Leg fixing system for jacking-type offshore wind power generation platform

Abstract

To provide a leg fixing system for an offshore wind power generation platform that can achieve smooth operation of a portable jacking system and improve maintenance and repair performance. [Solution] The leg fixing system includes a rectangular parallelepiped cylinder block that is installed in the drive space so as to be in contact with the leg support, with through holes formed in the front-to-rear direction corresponding to the position of the pinhole and with horizontal bottom surfaces facing downward on both sides, a support structure that consists of a vertical frame that covers the cylinder block while supporting it at the height of the drive space and covers the side corners of the cylinder block, and an upper frame and a lower frame that are connected to the upper and lower sides of the vertical frame, 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 part formed on its rear end, and a first actuator that is connected to the fastening part to move the pin block back and forth.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an offshore wind power platform, and more particularly to a leg fixing system for a jacking-type offshore wind power platform that enables smooth leg fixing inside the platform after operating a portable jacking system on a floating offshore wind power platform constructed using a jacking method, thereby improving maintenance and repair performance even in the face of various environmental changes. [Background technology]

[0002] Recently, in order to solve the problem of environmental pollution caused by fossil fuels, much research and development has been conducted into environmentally friendly renewable energy sources, and wind power generation, which generates electricity by rotating large blades on a vertically installed tower through the wind, has been attracting a lot of attention.

[0003] In such wind power generation, a relatively large installation space is required because the large blades are exposed to the outside, and since a large number of wind turbines must be installed at a certain distance from each other in order to produce a sufficient amount of electricity, it is important to secure a large installation site.

[0004] In particular, the noise generated by the high-speed rotation of large blades and the noise generated by the generators during operation cause complaints in the surrounding area, so wind power complexes have no choice but to be built in areas far from urban centers.This problem can be solved by building wind power generation structures on the sea.

[0005] Offshore wind power generation structures must be firmly fixed even when subjected to wind, waves, and tidal movements. To achieve this, methods such as supporting the upper tower by creating a support base by pouring concrete, or digging into the bedrock on the seabed and then installing piles to prevent piles, not only make it difficult to install large turbines deep on the seabed to secure a large amount of electricity, but also result in adverse effects on the ground structure and excessive installation costs, resulting in reduced economic viability.

[0006] The applicant previously presented a technology in Korean Patent No. 10-2521885 (April 11, 2023) in which a power generating turbine and tower are pre-assembled at a pier on top of a floating, movable body, and then moved to the sea using a tugboat, where the legs are lowered using a temporarily installed jack-up device, allowing installation and leveling work to be performed on the seabed bedrock layer.

[0007] In the above patent document, expensive hydraulic equipment for jacking up can be used in a portable type, and for this purpose, a fixing means must be installed on the leg support to fix the legs so that they do not move when the jacking means is detached. Such a fixing means is an essential element of a jack-up type floating offshore wind power platform, and more efficient management can be achieved by configuring it as an integrated part according to the structure of the platform. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2022-0168008 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

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

[0010] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a leg fixing system for a jacking-type offshore wind power platform, which is a structure that can float on water, comprising: a main body having a plurality of leg support parts that penetrate a frame side in the vertical direction at a set interval, and a compartment-shaped drive space that contacts the leg support parts; a plurality of legs that are inserted into the leg support parts and can slide up and down while inserted into the leg support parts, and have pinholes formed in the vertical direction at set intervals; and jacking means for lowering or raising the legs. The leg fixing system comprises: a cylinder block that is installed in the drive space so as to contact the leg support parts, and has through holes formed in the front and rear direction corresponding to the positions of the pinholes; a support structure that covers the cylinder block and supports it according to the height of the drive space; a pin block that is inserted into the through holes and can move back and forth while inserted into the through holes, and has a front end that is inserted into the pinhole and a rear end that is formed with a fastening part; and a first actuator that is connected to the fastening part and moves the pin block back and forth.

[0011] In this case, it is preferable that the leg has a cylindrical shape and has pinholes formed in three vertical rows at intervals of 120 degrees based on the horizontal cross section, and the cylinder block is provided to face the leg in three directions corresponding to the positions of the pinholes.

