Monopile Foundation with Feed-Through Opening for Cabling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing monopile foundations for offshore structures, such as wind turbines, face challenges in achieving stable embedding in varying seabed conditions, including rocky or denser soils, and require additional reinforcement to maintain stability over time, which complicates reuse and retrofitting due to cabling constraints.
Innovation Solution
The monopile foundation design incorporates a feed-through opening in the reinforcement section, allowing for the partial or complete insertion of the sleeve and collar into the seabed, and a multi-part foundation reinforcement system with overlapping reinforcing elements that can be connected post-installation, enabling easier cabling management and enhanced stability without requiring complete dismantling of submarine cables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the foundation pile is driven deep into the seabed to ensure stability, then the stability and rigidity of the monopile foundation are improved, but the difficulty of installation increases when hitting rocky or dense soils
Solution Approach 1:
The foundation system is divided into separate components: the foundation pile and the foundation reinforcement (collar and sleeve). The collar is driven into the seabed first, then the pile is inserted through the collar. This segmentation allows the collar to provide stable embedding in rocky soils while the pile can be installed separately, reducing the difficulty of installation in challenging seabed conditions.
2Ease of manufacture
If foundation reinforcement is added to reduce embedding length, then the ease of installation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar and sleeve assembly serves multiple functions: it provides stable embedding in the seabed, reduces the required embedding length of the pile, and enables subsequent attachment of the foundation reinforcement. This multi-functionality justifies the additional components by consolidating several critical functions into the reinforcement system.
3Reliability
If the sleeve completely encloses the foundation pile, then the stability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to cabling constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve is designed with a local opening or gap in the region where cabling is required, allowing cables to pass through while maintaining the enclosing structure elsewhere. This local modification preserves the stabilizing function of the sleeve while enabling operational access for cabling activities.
4Reliability
If the foundation reinforcement is installed before cabling, then the stability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to cable routing difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve is designed with pre-formed openings or gaps positioned to accommodate cable routing paths. This preliminary design feature allows cables to be routed through the reinforcement structure without requiring dismantling or complex maneuvering, enabling the foundation reinforcement to be installed before cabling while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a monopile foundation (2, 67, 77, 86, 104, 119, 130) for an offshore structure, more particularly for a wind power plant (W), having a foundation pile (3, 41, 61, 71, 81, 91, 111, 121) for supporting the structure and a foundation reinforcement (4, 22, 44, 62, 72, 82, 92, 112, 122) externally adjoining the foundation pile (3, 41, 61, 71, 81, 91,111,121) and designed for subsequent attachment to the foundation pile (3, 41, 61, 71, 81, 91,111,121), wherein: the foundation reinforcement (4, 22, 44, 62, 72, 82, 92, 112, 122) has a sleeve (4, 45, 63, 73, 83, 93, 113, 123), a collar (9, 65, 75, 85, 95, 115, 125) and at least one support (8); the sleeve (4, 45, 63, 73, 83, 93, 113, 123) is associated with the foundation pile (3, 41, 61, 71, 81, 91,111,121), and the collar (9, 65, 75, 85, 95, 115, 125) is held at a distance away from the sleeve (4, 45, 63, 73, 83, 93, 113, 123) outwardly by the at least one support (8); the foundation pile (3, 41, 61, 71, 81, 91, 111, 121) has a foundation section (GA) for inserting into the seabed (M) as well as a reinforcing section (VA) for connecting the foundation pile (3, 41, 61, 71, 81, 91, 111, 121) to the sleeve (4, 45, 63, 73, 83, 93, 113, 123) above the seabed (M); and the collar (9, 65, 75, 85, 95, 115, 125) and/or the sleeve (4, 45, 63, 73, 83, 93, 113, 123) are/is designed for at least partial insertion into the seabed (M). To enable the foundation of monopiles to be achieved in a more satisfactory manner, a through-hole (42) is provided in the foundation pile (3, 41, 61, 71, 81, 91, 111, 121) in the region of the reinforcing section (VA), and the sleeve (4, 45, 63, 73, 83, 93, 113, 123) of the foundation reinforcement (3, 41, 61, 71, 81, 91, 111, 121) is provided in the reinforcing section (VA) in such a way as not to close the through-hole (42).