentially along the support column (50). One end of each truss support column (53) is connected to the top connecting platform (52), and the other end of each truss support column (53) is connected to the bottom connecting platform (51).

4. The offshore wind turbine foundation according to claim 3, characterized in that, At least one of the top connecting platform (52) and the bottom connecting platform (51) is projected as a triangle on the cross section of the support column (50), and there are three truss support columns (53), which are respectively set to correspond to the three vertices of the triangle.

5. The offshore wind turbine foundation according to claim 3, characterized in that, The main support assembly also includes a bottom diagonal brace (54), which is inclined relative to the support column (50). One end of the bottom diagonal brace (54) is connected to the bottom connecting platform (51), and the other end of the bottom diagonal brace (54) is connected to the end of the support column (50) away from the bottom connecting platform (51).

6. The offshore wind turbine foundation according to claim 5, characterized in that, The included angle between the bottom diagonal brace (54) and the support column (50) is between 30° and 60°.

7. The offshore wind turbine foundation according to claim 3, characterized in that, The main support assembly also includes a reinforcing member (55), and at least one reinforcing member (55) is provided between two adjacent truss support columns (53) of the plurality of truss support columns (53).

8. The offshore wind turbine foundation according to claim 7, characterized in that, There are multiple reinforcing members (55), and the multiple reinforcing members (55) are arranged sequentially along the extension direction of the truss support column (53); and / or, The reinforcing member (55) includes two diagonal bracing members, which are arranged crosswise, and the two ends of each diagonal bracing member are respectively connected to the adjacent truss support column (53).

9. The offshore wind turbine foundation according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The offshore wind turbine foundation also includes multiple floating damping elements (60), which are spaced apart circumferentially along the main support assembly. The floating damping elements (60) are connected to the main support assembly. The floating damping elements (60) are closed cylindrical structures and contain liquid.

10. The offshore wind turbine foundation according to claim 9, characterized in that, The liquid fills 50% to 70% of the interior of the floating damper (60).

11. The offshore wind turbine foundation according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The offshore wind turbine foundation also includes: An attitude detection device is installed inside the wind turbine tower (10) and is used to detect the attitude of the wind turbine tower (10). Multiple tension adjustment components are provided one-to-one with multiple tension support components (20). The tension adjustment components are used to adjust the tension of the tension support component (20). The tension support component (20) is installed on the second end through the tension adjustment components. Multiple electrical signal receivers (80) are configured one-to-one with multiple tension adjustment components. The electrical signal receivers (80) are controlled to be connected to the tension adjustment components. All of the multiple electrical signal receivers (80) are electrically connected to the attitude detection component to control the tension of the multiple tension support components (20) according to the attitude of the wind turbine tower (10) detected by the attitude detection component.

12. The offshore wind turbine foundation according to claim 11, characterized in that, The electrical signal receiver (80) is installed in the corresponding tension adjustment component. The offshore wind turbine foundation also includes multiple cable ducts (72) and multiple cables (71) that are arranged one-to-one with the multiple cable ducts (72). The multiple cables (71) are arranged one-to-one with the multiple tension adjustment components. The cable ducts (72) are located on the side of the second end away from the first end. One end of the cable ducts (72) is connected to the interior of the wind turbine tower (10). The other end of the cable ducts (72) is connected to the interior of the tension adjustment component. The cables (71) pass through the cable ducts (72) and are used to electrically connect the electrical signal receiver (80) and the attitude detection component.

13. The offshore wind turbine foundation according to claim 11, characterized in that, The tension adjusting component includes: Mounting bracket (81) is disposed at the second end; A support cylinder (82) is provided on the mounting bracket (81); An adjusting cylinder (83) is movably disposed relative to the supporting cylinder (82). The adjusting cylinder (83) is installed inside the supporting cylinder (82) and threadedly engaged with the supporting cylinder (82). One end of the tension support member (20) away from the seabed mud surface extends into the adjusting cylinder (83) and is axially limited to the adjusting cylinder (83). The tension support member (20) is rotatably engaged with the adjusting cylinder (83). The driving component is controlled and connected to the electrical signal receiver (80), and the driving component is driven and connected to the regulating cylinder (83) to drive the regulating cylinder (83) to rotate.

14. The offshore wind turbine foundation according to claim 13, characterized in that, There are two support cylinders (82), which are spaced apart along the extension direction of the tension support (20). There are two adjustment cylinders (83) and two driving components. The two driving components are used to drive the two adjustment cylinders (83) to rotate in the same direction or in opposite directions, respectively.

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