Underwater Foundation Alignment via Measuring Unit and Hydraulic Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underwater foundation elements often exhibit positional deviations, leading to inclinations in structures like offshore wind power plants, which are costly to compensate for and vulnerable to corrosion.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a measuring unit fixed on the underwater foundation element to determine its position precisely, with hydraulic cylinders on the working platform for adjustment before anchoring, allowing for high-precision alignment and elimination of the need for compensating means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a compensating means is fixed between the foundation element and the mast to correct positional deviations, then the inclination of the entire plant is reduced, but the construction becomes mechanically vulnerable and susceptible to corrosion in salt water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by adjusting and positioning the foundation element to the correct vertical alignment before the mast is installed. The working platform with positioning means corrects any positional deviations during the foundation installation phase, eliminating the need for compensating means later. This preliminary correction prevents the need for additional mechanical components that would be vulnerable to corrosion and mechanical failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the compensating means from the construction system entirely. Instead of adding compensating components to correct positional deviations, the invention takes out the need for such components by achieving precise positioning of the foundation element during installation. This extraction eliminates the mechanical vulnerability and corrosion risks associated with compensating means.
2Measurement precision
If indirect positional determination via working platform position is used, then the measurement process is simpler, but the positional determination precision is insufficient for narrow tolerance ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary measuring device that is temporarily attached to the foundation element itself during the positioning process. This intermediary measuring device provides direct measurement of the foundation element's position and orientation, enabling precise determination of vertical alignment. After positioning is complete, the measuring device is removed, so the precision improvement does not permanently increase system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The measuring device is attached and used preliminarily during the positioning phase to achieve precise alignment. Once the foundation element is correctly positioned vertically, the measuring device is removed and not part of the final construction. This preliminary use of sophisticated measurement equipment achieves high precision without permanently increasing the complexity of the wind power plant structure.
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 the production of foundation elements with narrow positional tolerance ranges, resulting in a stable and robust construction without compensating means, reducing costs and vulnerability to corrosion.
Implementation Method 1
at least one positioning means on the working platform for setting a position of the underwater foundation element depending on the determined positional data, in particular several hydraulic cylinders
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing an underwater foundation element in a bed of a body of water, in which a working platform for guiding a drilling tool is lowered to the bed of a body of water, so that a drill-hole is introduced into the bed of a body of water and a pile-shaped underwater foundation element is arranged in the drill-hole and anchored therein. A precise alignment is achieved in that on the pile-shaped underwater foundation element a measuring unit is fixed, through which positional data of the pile-shaped underwater foundation element are determined and in that depending on the determined positional data the position of the underwater foundation element is set by at least one positioning means on the working platform prior to anchoring. The measuring unit is arranged on an adjustment head.