Offshore floating intervention platform, associated assembly, and intervention method intended to dock on an offshore wind turbine platform.

Abstract

The intervention platform (10) comprises: a floating base (46) submerged in the body of water (12); and at least one wind turbine equipment lifting tower (100) configured to lift at least one piece of equipment of the wind turbine (20). The intervention platform (10) has at least one heave plate (70) configured to project laterally from the floating base (46), the heave plate (70) defining an upper surface (80) configured to engage an underside (42) of the offshore wind turbine platform (14). The floating base (46) has at least one ballast storage volume (84), and the intervention platform (10) has a ballast controller (86) configured to control an amount of ballast stored in the ballast storage volume (84) to lift the upper surface (80) of the offshore heave plate (70) in contact with the underside (42) of the offshore wind turbine platform (14).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an offshore floating intervention platform intended to temporarily dock to an offshore wind turbine platform and perform installation intervention and / or maintenance intervention on a wind turbine, comprising: - a floating base having a lower surface intended to be immersed in water; - at least one wind turbine equipment lifting tower configured to lift at least one equipment of the wind turbine.

[0002] Such an intervention platform is particularly suitable for performing installation work and / or maintenance work in an offshore wind farm located in waters deeper than 60 m.

[0003] The installation and maintenance of wind turbines can be carried out using an offshore platform such as a fixed base platform disclosed in European Patent No. 2275340. Such a system is particularly suitable for shallow waters.

[0004] However, 80% of the potential of offshore wind resources is in waters deeper than 60 m, and conventional seabed technologies are not economically feasible or practically possible. To utilize this potential, a floater design has been developed that enables larger turbines with a nominal output of over 12 MW.

[0005] In such locations, the wind turbine mast is held by a floating base anchored to the bottom of the water by anchor lines. An example of a floater has a floating base comprising several floating columns connected to each other by pontoons and / or trusses. The mast may extend from the top of one of the columns.

[0006] The floaters used to support wind turbines imply more challenging operating and maintenance (O&M) conditions for wind turbines, requiring new operating and maintenance strategies and technologies.

[0007] One objective of the present invention is to provide an offshore intervention platform particularly suited to wind power plants located in deeper waters where installation and maintenance work is difficult.

[0008] For this purpose, the subject of the present invention is an offshore floating intervention platform of the type described above, wherein the offshore floating intervention platform has at least one heave plate configured to project laterally from a floating base, the at least one heave plate defining an upper surface configured to engage with the underside of an offshore wind turbine platform, the floating base has at least one ballast storage volume, and the offshore floating intervention platform has a ballast controller configured to control the amount of ballast stored in the ballast storage volume in order to lift the upper surface of the offshore heave plate that is in contact with the underside of the offshore wind turbine platform.

[0009] The offshore floating intervention platform according to the present invention has the following features, either alone or in any technically feasible combination: - The floating base comprises at least three floating columns and frame elements connecting at least three floating columns, and at least one heave plate protrudes from at least one of the three floating columns. - The offshore floating intervention platform comprises at least two heave plates configured to protrude from adjacent floating supports of the floating base. -At least one heave plate is configured to align with and protrude from the underside of the floating base, and / or to protrude from the underside of the floating base. - At least one heave plate is deployable from a floating base, particularly by rotation or in a telescopic manner. - The upper surface of at least one heave plate holds an anchor device configured to restrict or suppress movement between the upper surface of at least one heave plate and the lower surface of the offshore wind turbine platform, the anchor device preferably being a friction pad and / or a suction device. - The offshore floating intervention platform comprises at least one contact arm configured to project from the floating base above the heave plate and contact the offshore wind turbine platform. - At least one connecting arm has a free end equipped with a connecting device configured to reversibly connect to an offshore wind turbine platform, the connecting device being a mechanical connecting device, a suction connecting device, and / or a magnetic connecting device. - The offshore floating intervention platform is equipped with at least one propeller protruding from the underside of the floating base. - The offshore floating intervention platform comprises at least one mooring device comprising a mooring winch and at least one mooring line deployable from the offshore floating intervention platform for mooring to an offshore wind turbine platform. - The offshore floating intervention platform comprises a deck supported by a floating base and a wind turbine equipment housing having wind turbine equipment racks located on the deck. - An offshore wind turbine platform may comprise one or more of the following: a floating offshore wind turbine platform.

[0010] The present invention also relates to an assembly comprising an offshore wind turbine platform and the above-defined offshore floating intervention platform docked on the offshore wind turbine platform, wherein the upper surface of the heave plate is engaged with the lower surface of the offshore wind turbine platform.

[0011] The assembly according to the present invention, either alone or in any technically feasible combination, has the following features: - An offshore wind turbine platform is a floating offshore wind turbine platform comprising a floating foundation having at least three floating columns, and frame elements connecting at least three floating columns, wherein the at least three floating columns define at least a portion of the underside of the floating offshore wind turbine platform, and heave plates are engaged beneath the floating columns of the floating offshore wind turbine platform, and one or more of these may be included.

