Lift up device for assembling offshore wind power generator and assembly method of offshore wind power generator using the same

Abstract

To provide technology which can deal with increase in a size of a wind power generator without needing a large crane and secure workability of the wind power generator on the ocean.SOLUTION: A lift up device according to the disclosure is mounted on a work barge and includes a lifting part which lifts up a member forming a wind power generator by using a lifting mechanism which moves up or down along a vertical member. The lift up device further includes a base part serving as a member which connects a foundation and / or a tower of the wind power generator with the work barge. An assembly method of an offshore wind power generator according to the disclosure includes: a loading step in which members forming the wind power generator are loaded into the work barge on which the lift up device according to the disclosure is mounted; a connection step in which the foundation and / or the tower of the wind power generator and the work barge are connected by the base part included in the lift up device; and an assembly step in which the wind power generator is assembled on the ocean by using the lift up device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a lift-up device for assembling an offshore wind turbine generator and a method for assembling an offshore wind turbine generator using the lift-up device. [Background technology]

[0002] When assembling an offshore wind turbine, it is necessary to suppress the effects of waves and / or wind and perform construction with high precision. Therefore, in the conventional technology, in the case of an offshore wind turbine using a fixed-bottom foundation, the necessary components are loaded onto a self-elevating work platform (hereinafter referred to as an "SEP vessel"), which is then moved to an offshore installation position to assemble the turbine. The SEP vessel is a work vessel equipped with legs for fixing itself to the seabed and jacking it up, and a crane for lifting the components. On the other hand, in the case of an offshore wind turbine using a floating foundation, the turbine is assembled in advance at a base port, which is a port where the effects of waves and / or wind are relatively small, and then the turbine is towed to an offshore installation position.

[0003] In either case, however, lifting of the components by a crane is necessary, making it difficult to assemble the wind turbine under conditions with strong wave and / or wind influences.In addition, wind turbines have become larger in size in recent years, and there is a demand for larger and more powerful cranes, but in order to make the cranes larger and more powerful, it is also necessary to reinforce the hull of the work boat, making it difficult to accommodate larger wind turbines.

[0004] Incidentally, in this technical field, a technique is known in which a guide tower with a lifting stage is arranged around the tower constituting the wind power generator, and the lifting stage is used to lift components, thereby eliminating the need for a large crane in assembling the wind power generator (see, for example, Patent Document 1). However, this technique is specialized for construction on land, and a technique that can accommodate larger wind power generators without the need for a large crane and ensure the ease of construction of wind power generators offshore has not yet been established. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-242483 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As mentioned above, in this technical field, there is still no established technology that can accommodate larger wind turbines without the need for large cranes and ensure the ease of installation of wind turbines offshore.

[0007] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a lift-up device for assembling an offshore wind turbine generator and a method for assembling an offshore wind turbine generator using the lift-up device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] As a result of extensive research, the inventors have discovered that the above problems can be solved by installing a lift-up device having a lifting section for lifting the components that make up the wind turbine on a work boat used to assemble the wind turbine, and by connecting and integrating the foundation and / or tower of the wind turbine with the work boat.

[0009] Specifically, the lift-up device according to the present disclosure (hereinafter also referred to as the "disclosed device") is a lift-up device that is mounted on a work boat and has a lifting section that lifts the components that make up the wind turbine generator using a lifting mechanism that rises and falls along the vertical members that make up the guide tower, and is characterized in that it further has a base section that is a member that connects the foundation and / or tower of the wind turbine generator to the work boat.

[0010] Another aspect of the disclosed device is characterized in that the base is divided into a first part which is connected to the foundation and / or tower of the wind turbine and a second part which is connected to a work boat, and the first part and the second part are connected via a shock absorber which is a device configured to be able to expand and contract in response to changes in the positional relationship between the first part and the second part.

[0011] Another aspect of the disclosed device is characterized in that the work vessel is an SEP vessel or a barge, and the foundation of the wind turbine generator is a fixed-bottom or floating foundation.

[0012] As stated at the beginning of this specification, the present disclosure relates not only to a lift-up device for assembling an offshore wind turbine generator, but also to a method for assembling an offshore wind turbine generator.

[0013] The method for assembling an offshore wind turbine according to the present disclosure (hereinafter also referred to as the "disclosed method") is a method for assembling an offshore wind turbine, characterized by including a loading process, a connection process, and an assembly process, as listed below. The loading process is a process of loading components that constitute the wind power generator onto a work boat on which the lift-up device according to the present disclosure described above is mounted. The connection step is a step of connecting the foundation and / or tower of the wind turbine generator to the work boat by the base portion of the lift-up device. The assembly process is a process in which the wind turbine generator is assembled offshore using a lift-up device.

[0014] Another aspect of the disclosed method is characterized in that the connection and assembly steps are carried out at an installation site, which is an offshore location where the wind turbine is to be installed.

[0015] Another aspect of the disclosed method is characterized in that the foundation of the wind power generator is a floating foundation that is not yet moored at an installation site, which is an offshore location where the wind power generator is to be installed, and further includes a towing step after the connection step and the assembly step are performed at an assembly site, which is another offshore location other than the installation site. The towing step is a step of separating the wind power generator assembled in the assembly step from the work vessel and towing it from the assembly site to the installation site for installation.

