Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
  • E02D27/00—Foundations as substructures
  • E02D27/32—Foundations for special purposes
  • E02D27/52—Submerged foundations, i.e. submerged in open water
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
  • F03B11/00—Parts or details not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the preceding groups, e.g. wear-protection couplings, between turbine and generator
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
  • F03B17/00—Other machines or engines
  • F03B17/06—Other machines or engines using liquid flow with predominantly kinetic energy conversion, e.g. of swinging-flap type, "run-of-river", "ultra-low head"
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F03D—WIND MOTORS
  • F03D13/00—Assembly, mounting or commissioning of wind motors; Arrangements specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
  • F03D13/20—Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
  • F03D13/22—Foundations specially adapted for wind motors
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
  • E02B17/00—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor
  • E02B2017/0056—Platforms with supporting legs
  • E02B2017/0073—Details of sea bottom engaging footing
  • E02B2017/0078—Suction piles, suction cans
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
  • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
  • F05B2240/00—Components
  • F05B2240/90—Mounting on supporting structures or systems
  • F05B2240/97—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a submerged structure
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
  • Y02E10/20—Hydro energy
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
  • Y02E10/30—Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
  • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
  • Y02E10/72—Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
  • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
  • Y02E10/728—Onshore wind turbines

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a seat structure on the seabed or on the bed of a watercourse, for example a river or a river, ensuring the maintenance of one or more hydraulic turbomachines, in particular a hydraulic turbo-machine for the supply of electricity by proces ⁇ ration of the energy of sea or river currents.
• a hydraulic turbo-machine for the supply of electricity by proces ⁇ ration of the energy of sea or river currents.
• an energy source currently under-exploited corresponds to naturally occurring water currents on the planet, for example, high-water currents, tidal currents, strait and water currents. estuary, river or river currents, etc.
• hydroelectric installations supplying electrical energy from poten ⁇ tial energy contained in a reservoir, for example dams installed on rivers or rivers are widely used, supplying electrical energy directly from the kinetic energy of marine or fluvial currents are generally still at the project stage.
• the sites that could be used for the supply of electrical power from marine currents or fluvials generally correspond to currents at low velocities, from 0.5 m / s to 6 m / s, the size of the sites and the large number of potential sites make such a source of energy particularly interesting. Indeed, from the river to large ocean current, the usable surfaces through which a stream typically ranges from 100 m 2 to 100 km 2, which corresponds to a speed of 2 m / s, at powers theo ⁇ ically recoverable respectively from 400 kilowatts to 400 gigawatts.
• the devices for recovering and converting the kinetic energy of a marine or fluvial current generally comprise a turbine comprising a set of blades adapted to rotate a shaft when immersed in the stream.
• a turbine comprising a set of blades adapted to rotate a shaft when immersed in the stream.
• the axial flow turbines for which the direction of the current is parallel to the axis of rotation of the turbine
• the transverse flow turbines for which the current direction is perpendicular to the axis of the turbine. rotation of the turbine.
• An example of a transverse flow hydraulic turbine is described in the patent FR2865777 filed in the name of the applicant.
• a general characteristic of the operation of hydraulic turbomachines is the presence of a drag force in the direction of the incident current.
• the drag force tends to carry the hydraulic turbomachine with the current and increases with the extracted mechanical power. It is therefore necessary to set up a foundation structure of the turbine engine hydrau ⁇ marine or river on the ground lic to oppose the drag force.
• a paper by Peter Fraenkel entitled “Tidal & Marine Current Energy” (Le Havre, January 19-20, 2006) describes examples of seating structures for hydraulic turbomachines.
• the seating structures can be grouped into five major classes each with multiple variants:
• Piles These are prefabricated elements (steel or concrete) that can be driven into the seabed or fluvial by threshing or be installed by drilling.
• This type of seat structure is reliable (good resistance to pulling forces ) and durable. It has, however, several disadvantages.
