Expandable Support Apparatus for Offshore Wind Turbine Jacket Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Offshore structures, such as wind turbines, face challenges during installation due to movement between the jacket and piles, which can damage subsea packers and grippers, and increase installation costs, especially when waiting for calm weather conditions to ensure a strong connection.
Innovation Solution
A support apparatus with expandable or movable elements and planar members that can transition between configurations to protect the elements during installation and provide additional support, stabilizing forces, and limiting damage from shearing forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If subsea packers and grippers are used to secure the jacket to the pile, then the connection strength is improved, but the device complexity increases and the packers are prone to damage from shearing forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs simple, robust planar members with foldable structures that can be easily replaced if damaged, rather than complex reusable packers and grippers. These planar members provide the necessary support during installation without the mechanical complexity of traditional packers, reducing both device complexity and vulnerability to damage from shearing forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential support function from complex packers and grippers, isolating only the necessary structural elements (planar members) required to prevent movement between jacket and pile. This simplification removes unnecessary moving parts and configurable components that make traditional devices complex and prone to damage.
2Force
If complex packers and grippers with multiple moving components are used, then the gripping force is improved, but the reliability decreases due to susceptibility to damage during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions planar members between the jacket and pile before the cemented connection is fully cured. These planar members act as protective elements that cushion and distribute loads, preventing direct transmission of shearing forces to any gripping components. This beforehand protection ensures reliability by eliminating the vulnerability of complex moving parts during the critical installation period.
3Manufacturing precision
If waiting for calm weather conditions is implemented to prevent movement, then the connection quality is improved, but the loss of time and increased installation costs occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary support measures by installing planar members between the jacket and pile before the cement connection is complete. This preliminary action provides immediate stabilization that prevents movement regardless of weather conditions, eliminating the need to wait for calm weather and thereby reducing installation time and costs while maintaining connection quality.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4A
AI summary
There is disclosed a support apparatus (200a, 200b; 300) for use with at least one expandable or movable element (150a, 150b; 350) for locating a first structure or member (175; 375) and a second structure or member (185; 385) relative to one another. The support apparatus (200a, 200b; 300) comprises at least one planar member (310, 320) configurable between a first configuration and a second configuration by expansion and/or movement of the at least one expandable or movable element (15a, 150b; 350).