Jacking-type leg fixing system for offshore wind power platform

Abstract

This invention provides a leg fixing system for offshore wind power generation platforms that enables smooth operation and improved maintenance and repair performance of portable jacking systems. [Solution] The leg fixing system comprises a cylinder block in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, installed in the drive space so as to be in contact with the leg support portion, with a through hole formed in the front-rear direction corresponding to the position of the pin hole, and horizontal bottom surfaces facing downward on both sides; a vertical frame that covers the cylinder block and supports it in accordance with the height of the drive space, and covers each of the side corners of the cylinder block; an upper frame and a lower frame that are connected to the upper and lower sides of the vertical frame, respectively; a pin block that moves back and forth while inserted into the through hole, with its front end inserted into the pin hole and a fastening portion formed at its rear end; and a first actuator connected to the fastening portion to move the pin block back and forth.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an offshore wind power generation platform. More specifically, after operating a portable jacking system on a floating offshore wind power generation platform constructed by a jacking method, the legs can be smoothly fixed inside the platform, and the present invention relates to a leg fixing system for a jacking method offshore wind power generation platform that can improve maintenance performance even in various environmental changes.

Background Art

[0002] Recently, in order to solve the environmental pollution problem caused by fossil fuels, many research and developments on environmentally friendly renewable energy have been carried out, and wind power generation that produces electricity with large blades rotating through the wind on a vertically installed tower has attracted much attention.

[0003] In such wind power generation, since a relatively large installation space is required due to the large blades being exposed to the outside, and a large number of wind turbines must be installed at a certain distance for sufficient power production, it is important to secure a wide installation location.

[0004] In particular, since the noise generated during the high-speed rotation of large blades and the operating noise of generators become factors causing petitions in the surrounding area, there is no choice but to set up a wind power generation complex in an area far from the city center. Such problems can be solved by installing wind power generation structures at sea.

[0005] Offshore wind power generation structures basically must be firmly fixed even in the presence of movements such as wind, wind waves, and tidal currents. For this purpose, methods such as creating a support base by pouring concrete to support the upper tower or driving piles after excavating the rock layer on the seabed not only cause difficulties in installing large turbines deep on the seabed for ensuring a large amount of power, but also result in a decrease in economic efficiency due to adverse effects on the ground structure and excessive investment in installation costs.

[0006] The applicant has previously presented a technology in Korean Patent No. 10-2521885 (April 11, 2023) in which a power generation turbine and tower are pre-assembled on top of a floating, movable main body at a pier, then moved to the sea via a towboat, and the legs are lowered using a temporarily installed jacking device to perform installation and leveling work on the seabed rock layer.

[0007] The above-mentioned patent document describes a portable type of hydraulic equipment for jacking up, which requires the installation of fixing means on the leg support to prevent the legs from moving when the jacking means is detached. Such fixing means are an essential element of a jacking-type floating offshore wind power platform, and more efficient management can be achieved by integrating them into the platform structure. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2022-0168008 Specification [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] The present invention was created out of the need described above, and the object of the present invention is to provide a leg fixing system for a jacking-type offshore wind power generation platform that enables smooth fixing of the legs inside the platform and achieves smooth operation and improved maintenance and repair performance of a portable jacking system in a floating offshore wind power generation platform constructed by a jacking method. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a leg fixing system for a jacking-type offshore wind power generation platform, comprising a main body comprising a plurality of leg support portions that penetrate vertically at set intervals on the frame side and a partitioned drive space in contact with the leg support portions, a plurality of legs that are slidable vertically when inserted into the leg support portions and have pinholes formed vertically at set intervals, and a jacking means for lowering or raising the legs, characterized in that the system comprises a cylinder block installed in the drive space so as to be in contact with the leg support portions and having through holes formed in the front-rear direction corresponding to the positions of the pinholes, a support structure that covers the cylinder block and supports it in accordance with the height of the drive space, a pin block that moves back and forth when inserted into the through holes, with its front end inserted into the pinholes and a fastening portion formed at its rear end, and a first actuator connected to the fastening portion and moving the pin block back and forth.