[0012] Preferably, the cylinder block has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, with horizontal bottom surfaces facing downward on both sides, and side support parts protruding from the upper side and coupled to the cylinder block via a plurality of reinforcing plates, and the support structure includes vertical frames covering the side corners of the cylinder block, and upper and lower frames coupled to the upper and lower sides of the vertical frames, respectively.

[0013] Preferably, the machine further includes a second actuator whose upper end contacts the horizontal bottom surface and whose length is adjusted to raise and lower the cylinder block, and a spacer inserted into the upper frame and the lower frame to support the cylinder block.

[0014] Preferably, the cylinder block includes a rectangular box-shaped outer frame, a tubular inner frame that penetrates in the front-rear direction and has a rear cylindrical portion with a first diameter in its rear section and a front cylindrical portion with a second diameter smaller than the first diameter in its front section, vertical supports that support the inner frame vertically, and horizontal supports that support the inner frame horizontally, and the pin block includes a rear block on its rear side that has an outer diameter corresponding to the first diameter, and a front block on its front side that has an outer diameter corresponding to the second diameter.

[0015] Preferably, the rear block has horizontal surface portions that are horizontal on the top and bottom sides, and the front block has vertical surface portions that are vertical on the left and right sides. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, the power generating turbine and tower are installed on the main body in advance, and then the legs are installed on the rock layer on the seabed using a temporarily installed jack-up device after moving to the sea. This eliminates the need for a separate installation fleet, and in particular, by using a portable type of expensive hydraulic equipment for jack-up, multiple installation and leveling operations can be performed with just one set.

[0017] In addition, after the jacking work is completed, the legs are fixed in place by a fixing system installed inside the platform, which prevents exposure to moisture and salt, thereby preventing malfunctions and damage. It also ensures maintenance and repair performance and operational reliability despite various changes in the offshore environment. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a partial perspective view showing an installation state of a leg fixing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a partial side cross-sectional view showing an installation state of a leg fixing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a first perspective view showing the external appearance of a leg fixing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a second perspective view showing the external appearance of the leg fixing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a structural diagram of a cylinder block according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] 1 is a structural diagram of a pin block according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 7] 1 is a diagram showing a height adjustment structure for a cylinder block according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

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

[0020] The present invention is a leg fixing system applicable to a jacking-type offshore wind power generation platform, which is a structure that can float on water and includes a main body 1 having a plurality of leg support parts 13 that penetrate vertically at set intervals on the frame side and a compartment-shaped drive space 131 that is adjacent to the leg support parts 13, a plurality of legs 2 that can slide vertically while inserted into the leg support parts 13 and have pinholes 21 formed vertically at set intervals, and jacking means 3 that lowers or raises the legs 2.

[0021] The main body 1 has a flat shape with the tower and wind turbine 11 installed at the upper center, and is structured to be movable while floating on the sea. Therefore, the tower 12 and wind turbine 11 are pre-assembled to the main body on land or a trial run is completed before moving to the sea. As a result, there is no need for a large marine crane to assemble heavy components at sea, and no need for a fleet of ships to move and operate them, as in the past.

[0022] For this purpose, the body 1 maintains buoyancy even when the tower 12 and wind turbine 11 are installed on top, has an appropriate area so that it does not easily capsize when wind or waves are applied from the front, rear, left, and right sides, maintains appropriate stability, and can be provided with ballast to adjust the draft and trim. In particular, when the legs 2 are lowered, seawater ballast is filled inside the body, and the weight of the ballast helps the spuds 22 at the lower ends 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 driving space 131 while contacting the leg support parts 13, are installed so as to be exposed to the driving space 131 so as to be separated from the ballast tank.

[0023] The main body 1 can be manufactured in various shapes, but in this embodiment of the present invention, taking into consideration mobility from land to sea, as well as stability and economy when installed at sea, the main body 1 is configured so that its plane has a triangular shape, and correspondingly, it is provided with three leg support parts 13 and legs 2.

[0024] The specific details of the main body 1, legs 2 and jacking means 3 are specifically described in the specification of Korean Patent No. 10-2521885 (April 11, 2023) of the present applicant, and therefore, in order to avoid obscuring the gist of the invention, detailed explanations will be omitted in the present invention.