[0016] Another aspect of the disclosed method is characterized in that the work vessel is an SEP vessel, and further includes a fixing process, prior to the connection process, of extending legs provided on the work vessel and fixing them to the seabed, and raising the hull of the work vessel above the sea surface. Effect of the Invention

[0017] As described above, the disclosed device is a lift-up device equipped with a lifting unit that is mounted on a work ship and lifts up the members that constitute the wind power generator using a lifting mechanism that rises and falls along the vertical members that constitute the guide tower, and further equipped with a base part that is a member that connects the foundation and / or tower of the wind power generator to the work ship. As a result, in the disclosed method, the members that constitute the wind power generator are loaded onto the work ship on which the disclosed device is mounted, the foundation and / or tower of the wind power generator are connected to the work ship by the base part of the disclosed device, and the wind power generator can be assembled accurately on the sea using the disclosed device while suppressing the influence of waves and / or wind. In other words, according to the disclosed device and the disclosed method (collectively referred to as the "technology of the present disclosure"), it is possible to respond to the increase in size of the wind power generator and ensure the ease of construction of the wind power generator on the sea without requiring a large crane. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic three-view drawing showing an example of the configuration of an SEP vessel, which is a type of work vessel used when assembling an offshore wind turbine, before being jacked up. [Diagram 2]FIG. 1 is a schematic three-view drawing showing an example of the configuration of an SEP vessel, which is a type of work vessel used when assembling an offshore wind turbine generator, after being jacked up. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic three-view drawing showing an example of the configuration of a barge, which is a type of work ship used when assembling an offshore wind turbine. [Figure 4] 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a guide tower and a lifting / lowering unit that constitute the lift-up device according to the present disclosure (the presently disclosed device). FIG. [Diagram 5] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of an offshore wind power generator assembled using the device disclosed herein; [Figure 6] (a) to (g) are schematic diagrams illustrating the components that make up the wind turbine when they are loaded onto a work vessel, and (h) and (i) are schematic diagrams illustrating the fixed-bottom foundation and floating foundation of the wind turbine. [Figure 7] 1A to 1C are schematic three-view diagrams illustrating an example of a configuration of a lift-up device according to the present disclosure (the presently disclosed device). [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a configuration of the disclosed device according to another embodiment. [Figure 9] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of each process included in a method for assembling an offshore wind turbine according to the present disclosure (the method disclosed herein). [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating how all components constituting the wind turbine generator are individually loaded onto an SEP vessel serving as a work vessel from the quay of the base port in the loading process included in the method disclosed herein. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating the loading process included in the disclosed method, in which some of the components that make up the wind turbine generator are assembled as a subunit on the quay of the base port, and the subunit and other components are then loaded onto an SEP vessel serving as a work vessel. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating how all components constituting the wind power generator are individually loaded onto a barge serving as a work vessel from the quay of the base port in the loading process included in the method disclosed herein. [Figure 13]This is a schematic diagram illustrating the loading process included in the disclosed method, in which some of the components that make up the wind turbine are assembled as subunits on the quay of the base port, and the subunits and other components are then loaded onto a barge serving as a work vessel. [Figure 14] This is a schematic diagram showing how, in the connection process included in the disclosed method, a wind turbine generator having a bottom-mounted foundation and a SEP vessel serving as a work vessel are connected by the base part provided in the disclosed device, and how, in the next assembly process, the tower is assembled and the subunit consisting of the nacelle and hub is lifted to the top of the tower. [Figure 15] This is a schematic diagram showing how, in the connection process included in the disclosed method, a floating wind turbine generator and a SEP vessel acting as a work vessel are connected by a base provided in the disclosed device, and how, in the next assembly process, the tower is assembled and the subunit consisting of a nacelle and a hub is lifted to the top of the tower. [Figure 16] This is a schematic diagram showing how, in the connection process included in the disclosed method, a bottom-mounted wind generator and a barge serving as a work vessel are connected by the base portion provided on the disclosed device, and how, in the next assembly process, the tower is assembled and the subunit consisting of the nacelle and hub is lifted to the top of the tower. [Figure 17] This is a schematic diagram showing how, in the connection process included in the disclosed method, a floating wind turbine generator and a barge serving as a work vessel are connected by a base portion provided on the disclosed device, and how, in the next assembly process, the tower is assembled and the subunit consisting of the nacelle and hub is lifted to the top of the tower. [Figure 18] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a wind power generator assembled at an assembly site other than the installation site of the wind power generator being towed by a tugboat to the installation site. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Lift-up device Hereinafter, a lift-up device according to the present disclosure (the presently disclosed device) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0020] <composition> As described above, the disclosed device is a lift-up device that is mounted on a work boat and has a lifting section that lifts the components that make up a wind turbine generator using a lifting mechanism that rises and falls along the vertical members that make up a guide tower, and is characterized by further having a base section that is a member that connects the foundation and / or tower of the wind turbine generator to the work boat.

[0021] The configuration of the work boat is not particularly limited as long as it is capable of carrying out the assembly work of the wind turbine generator, but typically the work boat is an SEP boat or a barge.

[0022] 1 and 2 are schematic three-view diagrams showing an example of the configuration of an SEP vessel, which is a type of bottom-mounted work vessel used when assembling an offshore wind power generator, where (a) is a front view seen from the side where the wind power generator is assembled, (b) is a plan view (top view), and (c) is a right side view. The SEP vessel 11 is equipped with legs 11L for fixing itself to the seabed surface SF and jacking up the hull 11B above the sea surface SS, leg supports 11S for supporting the legs 11L, and a crane 11C for lifting the members that make up the wind power generator. Fig. 1 illustrates the state before the hull 11B is jacked up, and Fig. 2 illustrates the state after the hull 11B is jacked up.

[0023] 3 is a schematic three-view diagram showing an example of the configuration of a barge, which is a type of floating work ship used when assembling an offshore wind power generator, where (a) is a front view seen from the side where the wind power generator is assembled, (b) is a plan view (top view), and (c) is a right side view. The barge 12 is provided with a crane 12C on a hull 12B for lifting members that make up the wind power generator, but unlike the SEP vessel 11, it is not provided with legs and leg supports for jacking up the hull 12B.

[0024] The above-mentioned fixed-bottom work boat (SEP boat 11) and floating work boat (barge 12) are used differently depending on, for example, the depth of the seabed at the location where the offshore wind turbine is to be installed and / or the influence of waves and / or wind. In the following explanation, unless otherwise specified, the term "work boat" is used as a general term that includes the fixed-bottom work boat (SEP boat 11) and the floating work boat (barge 12).