• the drilling or threshing necessary for the installation of the pile is technically difficult and costly, which limits the exploitable depths to 40 m, while many sites of interest are located by larger funds.
• the floor of the site where the seating structure is to be installed must have good geomechanical characteristics, especially for drilling.
• these struc ⁇ seat tures require the presence of underwater monitoring devices.
• Suction anchors are hollow anchors having, for example, a cylinder or trihedral shape. They are driven into the ground by pumping water from inside. These anchors can reach 10 to 25 m in height and 3 to 7 m in diameter. The void that forms on the inside makes the anchor difficult to pull.
• the equipment required for the installation of a suction anchor is simpler than that required for a pile since only one pump is required to evacuate the interior of the anchor. This makes it possible to envisage the fixing of hydraulic turbomachines at very great depths.
• the suction anchors however, remain difficult to install since it is necessary to ensure proper orientation and depres- surisation of the anchor. In addition, the suction anchors are heavy and bulky.
• Floating structures these floating structures can be emerged, such as oil drilling or semi-submerged barges. In all cases, they are stowed at the bottom of the water by cables connected to anchoring systems which can correspond to the examples of the aforementioned foundation structures. The maintenance of the floating structure must take into account the forces due to the most dangerous waves. As a result, the floating structure and associated anchoring systems must be oversized in relation to the nominal operating speed of the structure. This solution is therefore expensive.
• the use of cables and their attachment to the floating structure are sources of wear and accidents due in particular vertical oscillations of the floating structure.
• floating structures obscure the surface of the sea (inconvenience or incompatibility with fishing or shipping activity, visual pollution, etc.).
• Anchored rafts This is a plate with an upper face and a lower face.
• the raft is attached to an anchoring or foundation system on the underside side.
• the hydraulic turbomachine is attached to the upper face of the raft.
• the hydraulic turbine engine is not connected directly to the anchoring system or foundation.
• the presence of the raft has several advantages. First, it faci ⁇ lite design of the coupling of hydraulic turbine engine to write off (embedding, pivot link, etc.). Similarly, there is more freedom on the anchoring system or foundation. Instead of a single anchoring system, for example such as the seat structures described previously in points (i), (ii) or (iii), the types of anchoring systems can be multiplied at the periphery of the write off while choosing smaller ones.
• French patent FR2865777 discloses hydraulic turbomachines which are attached to a common floor, called false floor in this patent, itself connected to the ground by cables attached to anchor pads.
• a gravity solution is proposed in which a ballast system makes it possible to adjust the horizontality of the slab.
• a raft allows the use of anchoring systems dimen ⁇ sions, the drawbacks specific to the installation of each of these anchoring systems remain.
• the present invention aims a seating structure of a hydraulic turbine engine comprising a raft and which can adapt to a soil, marine or fluvial, having any geomechanical characteristics, for example sand or clays, including soil not having good geomechanical characteristics, for example bedrock or consisting of pebbles or stones, or soil not having good geometric characteristics, for example a non-planar soil, inclined with respect to earth's gravity, having an uneven surface, etc. ).
• the installation cost of the seat structure is inferior or comparable to the cost of the turbomachine itself.
• the installation of the seat structure is technically simple, fast, risk-free and requires no heavy technical means or the presence of divers.
• an embodiment of the present invention provides a seating structure of at least one hydraulic turbine engine on a floor, comprising: a raft comprising first and second opposite faces, the at least one turbomachine being intended to be disposed on the side of the first face; a first support element connected to the second face in the central position and intended to be in contact with the ground; at least three arms, each arm comprising pre ⁇ Mière and second opposite ends and being connected to the pre ⁇ Mière end to the base plate by a pivotal connection, the arm being adapted to pivot relative to the base plate between a first position wherein the second ends are brought closer together and a second position in which the arms extend radially from the floor; for each arm, a second support element connected to the second end and intended to be in contact with the ground; for at least one arm, a positioning device adapted to modify the distance between the second end and the second associated support element; and for each arm, an arm locking device in the second position.