[0011] In this case, it is preferable that the legs are cylindrical in shape, with pinholes formed in three rows vertically at 120-degree intervals with respect to the horizontal cross-section, and that the cylinder block is provided so as to face the legs in three directions corresponding to the positions of the pinholes.

[0012] Furthermore, it is preferable that the cylinder block has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, with horizontal bottom surfaces facing downwards on both sides, and side support portions protruding from the upper side which are connected to the cylinder block via a plurality of reinforcing plates, and that the support structure consists of vertical frames that cover each side corner of the cylinder block, and an upper frame and a lower frame which are connected to the upper and lower sides of the vertical frames, respectively.

[0013] Furthermore, it is preferable to further include a second actuator whose upper end is in contact with the horizontal bottom surface and which raises and lowers the cylinder block through length adjustment, and a spacer which is inserted into the upper frame and the lower frame and supports the cylinder block.

[0014] Furthermore, the cylinder block is preferably formed with a rectangular parallelepiped box-shaped outer frame, a tubular inner frame that penetrates in the front-rear direction and has a rear cylinder portion having a first diameter in the rear section and a front cylinder portion having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter in the front section, a vertical support that vertically supports the inner frame, and a horizontal support that horizontally supports the inner frame, and the pin block is preferably composed of a rear block having an outer diameter corresponding to the first diameter on the rear side and a front block having an outer diameter corresponding to the second diameter on the front side.

[0015] Furthermore, it is preferable that the rear block has horizontal surfaces formed on the upper and lower sides, and the front block has vertical surfaces formed on the left and right sides. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] Through this invention, by pre-installing the power generation turbine and tower on the main body and then using a temporarily installed jacking device after sea travel to install the legs into the bedrock layer on the seabed, a separate fleet of installation vessels is not required. In particular, by using a portable type of expensive hydraulic equipment for jacking, a single set can perform numerous installation and leveling operations.

[0017] Furthermore, after the jacking operation is completed, the fixing system installed inside the platform secures the legs, preventing exposure to moisture and salt, thereby preventing malfunctions and damage, and ensuring maintenance and repair performance and operational reliability even under diverse changes in the marine environment. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] This is a partial perspective view showing the installed state of the leg fixing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a partial side cross-sectional view showing the installed state of the leg fixing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a first perspective view showing the outer shape of the leg fixing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a second perspective view showing the outer shape of the leg fixing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is a structural view of a cylinder block according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] It is a structural view of a pin block according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] It is a structural view of the height adjustment of the cylinder block according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the leg fixing system of the jacking type offshore wind power generation platform according to the present invention will be specifically described.

[0020] The present invention is a structure that can float on water, and includes a main body 1 in which a plurality of leg support portions 13 penetrating vertically at intervals set on the frame side and a compartment-shaped drive space 131 in contact with the leg support portions 13 are formed, and a plurality of legs 2 that can slide vertically while being inserted into the leg support portions 13 and having pin holes 21 formed vertically at set intervals, and jacking means 3 for lowering or raising the legs 2. It is a leg fixing system applied to a jacking type offshore wind power generation platform.

[0021] The main body 1 has a flat shape with a tower and a wind power generation turbine 11 installed on the upper center side, and is composed of a structure that can move while floating on the sea. As a result, the tower 12 and the wind power generation turbine 11 are pre-assembled on the main body on land or the sea trial is completed and then moved to the sea. As a result, a large offshore crane for assembling heavy components at sea as in the conventional case, and a fleet for its movement and operation are not required.

[0022] To this end, the main body 1 is designed to maintain buoyancy even when the tower 12 and wind turbine 11 are installed on top, to have an appropriate surface area so as not to easily capsize when wind and waves are applied from the front, back, left, or right, to maintain appropriate stability, and to be equipped with ballast to adjust the draft and trim. In particular, when the legs 2 are lowered, seawater ballast is filled into the main body, and the weight of the ballast helps the spud 22 at the lower end of the legs 2 to pass through the sedimentary layer and smoothly reach the bedrock layer. At this time, the legs 2, which pass through a separate drive space 131 in contact with the leg support section 13 so as to be separated from the ballast tank, are installed so as to be exposed in the drive space 131.

