EP2753540A1

EP2753540A1 - Installation vehicle for a tidal power station and method for the operation thereof

Info

Publication number: EP2753540A1
Application number: EP12741258.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alex Hewitt; Jason Hayman; Norman Perner
Original assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
Current assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
Priority date: 2011-09-06
Filing date: 2012-07-28
Publication date: 2014-07-16
Also published as: DE102011112425B4; WO2013034223A1; CA2832246A1; DE102011112425A1; US20140137789A1; KR20140057486A; AU2012306798A1; JP2014526404A

Abstract

The invention relates to an installation vehicle (1) for a machine nacelle (2) of a tidal power station having a turbine generator unit (3) comprising at least two floating devices (4.1, 4.2) that have a multiplicity of ballast tanks, the buoyancy of which is adjustable; a driving device (6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4) that acts in a different direction; a controllable fastening device for holding the machine nacelle, wherein the fastening device (9.1, 9.2) is connected at least indirectly to a support element (8) that produces a connection between the floating devices. The invention is characterised in that the connection between the floating devices and the support element is implemented by a releasable coupling apparatus or the support element comprises a device for size adaptation.

Description

Installation vehicle for a tidal power plant and method for its operation

The invention relates to an installation vehicle for a tidal power plant, in particular for two-part systems, for which a nacelle with a turbine-generator unit is attached to a coupling device of a supporting against the bottom of the water base part. Furthermore, a method for the operation of the installation vehicle is specified.

Free-flowing water turbines for energy production from one

Water flow are known. These are developed for power generation from a watercourse or a sea current, in particular a tidal current, in order to be able to dispense with the establishment of barrages can. For a possible embodiment, a propeller-shaped water turbine is used which drives an electric generator arranged inside the nacelle.

For efficient use of slow water currents

Hydro turbines with a large rotor diameter needed. This requirement leads to a complex installation, in particular in the case of a location in the sea, so that installation vehicles adapted to the respective installation have been proposed. For example, EP 1 980 670 A1 discloses a catamaran having an open central area sized to allow a tidal turbine to pass therethrough. In addition, a gravity foundation, to which the tidal turbine is coupled, is transported to the installation site on the underside of the catamaran. For the installation, the system as a whole, ie the combination of tidal turbine and foundation part, discharged from the catamaran, the tidal turbine is guided through the central opening. A disadvantage of this installation method is the high, to-use weight of the entire system to which the foundation part contributes significantly. As a result, the installation vehicle must meet a high payload requirement. To be able to install particularly large tidal power plants, it was proposed, in a first step, first the foundation with a

Create support structure at the bottom of the water. On the support structure there is a coupling device to which the machine nacelle with the turbine generator unit can be fastened. Reference is made by way of example to WO 2002/066828 Al and WO 2004/015264 Al. These documents disclose the setting down of a nacelle with a coupling pin on a tower-side coupling device designed as a conical receptacle. The draining of the nacelle takes place on guide cables, which are clamped between the top of the tower and a watercraft, which is used to transport the nacelle to the turbine-generator unit.

Furthermore, GB 2437533 A and GB 2447514 B describe the

Installation of two- and multi-part systems with the help of a ship's crane. This requires precise maneuvering of the vessel and stabilized crane systems to compensate for wave motion. Both are complex for the aforementioned, large-scale plant components, so that special installation vessels are necessary. In addition, the time window that can be used for the installation is strictly limited, since settling the system requires quiet weather conditions and a defined, weak flow.

To facilitate a crane-based installation of a two-part system is proposed by DE 10 2008 032 625 B3 to equip a lifting device for a nacelle with a foldable apron, which surrounds the tower in the phase of the final approach to a foundation part and so the

Lifting device centered with respect to the coupling device.

To be able to do without special installation vehicles, the

US 7,859,128 B2 before, a nacelle with a turbine-generator unit designed for a two-piece system with a positive buoyancy. to

Installation becomes a connection between the tower side

Coupling device and the coupling counterpart on the machine nacelle, which pulls the nacelle to the coupling device. If the cable connection at the end of the coupling pin and at the bottom of the conical recording of the coupling device out, there is an automatic

Centering when retrieving the rope. A disadvantage of this concept is the design effort for remaining on the system cable system. Furthermore, the buoyancy components provided in the nacelle housing require additional installation space.

Alternatively, detachable buoyancy aids described by US Pat. Nos. 3,633,369 and 3,823,564 may be used for the installation. Disclosed are floats that serve for the transport and storage of support structures for drilling platforms. Furthermore, GB 980,575 discloses a method for depositing heavy loads on the seabed. For this purpose, the pontoon used for the transport of the load is partially flooded and pulled by means of winches on an anchor system to the seabed. This is a shelf without disturbing wave influences possible.

The invention is based on the object, an installation vehicle for

Specify components of tidal power plants, in particular for a nacelle with a turbine-generator unit and a method for its operation, which is not influenced by weather and wave influences. The installation vehicle should be suitable for precise storage and recovery of plants of different sizes.