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

[0026] The leg fixing system according to the present invention is configured to fix 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 documents of the present application. This not only allows the leg 2 to be smoothly fixed even after the portable jacking means 3 is removed, but also further improves maintenance and repairability without damage or breakdown 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 oblique view showing the external appearance of a leg fixing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a second oblique view showing the external appearance of a leg fixing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 is a structural diagram of a cylinder block according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 6 is a structural diagram of a pin block according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

[0030] In this embodiment of the present invention, the cylinder block 4 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and is formed with two through holes 43 at the top and bottom. A pin block 6 (described later) is inserted into the through hole 43 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction, and ultimately, in this embodiment of the present invention, the leg 2 is supported through the two pin blocks 6. After supporting the leg 2, the pin block 6 is substantially subjected to a force due to the load of the main body 1, so a sufficient number of through holes 43 and pin blocks 6 are provided to withstand this force. 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 leg 2.

[0031] As a preferred embodiment, in the present invention, the leg 2 is cylindrical and has pinholes 21 formed in three vertical rows at intervals of 120 degrees based on 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] With this structure, two pin blocks 6 are inserted into each cylinder block 4, so each leg 2 is supported in three directions through a total of six pin blocks, and a total of three leg fixing systems form one set, allowing for smooth fixing and support while distributing the load of the main body 1.

[0033] JPEG0007741599000002.jpg51150

[0034] The upper frame 52 and the lower frame 53 are respectively connected to the upper and lower parts of the vertical frame 51, and are tightly attached and fixed to the bottom and ceiling of the driving space 131, so that they can 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 pin hole 21 and its rear end formed with a fastening portion 63 that is coupled to the first actuator 7 described later.

[0036] The first actuator 7 has one end connected to the fastening part 63 and the other end fixed to the driving space 131, and is configured to move the pin block 6 back and forth. The first actuator 7 is configured as a cylinder whose length changes when driven, and may be configured as a hydraulic cylinder so that the pin block 6, which is relatively heavy, can be smoothly moved back and forth. In particular, it is preferable that the first actuator 7 be controlled so that the leg 2 can be smoothly fixed by operating in conjunction with the jacking means 3 while the leg 2 is being raised or lowered.

[0037] As described above, the first actuator 7 needs to be hingedly coupled to the pin block 6 and the driving space 131 as its length changes, and therefore the fastening portion 63 may be configured in a pad eye shape.

[0038] In the present invention, the cylinder block 4, together with the pin block 6, bears a considerable load. To distribute the load appropriately and maintain its shape, the cylinder block 4 comprises a rectangular box-shaped outer frame 41, a tubular inner frame 42 that penetrates in the front-to-rear direction and has a rear cylindrical portion 431 with a first diameter in the rear section and a front cylindrical portion 432 with a second diameter smaller than the first diameter in the front section, forming the through hole 43, a vertical support 44 that supports the inner frame 42 vertically, and a horizontal support 45 that supports the inner frame 42 horizontally.

[0039] As shown in the attached Fig. 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. In addition, the upper side of the upper internal frame, the lower side of the lower internal frame, and the internal frames themselves are interconnected via vertical supports 44, respectively, thereby supporting the load and preventing deformation.

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

[0041] In addition, it is preferable that the rear block 61 has a portion of a horizontal surface 611 that is horizontal on the top and bottom sides, and the front block 62 has a portion of a vertical surface 621 that is vertical on the left and right sides, so that load support and prevention of deformation can be performed more smoothly than if the block were a perfect circle.

[0042] In addition, 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 sticking even when the fixed state is maintained for a long period of time.

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

[0044] The body 1 and legs 2 are structures with considerable load and size, and are susceptible to deformation due to their own weight and various marine environments. In particular, when the legs 2 are supported by the cylinder block 4 and pin block 6, even a very small deformation or twist of the body 1 and legs 2 can cause the pin block 6 to move unsmoothly. In this case, external impacts applied to move the pin block 6 can damage or deform the pin block 6 and cylinder block 4, making the situation worse.

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

[0046] To this end, horizontal bottom surfaces 461 extending downward and upward are formed on both sides of the cylinder block 4, and side support parts 46 are protruded between the bottom surfaces 461 and connected to the cylinder block 4 via a plurality of reinforcing plates.