[0012] The present invention also relates to a method of intervention on an offshore wind turbine platform, - The step of transporting the offshore floating intervention platform defined above to the vicinity of the offshore wind turbine platform, - The step of placing the upper surface of at least one heave plate below the lower surface of the offshore wind turbine platform, - The steps include lifting the upper surface of the heave plate in contact with the underside of the offshore wind turbine platform and removing ballast from the ballast storage volume of the floating base in order to secure the offshore floating intervention platform to the offshore wind turbine platform, - Steps to perform intervention on the wind turbines of the offshore wind turbine platform, - The step of ballasting the floating base by introducing ballast into the ballast storage volume in order to disengage the upper surface from the lower surface, - The present invention relates to an intervention method on an offshore wind turbine platform, including the step of transporting an offshore floating intervention platform away from the offshore wind turbine platform.

[0013] The intervention method according to the present invention, either alone or in any technically feasible combination, has the following characteristics: - The intervention may include one or more of the following: using a lifting tower to remove wind turbine equipment, particularly blades, from a wind turbine, and / or using a lifting tower to install wind turbine equipment onto a wind turbine. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] The present invention is given merely as an example and will be better understood based on reading the following description made with reference to the following drawings. [Figure 1] It is a schematic perspective view of a floating type offshore wind turbine platform floating on water. [Figure 2] It is a partial perspective view of the offshore floating type intervention platform according to the present invention docked to the floating type offshore wind turbine platform of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a schematic horizontal sectional view of the floating base of the offshore floating type intervention platform and the floating foundation of the floating type offshore wind turbine platform when they are connected. [Figure 4] It is a side view of the assembly of FIG. 3 during the first step of removing the wind turbine blade from the wind turbine, and the elevator of the lifting tower is in the upper intervention position. [Figure 5] It is a view similar to FIG. 4, and the elevator of the lifting tower is in the lower unloading / loading position. [Figure 6] It is a schematic perspective view of the lifting tower of the offshore floating type intervention platform according to the present invention. [Figure 7] It is a detailed side view of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] It is a schematic side view of the offshore floating type intervention platform equipped with a wind turbine equipment cleaning unit and / or a reinforcement unit. [Figure 9] It is a schematic perspective view of the cleaning unit. [Figure 10] It is a schematic perspective view of the reinforcement unit.

[0015] The first offshore floating type intervention platform 10 according to the present invention is particularly shown in FIGS. 2 to 5.

[0016] The intervention platform 10 floats on the water area 12. The intervention platform 10 according to the present invention Is intended to perform installation intervention and / or maintenance intervention on at least one floating offshore wind turbine platform 14 shown in FIG. 1 and partially in FIG. 2.

[0017] The wind turbine platform 14 is arranged, for example, on the surface of the water area 12 in an offshore wind farm.

[0018] The water area 12 in the vicinity of the offshore wind turbine platform 14 has a depth exceeding 50 meters and is generally included between 60 m and 3000 m.

[0019] The water area 12 is, for example, an ocean, a sea, a lake, and / or a river.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, the wind turbine platform 14 has a floating foundation 16, an anchor assembly 17 that anchors the floating foundation 16 to the bottom 18 of the water area 12, and a wind turbine 20 held by the floating foundation 16.

[0021] In this embodiment, the floating foundation 16 is a semi-submersible platform. It comprises at least three floating columns 22, frame elements 24 connecting the floating columns 22, and potentially a deck (not shown).

[0022] The frame element 24 here comprises a lower pontoon 26A connecting each pair of adjacent floating columns 22 at the bottom of the columns 22, an upper pontoon 26B connecting each pair of adjacent floating columns at the top of the floating columns 22, and a truss member 28 connecting the sides of each column 22 to the center of the lower pontoon 26A.

[0023] The floating columns 22 extend vertically. The floating columns 22 have a buoyancy volume that provides buoyancy for the floating buoyancy of the floating foundation 16. The buoyancy is adapted such that the floating foundation 16 is partially immersed in the water area 12.

[0024] The anchor assembly 17 includes multiple anchor lines 30 that connect each support column 22 to the bottom 18 of the water body 12. In the example in Figure 1, each floating support column 22 is connected to at least one anchor line 30, preferably two to four anchor lines 30.

[0025] Therefore, the wind turbine platform 14 is fixed in a horizontal position within the water body 12.

[0026] The wind turbine 20, in its classical form, comprises a mast 32, a nacelle 34 rotatably mounted on the top of the mast 32, and a rotor 36 preferably rotatably mounted on the nacelle 34 around a horizontal axis.

[0027] The rotor 36 comprises a central hub 38 and blades 40 projecting radially from the central hub 38, the blades being reversibly fixed to the hub 38.

[0028] Here, the mast 32 is fixed to the top of the floating support column 22, coaxially with the axis of the floating support column 22.

[0029] The floating support 22 and, advantageously, the lower pontoon 26A define the underside 42 of the wind turbine platform 14, below which the intervention platform 10 can be docked.

[0030] The floating offshore intervention platform 10 is configured to move across the surface of the water body 12 so that it is in the vicinity of the wind turbine platform 14. It is configured to dock and anchor with the wind turbine platform 14 during the intervention.