[0025] Next, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the guide tower and the lifting unit constituting the disclosed device, where (a) is a front view seen from the side where the wind power generator is assembled, (b) is a plan view (top view), (c) is a right side view, and (d) is a rear view. Note that (a) to (d) of FIG. 4 illustrate a state in which the rear side of the guide tower 110 is open in order to carry in the members constituting the tower of the wind power generator (e.g., bottom tower, middle tower, top tower, etc.) into the inside of the guide tower 110. In contrast, (e) and (f) of FIG. 4 illustrate a rear view and a plan view (top view) in a state in which the assembly of the tower of the wind power generator is completed. After this, the work of installing the nacelle is performed on the top end of the top tower, so there is no need to leave the rear side of the guide tower 110 open. For this reason, in (e) and (f), a horizontal member 112 is also assembled on the rear side of the guide tower 110.

[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the lifting unit 120 uses a lifting mechanism (not shown) that moves up and down along the vertical member 111 that constitutes the guide tower 110 to lift up the members that constitute the wind power generator (not shown) (see the black double arrow). The lifting unit 120 is equipped with a dolly 121 for lifting the members that constitute the wind power generator from the deck of the work boat 10 and moving the members horizontally to the position where the members are to be installed (see the white double arrow). The specific procedure for assembling the wind power generator using such a lift-up device is well known to those skilled in the art from prior art documents such as the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted here. Note that FIG. 4 does not depict the base part that is a member that connects the foundation and / or tower of the wind power generator to the work boat.

[0027] Next, FIG. 5 is a schematic front view showing an example of the configuration of an offshore wind power generator assembled using the disclosed device. The wind power generator 20 illustrated in FIG. 5 is composed of a foundation 21, a tower 22, and a wind power generator main body 23. The foundation 21 may be, for example, a bottom-mounted type or a floating type, and the details of each will be described later. The tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 is generally composed of a plurality of components connected together. The tower 22 illustrated in FIG. 5 is composed of three components: a bottom tower 22B, which is the lowest component, a top tower 22T, which is the highest component, and a middle tower 22M, which is the component located between them. The wind power generator main body 23 is composed of a nacelle 23N that incorporates a power generation mechanism consisting of a generator and a gearbox, a hub 23H that is connected to the power generation mechanism of the nacelle 23N via a rotating shaft so as to be rotatable together with the power generation mechanism, and blades 23B that are attached to the hub 23H to form a wind turbine.

[0028] Each component constituting the wind power generator 20 having the above-mentioned configuration is loaded onto a work boat and assembled at a predetermined location on the sea using the device of the present disclosure. Fig. 6 (a) to (g) are schematic diagrams illustrating each component when loaded onto a work boat 10 (not shown). (a) and (b) are side views and plan views (top views) of the bottom tower 22B, middle tower 22M, and top tower 22T constituting the tower 22, respectively. In (a) and (b), the subunit 22U and the top tower 22T formed by connecting the bottom tower 22B and the middle tower 22M are attached to an outfitting stand 10J provided on the work boat 10 (not shown). In this way, when loading each component that makes up the wind power generator 20 onto the work boat 10, it is not necessarily necessary to load all of the components onto the work boat 10 individually. For example, as long as there is no interference with loading onto the work boat 10 and transporting to the assembly site where the wind power generator 20 is assembled, some of the components may be loaded onto the work boat 10 as a sub-unit consisting of multiple components as described above.

[0029] (c), (d), and (e) are a front view, a bottom view, and a right side view of a subunit 23U formed by connecting a nacelle 23N and a hub 23H that constitute the wind power generator main body 23. In (c) to (e), an outfitting stand 10J for temporarily fixing the subunit 23U loaded on a work boat 10 (not shown) is also depicted together with the subunit 23U. Note that (c) to (e) are drawings that are enlarged in size compared to the drawings of other members illustrated in (a) and (b) and (f) to (i) in order to clearly show the configuration of the nacelle 23N and the hub 23H.

[0030] (f) and (g) are respectively a side view and a plan view (top view) of a blade 23B constituting the wind power generator main body 23. In (f) and (g), the blade 23B is attached to an outfitting stand 10J provided on a work boat 10 (not shown). Note that, although two blades 23B are depicted in (f) and (g) due to space limitations, in reality, the number of blades 23B according to the configuration of the wind power generator main body 23 is loaded onto the work boat. The state in which these members are loaded onto the work boat 10 will be illustrated in detail in the explanation of the method for assembling an offshore wind power generator according to the present disclosure (the method disclosed herein) described later.

[0031] Incidentally, the configuration of the foundation 21 of the wind power generator 20 is not particularly limited as long as the wind power generator 20 can be stably installed on the sea, but typically, a fixed-bottom or floating foundation 21 is adopted. (h) and (i) of FIG. 6 are schematic diagrams illustrating the fixed-bottom and floating foundations 21 of the wind power generator 20, respectively. The foundation 21 illustrated in (h) is a monopile foundation, and is composed of a monopile 21M, which is a foundation pile driven into the seabed, a transition piece 21T connecting the monopile 21M and the tower 22, and a platform 21P to which the tower 22 is connected. On the other hand, the foundation 21 illustrated in (i) is a floating foundation, and is composed of a floating body 21B floating on the sea and a platform 21P to which the tower 22 is connected.

[0032] FIG. 7 is a schematic three-view diagram showing an example of the configuration of the disclosed device, where (a) is a front view seen from the side where the wind power generator 20 is assembled, (b) is a plan view (top view), and (c) is a right side view. The disclosed device 101 illustrated in FIG. 7 is a lift-up device equipped with a lifting unit 120 that is mounted on a work ship 10 and lifts up members constituting the wind power generator 20 (not shown) using a lifting mechanism (not shown) that rises and falls along a vertical member 111 constituting a guide tower 110, as shown by a black double arrow. The lifting unit 120 is equipped with a dolly 121 for lifting up the members constituting the wind power generator 20 from the deck of the work ship 10 and moving the members horizontally to a position where the members are to be installed (see the white double arrow). The specific procedure for assembling a wind power generator using such a lift-up device is well known to those skilled in the art from prior art documents such as Patent Document 1 mentioned above, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0033] As the assembly of the wind power generator 20 progresses, the guide tower 110 is lifted upward and the extension frame is inserted into the lower end to increase its height, and the lifting unit 120 is assembled to the guide tower 110. However, in order to clearly illustrate the configuration of the disclosed device 101, the front view (a) and the plan view (b) of FIG. 7 show a state before the insertion of the extension frame and the assembly of the lifting unit 120. That is, in the front view (a) and the plan view (b), the guide tower 110 is still low and the lifting unit 120 is not shown. On the other hand, the right side view (c) of FIG. 7 shows a state after the insertion of the extension frame and the assembly of the lifting unit 120.

