Device and method for anchoring a structure to a ground using a rotor blade

Abstract

Device and method for anchoring a structure to the ground. A device 1 for securing a structure 2 to the ground 4 comprises a recess 3 in the ground, a used wind turbine blade 6 arranged longitudinally in the recess, a material 9 for sealing the blade in the recess, and gripping means 7, 8 for connecting this device to the structure. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a device.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the construction of a device for holding an element or structure on land, sea or lake; the marine or lake structure may be fixed or floating.

[0002] The construction of such systems must meet quantitative and qualitative criteria – such as sizing, durability, material selection, and their compatibility during assembly. Environmental preservation and minimizing the impact of land-based or marine structures on the environment are key criteria for selecting a technical solution.

[0003] Traditionally, when a land or marine retaining structure needs to be installed on rocky or highly cohesive soil, it can be made of reinforced concrete. The reinforcement consists of steel components such as wires, reinforcing bars, or beams, for example, I-beams or U-channels, assembled by crimping and / or welding. The entire structure is embedded in concrete, except for a portion of the reinforcement that serves as a means of connection to the structure being retained.

[0004] However, the rising costs of construction materials, as well as implementation and installation costs, are obstacles that make some projects economically unviable.

[0005] One aim of the invention is to reduce the manufacturing costs of support devices, particularly for marine or underwater structures, and to allow the use of long-life elements while exhibiting good resistance to environmental conditions in general, and particularly in marine environments.

[0006] According to the invention, a device for securing a structure to the ground comprises a linear recess formed by the ground, a wind turbine blade or blade section, preferably a used blade, arranged longitudinally in the recess, and a material for sealing the wind turbine blade or blade section in the recess. The term "linear" is used to define a recess that extends longitudinally substantially along a longitudinal direction of the blade and whose substantially constant transverse dimensions are essentially intended to provide a casing for the blade or blade section and are smaller than its longitudinal dimension.

[0007] The device advantageously includes protrusions on the blade or blade section.

[0008] The device may further include a coupler to which the blade or blade section is coupled at its proximal end, this coupler comprising means for gripping, at least indirectly, the structure. The proximal end is the one that is generally equipped with a flange that allows the blade to be fixed to the core of a wind turbine. The distal end is the one opposite the distal end and distant from the core; it is the free end of the blade when installed on a wind turbine.

[0009] The recess can be a trench in which the blade or blade section is arranged substantially horizontally. In a second embodiment, the device according to the invention can comprise two blades or blade sections arranged substantially horizontally and both coupled to a single coupler, preferably aligned with each other.

[0010] The seabed can be marine or lacustrine. The means of attachment may include a ring for securing a rope.

[0011] The recess can be a well in which the blade or blade section is positioned substantially vertically.

[0012] In a third embodiment, the structure is a mast of a terrestrial antenna, the link being a guy wire connecting this mast to a support device according to the invention.

[0013] In a fourth embodiment, the coupler includes means for coupling a second blade or blade section arranged vertically above the ground as an extension of the blade or blade section of the holding device.

[0014] In a fifth embodiment, only a distal end of the blade or blade section is sealed, the remaining part extending above the ground, the blade being filled, at least partially, with a ballast material, preferably concrete.

[0015] According to another object, the invention relates to a method for making a device for securing a structure to the ground, comprising the following steps: to create a linear recess in said ground; to place a blade or a section of a wind turbine blade, preferably used, longitudinally in this recess; to seal the blade in the recess with a sealing material, preferably with concrete; and to provide means to connect, at least indirectly, the structure with the device.

[0016] According to another object, the invention relates to an antenna system which includes several support devices according to the third embodiment, a mast and guy wires, each guy wire connecting this mast with means for gripping a respective device.

[0017] According to another aspect, the invention relates to a pylon system comprising a device according to the fourth embodiment, a second blade or blade segment arranged vertically above the ground as an extension of the blade or blade segment of the device. The pylon may include at least one radiotelephone antenna, fixed to one upper end of the second blade. The pylon may include at least one bracket fixed to its upper end and equipped with insulators for suspending an electrical cable.