[0031] Preferably, when the intervention platform 10 is docked to the wind turbine platform 14, the relative motion between the intervention platform 10 and the wind turbine platform 14 at a depth of 100m to 150m above the water surface is 1.5m or less in the x, y, and z directions for water conditions with a significant wave height Hs = 2.5m and a wave period of 8 seconds. The term "significant wave height" refers to the characteristic height of random waves in ocean conditions.

[0032] Interventions include, for example, the installation and / or maintenance of wind turbine equipment. In particular, the wind turbine equipment consists of blades 40, and the interventions include the installation of blades 40, the maintenance of blades 40, or the replacement of blades 40.

[0033] Other interventions related to nacelle 34 or mast 32 are also within the scope of interventions that can be performed using intervention platform 10.

[0034] Referring to Figure 2, the intervention platform 10 has a floating base 46 on which a deck 47 is mounted. It has a system 48 configured to dock detachably with the wind turbine platform 14, and a wind turbine intervention system 50 held on the deck 47, configured to access wind turbine equipment and perform interventions on the wind turbine 20.

[0035] The floating base 46 is advantageously similar to the floating foundation 16 of the wind turbine platform 14.

[0036] It comprises at least three floating support columns 52, frame elements 54 connecting the floating support columns 52, and potentially a deck 47.

[0037] The frame element 54 here comprises a lower pontoon 56A that connects each pair of adjacent floating support columns 52 at the bottom of the support columns 52, and an upper pontoon 56B that connects each pair of adjacent floating support columns 52 at the top of the floating support columns 52. The frame element 54 further comprises a truss member 58 that connects the sides of each support column 22 to the center of the lower pontoon 26A.

[0038] The floating support column 52 extends vertically. The floating support column 52 has a buoyancy volume that provides buoyancy to the floating base 46. The buoyancy is adapted so that the floating base 46 is partially submerged in the water body 12.

[0039] The floating support 52 and / or lower pontoon 56A define the lower surface 60 of the intervention platform 10, which is fully submerged in the water body 12.

[0040] Deck 47 potentially accommodates a personnel bay 62 and a helicopter landing pad 64 for transporting personnel to the platform.

[0041] According to the present invention, the docking system 48 comprises at least one heave plate 70 and a ballast / deballast unit 72 for controlling the vertical position of the at least one heave plate 70.

[0042] Advantageously, the docking system 48 further comprises at least one contact arm 74 projecting from the floating base 46 toward the wind turbine platform 14, a propeller 76, and at least one mooring device 78.

[0043] The docking system 48 includes at least one heave plate 70 configured to project horizontally from the floating base 46 so as to be applied beneath the lower surface 42 of the wind turbine platform 14.

[0044] In the example shown in Figure 2, the docking system 48 comprises at least two heave plates 70 configured to protrude from the same side of the floating base 46, and in particular from two adjacent floating columns 52 of the floating base 46.

[0045] In the example shown in Figure 2, each heave plate 70 is configured to protrude from the lower surface 60 below the floating support column 52.

[0046] Each heave plate 70 defines an upper contact surface 80 with the lower surface 42 of the wind turbine platform 14.

[0047] The area of ​​the upper contact surface 80 is preferably more than 5%, and particularly more than 10%, of the area of ​​the lower surface 60 of the floating support column 52.

[0048] The upper contact surface 80 is advantageously equipped with anchoring equipment 82, such as friction pads or suction devices, configured to fix the upper surface 82 to the lower surface 42 of the wind turbine platform 14.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment, each heave plate 70 is deployable between a retracted position located below the lower surface 60, for example, below the lower pontoon 56 and / or below the floating support 52, and an extended projection position applied below the floating foundation 16.

[0050] The heave plate 70 is, for example, rotatable about a vertical axis or extendable. The heave plate 70 is advantageously equipped with an actuator 83, such as a side thruster or a water jet system, and a locking system 83A.

[0051] The actuator 83 is configured to move the heave plate 70 between a retracted position and an extended position by applying side thrust or hydraulic pressure. It is also configured to provide suction to a suction device on the upper contact surface 80, if present.

[0052] The locking system 83A is configured to selectively lock the heave plate 70 in at least the retracted position and the extended position.

[0053] The ballast / deballast unit 72 comprises at least one ballast storage volume 84 and a ballast controller 86 configured to control the amount of ballast stored in the ballast storage volume 84.

[0054] When stationary, the ballast storage volume is at least partially filled with a gas such as air. The ballast storage volume is located, for example, within the floating support column 52 and / or within the frame element 54.

[0055] The ballast is formed here from water from the body of water 12. The ballast controller 86 includes at least one pump configured to pump ballast in and out of the ballast storage volume in order to adjust the amount of ballast 84 contained within the ballast storage volume.

[0056] Therefore, the ballast controller 86 is configured to control the draft of the floating base 46 between a lower position in which each heave plate 70 is configured to pass under the lower surface 42 of the wind turbine platform 14, and a fixed position in which the upper surface 80 of the heave plate 70 is applied under the lower surface 42 of the wind turbine platform 14. In the fixed position, the upper surface 80 advantageously applies an upward force to the lower surface 42.

