Floating Foundation with Concrete Buoyancy and Steel Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floating foundation structures for offshore installations, such as wind turbines, face challenges in balancing load-bearing capacity, manufacturing costs, and logistical efforts due to the need for significant buoyancy forces and complex geometric shapes, often resulting in high steel usage and corrosion issues.
Innovation Solution
A mixed construction floating foundation structure using buoyancy bodies partially made of concrete and connecting steel elements, featuring a load-bearing space frame with prefabricated reinforced concrete parts and steel pipe segments, allowing for decoupled buoyancy and load transfer, and adaptable mass distribution via ballast elements, enabling efficient construction and reduced steel usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel is used extensively to provide buoyancy and load-bearing capacity, then the structural strength and stability are improved, but the manufacturing costs and corrosion resistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite construction by combining concrete buoyancy bodies with steel structural elements. The concrete portions provide corrosion resistance and buoyancy, while the steel elements provide structural strength and load-bearing capacity. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by assigning different materials to different functional requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The structure uses different materials in different locations based on their suitability: concrete is used for buoyancy bodies and corrosion-prone areas, while steel is used for load-bearing structural elements. This localized material selection optimizes both corrosion resistance and structural strength.
2Stability of the object's composition
If complex geometric shapes are used to accommodate load transfer and buoyancy forces, then the structural stability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and costs deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The floating foundation is divided into modular components: separate buoyancy bodies, structural elements, and connection pieces. These segments can be manufactured independently using standard processes and then assembled, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining the complex geometric configuration needed for stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The structure employs nested configurations where structural elements are positioned within or between buoyancy bodies, and connection pieces are integrated into both. This nesting approach allows complex geometries to be achieved through systematic assembly of simpler components.
3Force
If large buoyancy forces are generated to support heavy installations, then the load-bearing capacity is improved, but the required steel quantity and corrosion risks deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from pure steel to concrete for buoyancy bodies, which have lower density than steel but sufficient buoyancy properties. This parameter change reduces the quantity of material needed while maintaining the required buoyancy forces, and concrete's inherent corrosion resistance further reduces maintenance requirements.
4Productivity
If prefabricated components are used to reduce construction time, then the productivity is improved, but the connection complexity and manufacturing precision requirements deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Components such as buoyancy bodies and structural elements are pre-manufactured and pre-assembled into modular units before installation. This preliminary action allows for quality control and precision in a controlled manufacturing environment, and the pre-assembled modules can be quickly installed at the site, improving overall productivity.
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
The solution provides a cost-effective, corrosion-resistant, and adaptable floating foundation capable of supporting large installations like wind turbines up to 6 megawatts, with reduced steel usage, minimized maintenance, and efficient construction for depths up to 1000 meters, while maintaining stability against wave and wind influences.
Implementation Method 1
These must generate buoyancy forces that far exceed the weight of the structure they support and the floating foundation in order to keep the structure stable
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
The floating foundation supporting framework according to the invention for offshore structures comprises a plurality of buoyancy elements which are arranged on the outside of a bar-type supporting framework which in turn is connected to ballast elements via cables (8, 9, 10). This design results in a simple construction and low construction costs.