Foundation Toe Gas Injection for Lower Soil Suspension Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of structural foundations, particularly offshore wind turbine monopiles, faces high mechanical resistance due to soil suspension pressure, leading to increased installation forces, noise pollution, and environmental hazards, with existing noise mitigation methods being costly and insufficient for larger foundations.
Innovation Solution
A gas injecting system is used to reduce soil suspension pressure by injecting gas into the displaced soil suspension region during installation, utilizing a combination of liquid jets and gas outlets to lower the pressure without the need for complex pumping systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If liquid jetting systems are used to displace soil during foundation installation, then soil displacement is improved, but soil suspension pressure increases and resists further installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces gas as an intermediary substance injected into the soil suspension region. The gas bubbles act as a mediator between the liquid jetting system and the soil, reducing the density and pressure of the soil suspension by creating a gas-liquid-soil mixture that is easier to displace and reduces resistance to foundation installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the soil suspension by injecting gas, transforming it from a dense liquid-soil mixture to a lighter gas-liquid-soil suspension. This parameter change reduces the suspension pressure and allows continued soil displacement without increasing installation forces.
2Force
If conventional pumping systems are used to evacuate fluid from the foundation cavity, then soil suspension pressure is reduced, but device complexity and installation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pumping system with a gas injection system. Instead of using mechanically complex pumps to evacuate fluid, the invention uses gas injection to reduce soil suspension pressure through buoyancy and pressure equalization, eliminating the need for complex mechanical evacuation equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas injection system enables the foundation installation process to self-regulate soil suspension pressure without external pumping equipment. The injected gas naturally rises and creates pressure equilibrium, allowing the system to manage soil suspension independently without additional mechanical intervention.
3Force
If pile hammers are used to drive foundations into the ground, then installation force is sufficient, but noise pollution and environmental harm increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical impact system of pile hammers with a controlled gas injection and liquid jetting system. This substitution eliminates the high-impact mechanical strikes that generate noise, using instead a controlled soil displacement process that achieves foundation installation without harmful noise levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of soil resistance into a beneficial process by using gas injection to reduce soil suspension pressure. The soil displacement process, which initially creates resistance, is transformed into a controlled mechanism that reduces installation forces and eliminates noise when combined with gas injection.
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 system effectively reduces installation resistance and noise generation, allowing monopiles to be installed without pile hammers, simplifying offshore operations and reducing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of outlets for injecting a gas into the displaced soil suspension region for reducing soil suspension pressure at the toe
Implementation Method 2
jetting systems incorporated into the foundation have also been used to jet liquid to erode and break up soil
Implementation Method 3
the use of electro-osmosis in clay type soils to reduce the pile driving resistance in offshore installations by attracting water in the soil towards the foundation body acting as a cathode and providing a lubricating effect
Data Source
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AI summary
A gas injecting system (10) for use with installing a foundation (100) having a body (12) for insertion into soil (200) in an insertion direction during installation. The body (12) having a toe (22) at its distal end (20). The toe (22) defining an aperture (24) into an internal cavity (18), wherein soil (200) is displaced laterally into a displaced soil suspension region (26) within the internal cavity (18) when the toe moves through the soil (200) during installation. The gas jetting system (10) comprises a plurality of outlets for injecting a gas into the displaced soil suspension region (26) for applying a lifting force to soil (200) suspended in the displaced soil suspension region (26) for reducing soil suspension pressure at the toe (22).