• the positioning device comprises a double-acting jack connecting the second end of the arm to the second associated support member.
• the double-acting cylinder is oriented perpendicularly to the axis of the arm.
• the seat structure comprises a plate comprising opposing third and fourth faces, the at least one turbomachine being intended to be fixed to the third face, the fourth face being opposite to the first face of the base, the plate being adapted to pivot relative to the base around an axis perpendicular to the first face.
• at least one support element among the first support element and the second support elements corresponds to a dead body having a weight greater than 500 kilograms or to a suction anchor.
• At least one support element among the first support element and the second support elements comprises an elongate and / or pointed portion intended to be in contact with the ground.
• the locking device comprises a deformable portion, a lock and a stop member resting on said deformable portion, the associated arm bearing against the stop member and compressing said portion. deformable in the second position, the stop member being adapted to lock the latch when the arm is not in the second position and being adapted to release the latch when the arm is in the second position, the arm being taken into sandwich between the latch and the stop element in the second position.
• the first support element is connected to the second face by a ball joint.
• the seat structure comprises, for each arm, a device for damping the pivoting of the arm from the first position to the second position.
• An embodiment of the present invention also provides a method of installing the seat structure as defined above. The method comprises the following steps: bringing the seat structure to the ground level, the arms being in the first position; rotate the arms from the first to the second position; bringing the second support members into contact with the ground, the first support element already being in contact with the ground; and adjust the horizontality of the slab through the positioning devices and a system for measuring the horizontality of the slab.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a seat structure according to the invention once installed on a sea floor or fluvial
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of the seat structure of Figure 1 before an installation operation
• FIGS. 3A to 3C are three schematic side views of the seat structure of FIG. 1 at successive stages of an installation operation
• FIGS. 4 and 5 are partial views and diagrams illustrating two exemplary embodiments of the connection between the slab and the central dead body of the seat structure of FIG. 1;
• FIGS. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a seat structure according to the invention once installed on a sea floor or fluvial
• FIGS. 3A to 3C are three schematic side views of the seat structure of FIG. 1 at successive stages of an installation operation
• FIGS. 4 and 5 are partial views and diagrams illustrating two exemplary embodiments of the connection between the slab and the central dead body of the seat structure of FIG. 1
• FIGS. 6A to 6D are partial and schematic top views of exemplary embodiments of seating structures provided with an increasing number of arms;
• Figures 7 and 8 are respectively a perspective view and a section of the locking device of an arm of the seat structure of Figure 1;
• Figures 9 and 10 are respectively a side view and a section of the connection between one of the arms and the associated heavy weight body of the seat structure of Figure 1;
• HA and HB are views from the side illustrating two embodiments of the body weighing peri ⁇ pheric of the seating structure of Figure 1;
• Figure 12 is a detail side view of the cushioning device of the seat structure of Figure 2;
• Figures 13 and 14 are schematic and partial sections illustrating two embodiments of the connection between the support plate of a hydraulic turbine engine and the base of the foundation structure of Figure 1; and
• Figure 15 is a detail view of Figure 2 illustrating the support system of the arms of the seat structure in the folded position.
• DETAILED DESCRIPTION For the sake of clarity, the same elements have been
• FIGs 1 and 2 show an example embodiment of a seat structure 10 according to the invention.
• the seat structure 10 is shown in a confi guration ⁇ of use in which it is disposed at a seabed or river, not shown in Figures 1 and 2.
• the structure seat 10 is shown in a storage configuration at the beginning of an instal lation ⁇ operation of the seat structure 10 on the seabed or river.
• the seat structure 10 comprises a base 12 having parallel upper 14 and lower 16 faces, the lower face 16 being oriented on the ground side.
• the raft 12 may be made of stainless steel or aluminum.