The object is solved by the features of the independent claims. As installation vehicle, a dipping device is used, which by means of a controllable fastening device, a nacelle with a turbine Generator unit for a tidal power station receives. The installation vehicle is by means of a supply and communication line with a

Overwater ship in communication. However, this connection line takes no load, so that the installation vehicle is decoupled after the descent of wind and wave influences on the water surface. For an alternative design is dispensed with the supply line and the

Installation vehicle operated as an energy self-sufficient and remotely controllable unit.

The installation vehicle comprises at least two floating devices with a plurality of ballast tanks, which are preferably designed as streamlined, elongate units. Between the floating devices is the

Machine nacelle with the turbine-generator unit by means of a controllable fastening device held by a support member which establishes a connection between the floating devices. According to the invention is for

Connection of the floating device with the support element a detachable

Coupling device used and / or the support element comprises a

Sizing device that adjusts the distance of the

Floating devices allows. By this measure is that

Inventive installation vehicle adaptable to different sizes of the turbine-generator unit. In this case, the distance between the lateral floating devices is adjusted by an exchange or a change in length of the support member so that the turbine-generator unit can be safely received. There is thus an adaptation depending on the size and / or weight of the nacelle with the turbine generator unit.

By adjusting the distance of the floating devices and a

Adaptation of the support element, which serves as a load-receiving connection between the floating devices, creates an adapted to the respective abzusetzende installation vehicle for the bending and torsional forces on the load-absorbing structures, in particular the support element, are reduced. Furthermore, the maneuverability and the life increase due to the reduced load.

For a further embodiment of the installation vehicle according to the invention, the floating devices are additionally adjustable in size. These preferably include a plurality of ballast tanks, which are arranged in series and each associated with a device for receiving ballast water. Advantageously, the water flow against one constantly

maintained internal pressure to quickly blow out in an emergency

to be able to ensure. To adapt the floating devices, these consist of individual modules, each module comprising at least one ballast tank. Furthermore, there is a releasable connection between adjacent modules, which is designed to be load-bearing. This is an exchange of individual modules and adding additional modules for extending an advantageously designed floating device is possible.

In the following the invention with reference to embodiments and

Figure representations illustrated in which the following is shown:

FIG. 1 shows an installation vehicle according to the invention, which has a

Machine nacelle absorbs.

FIGS. 2a

Figures 2b and 2b show in plan view installation vehicles according to the invention with a length-adapted support element which establishes a connection between lateral floating devices.

FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of ballast tanks for the floating device of an installation vehicle according to the invention. FIG. 4 shows a partial section in a sectional illustration for a modularly constructed floating device of a device according to the invention

Installation vehicle.

1 schematically illustrates, in simplified form, an installation vehicle 1 according to the invention. This is used to receive a machine nacelle 2 with a turbine generator unit 3, which can be placed on a foundation part of a tidal power plant not shown in detail by means of a coupling nipple 15.

The machine nacelle 2 is held by a controllable

Fixing device 7 on a support member 8. In this case, the support member 8 is a connection between a pairwise arrangement laterally

Floating devices 4, 4.1, 4.2 ago, with the help of the installation vehicle 1 dives controlled.

Figure 3 shows the structure of a floating device 4 as a partial sectional view.

Sketched are arranged in series ballast tanks 5.1, ..., 5.8, which are formed at the ends of the floating device 4 streamlined. The ballast tanks 5.1, 5.8 are connected to a compressed air and control device 16 in connection, which sets the ballast water level in each ballast tank 5.1, 5.8 separately. By this measure, the position of the installation vehicle 1 is stabilized under water, in addition to the setting of the depth and the determination of the horizontal position when depositing and picking up the load a

Weight compensation is performed.

To control the installation vehicle 1 are additional

Drive devices used 6.1, 6.4, which are preferably applied as forward, transverse and vertical thruster aligned. Alternatively, swivel drives or thrusters can be used. The floating devices 4, 4.1, 4.2 are due to their size despite a streamlined design for the flow resistance essential components. The measure according to the invention, the transverse distance between the lateral floating devices 4, 4.1, 4.2 to make customizable, results in an installation vehicle 1 with a for the respective turbine generator unit 3 of the machine nacelle 2 to be installed

Transverse extent. As a result, the bending and torsional loads acting on the support member 8 are minimized, so that its life increases. In addition, due to the adaptation of the support element 8, a relative to a

oversized flotation more manoeuvrable installation vehicle 1.

To adjust the transverse distance between the floating devices 4, 4.1, 4.2, the connection between the support member 8 and the floating devices 4, 4.1, 4.2 can be separated. For this purpose, a releasable coupling device 9.1, 9.2 is used with a bolt connection 12 for the realization of this connection. This releasable coupling device 9.1, 9.2 can be at different

Attachment points 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4 are attached to the support member 8, so that on the support member 8 different distances for the floating device 4, 4.1, 4.2 are adjustable.