[0023] The main body 1 can be manufactured in various forms, but in the embodiment of the present invention, the main body 1 is configured to have a triangular shape in its plane, taking into consideration mobility from land to sea, as well as stability and economic efficiency when installed at sea, and accordingly it is equipped with three leg support parts 13 and legs 2.

[0024] The specific details regarding the main body 1, legs 2, and jacking means 3 are described in detail in the specification of the applicant's Korean Patent No. 10-2521885 (April 11, 2023). Therefore, in order to prevent the purpose of the invention from becoming unclear, the specific details are omitted in this invention.

[0025] Figure 1 is a partial perspective view showing the installed state of the leg fixing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a partial side cross-sectional view showing the installed state of the leg fixing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] The leg fixing system according to the present invention has a configuration for fixing the main body 1 and the leg 2, and is characterized in that it is installed inside the main body 1, rather than being installed outside the main body 1 together with the jacking means 3, as in the above-mentioned patent document of this application. Through this, not only can the leg 2 be fixed smoothly even after the portable jacking means 3 is removed, but maintenance and repairability can be further improved without damage or malfunction even in a marine environment.

[0027] The leg fixing system according to the present invention comprises, as its main components, a cylinder block 4, a support structure 5, a pin block 6, a first actuator 7, and a second actuator 8.

[0028] Figure 3 is a first perspective view showing the external shape of the leg fixing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a second perspective view showing the external shape of the leg fixing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 is a structural diagram of the cylinder block according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 6 is a structural diagram of the pin block according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] The cylinder block 4 is installed in the drive space 131 so as to be in contact with the leg support portion 13, and a through hole 43 in the front-rear direction is formed corresponding to the position of the pinhole 21.

[0030] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cylinder block 4 is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, with two through holes 43 formed on its upper and lower sides. The through holes 43 are configured such that a pin block 6, described later, is slidably inserted in the front-rear direction, and as a result, in an embodiment of the present invention, the legs 2 are supported through the two pin blocks 6. After supporting the legs 2, the pin blocks 6 are subjected to forces substantially due to the load of the main body 1, and therefore have a sufficient number of through holes 43 and pin blocks 6 to withstand these forces. The size of the cylinder block 4 and the number of through holes 43 provided may vary depending on the size and weight of the main body 1 and the size of the legs 2.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, in the present invention, the leg 2 is cylindrical in shape, and pinholes 21 are formed in three rows in the vertical direction at 120-degree intervals with respect to the horizontal cross-section, and the cylinder block 4, i.e., the leg fixing system, is arranged to face the leg 2 in three directions corresponding to the positions of the pinholes 21.

[0032] Through this structure, two pin blocks 6 are inserted into each cylinder block 4, so each leg 2 is supported by a total of six pin blocks in three directions, and there are three leg fixing systems in one set, and the three sets in total can smoothly fix and support the main body 1 while distributing the load.

[0033] JPEG2026082628000002.jpg51150

[0034] The upper frame 52 and the lower frame 53 are connected to the upper and lower parts of the vertical frame 51, respectively, and are in close contact with and fixed to the bottom and ceiling of the drive space 131, and are configured to support the load of the cylinder block 4 from above and below, respectively.

[0035] The pin block 6 moves back and forth while inserted into the through hole 43, with its front end inserted into the pinhole 21 and a fastening portion 63 formed at its rear end, which is connected to the first actuator 7, which will be described later.

[0036] The first actuator 7 is configured to move the pin block 6 back and forth with one end connected to the fastening portion 63 and the other end fixed to the drive space 131. The first actuator 7 is composed of a cylinder whose length changes with drive, and can be configured via a hydraulic cylinder to smoothly move the relatively heavy pin block 6 back and forth. It is particularly preferable that the actuator 7 is controlled to ensure smooth fixing of the leg 2 through coordinated operation with the jacking means 3 during the raising and lowering of the leg 2.

[0037] Thus, as the length of the first actuator 7 changes, it needs to be hinged to the pin block 6 and the drive space 131, and the fastening portion 63 can be configured in a pad eye shape.