[0034] As mentioned above, in the technical field, there is known a technique for assembling a wind power generator that does not require a large crane by arranging a guide tower with a lifting stage around the tower constituting the wind power generator and lifting the components with the lifting stage. However, this technique is specialized for construction on land and cannot be applied to assembling a wind power generator on the sea, which is easily affected by waves and / or wind.

[0035] Therefore, as described above, the disclosed device 101 further includes a base portion 130 that is a member that connects the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 to the work boat 10. That is, in the disclosed device 101, the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 and the work boat 10 are connected and integrated via the base portion 130. As a result, in a method for assembling a wind power generator using the disclosed device 101 (the disclosed method), the wind power generator can be assembled accurately offshore while suppressing the effects of waves and / or wind. That is, the disclosed device can accommodate larger wind power generators and ensure ease of construction of the wind power generator offshore without requiring a large crane.

[0036] The specific configuration for connecting the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 to the work boat 10 is not particularly limited, but for example, the base part 130 may be disposed so as to straddle both the foundation 21 of the wind power generator 20 and the work boat 10, and both the foundation 21 of the wind power generator 20 and the work boat 10 may be connected to the base part 130 by fastening members such as bolts and nuts. Also, the tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 and the work boat 10 may be connected via the base part 130 by providing a support member between the base part 130 surrounding the tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 and / or the guide tower 110 connected to the base part 130 and the tower 22 of the wind power generator 20.

[0037] In order to suppress the influence of waves and / or wind during the assembly work of the wind power generator 20 and perform construction with high accuracy, it is desirable that the tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 is firmly fixed by the device 101 of the present disclosure. From this viewpoint, for example, it is preferable that the size of the base part 130 in the height direction is sufficiently large (for example, 10 meters or more) and that the base part 130 and the tower 22 are connected by support members at multiple points in the height direction of the base part 130. In addition, it is preferable that the guide tower 110 is erected so as to straddle not only the vicinity of the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 but also the work ship 10, as exemplified in FIG. 7.

[0038] The configuration of the work ship 10 on which the disclosed device is mounted is not particularly limited, but is typically an SEP ship or a barge as described above. The configuration of the foundation 21 of the wind power generator 20 is also not particularly limited, but is typically a bottom-mounted or floating foundation as described above. Therefore, when the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 and the work ship 10 are connected and integrated by the base part 130 provided in the disclosed device 101, both the wind power generator 20 and the work ship 10 may be fixed to the seabed, or one of them may be fixed to the seabed and the other may not be fixed to the seabed, or both of them may not be fixed to the seabed. In addition, the rocking of the wind power generator 20 having the barge and / or floating foundation 21 as the work ship 10 may be suppressed by an anchor.

[0039] In any case, by integrating the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 with the work ship 10, the relative positions of the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 and the work ship 10 are always constant. Therefore, sufficient workability can be ensured regardless of, for example, the topography and ground of the seabed and the water depth. In addition, by using the disclosed device 101, a large crane is not required, making it easier to accommodate larger wind power generators 20. The disclosed device 101, which is a lift-up device, has a relatively small correlation between the lifting height and the overturning moment, so that less reinforcement of the hull is required to accommodate larger wind power generators 20. Note that, as will be described in detail later, each step included in the method for assembling a wind power generator using the disclosed device 101 (the disclosed method) can be appropriately configured according to the combination of the configuration of the work ship 10 and the configuration of the foundation of the wind power generator 20.

[0040] However, for example, when the work boat 10 is an SEP vessel and the foundation 21 of the wind power generator 20 is a floating type, or when the work boat 10 is a barge and the foundation 21 of the wind power generator 20 is a bottom-mounted type, the degree of influence of waves and / or wind may differ greatly between the work boat 10 and the foundation 21 of the wind power generator 20. In such a case, if the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 and the work boat 10 are connected by a rigid member such as the base part 130 provided in the disclosed device 101 illustrated in Fig. 7, excessive stress may act on the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 connected to the base part 130, the work boat 10, and the base part 130 itself, which may lead to problems such as deformation and / or damage of these members.

[0041] Therefore, in another embodiment of the disclosed device, the base portion is divided into a first portion which is connected to the foundation and / or tower of the wind turbine generator, and a second portion which is connected to a work boat, and the first portion and the second portion are connected via a shock absorber which is a device configured to be expandable and contractible in response to changes in the positional relationship between the first portion and the second portion.

[0042] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the disclosed device according to such an embodiment, where (a) is a front view, (b) is a plan view (top view), (d) is a right side view, (d) is a rear view, and (e) is a bottom view. In FIG. 8, the foundation 21 and tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 and the lifting unit 120 are omitted. In addition, in FIG. 8(e), a support member 135 that connects the tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 to the base unit 130 is drawn. In addition, the work vessel 10 illustrated in FIG. 8 is an SEP vessel, and similar to the SEP vessel 11 illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, it is equipped with a leg support unit 10S for supporting a leg (not shown) for fixing the work vessel 10 to the seabed surface SF.