[0057] Each contact arm 74 is configured to protrude from the floating support column 52 and contact and advantageously connect with the floating foundation 16, particularly the floating support column 22 of the floating foundation 16.

[0058] Each contact arm 74 has at least one free end 88 equipped with a connecting device such as a magnetic connector, a mechanical connector, and / or an attractive connector.

[0059] In the example shown in Figure 2, each floating column 52 of the floating base 46 is equipped with at least one contact arm 74, preferably two contact arms 74, positioned above the heave plate 70.

[0060] Advantageously, each contact arm 74 can be deployed from the floating support column 52 from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration.

[0061] In a modified example, the contact arm 74 is a bumper that may or may not have a connecting device (suction, magnetic, mechanical).

[0062] In the example shown in Figure 2, each contact arm 74 is also mounted on a floating support 52 so as to be vertically movable in order to adjust its vertical position between an upper dry position above the water surface and a lower immersion position below the water surface.

[0063] The propellers 76 are, for example, thrusters. They are mounted below the lower surface 60, for example, on the bottom of the floating struts 52. They are preferably rotatable around a vertical axis below the lower surface 60, for example, within an angular range of 360°. The propellers 76 are configured to displace each floating strut 52 and / or the entire floating base 46 horizontally over the water body 12.

[0064] Advantageously, the propeller 76 can be stored within the floating base 46, particularly within the floating support 52.

[0065] The mooring equipment 78 includes at least one mooring line configured to deploy toward the wind turbine platform 14, and at least one mooring winch configured to pull the mooring line to provide further anchoring of the floating base 46 of the intervention platform 10 to the floating foundation 16 of the wind turbine platform 14.

[0066] The intervention platform 10 preferably comprises a control room / wheelhouse (not shown) having a navigation controller including radar, radio communication, and dynamic positioning for controlling the propeller 74. The control room also includes at least one control unit for monitoring and remotely controlling the functional systems of the intervention platform 10, such as the docking system 48 and / or the wind turbine intervention system 50.

[0067] The intervention platform 10 also includes a power generation system that is advantageously low-emission or zero-emission for generating electricity, and a battery power bank for storing electricity.

[0068] The power generation system operates on low-emission fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, or biofuels or liquefied natural gas.

[0069] It is also possible to supply power solely from batteries. The batteries are then periodically charged by connecting to the wind power grid at a dedicated buoy or substation, or when connected to a floating offshore wind turbine platform 14 or other power source, typically a support vessel or standby vessel.

[0070] The batteries of the battery power bank may be sized solely for transport between wind turbine platforms 14 and for connection to the power grid to charge, for example, less than 10 km, for example, about 1 km to 2 km.

[0071] As shown in Figures 4 to 7, the wind turbine intervention system 50 includes a wind turbine equipment lifting tower 100. Advantageously, it also includes a wind turbine equipment housing 102 (see Figure 2) and at least one crane 104 (see Figure 4) for transporting wind turbine equipment between the wind turbine equipment housing 102 and the wind turbine equipment lifting tower 100.

[0072] In the examples shown in Figures 4 and 5, and Figures 6 and 7, the lifting tower 100 comprises at least one lifting unit 110A, 110B, each lifting unit 110A, 110B having a mast 112, an elevator 114 movably mounted along the mast 112, and a lifting actuator 116 for moving the elevator 114 between a lower unloading / loading position and at least one upper intervention position. The lifting tower 100 comprises at least one truss 120 connecting the mast 112 of one lifting unit 110A to the mast 112 of the other lifting unit 110B.

[0073] According to the present invention, each lifting unit 110A, 110B is equipped with a position compensation device 118 (see Figures 6 and 7) for compensating for vertical positional fluctuations between the floating foundation 16 of the wind turbine platform 14 and the floating base 46 of the intervention platform 10 after the intervention platform 10 has docked with the wind turbine platform 14.

[0074] Each mast 112 extends upward from deck 47. At least one mast 112 of the lifting units 110A, 110B extends along the vertical axis.

[0075] In the examples of Figures 4 and 5, at least one mast 112 of the lifting unit 110A extends vertically, and at least one mast 112 of the other lifting unit 110B extends at an angle to the vertical axis. The lifting tower 110 has an A-shape. In the examples of Figures 6 and 7, both masts 112 extend vertically. The lifting tower 110 has an H-shape.

[0076] In these examples, each mast 112 has an open framework. The mast 112 is fixed on the deck 47. In another example, the mast 112 is a deployable mast that extends and retracts from the deck 47.

[0077] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the elevator 114 of each mast 112 comprises a boom arm 130 and a grab cradle 132 held by the boom arm 130.

[0078] In the example shown in Figure 6, the boom arm 130 protrudes horizontally from the mast 112. It is mounted on the mast 112 so as to be movable along the axis of the mast 112, for example via rollers. The boom arm 130 follows, for example, a guide 134 provided on the mast 112.

[0079] In this example, the boom arm 130 has a fixed length from the mast 112. In modified versions not shown, the boom arm 130 is, for example, extendable and retractable.

