Split type suction pile anchoring foundation
By setting up a floating box structure and a skirt structure on top of the suction pile, increasing its self-weight and utilizing counterweights, the problem of insufficient penetration depth of traditional suction piles in sandy soil is solved, achieving deeper penetration and wider applicability, and reducing dependence on large marine engineering equipment.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202520130142.3
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-20
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-30
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-01-20
AI Technical Summary
Traditional suction piles cannot penetrate the soil to sufficient depth under their own weight, and cannot form a sufficient closed space and pressure difference between the inside and outside in sandy soil, thus limiting their application range.
It adopts a split design, which increases its self-weight by setting a floating box structure and a skirt structure on the top of the suction pile, and uses counterweights such as iron ore sand, combined with a ballast system to achieve separable and recyclable counterweights, avoiding permanent support of the counterweights, and uses tugboats and a ballast system for installation.
It improves the penetration depth and applicability of suction piles in soil, reduces reliance on large marine engineering equipment, and enhances economic efficiency and soil adaptability.
Smart Images
Figure CN223738610U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of marine engineering technology, specifically to a split-type suction pile anchoring foundation. Background Technology
[0002] Suction pile anchor foundations are widely used in marine engineering to provide anchor foundations for the positioning of marine engineering structures. Their structure is a steel cylindrical structure, closed at the top and open at the bottom. Under the weight of the anchor foundation, the barrel wall penetrates into the seabed soil, forming a closed space. Then, a pump pumps out the liquid from this closed space, creating a pressure difference between the closed space and the outside, which further drives the barrel wall deeper into the seabed soil.
[0003] For a given traditional suction pile, its penetration depth into the soil under its own weight depends on the soil conditions. Simultaneously, the magnitude of the internal and external pressure difference that the closed space formed by the pile wall and the soil can withstand depends on the pile penetration depth and soil conditions. Therefore, traditional suction piles and installation methods suffer from insufficient penetration depth due to the pile's own weight, failing to form a closed space, or the external pressure generated by the pressure difference within the formed closed space is insufficient to allow the pile wall to penetrate to the designed depth. The increased weight of traditional suction piles is limited by their structural design and the crane capacity for offshore installation, restricting the suitable soil conditions for their application. Generally, traditional suction piles and installation methods are more suitable for cohesive soils and less suitable for sandy soils, thus limiting their application range. Utility Model Content
[0004] The purpose of this utility model is to provide a split suction pile anchoring foundation in order to solve at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems.
[0005] This utility model embodiment provides a split-type suction pile anchoring foundation, including: a suction pile structure and a pontoon structure; the pontoon structure is disposed on top of the suction pile structure; wherein, the sidewalls of the suction pile structure are provided with a skirt structure and an ear plate structure; the ear plate structure is used to connect mooring cables or mooring chains; a drainage pipeline is provided through the top of the suction pile structure, one end of the drainage pipeline is connected to the interior of the suction pile structure, and the other end of the drainage pipeline is connected to a water pump; the interior of the pontoon structure is provided with a counterweight chamber and a ballast chamber, the counterweight chamber is filled with counterweights, and the ballast chamber is provided with a ballast discharge system; the bottom of the pontoon structure is provided with a support leg structure, and the pontoon structure is pressed onto the skirt structure through the support leg structure; the outer sidewall of the pontoon structure is provided with a first eye plate, the first eye plate being used to connect mooring cables or mooring chains.
[0006] Furthermore, the suction pile structure is a cylindrical structure that is closed at the top and open at the bottom.
[0007] Furthermore, a second eye plate is provided at the top of the suction pile structure, which is used to connect the suspension cable.
[0008] Furthermore, there are multiple skirt structures and multiple leg structures, and the multiple skirt structures are evenly or unevenly distributed along the outer circumference of the outer wall of the suction pile structure; the distribution of the multiple leg structures at the bottom of the pontoon structure corresponds to the distribution of the multiple skirt structures.
[0009] Furthermore, the counterweight includes iron ore sand.
[0010] Furthermore, both the suction pile structure and the floating box structure are made of steel.