[0043] In the disclosed device 102 illustrated in FIG. 8, a base section 130 is divided into a first section 131 which is a section connected to the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20, and a second section 132 which is a section connected to the work boat 10. In the base section 130 illustrated in FIG. 8, the first section 131 and the second section 132 are connected via shock absorbers 133 and 134 which are devices configured to be expandable and contractible in response to changes in the positional relationship between the first section 131 and the second section 132. The shock absorber 133 is configured to follow changes in the positional relationship between the first section 131 and the second section 132 in the horizontal direction, and the shock absorber 134 is configured to follow changes in the positional relationship between the first section 131 and the second section 132 in the vertical direction. As the shock absorbers 133 and 134, shock absorbers widely used in the technical field, such as hydraulic cylinders, can be used.

[0044] According to the above configuration, when the positional relationship between the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 connected to the base part 130 and the work boat 10 changes due to rocking caused by the influence of waves and / or wind, the shock absorbers 133 and 134 can expand and contract in accordance with the change in the positional relationship between the first part 131 and the second part 132 constituting the base part 130. As a result, it is possible to reduce the risk of problems such as deformation and / or damage of the members caused by excessive stress acting on the members such as the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 connected to the base part 130, the work boat 10, or the base part 130 itself. Even in such a situation, according to the disclosed device in which the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 and the work boat 10 are connected by the base part 130, the wind power generator 20 can be assembled accurately on the sea using the disclosed device 102 while suppressing the influence of waves and / or wind, compared to a case in which such a configuration is not adopted.

[0045] <effect> As described above, the presently disclosed devices 101 and 102 are equipped with the lifting unit 120 that lifts the members constituting the wind power generator 20 using a lifting mechanism that is mounted on the work boat 10 and moves up and down along the vertical member 111 that constitutes the guide tower 110, and further equipped with the base unit 130 that is a member that connects the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 to the work boat 10, as described in detail later. As a result, in the method for assembling an offshore wind power generator according to the present disclosure (the presently disclosed method), the members constituting the wind power generator 20 are loaded onto the work boat 10 on which the above-mentioned presently disclosed devices 101 and 102 are mounted, the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 are connected to the work boat 10 by the base unit 130, and the wind power generator 20 can be assembled accurately offshore using the presently disclosed devices 101 and 102 while suppressing the effects of waves and / or wind. In other words, the presently disclosed device can accommodate the enlargement of the wind power generator and ensure the ease of construction of the wind power generator offshore without requiring a large crane.

[0046] Furthermore, according to the disclosed device 102, even if the degree of influence of waves and / or wind differs significantly between the workboat 10 and the foundation 21 of the wind power generator 20, it is possible to reduce the risk of problems such as deformation and / or damage to components, such as the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 connected to the base unit 130, the workboat 10, or the base unit 130 itself, being subjected to excessive stress due to a change in the positional relationship between the workboat 10 and the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 connected to the base unit 130.

[0047] How to assemble an offshore wind turbine As mentioned above, the present disclosure relates not only to a lift-up device for assembling an offshore wind turbine generator, but also to a method for assembling an offshore wind turbine generator.

[0048] <composition> 9 is a flow chart showing an example of the flow of each process included in the method of assembling an offshore wind turbine according to the present disclosure (the method disclosed herein). As shown in FIG. 9, the method disclosed herein includes a loading process, a connection process, and an assembly process, which are listed below.

[0049] The loading process executed in step S01 is a process of loading components constituting the wind power generator 20 onto the work boat 10 equipped with the lift-up device according to the present disclosure (the device disclosed herein) described above. As described above, the configuration of the work boat 10 is not particularly limited as long as it is possible to perform the assembly work of the wind power generator 20, but typically, as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, the work boat 10 is an SEP ship or a barge.

[0050] As described above, when loading each component constituting the wind power generator 20 onto the work ship 10, it is not necessary to load all components individually onto the work ship 10. For example, as long as there is no problem with loading onto the work ship 10 and transporting to an assembly site where the wind power generator 20 is assembled, some of the components may be loaded onto the work ship 10 as a subunit consisting of multiple components. In this case, the assembly work of the subunits can be made easier by providing a lift-up device for assembling the subunits on, for example, a quay where the loading work onto the work ship 10 is carried out.

[0051] The connection process executed in step S02 is a process of connecting the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 to the work boat 10 by the base unit 130 provided in the device of the present disclosure. The specific configuration of the base unit 130 has already been described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8. By executing the connection process, the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 and the work boat 10 are connected and integrated via the base unit 130. This makes it possible to always keep the relative position between the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 and the work boat 10 constant.

[0052] The assembly process executed in step S03 is a process of assembling the wind power generator 20 on the sea using the device disclosed herein. As described above, by executing the connection process, the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 and the work ship 10 are connected and integrated via the base portion 130. As a result, in the assembly process, the effects of waves and / or wind can be suppressed, and sufficient workability can be ensured regardless of the topography and ground of the seabed, the water depth, etc. Furthermore, by using the device disclosed herein, a large crane is not required, making it easier to accommodate larger wind power generators 20.

[0053] As described above, typical configurations of the foundation 21 of the wind power generator 20 include bottom-fixed and floating types. Therefore, when the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 and the work ship 10 are connected and integrated by the base part 130 of the disclosed device 101 in the connection process, both the wind power generator 20 and the work ship 10 may be fixed to the seabed, or one of them may be fixed to the seabed and the other may not be fixed to the seabed, or both of them may not be fixed to the seabed. In addition, the rocking of the barge as the work ship 10 and / or the wind power generator 20 having the floating foundation 21 may be suppressed by an anchor.

[0054] In addition to the above, in the method of assembling an offshore wind turbine according to the present disclosure (the method disclosed herein), depending on the configuration of the foundation 21 of the wind turbine 20, it is also possible to assemble the wind turbine 20 at a location other than the installation site, which is the offshore location where the wind turbine 20 is to be installed, and then tow the wind turbine 20 to the installation site.