• the slab 12 includes a rectangular central planar plate 17 which extends across by elongated portions 18 coplanar with the central plate 17.
• the central plate 17 of the raft 12 can have a circular shape.
• a plateau 19 is connected to the upper face 14 of the raft 12.
• the plate 19 covers, for example, substantially all of the plate 17.
• the plate 19 is intended to receive one or more hydraulic turbo-machines, not shown.
• the axis ⁇ perpendicular to the faces 14 and 16 and passing through the center of gravity of the slab 12 is called the main axis of the slab 12.
• the principal axis ⁇ corresponds to an axis of symmetry of the slab. 12.
• the central plate 17, which advantageously can be reinforced by ribs radiating on the lower face 16, is inscribed in a circle several meters in diameter, for example ten meters of diameter and has a thickness of several centimeters, for example about ten centimeters.
• a central dead body 20 for example made of concrete or steel, is connected to the lower face 16 of the raft 12.
• the central dead body 20 is intended to be plated on the sea or fluvial soil and possibly to sink partially into the sea or fluvial soil.
• the central dead body 20 has a shape with symmetry of revolution whose lateral dimensions are smaller than those of the central plate 17 of the slab 12.
• the dimen ⁇ sion side of the central dead body 20 is less than 2 or 3 meters.
• the weight of the central dead body 20 depends in particular on the weight and dimensions of the hydraulic turbine engine or turbomachines intended to be connected to the plate 19.
• the weight of the central dead body 20 may be of the order of several tons.
• the axis of revolution of the central dead body 20 is substantially perpendicular to the ground.
• the central dead body 20 comprises a hemispherical portion 22 which is extended by a conical portion 24 whose tip is oriented towards the ground.
• the axis of revolution of the central dead body 20 coincides with the axis prin-
• the central dead body 20 may have a spherical shape, a tetrapod shape or may be replaced by a suction anchor.
• the seat structure 10 comprises arms 26 on the periphery of the raft 12 which, in the configuration of use, extend radially with respect to the base 12 in the extension of the elongate portions 18 of the base 12.
• Each arm 26 corresponds to for example, to a stainless steel or aluminum beam and can be advantageously reinforced by a lattice structure.
• the length of each arm 26 may vary between the value of a characteristic dimension of the slab 12, for example the radius of the central plate 17, and ten times this dimension.
• Each arm 26 is connected at one end to the slab 12 via a pivot connection 28 provided on the upper face 14 of the slab 12 at one of the elongate portions 18.
• the pivot connection 28 allows associated arm 26 to pivot in a plane perpendicular to the upper face 14 of the raft 12 and passing through the main axis of the raft 12 between a folded position, shown in Figure 2, and an extended position, shown in Figure 1.
• Each arm 26 is connected to a weighing device body 30 at its end opposite to the base plate 12. More specifically, the weight body peri ⁇ pheric 30 is connected to the free end of the arm 26 associated with a positioning device 32 and by a reinforcing device 34, as will be described in more detail later.
• Each weight-bearing body 30 is, for example, made of concrete or steel and has a shape that can be spherical.
• the weight of each peripheral weighting body 30 depends in particular on the number and the length of the arms 26, and the dimensions and weight of the hydraulic turbine engine or turbomachines intended to be connected to the plate 19.
• each weight-bearing body 30 has a weight greater than 500 kilograms, preferably of the order of one to two tons.
• the raft 12 comprises, for each arm 26, a locking device 36 disposed on the face 14 of the raft 12 at the elongate portion 18 associated with the arm 26.
• the locking device 36 is adapted to block the associated arm 26 in the deployed position shown in FIG 1.
• FIGS. 3A to 3C are partial sectional views of the seat structure 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 at three successive stages of an installation operation of the seat structure 10 on a sea or fluvial floor.
• the raft 12 is maintained in a substantially horizontal configuration by a system of chains 40 and descended to the sea or fluvial soil.
