Offshore Wind Floating Body Installation Using Temporary Buoyancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Offshore wind power generation floating bodies with deep drafts are difficult to transport and install in restricted water depths due to their design, which requires a center of gravity lower than the center of buoyancy for stability, making them challenging to tow and assemble at installation sites.
Innovation Solution
The method involves manufacturing a lower structure with a damping plate and guide beams, coupling temporary buoyancy tanks for easier transportation, and using a concrete block mounting structure with a link bridge and spring structures to facilitate assembly and installation, allowing the floating body to be assembled and installed in varying water depths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the floating body is designed with a deep draft to lower the center of gravity for stability, then the stability and safety of the floating body is improved, but the ease of transportation and installation in restricted water depths deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The floating body is divided into two separate structures: an upper structure and a lower structure. The lower structure includes a damping plate and guide beams that can be assembled separately and then coupled with the upper structure at the installation site, enabling transportation in restricted water depths while maintaining stability through proper gravitational center positioning after assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The lower structure is pre-assembled with damping plates and guide beams before transportation. Temporary buoyancy tanks are coupled to the lower structure to enable it to float during transportation, and the concrete block mounting structure is prepared in advance to receive ballast weights that will lower the center of gravity after installation
2Reliability
If the floating body is designed with a deep draft to lower the center of gravity for stability, then the stability and safety of the floating body is improved, but the ease of installation at restricted water depths deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The floating body is divided into an upper structure and a lower structure that can be manufactured and assembled separately. The lower structure with damping plates and guide beams is transported to the installation site and coupled with the upper structure using a link bridge, enabling installation in restricted water depths while maintaining stability through proper gravitational center positioning
Solution Approach 2:
A link bridge is introduced as an intermediary structure to connect the upper and lower structures during installation. The link bridge includes spring structures that facilitate the coupling process, allowing the floating body to be assembled in restricted water depths without requiring deep water for the entire structure
3Ease of operation
If temporary buoyancy tanks are coupled to the lower structure for easier transportation, then the ease of transportation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Temporary buoyancy tanks are coupled to the lower structure before transportation to enable it to float. These tanks are removed after the lower structure is installed and coupled with the upper structure, so the complexity is temporary and resolves itself after installation
Solution Approach 2:
The temporary buoyancy tanks are designed as temporary components that are coupled during transportation and then removed after installation. They serve their purpose during transport and are discarded or removed once the floating body is properly assembled and stabilized with permanent ballast
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
This approach enables the easy assembly and installation of long offshore wind power generation floating bodies in restricted water depths by providing temporary buoyancy and adjustable ballast systems, ensuring stability and ease of transportation and installation.
Implementation Method 1
coupling a temporary buoyancy tank to each of the plurality of protruding portions
Implementation Method 2
fixing the lower structure between a first work barge and a second work barge by a link bridge connected to each of the first work barge and the second work barge
Data Source
AI summary
A method for installing an offshore wind power generation floating body may include manufacturing a lower structure including a damping plate, a guide beam including protruding portions, and a slot, coupling a temporary buoyancy tank to each protruding portion, installing a concrete block mounting structure in the slot, transporting the lower structure on the sea until a destination by a towing vessel, fixing the lower structure between a first work barge and a second work barge by a link bridge connected to each of the first work barge and the second work barge, and seating a concrete block connected to a second wire of a second crane seated on the second work barge on the concrete block mounting structure in a state in which first wires of a first crane are connected to the lower structure to maintain a tension equal to or greater than a set magnitude.