[0055] As can be seen from the above, in the method disclosed herein, there are a wide variety of variations in combinations of the manner in which the members constituting the wind power generator 20 are loaded onto the work boat 10, the configuration of the work boat 10, the configuration of the foundation of the wind power generator 20, and the relationship between the location where the wind power generator 20 is assembled (assembly location) and the location where it is installed (installation location). Therefore, various variations of the method disclosed herein will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0056] First, as described above, the loading process executed in step S01 may involve loading all of the components constituting the wind power generator 20 individually onto the work ship 10, or loading some of the components as a subunit consisting of multiple components onto the work ship 10. The work ship 10 onto which the components constituting the wind power generator 20 are loaded may be of a fixed-bottom type such as an SEP ship, or of a floating type such as a barge.

[0057] 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating how all the components constituting the wind power generator 20 are individually loaded onto the SEP vessel 11 as the work vessel 10 from the quay 200 of the base port in the loading process included in the method disclosed herein, where (a) is a plan view (top view) and (b) is a right side view. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 10, each component is individually loaded onto the SEP vessel 11 using a crane 230 arranged on the quay 200, so there is no need to employ a large crane as the crane 230. In addition, each component loaded onto the SEP vessel 11 is temporarily fixed to the deck of the SEP vessel 11 using an outfitting stand 10J (reference numerals omitted) provided on the SEP vessel 11.

[0058] In Fig. 10, in order to facilitate confirmation of the configuration of the disclosed device, the base portion 130, which is a member that will later connect the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 to the SEP vessel 11, is simply drawn as a rectangle with a diagonal line by a thick solid line. In addition, the nacelle 23N and the hub 23H that constitute the wind power generator main body 23 of the wind power generator 20 are loaded as a subunit 23U made up of these members, but the nacelle 23N and the hub 23H may be loaded onto the SEP vessel 11 as separate members. Furthermore, the SEP vessel 11 is arranged so that the base member 130 and the guide tower 110 constructed on the upper part of the base member 130, etc., protrude to the opposite side of the quay 200, but the orientation of the SEP vessel 11 with respect to the quay 200 is not limited to the orientation exemplified in Fig. 10. That is, for example, the SEP vessel 11 may be disposed so that the base member 130 and the guide tower 110 constructed on the upper part of the base member 130 face the quay 200. In addition, although the leg 11L does not jack up the hull 12B (reference number omitted) in Fig. 10, the leg 11L may jack up the hull 12B (reference number omitted). These points are the same in the other drawings following Fig. 10.

[0059] 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which some of the components constituting the wind power generator 20 are assembled as a subunit at the quay 200 of the base port and the subunit and other components are loaded onto the SEP vessel 11 as the work vessel 10 in the loading process included in the disclosed method, (a) being a plan view (top view) and (b) being a right side view. Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 11, among the components constituting the tower 20 of the wind power generator 20, the bottom tower 22B and the middle tower 22M are not loaded onto the SEP vessel 11 individually, but are loaded onto the SEP vessel 11 as a subunit 22U formed by connecting these together. Therefore, since it is necessary to assemble the subunit 22U at the quay 200, a lift-up device including a guide tower 210 and a lifting unit 220 is installed on the quay 200.

[0060] 11, the subunit 22U consisting of the bottom tower 22B and the middle tower 22M and other members are loaded onto the SEP vessel 11 using the crane 230 arranged on the quay 200, but the wind turbine generator 20 itself is not loaded onto the SEP vessel 11. Therefore, even in this case, there is no need to use a large crane as the crane 230, and a relatively small lift-up device installed on the quay 200 will suffice.

[0061] The lift-up device installed on the quay 200 illustrated in Fig. 11 is configured to have a shape that is long in a plan view in the direction in which components are carried into the guide tower 210, similar to the device of the present disclosure mounted on the SEP vessel 11, but such a shape is not an essential requirement. That is, the lift-up device installed on the quay 200 does not need to straddle the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind turbine 20 and the SEP vessel 11 as in the device of the present disclosure, and therefore it is sufficient to have a configuration similar to that of a lift-up device according to the prior art used on land. This point is also the same in the other drawings following Fig. 11.

[0062] Next, FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which all the members constituting the wind power generator 20 are individually loaded onto the barge 12 as the work ship 10 from the quay 200 of the base port in the loading process included in the method disclosed herein, where (a) is a plan view (top view) and (b) is a right side view. FIG. 12 is similar to FIG. 10 except that the barge 12 is used as the work ship 10 instead of the SEP ship 11. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which some of the members constituting the wind power generator 20 are assembled as subunits at the quay 200 of the base port and the subunits and other members are loaded onto the barge 12 as the work ship 10 in the loading process included in the method disclosed herein, where (a) is a plan view (top view) and (b) is a right side view. FIG. 13 is similar to FIG. 11 except that the barge 12 is used as the work ship 10 instead of the SEP ship 11.

[0063] As described above, the loading process included in the disclosed method can accommodate a variety of combinations of the method of loading the components that make up the wind turbine 20 onto the work vessel 10 and the configuration of the work vessel 10 (whether a fixed-bottom type such as an SEP vessel or a floating type such as a barge).

[0064] Furthermore, there are multiple combinations of connection and assembly processes performed in steps S02 and S03 depending on the configuration of the work vessel 10 (whether fixed-bottom type such as the SEP vessel 11 or floating type such as the barge 12) and the configuration of the foundation of the wind turbine 20 (whether fixed-bottom type or floating type).

[0065] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram showing how, in the connection process included in the disclosed method, the foundation 21 of a bottom-mounted wind generator 20 consisting of a monopile 21M, a transition piece 21T and a platform 21P, the bottom tower 22B (symbol omitted) of the tower 22, and the SEP vessel 11 serving as a work vessel 10 are connected by the base section 130 provided in the disclosed device, and how, in the next assembly process, the tower 22 is assembled using the guide tower 110 and the lifting section 120, and the subunit 23U consisting of the nacelle 23N and hub 23H that constitute the wind generator main body 23 of the wind generator 20 is lifted to the top of the tower 22, where (a) is a plan view (top view) and (b) is a right side view.