[0080] The grab cradle 132 is movably mounted on the boom arm 130 along an axis E-E' perpendicular to the axis of the mast 112. It is mounted, for example, on rollers guided on the boom arm 130.

[0081] In a modified version in which the boom arm 130 is deployable, the grab cradle 132 is movable away from the mast 112 while the boom arm 130 is deployed.

[0082] In the example shown in Figure 7, the grab cradle 132 includes a C-shaped member, which defines an open central housing 138 at its center, intended to house the wind turbine equipment. The central housing 138 defines the wind turbine equipment housing axis F-F', which in this example extends perpendicularly to the boom arm axis E-E'.

[0083] The grab cradle 132 further comprises a lateral displacer 140 for the wind turbine equipment and a rotary displacer 142 for the wind turbine equipment.

[0084] The lateral displacer 140 includes, for example, rollers or tracks configured to displace the wind turbine equipment housed in the housing 138 along the axis F-F' of the wind turbine equipment housing.

[0085] The rotary displacer 142 also includes rollers and / or tracks that may be common to the rollers and / or tracks of the lateral displacer 140.

[0086] The rotary displacer 142 is configured to rotate the wind turbine equipment within the housing 138 around the axis F-F' of the wind turbine equipment storage section.

[0087] Therefore, each lifting unit 110A, 110B is configured to independently lift the wind turbine equipment housed in the housing 138 of the grab cradle 132 along the vertical axis, move the wind turbine equipment away from the mast 112 along the boom arm axis E-E', and also displace the wind turbine equipment along the housing axis F-F' via the lateral displacer 140. It is further configured to locally rotate the wind turbine equipment housed in the housing 138 about the housing axis F-F'.

[0088] Furthermore, since the lifting units 110A and 110B can operate independently of each other, the grab cradle 132 is configured to be placed in different horizontal and vertical positions. Therefore, by setting the grab cradle 132 at different heights, it is possible to tilt the wind turbine equipment housed in each housing 138 with respect to an axis parallel to the boom arm axis E-E'. It is also possible to tilt the wind turbine equipment housed in each housing 138 with respect to a vertical axis by placing the grab cradle 132 of the lifting units 110A and 110B at different longitudinal positions away from the mast 112.

[0089] Therefore, it is very easy to adjust the angle of the connection of the wind turbine equipment to the wind turbine 20 when installing or replacing the wind turbine equipment.

[0090] In an advantageous embodiment, the grab cradle 132 has an air cushion for holding the wind turbine equipment within the grab cradle 132. The air cushion prevents damage to the wind turbine equipment and provides additional adjustability, movement compensation, and movement damping.

[0091] The lifting actuator 116 includes, for example, a rack and pinion mechanism, a hydraulic mechanism, a pneumatic mechanism, or a winch operating mechanism, and controls the vertical displacement of the boom arm 130, the horizontal displacement of the grab cradle 132, and / or the lateral displacer 140 or the rotary displacer 142.

[0092] The position compensation device 118 includes at least one sensor 150 configured to determine data representing the vertical displacement between the floating foundation 16 of the wind turbine platform 14 and the floating base 46 of the intervention platform 10 when the floating base 46 is docked on the floating foundation 16.

[0093] The position compensation device 118 further comprises a controller 152 configured to control a lifting actuator 116 to compensate for vertical displacement between the floating foundation 16 and the floating base 46.

[0094] The sensors 150 include, for example, optical sensors, mechanical sensors, accelerometers, and GPS. The sensors are positioned on either or each of the floating foundation 16 and the floating base 46.

[0095] The sensor 150 is configured to provide data representing vertical displacement and, optionally, other horizontal displacements. The data is available at at least one intervention height, preferably multiple intervention heights.

[0096] The controller 152 includes, for example, a computer having a processor and a memory with software configured to calculate control commands for the lifting actuator 116 in response to data representing the vertical displacement measured by the sensor 150 by executing a control loop. In a modified example, the computer includes a field-programmable gate array or other dedicated integrated circuit.

[0097] Next, a method for intervening in a wind turbine platform 14 using the intervention platform 10 according to the present invention will be described.

[0098] First, the intervention platform 10 approaches the wind turbine platform 14 using its propeller 76. This approach is controlled by dynamic positioning, which positions the floating support 52 of the floating base 46 at a certain distance from the floating support 22 of the floating foundation 16 without colliding with the anchor line 30 of the anchor assembly 17.

[0099] Next, the contact arm 74 is activated. The contact arm 74, which is in its upper dry position, is lowered to its lower wet position. If deployable, the contact arm 74 is deployed, and its free end 88 makes contact with the floating column 22 of the floating foundation 16. The free end 88 is connected to the floating column 22 of the floating foundation 16 by a connecting device, if available, so that the two floating columns 52 of the floating base 46 are fixed to each of the two floating columns 22 of the floating foundation 16 by at least two connection points.

[0100] In the modified version, fewer connection points or connection points at other locations on the floating foundation 16 can be provided.

[0101] Next, the mooring equipment 78, propeller 76, and / or hydraulic arm are used to pull the floating foundation 16 and floating base 46 together.