• the seat structure 10 can be transported to the site by boat and be lowered on the sea floor from the boat.
• the seat structure 10 can also be lowered on the fluvial soil by a crane located on the shore when the installation site allows it.
• the arms 26 are in the folded position and the ends of the arms 26, provided with the peripheral heavy bodies 30, are joined together and held "in place. ⁇ quet "as shown in Figure 2 and as will be described in more detail later.
• the arms 26 are released ( Figure 3A).
• the toggle arms 26 Under the effect of heavy bodies Externa ⁇ RIQUES 30, the toggle arms 26 and are pressed on the ground by traversing a circular path as shown in FIGS 3B and 3C.
• the arms 26 opening up arrive in the deployed position, that is to say in a direction parallel to the face 14 of the slab 12, they are locked in this position permanently by the locking devices 36, not shown. in FIGS. 3A to 3C.
• the arm 26 then extend radially over the periphery of the raft 12 in a direc tion ⁇ generally substantially parallel to the face 14 of the raft 12.
• the chains 40 can be removed before or after the tilting of the arms 26.
• the installation of the seat structure 10 on the floor then continues by adjusting the positions of the heavy bodies devices 30 through posi tioning ⁇ devices 32.
• positioning of each device 32 can change the distance between the free end of the arm 26 and the associated heavy weight body 30.
• the actuation of the positioning device 32 thus allows the end of the arm 26 to be positioned at the desired height when the associated peripheral weight body 30 rests on the ground .
• the positioning devices 32 make it possible to ensure the horizontality of the raft 12 and thus the correct positioning of the hydraulic turbomachine which will be mounted on the tray 19.
• the positioning devices 32 are adjusted so that each peripheral dead weight 30 is at a distance from the floor 12, measured along the main axis ⁇ , lower at the distance separating the central dead weight 20 from the slab 12.
• the peripheral heavy bodies 30 are pressed to the ground and the orientation of the slab 12 is adjusted, at least one hydraulic turbine engine can be connected to the slab 19. After the mounting the turbo ⁇ hydraulic machine, a new adjustment of the orientation of the raft 12 may be needed.
• the orientation of the raft 12 can be regularly measured and adjusted if neces sary ⁇ during operation of the hydraulic turbomachine.
• the forces exerted by the locking devices 36 which prevent the pivo ⁇ ment of the arms 26 oppose the tilting forces generated by the drag forces exerted on the turbomachine.
• a measuring system of the horizontality of the raft 12 may be provided. Such a system consists, for example, in placing one or more inclinometers on one of the faces 14 or 16 of the slab 12. These are, for example, inclinometers marketed by the Geomecanics and Sensorex companies. This system avoids the visual inspection from the surface or by a diver, the installation of the seat structure 10.
• the ins ⁇ tallation of the seat structure 10 may easily be carried out at important depths. These inclinometers little wind ⁇ transmit signals to the surface through electrical cables or radio transmitters. These signals can then be used for the control of the positioning devices 32.
• an autonomous steering system can be placed on the raft 12 so as to automatically process the signals provided by the inclinometers and to operate the positioning 32 according to these signals. The autonomous guidance system and adjusts auto ⁇ matically horizontality of the raft 12, without outside intervention.
• each positioning device 32 is in the configuration for which the peripheral dead body 30 is closer to the end of the associated arm 26. This reduces the total space of the struc ture ⁇ seat 10 during transport 10, for example by boat, and during its descent onto the placement site.
• device dead body 30 are distributed around the raft 12 and away from the raft 12 of the distance arm 26. This provides the impor ⁇ tives efforts that oppose effectively to efforts tend to tilt the hydraulic turbine engine while reducing the This results in a seat structure 10 having a reduced weight, which reduces the cost of transport and installation.
• FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic sections showing only the base 12 and the central dead body 20 of two examples of seating structures 10.