[0066] 14, as described above, both the foundation 21 of the wind power generator 20 and the SEP vessel 11 serving as the work vessel 10 are fixed to the seabed SF, and the foundation 21 and tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 are connected to the SEP vessel 11 by the base 130. Therefore, the positional relationship between the wind power generator 20 and the work vessel 10 is reliably determined, and the wind power generator 20 can be assembled accurately offshore using the device disclosed herein while reliably suppressing the effects of waves and / or wind.

[0067] Next, Figure 15 is a schematic diagram showing how, in the connection process included in the disclosed method, the foundation 21 of the floating wind generator 20 composed of a floating body 21B and a platform 21P and the bottom tower 22B (symbol omitted) of the tower 22 are connected to the SEP vessel 11 serving as the work vessel 10 by the base section 130 provided in the disclosed device, and how, in the next assembly process, the tower 22 is assembled using the guide tower 110 and the lifting section 120, and the subunit 23U consisting of the nacelle 23N and hub 23H that constitute the wind generator body 23 of the wind generator 20 is lifted to the top of the tower 22, where (a) is a plan view (top view) and (b) is a right side view.

[0068] 15, although the foundation 21 of the wind power generator 20 is floating as described above, the SEP vessel 11 serving as the work vessel 10 is fixed to the seabed SF, and the foundation 21 and tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 are connected to the SEP vessel 11 by a base 130. Therefore, in this case as well, the positional relationship between the wind power generator 20 and the work vessel 10 is reliably determined, so that the wind power generator 20 can be assembled accurately offshore using the device disclosed herein while reliably suppressing the effects of waves and / or wind.

[0069] Next, Figure 16 is a schematic diagram showing how, in the connection process included in the disclosed method, the foundation 21 of the bottom-mounted wind generator 20 composed of a monopile 21M, a transition piece 21T and a platform 21P, the bottom tower 22B (symbol omitted) of the tower 22 and the barge 12 serving as the work boat 10 are connected by the base section 130 provided in the disclosed device, and in the next assembly process, the tower 22 is assembled using the guide tower 110 and the lifting section 120, and the subunit 23U consisting of the nacelle 23N and hub 23H that constitute the wind generator main body 23 of the wind generator 20 is lifted to the top of the tower 22, (a) being a plan view (top view) and (b) being a right side view.

[0070] 16, as described above, the work boat 10 is a floating barge 12 that is not fixed to the seabed SF, but the foundation 21 of the wind power generator 20 is fixed to the seabed SF, and the foundation 21 and tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 are connected to the barge 12 by a base portion 130. Therefore, in this case as well, the positional relationship between the wind power generator 20 and the work boat 10 is reliably determined, so that the wind power generator 20 can be assembled accurately on the sea using the device disclosed herein while reliably suppressing the effects of waves and / or wind.

[0071] Next, Figure 17 is a schematic diagram showing how, in the connection process included in the disclosed method, the foundation 21 of the floating wind generator 20 composed of a floating body 21B and a platform 21P and the bottom tower 22B (symbol omitted) of the tower 22 are connected to the barge 12 serving as the work boat 10 by the base section 130 provided in the disclosed device, and how, in the next assembly process, the tower 22 is assembled using the guide tower 110 and the lifting section 120, and the subunit 23U consisting of the nacelle 23N and hub 23H that constitute the wind generator body 23 of the wind generator 20 is lifted to the top of the tower 22, where (a) is a plan view (top view) and (b) is a right side view.

[0072] In the example shown in Fig. 17, as described above, the foundation 21 of the wind power generator 20 and the barge 12 as the work ship 10 are floating bodies that are not fixed to the seabed SF. Therefore, compared to a case where both or either one of the foundation 21 of the wind power generator 20 and the work ship 10 are fixed to the seabed SF, the wind power generator 20 is more susceptible to the effects of waves and / or wind. However, since the foundation 21 and tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 are connected to the barge 12 by the base part 130, the positional relationship between the wind power generator 20 and the work ship 10 is more reliably determined compared to a case where a lift-up device according to the conventional technology that does not have the base part 130 is used, the wind power generator 20 can be assembled accurately on the sea using the device disclosed herein while suppressing the effects of waves and / or wind.

[0073] As described above, the connection and assembly steps included in the method disclosed herein can accommodate a variety of combinations of the configuration of the work vessel 10 (whether fixed-bottom type such as the SEP vessel 11 or floating type such as the barge 12) and the configuration of the foundation of the wind turbine 20 (whether fixed-bottom type or floating type), making it possible to accommodate larger wind turbines and ensure ease of construction of the wind turbine offshore without the need for a large crane. In other words, according to the method disclosed herein, the connection and assembly steps can be performed with high precision at the installation site, which is the offshore location where the wind turbine is to be installed, while suppressing the effects of waves and / or wind.

[0074] However, the location where an offshore wind turbine is to be installed is generally chosen where the wind required for wind power generation blows as steadily as possible. In such locations, the swaying caused by waves is large, and assembly work may be difficult even with a lift-up device. On the other hand, there are also offshore locations where the waves and wind are relatively calm, such as within a harbor.

[0075] Therefore, another aspect of the disclosed method is characterized in that the foundation of the wind power generator is a floating foundation that has not yet been moored at an installation site, which is an offshore location where the wind power generator is to be installed, and further includes a towing step after the connection step and the assembly step are performed at an assembly site, which is another offshore location other than the installation site. The towing step is a step of separating the wind power generator assembled in the assembly step from the work boat and towing it from the assembly site to the installation site for installation.

[0076] Fig. 18 is a schematic diagram showing how the wind power generator 20, which has been assembled at an assembly site other than the installation site of the wind power generator 20 as described above, is towed to the installation site by a tugboat 300. In the example shown in Fig. 18, the wind power generator 20 is towed by one tugboat 300, but depending on the size of the wind power generator 20, the wind power generator 20 may be towed by a fleet of vessels including, for example, a plurality of main tugboats and auxiliary tugboats.

