Offshore Support Structure Oval Braces Transition Joint
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional offshore support structures for wind turbines, such as mono-piles, become excessively long, heavy, and costly when installed in deep water, and the transition joints used in jacket type foundations are complex and expensive to fabricate and install.
Innovation Solution
A support structure featuring a vertical guide sleeve surrounded by elongated guide sleeves, connected by braces, and a conical transition joint with oval or racetrack-shaped braces and ring-stiffened chord configuration to enhance strength and resistance to thrust, bending, and torsional fatigue, minimizing material and installation costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mono-piles are used to support wind turbines in deep water, then the wind turbine can be positioned further offshore, but the mono-piles become extremely long, heavy, and cumbersome, increasing material and installation cost
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple components: a first support structure (mono-pile), a second support structure (jacket foundation), and a transition piece connecting them. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the first support structure can be simpler and less heavy, while the second support structure provides the necessary offshore positioning capability through its distributed foundation elements.
Solution Approach 2:
A transition piece is introduced as an intermediary element between the first support structure and the second support structure. This transition piece distributes the loads from the wind turbine across multiple foundation elements of the second support structure, reducing the required capacity of any single mono-pile and thereby reducing overall material usage and weight.
2Adaptability or versatility
If jacket type foundations are used to support offshore wind turbines in deep water, then the wind turbine can be positioned further offshore, but the complexity and weight of the joint or transition piece increase, increasing fabrication and installation cost
Solution Approach 1:
The support system is segmented into distinct modular components: the first support structure, the second support structure, and the transition piece. Each component can be fabricated separately with optimized designs - the transition piece can be designed as a standardized coupling element rather than a custom heavy-walled joint, reducing fabrication complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The transition piece is designed with localized reinforcement only where needed to connect the first and second support structures, rather than using uniformly heavy-walled construction throughout. This allows the transition joint to achieve necessary strength while minimizing overall complexity and material usage.
3Strength
If heavy wall steel welded connections are used for transition joints, then the joint strength is sufficient, but the fabrication and installation cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The design changes the structural parameters by using a transition piece with optimized cross-sectional geometry and strategically placed reinforcements rather than uniform heavy-walled construction. This allows achieving the necessary strength parameters through geometric optimization rather than simply increasing material thickness, thereby reducing fabrication cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The transition piece may utilize composite construction approaches combining different material properties in appropriate locations - using higher strength materials only in critical stress regions while using lighter materials in lower stress areas, optimizing the strength-to-cost ratio.
Data Source
AI summary
A support structure for an offshore device is provided, including a vertical guide sleeve and three elongated guide sleeves positioned around the vertical guide sleeve, and various braces connecting the elongated sleeves and the vertical guide sleeve. The support structure also includes a transition joint including a cylindrical portion for connection to an offshore device, such as a support tower of a wind turbine assembly, and a conical portion connected to the vertical guide sleeve. To provide resistance to thrust, bending, and torsional fatigue, at least one set of braces is formed in an oval, racetrack, obround, or stadium configuration, and one or more horizontal stiffeners are positioned in the transition joint to maximize the strength of the support structure.