• the conical portion 24 of the central dead body 20 may have an elongate shape to facilitate possible penetration into the ground 50 during the installation of the seat structure 10.
• the central dead body 20 is connected to the base 12 by a rigid connection 52.
• Such a rigid connection 52 is adapted in the case where the dead body central 20 does not penetrate or little into the ground 50, it being for example too rigid, or in the case where the axis of revolution of the central dead body 20, when it enters the ground 50, remains aligned with the direction of gravity.
• FIG. 1 is adapted in the case where the dead body central 20 does not penetrate or little into the ground 50, it being for example too rigid, or in the case where the axis of revolution of the central dead body 20, when it enters the ground 50, remains aligned with the direction of gravity.
• the central dead body 20 is connected to the slab 12 by a ball joint 54 in order to allow the adjustment of the hori ⁇ zontality of the slab 12 independently of the orientation of the central dead body 20.
• the ball joint 54 corresponds, for example, to the ball joint marketed under the name Eternum by Eternum France.
• Such a ball joint 54 has a stainless steel body and a composite spacer, which allows it to operate in water (soft or salt) without the need for sealing.
• FIGS. 6A to 6D show examples of the seat structure 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D which differ from one another by the number of arms 26.
• the central plate 17 of the floor 12 has a circular shape .
• the seat structure 10A shown in FIG. 6A comprises three arms 26 which extend radially from the floor 12, each arm 26 being, for example, angularly offset by 120 degrees relative to the other arms.
• the structure 10A seat is rather suited to the current in one direction, for example the current of a stream, two of the arms 26 being advantageously placed upstream of the raft 12 symmetrically ⁇ .
• the seat structure 1OB shown in FIG. 6B comprises four arms 26.
• the seat structure 1OB comprises at least one plane of symmetry perpendicular to the faces 14, 16 of the floor 12.
• Each arm 26 is, for example, angularly offset by 90 ° with respect to the adjacent arms.
• the 1OB seating structure is compatible with the two-way, one-way tidal flow.
• the plane of symmetry of the seat structure 1OB is advantageously arranged substantially parallel to the direction of the current.
• the seat structures 10C and 10D respectively represented in FIGS. 6C and 6D respectively comprise five and six arms 26. A number of arms greater than or equal to 5 makes it possible to overcome the orientation constraints of the seating structure and allows therefore to place the seat structure with a random angular position relative to the current.
• Figure 7 is a perspective view of the locking device 36 and Figure 8 is a section of the device of Figure 7 along a median plane of the device 36 perpendicular to the face 14 of the slab 12.
• the locking device 36 is, in this exemplary embodiment, a "spring latch" system. It comprises a base 55, mounted on the upper face 14 of the raft 12, from which two blocks 56, 58 are projected separated by an opening 60. The part of the base 55 which forms the bottom of the opening 60 is covered with a layer 62 of a flexible material. This is, for example, a foam, a rubber, a flexible polymer, etc., for example a polychloroprene-based synthetic rubber, for example, the product marketed by Dupont Chemicals under the name Neoprene.
• a "U" plate 64 comprising a base 65 and side walls 66 is disposed in the opening 60, the base 65 resting on the layer 62 of the flexible material. The spacing between the side walls 66 is slightly greater than The plate 64 is slidable in the opening 60.
• a cylindrical orifice 67 is provided in the block 56 and opens on the opening 60.
• a cylindrical orifice 68 is provided in the block 58 and opens on the opening 60.
• the orifice 68 is disposed coaxially with the orifice 67.
• a cylindrical axis 70 is disposed in the orifice 67.
• a spring 72 is interposed between the cylindrical axis 70 and the bottom of the orifice 67.
• the plate 64 In the absence of external forces applied to the plate 64, it is raised by the layer 62 of the flexible material so that one of the side plates 66 at least partially closes the orifice 67 The cylindrical axis 70 is then held in the orifice 67 between the side plate 66 and the spring 72 that it compresses.