[0102] Next, the heave plate 70 under the floating base 46 of the intervention platform 10 is positioned under the lower surface 42 of the floating foundation 16, and in particular under the floating support column 22.

[0103] When the heave plates 70 are deployable, they are deployed, for example, by rotation or extension provided by the actuator 83, so as to project away from the floating base 46 toward and beneath the floating foundation 16. They are then locked in the deployed position by the locking system 83A.

[0104] If necessary, the draft of the floating base 46 is adjusted by the ballast controller 86, allowing the heave plate 70 to be freely positioned below the lower surface 42.

[0105] When the heave plate 70 is positioned below the lower surface 42, particularly below the floating support 22, the ballast controller 86 removes ballast from the floating base 46. This reduces the draft of the floating base 46, applying the upper surface 80 of the heave plate 70 to the lower surface 42 and applying an upward force to the lower surface 42.

[0106] If present, anchor equipment 82 on the upper surface 80 is actuated to connect to the lower surface 42 by vacuum / hydrostatic pressure, suction, mechanically, and / or magnetically.

[0107] The floating foundation 16 and floating base 46 behave as much like a single body as possible, helping to reduce any relative motion at nacelle height.

[0108] In this case, the intervention method includes installation or maintenance work on the wind turbine 20.

[0109] Next, we will describe the disassembly and replacement of wind turbine components. Wind turbine components include, for example, blades 40.

[0110] Before engaging the wind turbine platform 14, the wind turbine equipment is loaded into the storage section 102 of the intervention platform 10 using a crane 104 from a wind turbine equipment transport vessel or wind turbine equipment transport barge.

[0111] First, the elevators 114 of each lifting unit 110A, 110B are raised in alignment with the wind turbine equipment, and each reaches its installation position. The lifting actuator 116 moves the boom arm 130, grab cradle 132, lateral displacer 140, and / or rotary displacer 142 to place the wind turbine equipment into the housing 138.

[0112] When the grab cradle is near the wind turbine equipment, the position compensation device 118 is energized. Sensor 150 detects potential vertical displacement between the floating foundation 16 of the wind turbine platform 14 and the floating base 46 of the intervention platform 10. Sensor 150 supplies data representing the vertical displacement, and possibly other horizontal displacements, to the controller 152.

[0113] At each moment, the controller 152 calculates a control command for the lifting actuator 116 in response to data representing the vertical displacement measured by the sensor 150 by executing a control loop, and provides the control command to the lifting actuator 116.

[0114] Next, the lifting actuator 116 moves the elevator 114 in response to a control command to compensate for the vertical displacement between the floating foundation 16 and the floating base 46.

[0115] The grad cradle 132 securely latches onto the wind turbine equipment. If the equipment is a blade 40, remove the blade connection nuts from the blade connection bolts.

[0116] Next, the grab cradle 132 is moved along the boom arm 130 to shift the wind turbine equipment away from the wind turbine 20. The position compensation device 118 is then de-energized.

[0117] Next, the elevator 114 is moved downward to their unloading / loading positions. Then, the wind turbine equipment is moved by the crane 104 into the available space within the storage compartment 102.

[0118] The new wind turbine equipment is removed from the storage unit 102 and positioned on the elevator 114. The elevator 114 is raised to its installation position, for example, in the nacelle 34. Again, the position compensation device 118 is energized as described above.

[0119] Next, the grab cradle 132 is individually positioned to place the wind turbine equipment in the correct position and orientation for assembly on the wind turbine 20.

[0120] This adjustment is facilitated by the independent operation of each lifting unit 110A, 110B, providing vertical translation of the boom arm 130 along the mast 112, horizontal translation of the grab cradle 132 along the boom arm 130, and additional degrees of freedom for translation and rotation using the lateral displacer 140 and the rotational displacer 142.

[0121] If the wind turbine equipment consists of blades 40, the grab cradle 132 aligns the blade bolts with the nacelle holes and shifts the new blades into the nacelle 34. Blade connection nuts are then installed on the bolts.

[0122] Once the wind turbine equipment is positioned in place, the grab cradle 132 releases its latch from the wind turbine equipment, descends, and is cleared. The position compensation device 118 is then de-energized.

[0123] Next, the previous step can be repeated to install or replace other equipment as needed.

[0124] Once the intervention is complete, the intervention platform 10 disconnects from the wind turbine platform 14.

[0125] In the example above, the anchoring equipment 82 is stopped, and the ballast controller 86 increases the draft of the floating base 46, removing the heave plate 70 from the underside 32. The mooring equipment 78 and contact arm 74 are disconnected from the floating foundation 16.

[0126] Next, the propeller 76 is energized to move the intervention platform 10 away from the wind turbine platform 16 toward the transport ship and / or to dock with another wind turbine platform 16.

[0127] Accordingly, the intervention platform 10 according to the present invention is configured to perform self-propelled and low-emission operations, including installation and maintenance at deep-sea wind farms having a floating wind turbine platform 16. The operating characteristics, similar to those of the wind turbine platform 16, enable safe and easy operations at wind farms, assisting with inspections, maintenance, repair work, and replacement of blades and turbines (gears, rotors, transformers, etc.).