[0011] Furthermore, the number of the first eye plates is at least three, and the first eye plates are evenly or unevenly distributed along the outer circumferential wall of the float structure.
[0012] Furthermore, the ballast discharge system includes pipelines, a sea valve, a vent pipe, and a check valve; wherein, the vent pipe is installed through the top of the ballast tank, and a vent pipe valve is installed at the top of the vent pipe; the vent pipe is used to connect the inside and outside of the ballast tank; the sea valve and the check valve are both installed on the side wall of the ballast tank; the pipeline is installed inside the ballast tank and connected to the sea valve.
[0013] This invention provides a split-type suction pile anchor foundation. A counterweight is added to the suction pile foundation to increase its self-weight, thereby increasing the depth of penetration into the soil and improving its adaptability to different soil types. The design employs a floating box structure and a skirt structure, enabling the counterweight and the suction pile anchor foundation to be separable and recyclable, avoiding the need for a permanent support structure. During installation, the floating box structure can be slowly lowered to the installation position using a tugboat limiting and ballast system, eliminating the need for large marine engineering equipment such as floating cranes, thus improving economic efficiency. This invention alleviates the technical problem of traditional suction pile anchor foundations, which are limited by their own weight in sandy soils and other soil conditions, resulting in insufficient penetration depth and the inability to generate a sufficient pressure difference between the closed space formed by the cylinder wall and the soil outside the cylinder wall to achieve the preset installation depth and design tensile and pull-out strength. Attached Figure Description
[0014] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.
[0015] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a split-type suction pile anchorage foundation provided for an embodiment of this utility model;
[0016] Figure 2 A side view of a suction pile structure provided for an embodiment of this utility model;
[0017] Figure 3 A side view of a pontoon structure provided for an embodiment of this utility model;
[0018] Figure 4 A top view of a suction pile structure provided for an embodiment of this utility model;
[0019] Figure 5 A bottom top view of a pontoon structure provided for an embodiment of this utility model;
[0020] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for controlling the pontoon structure at sea via a first eye plate, as provided in an embodiment of this utility model.
[0021] In the diagram: 1. Suction pile structure, 2. Floating box structure, 3. Skirt structure, 4. Ear plate structure, 5. Drainage pipeline, 6. Water pump, 7. Counterweight tank, 8. Ballast tank, 81. First ballast tank, 82. Second ballast tank, 9. Outrigger structure, 10. First eye plate, 11. Second eye plate, 12. Pipeline, 13. Sea valve, 14. Vent pipe, 15. Check valve, 16. Tugboat, 17. External pipeline. Detailed Implementation
[0022] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.
[0023] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of a split-type suction pile anchorage foundation provided according to an embodiment of this utility model. Figure 1 As shown, it includes: a suction pile structure 1 and a floating box structure 2. The floating box structure 2 is located on top of the suction pile structure 1.
[0024] Figure 2 This is a side view of a suction pile structure provided according to an embodiment of the present utility model. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the sidewall of the suction pile structure 1 is provided with a skirt structure 3 and an ear plate structure 4; the ear plate structure 4 is used to connect the mooring cable or mooring chain.
[0025] A drainage pipe 5 is installed through the top of the suction pile structure 1. One end of the drainage pipe 5 is connected to the interior of the suction pile structure 1, and the other end of the drainage pipe 5 is connected to a water pump 6.
[0026] Specifically, a flange is provided at the top port of the drainage pipeline 5 for connecting the water pump 6 via the external pipeline 17. One end of the external pipeline 17 is detachably connected to the drainage pipeline 5 via the flange, and the other end of the external pipeline 17 is connected to the water pump 6.
[0027] Specifically, the water pump 6 is used to pump seawater out of the sealed space between the suction pile structure 1 and the seabed soil through the external pipeline 17 and the drainage pipeline 5, so as to create a pressure difference between the inside and outside, thereby increasing the depth of the suction pile structure 1 penetrating the seabed soil.
[0028] In this embodiment of the invention, the suction pile structure 1 is a cylindrical structure that is closed at the top and open at the bottom. For example, the suction pile structure 1 can be a square cylindrical structure, a cylindrical structure, or a cylindrical structure of other shapes. Preferably, the suction pile structure 1 is a cylindrical structure.