[0047] JPEG0007741599000003.jpg20151

[0048] A second actuator 8 is provided inside the driving space 131, which is in contact with the horizontal bottom surface 461 and adjusts its length to raise and lower the cylinder block 4. The second actuator 8 is a hydraulic cylinder capable of supporting a large load, and as substantially mentioned above, the same horizontal bottom surface 461 is installed on the upper and lower sides of the side support part 46, so that the second actuator 8 can be selectively installed between the lower horizontal bottom surface 461 and the bottom surface of the driving space 131 or between the upper horizontal bottom surface 461 and the ceiling surface of the driving space 131.

[0049] Normally, the cylinder block 4 applies a force that presses the bottom surface of the driving space 131 downward due to its load, but when the pin block 6 is inserted into the pin hole 21, the cylinder block 4 applies a force that presses the ceiling surface of the driving space 131 upward due to the load of the main body 1, so a structure is required in which the second actuator 8 can be installed on either the upper or lower side of the side support part 46.

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

[0051] The spacers 54 are made of a metal plate having a set thickness and capable of withstanding a heavy load. By adjusting the number of spacers 54 inserted into the metal plate, the upper and lower positions of the cylinder block 4 can be moved, thereby 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 contents of the claims, and it is obvious that a person having ordinary skill in the art of the present invention can 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 Methods 4 cylinder block 5 Support structure 6-pin block 7 First Actuator 8 Second Actuator 11 Turbine 12. Tower 13 Leg support 21 Pinhole 22 Spud 41 Outer Frame 42 Inner Frame 43 Through hole 44 Vertical supports 45 Horizontal support 46 Side support part 51 Vertical Frame 52 Upper frame 53 Lower frame 54 spacer 55 Insertion section 61 Rear block 62 Front block 63 Fastening part 131 Driving 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 a jacking-type offshore wind power platform includes a main body (1) as a structure capable of floating on water, the main body (1) comprising a plurality of leg support parts (13) penetrating vertically at set intervals on a frame side and a compartment-shaped driving space (131) in contact with the leg support parts (13); a plurality of legs (2) that are slidable vertically while 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), a cylinder block (4) having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, installed in the driving space (131) so as to be in contact with the leg support part (13), having a through hole (43) in the front-rear direction corresponding to the position of the pinhole (21), having a horizontal bottom surface (461) facing downward on both sides, and having protruding side support parts (46) on the upper side which are connected to the cylinder block (4) via a plurality of reinforcing plates (462); a support structure (5) including a vertical frame (51) that covers the cylinder block (4) and supports it at the height of the driving 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 respectively coupled to the upper and lower sides of the vertical frame (51); a pin block (6) that moves back and forth while inserted into the through hole (43), its front end being inserted into the pin hole (21) and its rear end being formed with a fastening portion (63); A leg fixing system for a jacking-type offshore wind power platform, characterized in that it comprises a first actuator (7) connected to the fastening portion (63) and moving the pin block (6) forward and backward.

2. 2. The leg fixing system for a jacking-type offshore wind power platform according to claim 1, wherein the legs (2) are cylindrical and have pinholes (21) formed in three vertical rows at intervals of 120 degrees based on a horizontal cross section, and the cylinder blocks (4) are provided in three sets so as to face the legs (2) in three directions corresponding to the positions of the pinholes (21).

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

4. The cylinder block (4) is provided with a box-shaped outer frame (41) having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, a tubular inner frame (42) penetrating in the front-rear direction and having a rear cylinder portion (431) with a first diameter in a rear section and a front cylinder portion (432) with a second diameter smaller than the first diameter in a front section, a vertical support (44) for vertically supporting the inner frame (42), and a horizontal support (45) for horizontally supporting the inner frame (42), 2. The leg fixing system for a jacking-type offshore wind power platform according to claim 1, wherein the pin block (6) comprises a rear block (61) on its rear side having an outer diameter corresponding to the first diameter, and a front block (62) on its front side having an outer diameter corresponding to the second diameter.

5. 5. The leg fixing system for a jacking-type offshore wind power platform according to claim 4, wherein the rear block (61) has horizontal surface portions (611) that are horizontal on the top and bottom sides, and the front block (62) has vertical surface portions (621) that are vertical on the left and right sides.

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