Floating Wind Turbine Foundation With Built-In Crane and Deep Buoyancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Floating offshore wind turbines face challenges with costly and time-consuming assembly, maintenance, instability due to hydrodynamic and aerodynamic forces, and scalability issues, particularly in deep waters, and they require specialized cranes for assembly and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A floating foundation structure with a slender support structure near sea level, incorporating built-in crane functionality, tilting devices, and damper plates to stabilize the nacelle, and a design that absorbs forces as tension/compression rather than bending moments, allowing for easy assembly and maintenance of wind turbine generators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a floating foundation uses a large support structure exposed to waves and wind, then it can provide sufficient stability, but it absorbs more hydrodynamical and aerodynamical forces resulting in increased cyclical movement and stress
Solution Approach 1:
The invention relocates the buoyancy elements from the traditional position near the water surface to a deeper vertical dimension below sea level. This dimensional change allows the support structure to have a slender profile at sea level (reducing wave and wind exposure) while maintaining stability through deep-submerged buoyancy elements that are positioned where hydrodynamical forces are reduced.
2Ease of manufacture
If assembly and maintenance require large expensive cranes both on and offshore, then wind turbine components can be lifted and mounted, but the process becomes costly and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The floating foundation is designed with built-in crane functionality integrated into its structure. This self-service capability allows the foundation to perform its own assembly and maintenance operations without requiring external heavy-lift cranes, thereby reducing both cost and time for these operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating foundation structure incorporates multiple functions including support, buoyancy, and integrated crane operations. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized vessels and equipment, allowing a single structure to handle both stability provision and component installation/maintenance.
3Ease of operation
If the nacelle is transported in an upright / almost vertical position to simplify offshore installation, then towing is simplified, but many wind turbine generator producers will not deliver nacelles suitable for this position
Solution Approach 1:
The nacelle platform is designed with tilting capability that allows it to dynamically adjust its orientation. During towing, the nacelle can be positioned vertically for simplified transport, while during operation or assembly, it can be tilted to a horizontal position to be compatible with standard wind turbine generator producers' specifications and lifting utilities.
4Reliability
If floating foundations are designed for deep water operations, then they can access locations with strong and more laminar wind flow, but the support structures become very expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The floating foundation employs a slender, flexible support structure design with thin-walled buoyancy elements that can be fully submerged. This allows the structure to operate in deep water locations with superior wind flow conditions while minimizing material usage and construction costs compared to traditional bottom-fixed support structures.
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 cost-effective scalability, increased stability, and reduced wave load impact, enabling efficient assembly and maintenance of wind turbines of various sizes, while minimizing vibrations and resonance, thus enhancing operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a first support leg buoyancy member fixed to a lower end of the first support leg adapted to be completely submerged, a second support leg buoyancy member fixed to a lower end of the second support leg adapted to be completely submerged; a tower buoyancy member fixed to a lower end of a tower adapted to be completely submerged
Implementation Method 2
a nacelle tilting device for tilting the nacelle platform and/or the nacelle
Implementation Method 3
a mooring line connected to the floating foundation around which the floating foundation is adapted to weathervane
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a floating foundation for wind turbine generators and a method for installing a wind turbine generator on top of and performing maintenance on said foundation. The floating foundation includes a tower and two support legs pivotally connected to the tower, forming a tripod-like structure. The floating foundation may include hydrodynamic damping elements and a single point mooring system leaving the foundation free to weathervane. The invention also relates to a method for using the structure as a crane, lowering and raising the turbine platform against and from e.g. a service barge during maintenance or assembly.