[0018] According to another object, the invention relates to a lake platform system, which includes at least one device according to the fifth embodiment, the height of the blade above the ground being adjusted so that the gripping means are out of the water when the surface of the lake is at a maximum level.

[0019] Embodiments and variations will be described below, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the attached drawings in which: [ Fig. 1 ] is a schematic perspective and cross-sectional view of an anchoring according to a first embodiment of the invention, using a wind turbine blade sealed in a trench and adapted for supporting a marine structure; Fig. 2 ] is a schematic view of a variant of the blade of the figure 1 ; Fig. 3 ] is a schematic view of an anchoring system according to a second embodiment of the invention adapted for securing a marine structure, and using two wind turbine blades sealed in the same trench; [ Fig. 4 ] is a schematic elevation and cross-sectional view of an anchoring system according to a third embodiment of the invention adapted for supporting a terrestrial antenna, using a wind turbine blade sealed in a vertical borehole; [ Fig. 5 ] is a schematic elevation view of a pylon including an anchor according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; [ Fig. 6 ] is a schematic and partial view illustrating a variant of the pylon of the figure 5 ; And, [ Fig. 7 ] is a schematic elevation and cross-sectional view of a piling device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention and a pontoon using such a device.

[0020] In particular, the terms "high", "low", "horizontal" and "vertical" are arbitrary and refer to a commonly used position for a snare drum. They also refer to the positions illustrated in the figures.

[0021] There figures 1 illustrates a first embodiment for a holding device according to the invention.

[0022] In this example, the support device is an anchor 1 which allows a floating structure 2 to be anchored to a ground 4. The anchor includes a trench 3, a wind turbine blade 6, a coupler 7 having gripping means 8, and a sealing material 9.

[0023] The trench is substantially linear and dug into the soil 4 of a seabed, for example by means similar to those used to bury submarine cables.

[0024] Blade 6 is arranged substantially horizontally in trench 3. It is fixed to coupler 7, preferably by means similar to those which enabled its previous attachment to the core of the wind turbine which was equipped with it.

[0025] In the illustrated example, the gripping means 8 include a ring 8 fixed and hinged to the coupler 7.

[0026] The blade 6 and the coupler 7 are embedded in the trench by the sealing material 9, except that a portion 71 to which the ring is hinged protrudes above the material 9. The sealing material may be concrete. It may also be riprap, for example, formed from material removed from the ground during the excavation of the trench.

[0027] A link 12 is engaged on one side with the ring 9 and on the other with the structure 2. The link can be a cable, a chain, or a rope made of a polymer such as Dyneema®. In this example, the structure is shaped like a floating caisson, and the device 1 acts as a mooring. In a variant, the structure can be a float from a platform or a floating wind turbine.

[0028] In the example of the figure 1 , the blade has a length L6 of one hundred meters and the trench has a depth P3 of three meters.

[0029] There figure 2 represents a blade 6 which differs from that of the figure 2 in that it has been fitted with protrusions 13. The protrusions are arranged along the outer surface of the blade to improve its adhesion to the sealing material. In the example shown, the protrusions are steel rods mounted transversely through the blade 6.

[0030] The second embodiment, illustrated in the figure 3 differs from that of the figure 1 in that the coupler 7 allows two blades 6 to be coupled in line with each other.

[0031] In the example of the figure 3 , each of the blades has a length L6 of 70 meters.

[0032] In a variant of this second embodiment, the blades may not be collinear with each other and may form an angle that can be determined by design constraints or soil constraints in which the retaining device is to be installed. Preferably, the shape of the coupler 7 defines the angle formed by the two blades.

[0033] There figure 4 , illustrates a support device is an anchor 1 for a mast of a terrestrial antenna 16. The antenna is held vertically by guy wires 17, each stretched between the antenna and a respective support device 1.

