Monopile Foundation Membrane Structure for Dry Internal Equipment Space

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing monopile foundations for offshore structures in water basins are not designed to maintain a dry interior space, which limits the functional use of the internal volume and exposes installed devices to a corrosive environment.

Innovation Solution

A monopile foundation with a tight membrane and reinforcing ribs creates a dry functional space, filled with inert gas, allowing for the installation of energy storage, cooling, and water desalination devices, while using a membrane and outlet openings to manage water and air during installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional monopile foundation is used without internal separation, then the structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but the interior space cannot be used functionally and devices are exposed to corrosive seawater environment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional use of internal spaceVSAvoidfoundation structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monopile foundation is segmented into two distinct zones using a tight membrane: a dry functional space above the membrane for housing equipment, and a wet space below for structural buoyancy and soil interaction. This segmentation enables functional use of the internal volume while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A tight membrane (thin film structure) is deployed within the monopile to create the dry functional space. The membrane acts as a flexible barrier that separates the internal volume into protected and exposed zones, allowing equipment housing while maintaining overall structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Adaptability or versatility

If devices are installed in a traditional monopile foundation, then functional capabilities are added, but the devices are exposed to corrosive seawater environment reducing reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional device installationVSAvoiddevice protection from corrosion

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tight membrane creates a protected dry environment within the monopile, isolating installed devices from corrosive seawater while allowing functional capabilities to be added to the foundation structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The dry functional space above the membrane provides a protected environment (inert relative to corrosion) for housing devices, eliminating direct exposure to corrosive seawater and thereby improving device reliability and longevity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

3Reliability

If a tight membrane is added to create dry functional space, then device protection and functional use are improved, but manufacturing complexity and installation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice protection from corrosionVSAvoidfoundation manufacturing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The tight membrane is implemented as a flexible thin film structure that can be manufactured separately and installed within the completed monopile, minimizing impact on manufacturing complexity while achieving device protection and functional space creation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 ensures a dry, protected space for functional devices, enhances structural rigidity, and reduces installation costs by maintaining a dry interior and protecting against corrosion, with improved mass distribution and stability.

Implementation Method 1

The space between the bottom membrane panel and the top edge of the outlet openings is an air cushion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir cushion:

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentUS12601136B2Monopile foundation and method for installation of a monopile foundation

Publication Date: 2026.04.14 KROPIDLOWSKI ARKADIUSZ

AI summary

A monopile foundation in the form of a cylindrical steel pipe that can be driven into the bottom of a water basin. The monopole foundation includes a bottom area, and an area above the bottom area. The area above the bottom includes a connection flange, and a tight membrane consisting of a bottom panel and of a top panel with at least one reinforcing rib, and filling between the panels. Above the membrane, the monopile foundation contains dry functional space between the membrane and the top connection flange, while in the bottom area of the monopile foundation, below the bottom panel of the membrane, there are openings in the cylindrical steel pipe of the monopile foundation. The space between the bottom panel of the membrane and the top edge of the outlet openings is filled by an air cushion.