[0128] In particular, when equipped with a position compensation device 118, the lifting tower 100 of the intervention platform 10 enables adaptable and accurate positioning of the wind turbine equipment, even when the wind turbine 20 is held by a floating foundation 16 rather than by a fixed base system, and allows for the assembly and / or disassembly of the wind turbine equipment from the wind turbine 20 in a safe and easy manner.

[0129] Therefore, intervention platform 10 is particularly well-suited for deeper water interventions.

[0130] In a modified example, when the intervention platform 10 is docked on the wind turbine platform 14, additional vertical and / or horizontal position compensation devices are provided between the boom arm 130 and the grab cradle 132 to further compensate for the relative displacement between the intervention platform 10 and the wind turbine platform 14.

[0131] In the examples shown in Figures 8 and 9, at least one lifting unit 110A, 110B is equipped with a mobile cleaning unit 160a.

[0132] The cleaning unit 160a includes a robotic arm 163 having one or more links with rotational degrees of freedom and one or more arm sections that can be extended in length and have the function of allowing the cleaning unit to move up and down.

[0133] The cleaning unit 160a also includes a connection 162 which can be movably mounted on the tower mast 112, for example, on the elevator 114, or alternatively, mounted on a mobile crane having a long-reach arm which can be positioned on either the floating base 46 or the floating foundation 16.

[0134] Another option is for the cleaning unit 160a to be attached to the wind turbine 20 itself via a system configured to move the wind turbine 20 up and down.

[0135] The cleaning unit 160a further includes jaws 161 that can surround wind turbine equipment such as blades 40 by an opening and closing mechanism.

[0136] Referring to Figure 9, within the jaw 161, the cleaning unit 160a advantageously includes a water spray and soap nozzle 165, a hot air dryer 166, a rubber blade or scrub 167, a visualization / inspection tool 168 including a light, and / or a runoff collector 169. The runoff collector 169, if present, allows for cleaning of the wind turbine equipment in a horizontal position and collection of debris (e.g., soap particles, paint, etc.).

[0137] The cleaning unit 160a also has hoses 164a and 164b, respectively, for supplying cold and hot fresh water and for discharging water and / or debris.

[0138] The cleaning unit 160a is preferably associated with a separate effluent collector 161b positioned at the free end of the blade when the blade 40 is positioned vertically.

[0139] The effluent collector 161b is connected to an effluent treatment system 171 having a filter and a treatment unit with a filter. Thus, pollutants are not released into the water body 12, and wildlife are prevented from ingesting small blade particles. The treated water is collected and reused, and the waste is safely disposed of or collected and transported on land for further treatment.

[0140] In the preferred operation of the cleaning unit 160a, the blade 40 is positioned vertically. The lower free end of the blade 40 is placed in the effluent collector 161b. The jaws 161 are then opened and lifted around the blade 40 to insert the blade 40 into the jaws 161. The jaws 161 are then closed, and the cleaning unit 160a is moved along the blade 40.

[0141] Next, a water spray and soap nozzle 165, a hot air dryer 166, a rubber blade or scrub 167, and / or a visualization / inspection tool 168 including a light are activated and move vertically along the blade 40 to clean its outer surface.

[0142] The effluent sprayed onto the blade 40 within the jaw 161 flows down along the blade 40 and reaches the free end of the blade. It is then collected in the effluent collector 161b and transported to the effluent treatment system 171.

[0143] In the example shown in Figure 10, at least one lifting unit 110A, 110B is equipped with a mobile wind turbine reinforcement unit 160b.

[0144] The reinforcement unit 160b has a structure similar to that of the cleaning unit 160a, and has jaws 161 attached to the robotic arm 163, and is movable along the lifting units 110A, 110B, and / or the mast 112 of the wind turbine 20.

[0145] The reinforcement unit 160b can treat mechanical damage (such as cracks) to the wind turbine equipment, in this case the blades 40, and allow the wind turbine equipment to self-repair advantageously.

[0146] The reinforcement unit 160b is configured to apply heat locally (by electricity, friction, and / or chemical reaction) to areas with mechanical damage so that the materials of the wind turbine equipment (e.g., resin and / or coatings) can self-repair.

[0147] The reinforcement unit 160b includes at least one heating source 170 configured to locally concentrate heat on a given region within the jaw 161. The heating source 170 is configured to raise the temperature of the given region to, for example, 80°C to 250°C. The heated material (e.g., resin or coating) can be plastically deformed to fill and fix mechanical damage such as cracks.

[0148] In modified or supplementary examples, the reinforcement unit 160b includes a localized resin dispenser and / or coating dispenser configured to heat and distribute resin and / or coating to fill mechanical damage.

[0149] In that case, the reinforcement unit 160b may have a vacuum, pressure, or vibrating applicator 171 to help the resin or coating enter mechanical damage. The jaws 161 are then advantageously equipped with air cushions (not shown) on their edges so that an airtight housing sealing around the blade can be defined.

[0150] In a modified or supplementary example, the reinforcement unit 160b has at least one tool 172 for drilling holes and making small cuts in the wind turbine equipment.