[0034] In this third embodiment, the support device 1 includes a well 21 drilled in soil 4, a wind turbine blade 6, a coupler 7, gripping means 8 and a sealing material 9.

[0035] The well is substantially linear and dug substantially vertically in the ground 4, for example by drilling means.

[0036] The blade 6 is attached to the coupler 7, then positioned substantially vertically in the well 21. It is preferably attached to the coupler 7 by means similar to those which enabled its previous attachment to the core of the wind turbine which was equipped with it.

[0037] In the illustrated example, the gripping means 8 include a ring 8 fixed and hinged to the coupler 7.

[0038] The blade 6 and the coupler 7 are embedded in the well by the sealing material 9, except that a portion 71 to which the ring 8 is hinged protrudes above the material 9. The sealing material may be concrete. It may also be riprap, or material removed from the ground during well excavation.

[0039] A shroud 17 is connected on one side to the ring 9 and on the other side to the structure 2, i.e., the mast 16. The shroud can be a cable, or a rope made of a polymer such as Dyneema®. Several shrouds 17, at least three shrouds, are arranged around the mast 16; each of the shrouds is connected to a respective retaining device 1.

[0040] In the example of the figure 4 , the blade has a length L6 of twenty meters.

[0041] THE figures 5 et 6 illustrate a pylon system constructed from used wind turbine blades.

[0042] In this fourth embodiment, the retaining device is similar to the third embodiment illustrated in the figure 4 It differs from it in that structure 2 includes a pylon 27 formed by a second blade 26.

[0043] The coupler 7 includes means for coupling the second blade 26 to it, in the extension of the blade 6 of the retaining device 1. The coupler 7 is arranged so that the coupling means of the second blade 26 are arranged sufficiently above the ground 4 so that this second blade can be coupled to it after the retaining device 1 has been made.

[0044] The second blade 26 extends substantially vertically upwards from the coupler 7; it forms the pylon 27 at the top of which accessories 31, 32 are arranged. The second blade 26 is advantageously pre-equipped before being coupled to the retaining device 1. The pre-equipment may include a door 33 providing access to the interior of the blade and, in particular, to the coupling means. These coupling means may be threaded rods integrated into the coupler 7 and to which the blade is bolted. Technical equipment 34 may be arranged inside the second blade 26.

[0045] In the example of the figure 5 The accessories include a radiotelephone transmission antenna 31. The technical equipment includes equipment necessary for radiotelephone transmission, including cabling, power supplies and data transmission lines by cable or fiber optic, inserts for supporting the antenna and receivers 31 positioned outside the pylon 27, a staircase and / or access ladder.

[0046] In this fourth embodiment, the blade 26 used to form the pylon has a length L26, measured vertically above the coupler 7, of thirty-five meters.

[0047] The example illustrated in the figure 6 differs from that of the figure 5 in that the pylon 26 is an electrical pylon. That is to say, it is designed to suspend electrical cables 36 from it. It includes brackets 37 fixed to its upper end and fitted with insulators 38 from the end of which a cable 36 is suspended.

[0048] There figure 7 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the invention. In this example, the support device 1 forms a piling 41; it is anchored in the ground 4 forming the bottom of a lake 40. The structure 2 is a platform 42; here the platform is represented by a wooden deck.

[0049] In the illustrated example, the lakebed is clay. A cylindrical well 21 is drilled vertically to a depth P21 of fifteen meters. The well 21 has a diameter D21 sufficient to accommodate a retaining blade 6. The length of the blade 6 can be reduced by cutting its distal end, that is, the end opposite the end carrying a flange 61. The height of the blade is adjusted so that the flange 61 is above water when the tidal range M in the lake is at its maximum level NM. The distal end 62 of the blade 6 is sealed with a sealing material, in this case concrete 9. The inside of the blade is also filled with ballast material, in this case concrete 63.