[0038] In the present invention, the cylinder block 4, together with the pin block 6, will be subjected to a considerable load. Therefore, in order to appropriately distribute such load and maintain its shape, the cylinder block 4 is composed of a rectangular parallelepiped box-shaped outer frame 41, a tubular inner frame 42 that penetrates in the front-rear direction and has a rear cylinder portion 431 having a first diameter in the rear section and a front cylinder portion 432 having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter in the front section, which constitutes the through hole 43, a vertical support 44 that vertically supports the inner frame 42, and a horizontal support 45 that horizontally supports the inner frame 42.

[0039] As shown in the attached Figure 5, two internal frames 42 are formed in the vertical direction, and each internal frame 42 is connected to the external frame 41 via horizontal supports 45 on its side. Furthermore, the upper side of the upper internal frame, the lower side of the lower internal frame, and the spaces between the internal frames are interconnected via vertical supports 44, thereby supporting the load and preventing deformation of the shape.

[0040] Corresponding to the shape of the cylinder block 4, the pin block 6 is integrally constructed with a rear block 61 having an outer diameter corresponding to the first diameter on the rear side and a front block 62 having an outer diameter corresponding to the second diameter on the front side.

[0041] Furthermore, it is preferable that the rear block 61 has a portion of a horizontal surface 611 that is horizontal on the upper and lower sides, and the front block 62 has a portion of a vertical surface 621 that is perpendicular to the left and right sides, thereby enabling smoother load support and prevention of deformation compared to the case of a perfect circle.

[0042] Furthermore, lubricating oil is injected and maintained between the horizontal surface portion 611 and the vertical surface portion 621 and the inner walls of the front cylinder portion 432 and the rear cylinder portion 431, preventing seizing even when the fixed state is maintained for a long period of time.

[0043] Figure 7 is a diagram showing the height adjustment structure of a cylinder block according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] The main body 1 and legs 2 are structures with considerable load and size, and there is a great concern that they will undergo deformation due to their own weight and various marine environments. In particular, when the legs 2 are supported through the cylinder block 4 and pin block 6, even very small deformations or twists in the main body 1 and legs 2 can cause the movement of the pin block 6 to become irregular. In this case, an impact applied from the outside to move the pin block 6 can cause damage or deformation to the pin block 6 and cylinder block 4, worsening the situation.

[0045] In response to this, the present invention adjusts the height of the cylinder block 4 to promote the smooth movement of the pin block 6.

[0046] For this purpose, horizontal bottom surfaces 461 are formed on both sides of the cylinder block 4, extending downward and upward, and between them, side support portions 46 are formed to protrude and are connected to the cylinder block 4 via a plurality of reinforcing plates.

[0047] JPEG2026082628000003.jpg20151

[0048] Inside the drive space 131 is a second actuator 8 that raises and lowers the cylinder block 4 by adjusting its length while in contact with the horizontal bottom surface 461. The second actuator 8 is a hydraulic cylinder capable of supporting a large load, and as substantially mentioned, by having the same horizontal bottom surfaces 461 installed on both the upper and lower sides of the side support portion 46, the second actuator 8 can be selectively installed between the lower horizontal bottom surface 461 and the bottom surface of the drive space 131 or between the upper horizontal bottom surface 461 and the ceiling surface of the drive space 131.

[0049] Normally, the cylinder block 4 applies a downward force to the bottom surface of the drive space 131 due to its load. However, when the pin block 6 is inserted into the pinhole 21, the load of the main body 1 causes the cylinder block 4 to apply an upward force to the top surface of the drive space 131. Therefore, a structure is required in which the second actuator 8 can be installed on either the upper or lower side of the side support portion 46.

[0050] Along with this, spacers 54 are provided that are inserted into the upper frame 52 and lower frame 53 to support the cylinder block 4. That is, as shown in the attached drawing, the upper frame 52 and lower frame 53 are provided with insertion parts 55 into which the spacers 54 can be inserted and then removed. The spacer inserted into the upper frame 52 receives the load between the cylinder block 4 and the ceiling surface of the drive space 131, and the spacer inserted into the lower frame 53 receives the load between the cylinder block 4 and the bottom surface of the drive space 131.