[0029] Figure 3 This is a side view of a floating box structure provided according to an embodiment of the present utility model. Figure 3 As shown, the interior of the pontoon structure 2 is equipped with a counterweight compartment 7 and a ballast compartment 8. The counterweight compartment 7 is filled with counterweights, and the ballast compartment 8 is equipped with a ballast discharge system.
[0030] Preferably, in this embodiment of the invention, the counterweight includes iron ore sand.
[0031] Optionally, the counterweight may also include a counterweight with a density close to or higher than that of iron ore.
[0032] This embodiment of the utility model uses iron ore as a counterweight. Compared with other counterweight materials, iron ore has a high density, which makes the volume smaller for the same counterweight weight. This achieves volume control of the float structure 2, so that the volume and cross-sectional area of the float structure 2 can be matched with the suction pile structure 1.
[0033] Specifically, such as Figure 3 As shown, the bottom of the floating box structure 2 is provided with a support leg structure 9, and the floating box structure 2 is pressed onto the skirt structure 3 through the support leg structure 9.
[0034] Specifically, the outer wall of the float structure 2 is provided with a first eye plate 10, which is used to connect the mooring cable or mooring chain.
[0035] like Figure 2 As shown, a second eye plate 11 is provided at the top of the suction pile structure 1, and the second eye plate 11 is used to connect the suspension cable.
[0036] Figure 4 This is a top view of a suction pile structure according to an embodiment of the present utility model. Figure 5 This is a bottom top view of a floating box structure provided according to an embodiment of the present utility model. Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, there are multiple skirt structures 3 and multiple leg structures 9. The multiple skirt structures 3 are evenly or unevenly distributed along the outer circumference of the outer wall of the suction pile structure 1. The distribution of the multiple leg structures 9 at the bottom of the floating box structure 2 corresponds to the distribution of the multiple skirt structures 3.
[0037] Specifically, such as Figure 5 As shown, there are at least three first eye plates 10, and multiple first eye plates 10 are evenly or unevenly distributed along the outer side wall of the floating box structure 2.
[0038] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for controlling the pontoon structure at sea using a first eye plate, according to an embodiment of this utility model. Figure 6 As shown, the first eye plate 10 and the tugboat 16 are connected by tow cables, and then the three tugboats 16 are arranged in a triangular layout to limit the floating box structure 2 in the sea area of operation.
[0039] In this embodiment of the utility model, the skirt structure 3 and the ear plate structure 4 are arranged to avoid interference between each other and between the mooring cable or mooring chain and the skirt structure 3 and the ear plate structure 4.
[0040] Specifically, such as Figure 4 As shown, the skirt structure 3 is a skirt-shaped structure composed of steel elbow plates and steel plates, used to support the bottom structure of the pontoon structure 2 and transfer the weight of the pontoon structure 2 to the side wall of the suction pile structure 1.
[0041] Specifically, in this embodiment of the invention, the diameter of the float box structure 2 is larger than the outer diameter of the suction pile structure 1. When the float box structure 2 is mounted above the skirt structure 3 via the support leg structure 9, the bottom of the float box structure 2 does not contact the second eye plate 11 at the top of the suction pile structure 1.
[0042] In one optional embodiment of this utility model, both the suction pile structure 1 and the floating box structure 2 are steel structures, and the support leg structure 9 is a steel structure.
[0043] Specifically, such as Figure 3 As shown, the ballast discharge system includes pipeline 12, sea valve 13, vent pipe 14, and check valve 15; among which,
[0044] A vent pipe 14 is installed through the top of the ballast tank 8, and a vent pipe valve is installed at the top of the vent pipe 14; the vent pipe 14 is used to connect the inside and outside of the ballast tank 8.
[0045] Both the sea valve 13 and the one-way valve 15 are located on the side wall of the ballast tank 8;
[0046] Pipeline 12 is located inside ballast tank 8 and connected to sea valve 13.