[0077] 1 and 2 and 14 and 15, the SEP vessel 11 is fixed to the seabed SF by the legs 11L, and the hull 11B is jacked up above the sea level SS, and then connected to the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 by the base part 130, and the members constituting the wind power generator 20 are lifted using the device disclosed herein. Therefore, when the SEP vessel 11 is used as the work vessel 10, the method disclosed herein further includes a fixing step, which is a step of extending and fixing the legs 11L of the SEP vessel 11 to the seabed SF and raising the hull 11B of the SEP vessel 11 above the sea level SS, prior to the connecting step.

[0078] That is, another aspect of the disclosed method is characterized in that the work vessel is an SEP vessel and further includes a fixing process, which is a process of extending and fixing legs provided on the work vessel to the seabed and raising the hull of the work vessel above the sea surface, prior to the connection process.

[0079] <effect> As described above, the method for assembling an offshore wind power generator according to the present disclosure (the disclosed method) includes a loading step of loading the members constituting the wind power generator 20 onto the work ship 10 on which the lift-up device according to the present disclosure (the disclosed device) is mounted, a connection step of connecting the foundation 21 and / or tower 22 of the wind power generator 20 to the work ship 10 by the base part 130 provided in the disclosed device, and an assembly step of assembling the wind power generator 20 offshore using the disclosed device. As a result, as described above, in the disclosed method, the wind power generator 20 can be assembled accurately offshore using the disclosed device while suppressing the effects of waves and / or wind. In other words, the disclosed method can accommodate larger wind power generators and ensure the ease of construction of the wind power generator offshore without requiring a large crane.

[0080] Furthermore, if the foundation 21 of the wind power generator 20 is a floating foundation that is not yet moored at the installation site, which is the offshore location where the wind power generator 20 is to be installed, the connection process and assembly process can be carried out at an assembly site, which is another offshore location other than the installation site of the wind power generator 20, and then the wind power generator 20 assembled in the assembly process can be separated from the work ship 10 and towed from the assembly site to the installation site and installed. That is, after assembling the wind power generator 20 in a location where the waves and wind are relatively calm, such as within a harbor, the wind power generator 20 can be moved to the intended installation site.

[0081] For the purpose of explaining the contents of the present disclosure, several embodiments having specific configurations have been described above with reference to the attached drawings. However, the scope of the present disclosure should not be construed as being limited to these exemplary embodiments, and it goes without saying that appropriate modifications can be made within the scope of the claims and the matters described in the specification. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 10...workboat, 10J...outfitting stand, 11...SEP vessel, 11B...hull, 11C...crane, 11L...leg, 11S...leg support, 12...barge, 12B...hull, 12C...crane, 20...wind turbine, 21...foundation, 21M...monopile, 21T...transition piece, 21P...platform 21P, 21B...floating body, 22...tower, 22B...bottom tower, 22M...middle tower, 22T...top tower 22T, 22U...subunit (bottom tower 22B and middle tower 22M), 23...wind turbine body, 2 3N...nacelle, 23H...hub, 23B...blade, 23U...subunit (nacelle 23N and hub 23H), 101...disclosed device, 102...disclosed device, 110...guide tower, 111...vertical member, 112...horizontal member, 120...lifting section, 121...cart, 130...base section, 131...first part, 132...second part, 133...shock absorber (horizontal direction), 134...shock absorber (vertical direction), 135...support member, 200...quay, 210...guide tower, 220 lifting section, 230...crane, 300...tugboat, SS...sea surface, SF...seabed

Claims

1. A lift-up device equipped with a lifting unit that is mounted on a work ship and lifts up members constituting a wind power generator using a lifting mechanism that rises and falls along a vertical member constituting a guide tower, Further comprising a base portion which is a member for connecting the foundation and / or tower of the wind turbine generator to the work boat; A lift-up device comprising:

2. The lift-up device according to claim 1, The base portion is divided into a first portion which is a portion connected to the tower and / or the foundation of the wind power generator and a second portion which is a portion connected to the work boat, The first part and the second part are connected via a shock absorbing device which is a device configured to be expandable and contractable in response to a change in the positional relationship between the first part and the second part. A lift-up device comprising:

3. The lift-up device according to claim 1 or 2, The work vessel is an SEP vessel or a barge, The foundation of the wind turbine is a fixed-bottom or floating foundation. A lift-up device comprising:

4. A method for assembling an offshore wind turbine, comprising the steps of: a loading step of loading components constituting a wind power generator onto a work ship having the lift-up device according to claim 1 or 2 mounted thereon; a connecting step of connecting a foundation and / or a tower of the wind power generator to the work boat by the base part of the lift-up device; an assembling process for assembling the wind power generator offshore using the lift-up device; Including, A method for assembling an offshore wind turbine, comprising:

5. A method for assembling the offshore wind turbine according to claim 4, comprising the steps of: The connection step and the assembly step are performed at an installation site, which is an offshore location where the wind turbine generator is to be installed. A method for assembling an offshore wind turbine, comprising:

6. A method for assembling the offshore wind turbine according to claim 5, comprising the steps of: The work vessel is a SEP vessel, a fixing step, which is a step of extending and fixing the legs of the work vessel to the seabed and raising the hull of the work vessel above the sea surface before the connecting step; Further comprising: A method for assembling an offshore wind turbine, comprising:

7. A method for assembling the offshore wind turbine according to claim 4, comprising the steps of: the foundation of the wind power generator is a floating foundation that has not yet been moored at an installation site, which is an offshore location where the wind power generator is to be installed; The connection step and the assembly step are performed at an assembly site which is an offshore location other than the installation site, a towing process in which the wind power generator assembled in the assembly process is separated from the work boat and towed from the assembly site to the installation site for installation; Further comprising: A method for assembling an offshore wind turbine, comprising:

8. A method for assembling the offshore wind turbine according to claim 7, comprising the steps of: The work vessel is a SEP vessel, a fixing step, which is a step of extending and fixing the legs of the work vessel to the seabed and raising the hull of the work vessel above the sea surface before the connecting step; Further comprising: A method for assembling an offshore wind turbine, comprising:

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