Alternatively, the support member 8 can be replaced depending on the installation task. This embodiment is shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b

shown. Here, Figure 2a shows a first support member 8.1, which sets a distance di between the floating devices 4, 4.1, 4.2, which is smaller than the distance 02 for an adapted to a larger turbine generator unit 3 installation vehicle 1. For a turn alternative embodiment can on Support element 8, 8.1, 8.2 may be provided a device 10 for size adjustment. This can be an extension piece or an extendable unit. FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of an inventive device

Installation vehicle, wherein the lateral floating device 4 has a modular structure. Sketched are modules 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, each one

Pick up ballast tank 5.9, 5.10, 5.11. In this case, the ballast tanks 5.9, 5.10, 5.11 itself or a structure enveloping them are designed to be load-bearing, so that by a series of self-supporting modules 13.1, 13.2, 13.3 a

size-adjustable floating device 4, 4.1, 4.2 is formed. This can be adjusted by the choice of the number of modules for the necessary Auskraglänge in the longitudinal direction for the floating devices 4, 4.1, 4.2 depending on the male weight of the intended for installation machine nacelle 2. Coupled are the modules 13.1, 13.2, 13.3

Connection components 14, 14n, which are accessible via access openings 18.1, 18.2, 18.3, 18.4. Further embodiments of the invention are conceivable. In this case, the connection between the floating devices 4, 4.1, 4.2 can be made by a plurality of support elements 8, 8.1, 8.2, wherein some of the elements with respect to the predetermined by the floating devices 4, 4.1, 4.2 longitudinal axis of

Installation vehicle can run diagonally as far as the area provided for receiving the turbine-generator unit 3 area remains free. Furthermore, it is conceivable to form the support elements 8.1, 8.2 as a support frame or by means of a streamlined profile, in order to allow an improved installation under flow. The installation vehicle is oriented so that the

Longitudinal axis of the lateral floating devices 4, 4.1, 4.2 is aligned as parallel to the flow as possible. Accordingly, additional fins or rudders may be provided for stabilizing the roll. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 installation vehicle

2 machine nacelle

3 turbine generator unit

4, 4.1, 4.2 Floating device

5.1, ..., 5.11 ballast tank

6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 Drive device

7 controllable fastening device 8 supporting element

8.1 first support element

8.2 second support element

9.1, 9.2 detachable coupling device di, d ₂ distance

10 sizing device

11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4 attachment point

12 bolt connection

13.1, 13.2, 13.3 module

14.1, 14.2, 14.n connection component

15 coupling connection

16 compressed air and control device

17 Supply and control line

18.1, 18.2, 18.3, 18.4 access opening

25

Claims

claims

Installation vehicle for a nacelle (2) of a

Tidal power plant with a turbine generator unit (3) comprising at least two floating devices (4.1, 4.2) with a plurality of

Ballast tanks (5.1, 5.11), the buoyancy of which is adjustable;

a drive device (6.1, 6.

2,

6th

3, 6.4);

a controllable fastening device (7) for holding the

Machine nacelle (2), wherein the fastening device (7) is at least indirectly attached to a support element (8) which establishes a connection between the floating devices (4.1, 4.2);

characterized in that

the connection between the floating devices (4.1, 4.2) and the support element (8) is performed by a releasable coupling device (9.1, 9.2) and / or the support element (8) is a device for

Size adjustment (10) includes.

Installation vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the installation vehicle comprises means for adjusting the distance (di, 02) of

Floating devices (4.1, 4.2).

Installation vehicle according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the

Floating devices (4.1, 4.2) at different

Attachment points (11.1, 11.4) of the support element (8) can be fastened.

Installation vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the releasable coupling device (9.1, 9.2) comprises a bolt connection (12) between the floating devices (4.1, 4.2) and the support element (8).

5. Installation vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the to a floating device (4.1,

4.2) belonging ballast tanks (5.1,

5.11) are arranged in series.

6. Installation vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each ballast tank (5.1, 5.11) in each case a module (13.1, 13.2, 13.3) of the floating device (4.1, 4.2) is assigned, wherein the modules (13.1, 13.2, 13.3) are individually interchangeable ,

7. Installation vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the modules (13.1, 13.2, 13.3) of the floating device (4.1, 4.2) releasable connection components (14.1, 14.2, 14.n) for coupling to adjacent modules (13.1, 13.2, 13.3) include.

8. Installation vehicle according to one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the

Floating device (4.1, 4.2) are size adjustable.

9. A method for operating an installation vehicle for a

Machine nacelle (2) of a tidal power station with a turbine generator unit (3), comprising

9.1 at least two floating devices (4.1, 4.2) with a plurality of ballast tanks (5.1, 5.11) whose buoyancy is adjustable; and

9.2 a drive device acting in different directions (6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4); and

9.3 a controllable fastening device (7) for holding the

Machine nacelle (2) mounted at least indirectly on a support element (8) which establishes a connection between the floating devices (4.1, 4.2),

characterized in that

9.4 depending on the size and / or weight of the nacelle (2) with the turbine generator unit (3) the distance (di, d2) between the floating devices (4.1, 4.2) by an exchange or a

Length adjustment of the support element (8) is adjusted.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the floating device (4.1, 4.2) of individual, load-bearing connected modules (13.1, 13.2, 13.3) is constructed and the number of modules (13.1, 13.2, 13.3) to the size and / or Weight of the nacelle (2) with the turbine generator unit (3) is adjusted.