• the locking device 36 is disposed on the path of the associated arm 26 and is offset outwardly relative to the hinge 28 of the arm 26 so that when the axis of the arm 26 is parallel to the face upper 14 of the slab 12, the arm 26 presses on the base 65 of the plate 64.
• the weight of the arm 26 compresses the layer 62 of the flexible material and makes a few centimeters down the plate 64.
• the displacement of the plate 64 can release the cylindrical axis 70 hitherto blocked by the plate 64. Under the thrust of the spring 72, the cylindrical axis 70 translates axially to penetrate the orifice 68. The arm 26 is thus blocked between the floor 12 and the cylindrical axis 70.
• FIGS. 9 and 10 are respectively a side view and a lateral section of the free end of an arm 26.
• the peripheral heavy body 30 is connected to the end of the arm 26 by the positioning device 32 and the device of FIG. reinforcement 34 associates.
• the positioning device 32 corresponds, for example, to a double-acting cylinder comprising a rod 72 attached to a piston 73 adapted to slide in a cylindrical tube 74.
• the rod 72 is fixed to the free end of the arm 26 and the cylindrical tube 74 is fixed to the heavy body 30.
• the axis of the jack 32 is oriented perpendicularly to the axis of the arm 26.
• the jack 32 may correspond to a double-acting jack electric, pneumatic or hydraulic.
• the maximum length that the jack 32 can reach is defined according to the relief of the site.
• Each double acting jack 32 can be actuated by an actuation system not shown.
• the actuators 32 can be operated from the ⁇ side through electric cables or pipes ranging from cylinders 32 to the surface, or directly from a source of energy present at the structure seat 10.
• the cylinder 32 is immobilized in both directions of displacement of the rod 72 by a mecha ⁇ nique system requiring no energy. This is for example a locking system marketed by Sitema under the name Serra.
• the reinforcing device 34 corresponds, for example, to a jack inclined at approximately 45 degrees to the axis of the arm 26.
• the rod 76 comprises a rod 76 adapted to slide in a cylindrical tube 78.
• the rod 76 is connected to the arm 26 by a pivot connection or ball joint 80 and the cylindrical body 78 is connected to the heavy body 30 by a pivot connection or ball 82.
• the cylinder 34 reinforces the end zone of the arm 26. This reduces the section of the beam constituting the arm 26.
• the cylinder 34 may not be a slave cylinder. It is then left free in translation when adjusting the spacing between the end of the arm 26 and the peripheral dead body 30 associated with the control of the double-acting cylinder 32. The cylinder 34 is then locked, for example using of a Serra type device.
• Figures HA and HB schematically illustrate exemplary embodiments of the peripheral heavy body.
• the peripheral weighting body 30 comprises a hemispherical portion 83 which is extended by a conical portion 84 whose tip is oriented towards the ground. This allows a possible partial penetration of the body weight device 30 in the marine or fluvial soil when adjusting the position of the peripheral heavy body 30 by the associated positioning device 32.
• the weight-bearing body 30 is in the form of a tetrapod. In general, the shape of each weight-bearing body 30 and the surface state of this body makes it possible to increase, for a given total weight, the friction with the ground so as to oppose more effectively the drag forces in the body. flow direction.
• the surface of the peripheral heavy body 30 may be rough, or covered with asperities or else provided with one or more protuberances, the characteristic dimension of which may be comparable to the size of the body itself, such as the tetrapod shape of FIG. . These characteristics also apply to the central weighing body 20. According to another exemplary embodiment, the peripheral heavy bodies 30 or at least some of them are replaced by suction anchors so as to reduce the weight of the structure of the structure. sitting 10.
• FIG 12 shows in more detail the damping device 38. It can be a telescopic device connected by a pivot connection or ball 86 to the base 12 and another connection to pivot or ball 88 to the arm 26 associate. It may be a device based on the pressure losses of a fluid flowing in a closed enclosure.