[0047] In this embodiment of the invention, a flange is provided at the top of the vent pipe 14 for connection to an external pipeline. During ballasting, the vent valve of the vent pipe 14 is open. At this time, after opening the sea valve 13 in the water, seawater enters the ballast tank 8 through the pipeline 12. During unloading, the top port of the vent pipe 14 is connected to the external pipeline and an air pump is connected. At this time, the sea valve 13 is closed, and air is pumped into the ballast tank 8 by the air pump, allowing the seawater to be discharged through the one-way valve 15. This invention achieves the adjustment of ballast water and buoyancy of the float structure 2 through the above-described configuration, thereby realizing the installation and recovery process of the float structure 2.
[0048] Preferably, there are multiple ballast tanks 8, and each ballast tank 8 is equipped with a corresponding pipeline 12, sea valve 13, vent pipe 14 and one-way valve 15.
[0049] In one optional embodiment provided by this utility model, such as Figure 3 As shown, ballast tank 8 includes a first ballast tank 81 and a second ballast tank 82. When the pontoon structure 2 floats on the water surface, the vent valve of the vent pipe 14 of the first ballast tank 81 is opened, the vent valve of the vent pipe 14 of the second ballast tank 82 is closed, and the sea valve 13 of the first ballast tank 81 is opened to allow seawater to enter the first ballast tank 81 through the pipeline 12 shown by the dotted line. This makes the pontoon structure 2 present a state where its weight is greater than its buoyancy, and it can... Figure 6 As shown, it is slowly lowered to the installation position with the assistance of tugboat 16 and towing cable.
[0050] When Figure 1 As shown, the pontoon structure 2 is located behind the suction pile structure 1. The vent valve of the vent pipe 14 of the second ballast tank 82 and the sea valve 13 are opened, allowing seawater to enter the second ballast tank 82 through the pipeline 12 shown by the dotted line, which increases the weight of the pontoon structure 2 and transfers the increased weight to the suction pile structure 1 through the skirt structure 3.
[0051] When recovering the floating pontoon structure 2, first close the sea valve 14 of the first ballast tank 81. Install an air pump and external pipeline on the tugboat 16, and connect the external pipeline of the air pump to the vent pipe 14 of the first ballast tank 81 through a flange. Use the air pump to pump air into the first ballast tank 81, and discharge the water in the first ballast tank 81 through the one-way valve 15 to the floating pontoon structure 2. Then close the vent valve of the vent pipe 14 of the first ballast tank 81. Move the external pipeline of the air pump to the vent pipe 14 of the second ballast tank 82 and connect it through a flange. Close the sea valve 13 of the second ballast tank 82, and use the air pump to pump air into the second ballast tank 82, and discharge the water in the second ballast tank 82 through the one-way valve 15 to the floating pontoon structure 2. This achieves buoyancy of the floating pontoon structure 2 greater than its gravity, allowing it to slowly float to the surface for recovery and reuse.
[0052] The offshore construction process of a split suction pile anchor foundation provided by this embodiment of the utility model is as follows:
[0053] (1) Transport the suction pile structure and the floating box structure to the operating sea area respectively;
[0054] Specifically, the suction pile structure will be dry-towed to the operating area by a work vessel; the pontoon structure will be wet-towed or dry-towed to the operating area in a self-floating state.
[0055] (2) The suction pile structure is lowered from the water surface to the seabed anchorage point, and the cylinder wall of the suction pile structure is driven into the seabed soil based on its own weight.
[0056] Specifically, the second eye plate on the top of the suction pile structure or the ear plate structure on the side wall is connected to the crane of the work vessel via a lifting cable. The suction pile structure is then slowly lowered from the water surface to the seabed anchorage point by the crane.
[0057] (3) Use tow cables to connect the pontoon structure and the tugboat to limit the pontoon structure in the operating sea area;
[0058] In one optional embodiment of this utility model, three tugboats are used. Figure 6 The connection method shown uses tow cables to connect the first eye plate of the pontoon structure to the tugboat, and three tugboats are used to maintain the pontoon structure at sea.
[0059] (4) Based on the ballast system, ballast water is injected into the ballast tank at a preset rate to control the pontoon structure to gradually sink to the position above the suction pile structure and press the leg structure onto the skirt structure.