[0051] The spacers 54 have a set thickness and are inserted into a metal plate material capable of withstanding strong loads. By adjusting the number of spacers 54, the vertical position of the cylinder block 4 can be moved, effectively addressing the problematic situations mentioned above.

[0052] The rights of the present invention are not limited to the embodiments described above, but are defined by the claims, and it is obvious that a person with ordinary skill in the art of the invention may make various modifications and adaptations within the scope of the rights described in the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0053] 1 Main unit 2 legs 3. Jacking means 4 Cylinder Block 5 Support structure 6-pin block 7. First actuator 8. Second Actuator 11 Turbine 12 Towers 13 Leg support section 21 Pinholes 22 Spud 41 External frame 42 Internal frame 43 Through hole 44 Vertical support 45 Horizontal support 46 Side support part 51 Vertical Frame 52 Upper frame 53 Lower frame 54 Spacers 55 Insertion part 61 Rear block 62 Front block 63 Fastening part 131 Drive space 431 Rear cylinder section 432 Front cylinder section 461 Horizontal bottom 462 Reinforcement plate 611 Horizontal part 621 Vertical surface section

Claims

1. A leg fixing system for an offshore wind power generation platform of the jacking type, comprising: a main body (1) which is a structure capable of floating on water and has multiple leg support parts (13) that penetrate vertically at set intervals on the frame side, and a partitioned drive space (131) in contact with the leg support parts (13); multiple legs (2) which are slideable vertically when inserted into the leg support parts (13) and have pinholes (21) formed vertically at set intervals; and a jacking means (3) for lowering or raising the legs (2), The cylinder block (4) has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, is installed in the drive space (131) so as to be in contact with the leg support portion (13), has a through hole (43) formed in the front-rear direction corresponding to the position of the pinhole (21), has a horizontal bottom surface (461) facing downward on both sides, and has a side support portion (46) protruding from the upper side which is connected to the cylinder block (4) via a plurality of reinforcing plates (462), A support structure (5) comprising a vertical frame (51) that covers the cylinder block (4) and supports it at the same height as the drive space (131), and covers each of the side corners of the cylinder block (4), and an upper frame (52) and a lower frame (53) that are connected to the upper and lower sides of the vertical frame (51), respectively. A pin block (6) moves back and forth while inserted into the through hole (43), with its front end inserted into the pinhole (21) and a fastening portion (63) formed at its rear end, and A jacking-type leg fixing system for an offshore wind power generation platform, characterized by comprising a first actuator (7) connected to the fastening portion (63) and for moving the pin block (6) back and forth.

2. The leg fixing system for an offshore wind power generation platform using a jacking method, as described in claim 1, characterized in that the leg (2) is cylindrical in shape, and pinholes (21) are formed in three rows in the vertical direction at 120-degree intervals with respect to the horizontal cross-section, and the cylinder block (4) is provided in three sets so as to face the leg (2) in three directions corresponding to the positions of the pinholes (21).

3. A jacking-type leg fixing system for an offshore wind power generation platform according to claim 1, further comprising: a second actuator (8) whose upper end is in contact with the horizontal bottom surface and which raises and lowers the cylinder block (4) through length adjustment; and a spacer (54) inserted into the upper frame (52) and the lower frame (53) to support the cylinder block (4).

4. The cylinder block (4) includes a rectangular parallelepiped box-shaped outer frame (41), a tubular inner frame (42) that penetrates in the front-rear direction and has a rear cylinder portion (431) having a first diameter in the rear section and a front cylinder portion (432) having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter in the front section, a vertical support (44) that vertically supports the inner frame (42), and a horizontal support (45) that horizontally supports the inner frame (42). The leg fixing system for an offshore wind power generation platform using a jacking method, as described in claim 1, is characterized in that the pin block (6) is composed of a rear block (61) having an outer diameter corresponding to the first diameter on the rear side and a front block (62) having an outer diameter corresponding to the second diameter on the front side.

5. The jacking type offshore wind power generation platform leg fixing system according to claim 4, characterized in that the rear block (61) has a horizontal surface portion (611) that is horizontal on the upper and lower sides, and the front block (62) has a vertical surface portion (621) that is perpendicular on the left and right sides.

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