Wind turbine installation vessel having preloading weight kit

Abstract

A wind turbine installation vessel comprising a preloading weight kit is disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a wind turbine installation vessel may be provided comprising: a hull; a plurality of legs movably coupled to the hull in an up-and-down direction and fixed to the seabed; and a preloading weight kit each detachably coupled to the top of the plurality of legs.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wind turbine installation vessel comprising a preloading weight kit. Background Technology

[0002] With the recent rapid growth of the offshore wind power market, the demand for wind turbine installation vessels (WTIVs) is increasing. In particular, as wind farms are being proactively constructed, primarily in the North Sea, preloading operations to penetrate the legs into the solid seabed are becoming a critical issue.

[0003] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the process of installing a wind turbine installation vessel at sea.

[0004] Referring to FIG. 1, when the wind turbine installation vessel arrives at the installation area in a sailing mode with the legs raised (see FIG. 1 (a)), it can lower the legs so that the spud can formed at the bottom of the legs comes into contact with the seabed (see FIG. 1 (b)), perform a preloading operation to apply a load so that the spud can penetrate and be fixed to the seabed (see FIG. 1 (c)), and switch to a jack-up mode by lifting the hull to the top of the legs (see FIG. 1 (d)).

[0005] At this time, to increase the preloading load of the wind turbine installation vessel, methods such as increasing the size of the hull or increasing the cargo weight loaded on the deck may be used. However, the first method has the problem that it may exceed the limit of the jacking module used to lift the hull, and the second method has the problem that if the cargo weight increases to a certain extent, the longitudinal strength members of the hull must also increase, and as a result, it may exceed the limit of the jacking module as in the first method. Prior art literature

[0006] Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 10-1644317 (August 2, 2016, Jack-up rig including preload tank assembly) The problem to be solved

[0007] An embodiment of the present invention provides a wind turbine installation vessel comprising a preloading weight kit that can increase the preloading load without increasing the hull size. means of solving the problem

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, a wind turbine installation vessel may be provided, comprising: a hull; a plurality of legs movably coupled to the hull in an up-and-down direction and fixed to the seabed; and a preloading weight kit detachably coupled to the top of each of the plurality of legs.

[0009] The above leg includes a plurality of currents extending in an upward and downward direction to the top of the leg, and the preloading weight kit may include a weight block; a housing having an open top surface so that the weight block can be inserted into a storage space; and a plurality of support bars extending downward from the housing and detachably coupled to each of the plurality of currents.

[0010] The above leg further includes a guide portion and a support portion formed at each of the plurality of currents, and the support bar can descend along the guide portion and be seated on the support portion.

[0011] The above leg may further include a replica extending in a horizontal direction that connects the plurality of currents, and the preloading weight kit may further include a load distribution member extending in the longitudinal direction of the replica and seated on the replica; and a connecting bar extending downward from the housing and connected to the load distribution member. Effects of the invention

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a preloading weight kit can be attached to the top of a plurality of legs to increase the preloading load, and since the load of the preloading weight kit is directly applied to the legs, there is no need to increase the longitudinal strength member of the hull, and thus there is no need to increase the size of the hull. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the process of installing a wind turbine installation vessel at sea, and FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating a wind turbine installation line according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the leg of FIG. 3, and Figure 5 is a drawing showing the interior of the housing of Figure 3. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0014] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0015] Unless explicitly defined otherwise, the terms used in the embodiments of the present invention may be interpreted in a sense that is generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, and are intended merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0016] In this specification, the singular form shall be deemed to include the plural form unless otherwise specifically stated.

[0017] In addition, if it is stated that a part "includes" a certain component, it means that the part may include additional components.

[0018] In addition, when a component is described as "up," it refers to the area above or below the component, and does not necessarily mean that it is located on the upper side relative to the direction of gravity.

[0019] In addition, where it is stated that a component is "connected" or "combined" to another component, this may include not only cases where the component is directly connected or combined to the other component, but also cases where the component is indirectly connected or combined through another component.

[0020] In addition, terms such as "first," "second," etc., may be used to describe a component; however, these terms are intended merely to distinguish the component from other components and are not intended to limit the essence, order, or sequence of the component.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating a wind turbine installation line according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of FIG. 2.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 2 and FIGS. 3, a wind turbine installation vessel (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a hull (100), a plurality of legs (200), and a preloading weight kit (400).

[0023] The hull (100) may be equipped with a propulsion device to enable the wind turbine installation vessel (10) to move in a sailing mode to the installation area, but is not necessarily limited thereto.

[0024] Each of the multiple legs (200) can be connected to the hull (100) so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and can be raised by a jacking module (300) installed on the hull (100). Accordingly, the multiple legs (200) can lift the hull (100) after being fixed to the seabed ground, and the wind turbine installation vessel (10) can be switched to a jack-up mode.

[0025] The leg (200) may be a truss structure including a plurality of currents (210) and a plurality of replicas (220).

[0026] The current (chord member) (210) can be extended vertically to the top of the leg (200).

[0027] The web member (220) can be extended horizontally or extended at an angle with respect to the horizontal direction to connect multiple web members (210).

[0028] The jacking module (300) may include a known rack and pinion structure to enable the leg (200) to be raised and lowered, wherein the rack gear may be formed longitudinally on the outer surface of the current (210).

[0029] The preloading weight kit (400) can be detachably attached to the top of each of the multiple legs (200).

