Offshore Wind Turbine Cable Pulling via Pre-installed Messenger Wires
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for arranging electrical cables in offshore wind turbine foundations are inefficient and risk damage, requiring multiple vessels and on-site operations, which prolongs installation time and increases the risk of equipment damage.
Innovation Solution
A method involving internally hollow transition and foundation piles with pre-installed messenger wires, allowing the electrical cable to be pulled into the foundation using a haul-in and traction cable system from a single cable-laying vessel, reducing the need for additional vessels and on-site operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple vessels and on-site operations are used for cable installation, then the electrical cable can be arranged in the foundation, but the installation time is prolonged and the risk of equipment damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The messenger wire is pre-installed in the foundation pile and transition piece before the cable installation operation. This preliminary placement of the pulling mechanism eliminates the need for complex on-site operations with multiple vessels, thereby reducing both installation time and the risk of equipment damage during the actual cable laying operation.
2Ease of operation
If a second working vessel is employed for cable installation, then the electrical cable can be arranged in the foundation, but the device complexity and operational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The function of the second working vessel is extracted and replaced by the pre-installed messenger wire system within the foundation structure. Instead of requiring an additional vessel for messenger wire deployment, the messenger wire is already in place, simplifying the operational requirements to a single cable-laying vessel and reducing overall system complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If messenger wires are installed on-site, then the electrical cable can be pulled into the foundation, but the offshore operation duration is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The messenger wire installation is performed as a preliminary action during the foundation construction phase rather than during the cable installation operation. This allows the messenger wire to be ready before the cable laying begins, significantly reducing the offshore operation duration required for cable installation while maintaining ease of the overall manufacturing process.
Data Source
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AI summary
Described is a method for arranging an electrical cable in a foundation of an offshore wind turbine for the purpose of connection to an electrical installation. An internally hollow transition piece TP is here connected to an internally hollow foundation pile MP arranged in an underwater bottom; free outer ends of a TP messenger wire arranged in the transition piece and an MP messenger wire arranged in the foundation pile are mutually connected; the TP messenger wire is attached with a haul-in cable end to a haul-in cable, and the MP messenger wire is attached with a traction cable end to a traction cable lowered underwater from a cable-laying vessel, this via a cable entry opening provided on a lower side of the foundation pile in a peripheral wall of the foundation pile; and the mutually connected messenger wires and electrical cable are then pulled with optionally the haul-in cable through the cable entry opening into the foundation until a length of the electrical cable has been placed into the foundation. The internal cavities of the transition piece and the foundation pile are provided beforehand with respectively the TP and MP messenger wire.