Ground-Level Jacket Foundation Assembly for Offshore Wind Turbines
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing and installation of bottom-fixed offshore wind turbine foundations are significant contributors to the capital cost, necessitating more efficient methods to enhance the competitiveness of this technology.
Innovation Solution
A method for constructing a jacket foundation involving the preparation and assembly of leg sections and braces at ground level, minimizing elevated work, using lifting slings and self-propelled modular transporters for transition pieces, and enabling simultaneous operations at different stages of construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional elevated construction methods are used for jacket foundation assembly, then structural precision can be maintained, but construction cost increases and safety decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The jacket foundation is divided into multiple modular sections (first section with first and second legs, second section with third leg) that can be constructed separately at ground level and then assembled together. This segmentation allows ground-level welding operations while maintaining the ability to achieve precise structural alignment through controlled assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
Leg sections and braces are pre-assembled and pre-welded at ground level before final elevation and installation. This preliminary ground-level construction allows for safer, more efficient welding operations while ensuring structural precision is achieved during the controlled assembly phase at the construction site.
2Strength
If traditional elevated welding operations are performed, then structural integrity can be ensured, but construction time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The foundation structure is segmented into multiple sections that can be welded and assembled at ground level simultaneously. This parallel construction approach maintains structural integrity through proper welding procedures while significantly reducing overall construction time compared to sequential elevated assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
Welding operations are performed in advance at ground level during the pre-assembly phase, rather than during elevated installation. This preliminary welding action ensures structural integrity is achieved while productivity is improved by eliminating time-consuming elevated operations.
3Ease of operation
If ground-level assembly methods are used, then construction safety and efficiency improve, but structural precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
All welding and precision assembly operations are performed in advance at ground level during the pre-assembly phase. This preliminary action ensures structural precision is achieved under safe ground-level conditions, and the pre-assembled sections are then transported and positioned with minimal additional precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Modular sections serve as intermediaries that are precisely constructed at ground level and then used as pre-fabricated units during elevated assembly. This intermediary approach allows ground-level precision work to be transferred to the final structure without requiring precision operations at elevation.
4Productivity
If modular section assembly is implemented, then construction efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The jacket foundation is divided into standardized modular sections that can be constructed using identical or similar procedures. This segmentation improves construction efficiency through parallel work and standardized processes, while the repetition of the same assembly steps actually reduces overall process complexity compared to custom elevated assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
Modular sections are pre-assembled at ground level before final installation. This preliminary action simplifies the on-site assembly process by reducing it to straightforward positioning and connection operations, thereby improving construction efficiency without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods of constructing a jacket foundation 100 for a wind power plant may comprise preparing a first part 1 and a second part 2. The first part 1 is prepared by providing a first leg section 10 at a plurality of first supports 20; and a second leg section 11 at a plurality of second supports 21; at a construction site S. First braces 30 are fixed between the first and second leg sections 10,11. The second part 2 is prepared by providing a third leg section 12 on an elevated support structure 22,22a-d; and a plurality of second and third braces 31,32 are fixed to the third leg section 12. The second part 2 is lifted onto the first part 1 and connected thereto by fixing the pluralities of second and third braces 31, 32 to the respective first and second leg sections 10, 11.