Buoyant Offshore Wind Turbine Foundation for Stable Self-Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing offshore wind turbine foundation solutions, particularly SPAR platforms, face challenges with stability during transport and installation, requiring additional means like barges or cranes, and have difficulties in achieving optimal stability and buoyancy without excessive size or complexity.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a first body with high buoyancy and low weight, a second submerged body with high weight, and legs with a locking system, providing a stable flotation pattern and allowing for easy transport and installation by submerging the second body, ensuring stability through a balanced buoyancy and weight distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If SPAR platforms are used to provide stability through low center of gravity, then offshore behavior is exceptional, but additional transport means (barges or cranes) are required and installation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the platform structure with the foundation elements by integrating the ballast tanks directly into the platform body. The platform comprises a hull with ballast tanks that can be filled with water to achieve negative buoyancy, allowing the platform to sink to its operational position. This integration eliminates the need for separate ballast systems or additional transport means, as the platform can transport itself by controlling its buoyancy state.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform is designed to be self-sufficient in terms of positioning and installation. By incorporating ballast tanks that can be independently controlled, the platform can adjust its own buoyancy to transition between transport mode (positive buoyancy at surface) and operational mode (negative buoyancy submerged). This self-service capability eliminates the need for external barges or cranes to assist with positioning and installation.
2Reliability
If semi-submersible platforms are used to acquire stability through high flotation inertia, then good offshore performance is achieved, but large dimensions make it difficult to find construction docks and ports with required dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs dynamic buoyancy control through ballast tanks that can be filled or emptied to change the platform's overall density. During transport, the ballast tanks are kept empty to maintain positive buoyancy and keep the platform afloat at the surface. During installation, the tanks are filled to achieve negative buoyancy and sink the platform to its operational depth. This dynamic state change allows the platform to adapt its effective size and position without requiring large dock facilities.
3Reliability
If TLP platforms are used to acquire stability through anchoring system, then exceptional offshore behavior is achieved, but installation becomes difficult due to large tendons
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the complex anchoring system with large tendons from the platform design. Instead of using TLP-style tension legs, the platform relies on its own buoyancy control capabilities through integrated ballast tanks. The platform can independently adjust its depth and position by controlling water intake in the ballast tanks, eliminating the need for separate anchoring systems and large tendons that complicate installation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables stable offshore wind turbine support without additional transport means, optimizing buoyancy and weight distribution for enhanced stability and ease of installation, facilitating maintenance and dismantling.
Implementation Method 1
the first body has a volume and a weight configured to provide, when empty, a buoyancy of at least 20% of the weight of the entire device
Implementation Method 2
TLPs (Tension-Leg Platforms) are platforms which acquire stability by means of their anchoring system, which is pulled taut because the main structure has a hydrostatic thrust that is greater than its weight
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for supporting an offshore wind turbine tower. The device comprises a first body (1), a support body (3) attached to the first body (1), a second body (2) and a plurality of legs (4) attached to the second body (2). The support body (3) has a cylindrical interior and is configured to provide support for and connection of a wind turbine tower (10). The first body (1) comprises a central portion (5) connected to the support body (3) and a plurality of hollow arms (6), connected with the central portion (5). Each hollow arm (6) comprises a through-hole (7) configured to allow a leg (4) to pass through the through-hole. The first body (1) has a volume and a weight configured to provide, when empty, a buoyancy of at least 20% of the weight of the entire device, the weight of the first body (1) being less than 8% of the weight of the entire device. The legs (4) and/or the first body (1) have a locking system configured to lock the relative position between the legs and the first body.