• the damping devices 38 are used to prevent too impor ⁇ tants shocks occur when the arms 26 tilt and come into contact with the plate 64 of the locking device 36 resting on the raft 12.
• the curve C represents the trajectory followed by the pivoting connection 88 during the tilting of the arm 26.
• Figures 13 and 14 schematically illustrate two examples of connection between the plate 19 and the raft 12.
• the support plate 19 of the turbomachine comprises male or female parts , not shown, for fixing one or more turbomachines by interlocking.
• the plate 19 can be integral 12.
• the plate 19 and the raft 12 may correspond to the same part.
• the plate 19 of Figure 13 is adapted to the case where the turbomachine to be installed does not include means that facilitate its orientation in the direction of the current or is insensitive to the orientation of the current.
• the plate 19 can be connected to the base 12 by means of a connection 89 which allows, for example, a rotation of the plate 19 around the central axis of the base 12.
• connection 89 is, for example, provided by an Eternum ball 90 connecting the plate 19 to the base 12, located under the raft 12 above the ball 54 of the dead body cen ⁇ tral 20, and by a plane connecting element 92 between the face lower plate 94 and the upper face 14 of the raft 12.
• the plate 19 of Figure 14 allows the hydraulic turbine engine mounted on the plate 19 to move freely relative to the current. This is advantageous if the turbo ⁇ machine includes means to facilitate orientation in the direction of the current.
• Figure 15 is a detailed view of Figure 2 and shows the free ends of arms 26 of the seat structure 10 in a folded configuration to the top of an opera ⁇ installation of the seat structure 10 on sea or fluvial soil. Reinforcing devices 34 are not repre ⁇ sented in Figure 15.
• a free resilient hoop 96 surrounds the moth-eaten extré- arms 26.
• the hoop 96 comprises two portions in half cylinder 97, 98 connected at one end by a deformable connection 99.
• the half-cylinder portions 97, 98 are attached to each other at the opposite end by a pin 100.
• the collapsed position of the arms 26 corresponds to a stable equilibrium position.
• the hoop 96 is provided for safety purposes and holds arms 26 in position folded.
• an inflatable balloon 101 is disposed between the arms 26 under the hoop 96 in a partially inflated state.
• a conduit 102 for supplying gas is connected to the balloon 101.
• the balloon 101 exerts a thrust on the arms 26, in particular because of the Archimedean thrust. This leads to a separation of the arms 26 which are no longer held by the hoop 96 to an unbalanced position to which the peripheral dead bodies 30 ent ⁇ nant the tilting of the arms 26. The balloon 101 is then released and can be recovered .
• the inflatable balloon 101 may be replaced by a rigid balloon, the spacing of the arms 26 being obtained by exerting an upward pull on the rigid balloon, for example by means of a cable.
• each arm 26 is constituted by a "monobloc" beam articulated relative to the base 12, it is clear that the arm could have a different structure.
• each arm may have a telescopic structure while being articulated on the base 12.
• Each arm is then in a configuration where it is folded and where its length is minimal for transporting the seat structure and the descent of the seat.
• seat structure to the site of instal ⁇ lation and is brought to a configuration where its length is maximum during the installation of the seat structure just before the tilting of the arm. This further reduces Davan ⁇ floor the size of the seat structure during transport.

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• 2008
  • 2008-08-14 FR FR0855593A patent/FR2935005B1/fr active Active
• 2009
  • 2009-08-11 EP EP09740456A patent/EP2321470A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2009-08-11 AP AP2011005605A patent/AP2011005605A0/xx unknown
  • 2009-08-11 CA CA2734085A patent/CA2734085A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2009-08-11 WO PCT/FR2009/051582 patent/WO2010018345A2/fr active Application Filing
  • 2009-08-11 US US13/058,758 patent/US8662792B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2011
  • 2011-02-21 ZA ZA2011/01365A patent/ZA201101365B/en unknown

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