[0060] (5) Continue to add ballast water into the pontoon structure so that the cylinder wall of the suction pile structure continues to penetrate into the seabed soil to a preset depth, and a closed space is suddenly formed between the inside of the suction pile structure and the seabed.
[0061] (6) Based on the ballast discharge system, the ballast water in the ballast tank is discharged so that the floating box structure gradually floats to the sea surface and is recovered;
[0062] (7) Based on the water pump and drainage pipeline, the liquid in the enclosed space is pumped out so that the suction pile structure can continue to penetrate the seabed soil to the target depth.
[0063] As described above, this utility model embodiment provides a split-type suction pile anchor foundation. A counterweight is added to the suction pile foundation to increase its self-weight, thereby increasing the depth to which the suction pile anchor foundation penetrates the soil under its own weight and improving its adaptability to different soil types. The design employs a floating box structure and a skirt structure, enabling the counterweight and suction pile anchor foundation to be separable and recyclable, avoiding the need for a permanent support structure on the suction pile anchor foundation. During installation, the floating box structure does not require large marine engineering equipment such as floating cranes; it can be slowly lowered to the installation position via a tugboat limiting and ballast system, improving economic efficiency.
[0064] The present invention provides a split suction pile anchor foundation that, in the context of providing horizontal bearing capacity for a catenary mooring system, offers comparable steel consumption, volume, stress area, and system complexity to traditional suction pile anchor foundations, but with better adaptability to soil conditions.
[0065] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that it can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of this invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered illustrative and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of this invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, it is intended that all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims be included within this invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.
[0066] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.
Claims
1. A split suction pile anchored foundation, characterized in that, The application relates to a suction pile structure and a floating box structure; the floating box structure is arranged on the top of the suction pile structure; wherein, a skirt structure and an ear structure are arranged on the side wall of the suction pile structure; the ear structure is used for connecting a mooring cable or a mooring chain; a drain pipeline is arranged through the top of the suction pile structure; one end of the drain pipeline is communicated with the inside of the suction pile structure, and the other end of the drain pipeline is connected with a water pump; a counterweight cabin and a ballast cabin are arranged in the inside of the floating box structure; the counterweight cabin is filled with counterweights, and the ballast cabin is provided with a ballast system; a leg structure is arranged on the bottom of the floating box structure; the floating box structure is pressed on the skirt structure through the leg structure; a first eye plate is arranged on the outer side wall of the floating box structure; the first eye plate is used for connecting a mooring cable or a mooring chain. The suction pile structure is a cylinder structure with a closed top and an open bottom.
2. The split suction pile anchor foundation of claim 1, wherein: A second eye plate is arranged on the top of the suction pile structure; the second eye plate is used for connecting a lifting cable.
3. The split suction pile anchor foundation of claim 1, wherein: The number of the skirt structures and the number of the leg structures are both multiple; the multiple skirt structures are uniformly or non-uniformly distributed along the circumferential direction of the outer side wall of the suction pile structure; the distribution of the multiple leg structures on the bottom of the floating box structure is correspondingly arranged according to the distribution of the multiple skirt structures.
4. The split suction pile anchor foundation of claim 1, wherein: The counterweights comprise iron ore sand.
5. The split suction pile anchor foundation of claim 1, wherein: The suction pile structure and the floating box structure are both steel structures.
6. The split suction pile anchor foundation of claim 1, wherein: The number of the first eye plates is at least three; the first eye plates are uniformly or non-uniformly distributed along the circumferential direction of the outer side wall of the floating box structure.
7. The split suction pile anchor foundation of claim 1, wherein: The ballast system comprises a pipeline, a sea valve, an air pipe and a one-way valve; wherein, 8. The split suction pile anchor foundation of claim 1, wherein: the air pipe is arranged through the top of the ballast cabin; the top of the air pipe is provided with an air pipe valve; the air pipe is used for connecting the inside and the outside of the ballast cabin; the sea valve and the one-way valve are both arranged on the side wall of the ballast cabin; the pipeline is arranged in the inside of the ballast cabin and is connected with the sea valve.