[0050] In the figure, only one pile 41 is shown. Advantageously, several piles 41 according to the invention are used to support a single platform 42. The platform 42 can be a pontoon or a quay. It can be designed to support a structure for industrial, commercial, or residential use.

[0051] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described. On the contrary, the invention is defined by the claims that follow.

[0052] It will indeed become apparent to the man of the art that various modifications can be made to the methods of implementation described above, in the light of the teaching which has just been disclosed to him.

[0053] Thus, rather than whole blades, sections of blades adapted to the load to be borne by the holding device can be used.

[0054] Also, the use of protrusions such as those illustrated in the figure 2 , can be applied to any type of retaining device according to the invention, including those illustrated in the figures 3 à 7 .

[0055] A method for producing a device according to the invention, using the partial or total substitution of steel reinforcements by elements made of used composite materials, preferably blades or sections of blades from used wind turbines, allows: to limit corrosion problems due to the nature of the reinforcements and also to limit the phenomena of degradation of the seal, for example concrete, following the volumetric expansion during the corrosion of the steel, which causes the seal to burst and weakens the structures; to solve, at least in part, the problems of recyclability of dismantled wind turbine blades; and, by the use of elements considered as waste, a substantial reduction in construction costs.

Claims

1. Device (1) for retaining a structure (2) to a ground (4) comprises a linear recess (3, 21) in said ground (4), a wind turbine blade or section of a wind turbine blade (6), preferably a used blade, arranged longitudinally in said recess and, a material (9) for sealing said blade or section of a wind turbine blade (6) in said recess (3, 21).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes protuberances (13) on the blade or blade section (6).

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that it further includes a coupler (7) to which the blade or blade section (6) is coupled by its proximal end (61), said coupler (7) including means for gripping, at least indirectly (8), for the structure (2).

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in thatthe recess is a trench (3) in which the blade or blade section (6) is arranged substantially horizontally.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that comprises two blades or blade sections (6) arranged substantially horizontally and both coupled to a single coupler (7), said blades or blade sections (6) preferably being aligned with each other.

6. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the soil (4) forms a marine or lacustrine soil.

7. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the gripping means (8) include a ring for attaching a link (12, 17).

8. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the recess is a well (21) in which the blade or blade section (6) is arranged substantially vertically.

9. Device (1) according to claims 7 and 8, characterized in thatthe structure (2) is a mast (16) of a terrestrial antenna, the link being a guy wire (17) connecting said mast (16) to said support device.

10. Device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the coupler (7) includes means for coupling a second blade or blade section (26) arranged vertically above the ground (4) as an extension of the blade or blade section (6) of said retaining device (1).

11. Device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that only a distal end of the blade or blade section (6) is sealed, the remaining part extending above said ground (4), said blade being filled, at least partially, with a ballast material (63), preferably concrete.

12. Method for making a device (1) for securing a structure (2) to a ground (4) comprising the following steps: - making a linear recess (3, 21) in said ground (4); - placing a wind turbine blade or section of a blade (6), preferably a used blade, longitudinally in said recess; - sealing said blade in said recess with a sealing material (9), preferably with concrete; and, - providing means (7) for connecting, at least indirectly, said structure (2) with said device (1).

13. Antenna system, characterized in that it comprises several devices (1) according to claim 9, a mast (16) and stays (17) each stay connecting said mast with means for gripping (8) a respective of said devices (1).

14. Pylon system (27), characterized in thatit comprises a device (1) according to claim 10, a second blade or blade section (27) arranged vertically above the ground (4) as an extension of the blade or blade section (6) of said device (1).

15. System according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises at least one radiotelephony antenna (31), fixed to an upper end of said second blade (27).

16. System according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises at least one bracket (37) fixed at its upper end and provided with insulators (38) intended for suspending an electrical cable (36).

17. Lake platform system, characterized in that it includes at least one device (1) according to claim 11, the height of the blade above the ground (4) being adjusted so that the gripping means (61) are out of the water when the surface of the lake (40) is at a maximum level (NM).

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