Offshore Wind Turbine Foundation With Ballast-Controlled Buoyancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing offshore wind turbine foundation systems face challenges such as large dimensions, installation difficulties, and stability issues, particularly with SPAR platforms, which require additional transport and installation means.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a first body with high buoyancy and low weight, a second body with high weight and low buoyancy, and legs with a locking system, allowing for stable offshore installation by submerging the second body and providing optimal weight and stability ratios, with ballast management for control and easy disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If SPAR platforms are used for offshore wind turbine foundation, then offshore stability is improved, but installation complexity increases due to requiring additional barges or cranes for transport and installation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the SPAR platform structure with integrated transport and installation capabilities by incorporating a deck structure that can support wind turbine components directly on the platform, eliminating the need for separate barges or cranes. The platform itself becomes both the foundation and the transport/installation vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The SPAR platform is designed to be self-sufficient by incorporating ballast tanks that can adjust its own buoyancy and stability characteristics, and a deck structure that provides its own transport and installation capabilities without requiring external assistance from separate barges or cranes.
2Stability of the object's composition
If semi-submersible platforms are used for offshore wind turbine foundation, then offshore performance is improved, but port accessibility deteriorates due to large dimensions requiring docks and ports with specific dimensions and drafts
Solution Approach 1:
The semi-submersible platform incorporates adjustable ballast systems that allow dynamic control of its draft and buoyancy. During transport, the platform can be ballasted to a lower draft for better port accessibility, and during operation, it transitions to its optimal offshore performance configuration with adjusted buoyancy characteristics.
3Stability of the object's composition
If TLP platforms are used for offshore wind turbine foundation, then offshore behavior is improved, but installation difficulty increases due to large tendons requiring complex installation procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex tendon system from the TLP platform design by using an alternative stabilization mechanism that does not require large tendons, thereby simplifying the installation process while maintaining offshore performance characteristics.
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
Ensures stable offshore wind turbine support with reduced logistical challenges and enhanced stability, enabling efficient transport and installation without additional support elements, and facilitating maintenance through controlled buoyancy and hydrostatic equilibrium.
Implementation Method 1
the first body has a volume and a weight configured to provide, when empty, a buoyancy of at least 20% of the weight of the entire device
Implementation Method 2
the first body has a first ballast management element to selectively allow the entry and exit of water into/out of the first body; the second body has a ballast management element to selectively allow the entry and exit of water into/out of the second body
Implementation Method 3
the legs and/or the first body have a locking system configured to lock the relative position between the legs and the first body
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for supporting an offshore wind turbine tower. The device comprises a first body (1), a support body (3) attached to the first body (1), a second body (2) and a plurality of legs (4) attached to the second body (2). The support body (3) has a cylindrical interior and is configured to provide support for and connection of a wind turbine tower (10). The first body (1) comprises a central portion (5) connected to the support body (3) and a plurality of hollow arms (6), connected with the central portion (5). Each hollow arm (6) comprises a through-hole (7) configured to allow a leg (4) to pass through the through-hole. The first body (1) has a volume and a weight configured to provide, when empty, a buoyancy of at least 20% of the weight of the entire device, the weight of the first body (1) being less than 8% of the weight of the entire device. The legs (4) and/or the first body (1) have a locking system configured to lock the relative position between the legs and the first body.