Lattice Offshore Wind Foundation With External Ballast Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing offshore wind turbine foundations face challenges in seabed penetration, noise generation, and structural design, particularly with gravity-based foundations that do not offer optimal stability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A lattice structure offshore wind turbine foundation with ballast containers located outside the horizontal outer perimeter, interconnected by a lattice structure, featuring ballast material that can be easily filled and secured to the seabed, and reinforced sidewalls to enhance stability and resistance to overturning moments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If monopile foundations are rammed into the seabed, then seabed penetration is achieved, but significant noise is generated and seabed disturbance occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The foundation is divided into a lattice structure (jacket or tripod) and separate ballast containers. The lattice structure provides the necessary seabed penetration and anchoring, while the ballast containers are filled with ballast material to provide stability without requiring additional seabed penetration. This segmentation allows the structure to achieve stability through a combination of deep anchoring and weighted ballast, avoiding the need to ram a solid monopile into the seabed.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If gravity-based foundations are used without seabed penetration, then noise and seabed disturbance are reduced, but structural stability and resistance to overturning moments are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The ballast containers are positioned outside the horizontal outer perimeter of the lattice structure, extending the ballast distribution laterally. This lateral extension increases the moment arm distance from the foundation center, thereby increasing the resisting moment against overturning without requiring deeper seabed penetration. The lattice structure provides vertical anchoring while the extended ballast arrangement provides lateral stability.
3Device complexity
If ballast containers are placed inside the horizontal outer perimeter of the lattice structure, then structural integration is simplified, but the resisting moment against overturning is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ballast containers are positioned outside the horizontal outer perimeter of the lattice structure, extending the ballast distribution laterally. This lateral extension increases the moment arm distance from the foundation center, thereby increasing the resisting moment against overturning. The lattice structure connects to these externally positioned containers, integrating them into the overall foundation system while maintaining the stability benefit of extended ballast placement.
4Stability of the object's composition
If more ballast material is used to increase stability, then resistance to overturning moments improves, but material usage and installation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ballast containers are positioned outside the horizontal outer perimeter of the lattice structure, which increases the moment arm distance from the foundation center. This geometric arrangement increases the resisting moment against overturning for the same amount of ballast material, or alternatively, reduces the amount of ballast material needed to achieve the same resisting moment. The lattice structure efficiently connects to these externally positioned containers, optimizing the distribution of ballast material for maximum stability effect.
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 design achieves increased structural stiffness, reduced material usage, and improved stability by optimizing ballast distribution and seabed penetration, while minimizing seabed disturbance and installation costs.
Implementation Method 1
ballast material arranged in each of the three or more ballast containers... able to accept e.g. large overturning moments
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Disclosed is an offshore wind turbine foundation (6) comprising, a connection interface (7) arranged at the top of the offshore wind turbine foundation (6), wherein the connection interface (7) comprises connection means (8) arranged for connecting a wind turbine tower (2) or a transition piece (9) to the offshore wind turbine foundation (6). The offshore wind turbine foundation (6) further comprises three or more ballast containers (10) arranged at the bottom of the offshore wind turbine foundation (6), wherein each of the three or more ballast containers (10) comprises a floor (11) and at least one sidewall (12) protruding in the direction of the connection interface (7) from the floor (11), so that a container opening (13) is formed at the top end of the at least one sidewall (12). The offshore wind turbine foundation (6) also comprises ballast material (16) arranged in each of the three or more ballast containers (10), and a lattice structure (14) interconnecting the three or more ballast containers (10) and the connection interface (7), wherein the three or more ballast containers (10) are arranged outside a horizontal outer perimeter of the lattice structure (14). A method for installing an offshore wind turbine foundation (6) on a seabed (27) is also disclosed.