Offshore Wind Turbine Assembly Vessel With Motion-Compensated Crane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for assembling and installing offshore wind turbines, particularly those with large capacities and sizes, face challenges in efficient transportation and installation due to the size and weight of the turbines, requiring large vessels that cannot navigate wind farm locations effectively and involve lengthy, weather-dependent towing processes.
Innovation Solution
A crane system mounted on a floating vessel with a wind turbine hoisting device and active horizontal motion compensation, allowing for assembly and installation of wind turbines directly at the wind farm site, using a compact vessel to support and lower assembled turbines onto foundations, including floating foundations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If wind turbines are assembled onshore and then towed to offshore locations, then assembly costs are reduced, but transportation time increases and weather-dependent towing becomes a constraint
Solution Approach 1:
The vessel performs preliminary assembly actions directly at the offshore wind farm location. The crane assembly system allows turbines to be assembled in situ on the floating foundation, eliminating the need for lengthy towing operations from onshore locations while maintaining cost-effective assembly processes.
Solution Approach 2:
A specialized assembly vessel serves as an intermediary platform between onshore manufacturing and offshore installation. The vessel transports turbine components and provides an onboard assembly facility with crane systems, acting as a mobile assembly platform that eliminates the towing step while maintaining the benefits of preliminary assembly.
2Quantity of substance
If large vessels are used to transport and install wind turbines, then installation capacity is sufficient, but the vessels cannot navigate wind farm locations effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The wind turbine components are segmented into manageable parts that can be assembled on the floating foundation using the vessel's crane system. This segmentation allows the use of a smaller, more maneuverable vessel that can navigate to wind farm locations while still handling large-scale installation tasks through systematic component assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The assembly vessel is designed with multi-functional capabilities, serving as both a transportation platform and an assembly/installation platform. The vessel can navigate to remote wind farm locations and perform complete turbine assembly and installation operations, combining the functions of what were previously separate large specialized vessels.
3Ease of operation
If assembly is performed remote from the wind farm location, then assembly operations are simplified, but installation time and weather dependency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vessel provides a dynamic, mobile assembly platform that can position itself directly at the wind farm location. The crane assembly system is designed to operate in the dynamic offshore environment, allowing assembly operations to be performed in situ with simplified logistics compared to remote assembly, while maintaining operational simplicity through standardized procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The vessel merges the assembly and installation operations into a single integrated process performed at the wind farm location. The crane assembly system allows components to be assembled directly on the floating foundation, combining what were previously separate remote assembly and on-site installation phases into one efficient operation that reduces overall installation time and weather dependency.
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
Enables efficient assembly and installation of wind turbines at the wind farm location, reducing the need for lengthy transportation and weather-dependent towing, facilitating the use of compact vessels, and allowing for the assembly of multiple turbines on a single vessel.
Implementation Method 1
a floating vessel (2) with a crane system (20) mounted thereon
Implementation Method 2
with a wind turbine hoisting device and active horizontal motion compensation
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a crane for assembly and installation of offshore wind turbines on an offshore location, to a vessel for assembly and installation of offshore wind turbines on an offshore location, and to a method for assembly and installation of offshore wind turbines on an offshore location. According to the invention the crane is provided with a base section and a top section, wherein the top section is rotatable supported by a bearing, and can be rotated with the wind turbine hoisting device relative to the base section about a vertical axis, wherein a first trolley guide is mounted to a top section of the installation crane for giding a vertically mobile wind turbine supporting trolley. According to the invention the vessel is provided with one or more assembly stations on different sides of the installation crane.