[0030] Therefore, during the preloading operation of the wind turbine installation vessel (10), the preloading load by the preloading weight kit (400) can be applied directly to the leg (200) without passing through the hull (100). In addition, the preloading weight kit (400) can be detached from the leg (200) during the sailing mode and mounted on the hull (100) or a barge (not shown), thereby preventing a decrease in stability caused by the increase in the center of gravity of the wind turbine installation vessel (10). Furthermore, the preloading weight kit (400) can be maintained in a state connected to the leg (200) or detached from the leg (200) and mounted on a barge, thereby preventing the limit of the jacking module (300) from being exceeded or an excessive load exceeding the design load from being applied to the leg (200) during the jack-up after the preloading operation.

[0031] The preloading weight kit (400) may include a weight block (410), a housing (420), and a plurality of support bars (430), and may further include a load distribution member (440) and a connecting bar (450).

[0032] The weight block (410) may be made of steel, but is not necessarily limited to this.

[0033] The housing (420) can be connected to the top of the leg (200) via a plurality of support bars (430) and can be provided with a storage space into which a weight block (410) is inserted.

[0034] Additionally, a plurality of weight blocks (410) may be coupled to the housing (420). Therefore, if load control for a specific leg (200) is required depending on the seabed ground conditions during the preloading operation, the number of weight blocks (410) inserted into the housing (420) coupled to the leg (200) may be adjusted.

[0035] Meanwhile, a plurality of weight blocks (410) inserted into the housing (420) may be arranged facing each other in a horizontal direction or stacked in an up-and-down direction, and a main crane or auxiliary crane installed on the hull (100) may be used for the transfer, joining, or separation of the weight blocks (410) or the housing (420).

[0036] A plurality of support bars (430) can be extended downward from the lower surface of the housing (420) and each detachably connected to a plurality of currents (210).

[0037] Therefore, the load of the preloading weight kit (400) can be transferred through a plurality of currents (210).

[0038] Additionally, a guide portion (211) and a support portion (213) may be formed on each of the plurality of currents (210) so that the support bar (430) can be detachably coupled to the current (210). The guide portion (211) can guide the vertical movement of the support bar (430), and the support portion (213) can provide an upper surface on which the support bar (430) rests. Accordingly, the support bar (430) can descend along the guide portion (211) and rest on the support portion (213).

[0039] Here, the support bars (430) may be made up of a number corresponding to the current (210). For example, if the current (210) has 3 bars, the number of support bars (430) may also be 3.

[0040] The load distribution member (440) can be connected to the housing (420) through a plurality of connecting bars (450) that extend downward from the lower surface of the housing (420), and can be extended in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing member (220) that is arranged to extend horizontally at the top of the leg (200) and seated on the reinforcing member (220).

[0041] Accordingly, a portion of the load of the preloading weight kit (400) can be distributed through the load distribution member (440) and supported by the replica (220), and may prevent local bending behavior of the leg (200) or current (210) that may occur as the load of the preloading weight kit (400) increases.

[0042] Figure 4 is a plan view of the leg of Figure 3.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 4, the leg (200) may be a truss structure with a triangular cross-section, but is not necessarily limited thereto.

[0044] Additionally, the guide portion (211) may include a guide groove (211a) or a guide rail (211b).

[0045] The guide groove (211a) can be formed in a shape where a portion of the outer surface of the current (210) is recessed and can be extended in the vertical direction. The support bar (430) can be inserted into the guide groove (211a) through the open upper surface of the guide groove (211a).

[0046] The guide rail (211b) may be shaped to protrude from the outer surface of the current (210), and, for example, a pair of guide rails (211b) may wrap around the support bar (430) in cooperation with the outer surface of the current (210).

[0047] Figure 5 is a drawing showing the interior of the housing of Figure 3.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 5, a storage space in which a weight block (410) can be inserted may be formed within the housing (420), and the open upper surface of the housing (420) may be connected to the storage space. Accordingly, the weight block (410) can be inserted into the storage space through the open upper surface of the housing (420) even while it is already installed on the upper part of the leg (200) via a plurality of support bars (430) of the housing (420).

[0049] Meanwhile, the weight blocks (410) can be stacked within the storage space, and a rod-shaped jig (460) can be inserted between the weight blocks (410) facing each other in a horizontal direction to fix the position of the weight blocks (410).

[0050] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, this is merely illustrative and does not limit the invention. A person skilled in the art may modify and change the embodiments in various ways by adding, changing, deleting, or adding components without departing from the technical spirit of the invention as described in the claims, and such modifications and changes are also to be considered to be included within the scope of the rights of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0051] 10: Wind turbine installation vessel 100: Hull 200: Leg 210: Current 211: Guide Section 211a: Guide Home 211b: Guide rail 213: Support 220: Duplication 300: Jacking Module 400: Preloading Weight Kit 410: Weight Block 420: Housing 430: Support bar 440: Load distribution member 450: Connecting bar 460: Jig

Claims

Claim 1 A wind turbine installation vessel comprising: a hull; a plurality of legs coupled to the hull so as to be movable in the vertical direction and fixed to the seabed; and a preloading weight kit each detachably coupled to the upper end of the plurality of legs, wherein the leg comprises a plurality of currents extending in the vertical direction to the upper end of the leg, and the preloading weight kit comprises: a weight block; a housing having an open upper surface so that the weight block can be inserted into a storage space; and a plurality of support bars extending downward from the housing and detachably coupled to each of the plurality of currents, and wherein the leg further comprises a reinforcing member extending in the horizontal direction connecting the plurality of currents, and the preloading weight kit further comprises: a load distribution member extending in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing member and seated on the reinforcing member; and a connecting bar extending downward from the housing and connected to the load distribution member. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 In claim 1, the leg further comprises a guide portion and a support portion formed at each of the plurality of currents, and the support bar descends along the guide portion and is seated on the support portion, forming a wind turbine installation line. Claim 4 delete

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