[0151] In another embodiment, the lifting tower 100 of the intervention platform 10 does not have a position compensation device. It may be a simpler device, such as a lifting crane with a cradle.

Claims

1. An offshore floating intervention platform (10) intended to temporarily dock with an offshore wind turbine platform (14) to perform installation and / or maintenance interventions on a wind turbine (20), wherein the intervention platform (10) - A floating base (46) having a bottom surface (60) intended to be immersed in a body of water (12), - comprising at least one wind turbine equipment lifting tower (100) configured to lift at least one piece of equipment of the wind turbine (20), The offshore floating intervention platform (10) has at least one heave plate (70) configured to project laterally from the floating base (46), the at least one heave plate (70) defining an upper surface (80) configured to engage with the lower surface (42) of the offshore wind turbine platform (14), the floating base (46) has at least one ballast storage volume (84), and the offshore floating intervention platform (10) has a ballast controller (86) configured to control the amount of ballast stored in the ballast storage volume (84) in order to lift the upper surface (80) of the heave plate (70) that is in contact with the lower surface (42) of the offshore wind turbine platform (14). The offshore floating intervention platform (10) comprises at least one contact arm (74) configured to project from the floating base (46) above the heave plate (70) and to contact the offshore wind turbine platform (14), An offshore floating intervention platform (10) characterized in that at least one contact arm (74) has a free end (88) equipped with a connecting device configured to be reversibly connected to the offshore wind turbine platform (14).

2. The floating base (46) comprises at least three floating support columns (52) and frame elements (54) connecting the at least three floating support columns (52), and the at least one heave plate (70) protrudes from at least one of the three floating support columns (52), the offshore floating intervention platform (10) according to claim 1.

3. The offshore floating intervention platform (10) according to claim 2, comprising at least two heave plates (70) configured to protrude from adjacent floating support columns (52) of the floating base (46).

4. The offshore floating intervention platform (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one heave plate (70) is configured to be aligned with and protrude from the lower surface (60) of the floating base (46), and / or to protrude from the lower surface (60) of the floating base (46).

5. The offshore floating intervention platform (10) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one heave plate (70) is deployable from the floating base (46), particularly by rotation or in an extendable manner.

6. The offshore floating intervention platform (10) according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface (80) of the at least one heave plate (70) holds an anchor device (82) configured to restrict or restrain movement between the upper surface (80) of the at least one heave plate (70) and the lower surface (42) of the offshore wind turbine platform (14).

7. The offshore floating intervention platform (10) according to claim 6, wherein the anchoring device (82) is a friction pad and / or a suction device.

8. The offshore floating intervention platform (10) according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device is a mechanical connecting device, a suction connecting device, and / or a magnetic connecting device.

9. The offshore floating intervention platform (10) according to claim 1, comprising at least one propeller (76) protruding from the lower surface (60) of the floating base (46).

10. The offshore floating intervention platform (10) according to claim 1, comprising at least one mooring device (78) comprising a mooring winch and at least one mooring line deployable from the offshore floating intervention platform (10) for mooring to the offshore wind turbine platform (14).

11. The offshore floating intervention platform (10) according to claim 1, comprising a deck (47) held by the floating base (46) and a wind turbine equipment storage section (102) having wind turbine equipment racks disposed on the deck (47).

12. An assembly comprising an offshore wind turbine platform (14) and an offshore floating intervention platform (10) according to claim 1, docked to the offshore wind turbine platform (14), wherein the upper surface (80) of the heave plate (70) is engaged with the lower surface (42) of the offshore wind turbine platform (14).

13. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein the offshore wind turbine platform (14) comprises a floating foundation (16) having at least three floating columns (22) and frame elements (24) connecting the at least three floating columns (22), the at least three floating columns (22) defining at least a portion of the lower surface (42) of the offshore wind turbine platform (14), and the heave plate (70) is engaged below the floating columns (22) of the offshore wind turbine platform (14).

14. - A step of transporting the offshore floating intervention platform (10) described in claim 1 to the vicinity of the offshore wind turbine platform (14), - The step of placing the upper surface (80) of at least one heave plate (70) below the lower surface (42) of the offshore wind turbine platform (14), - The steps of lifting the upper surface (80) of the heave plate (70) that is in contact with the lower surface (42) of the offshore wind turbine platform (14) and removing ballast from the ballast storage volume (84) of the floating base (46) in order to fix the offshore floating intervention platform (10) to the offshore wind turbine platform (14), - A step of performing intervention on the wind turbine (20) of the offshore wind turbine platform (14), - In order to disengage the upper surface (80) from the lower surface (42), the floating base (46) is ballasted by introducing ballast into the ballast storage volume (84), A method of intervention on an offshore wind turbine platform (14), comprising the step of transporting the offshore floating intervention platform (10) away from the offshore wind turbine platform (14).

15. The intervention method according to claim 14, wherein performing the intervention includes using the lifting tower (100) to remove wind turbine equipment, particularly blades (40), from the wind turbine (20), and / or using the lifting tower (100) to attach wind turbine equipment to the wind turbine (20).

Images