Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B73/00—Building or assembling vessels or marine structures, e.g. hulls or offshore platforms
  • B63B73/30—Moving or transporting modules or hull blocks to assembly sites, e.g. by rolling, lifting or floating
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
  • B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
  • B66C17/00—Overhead travelling cranes comprising one or more substantially horizontal girders the ends of which are directly supported by wheels or rollers running on tracks carried by spaced supports
  • B66C17/06—Overhead travelling cranes comprising one or more substantially horizontal girders the ends of which are directly supported by wheels or rollers running on tracks carried by spaced supports specially adapted for particular purposes, e.g. in foundries, forges; combined with auxiliary apparatus serving particular purposes
• • 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
  • E02B2017/0069—Gravity structures
• • 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
  • E02B2017/0091—Offshore structures for wind turbines

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the launching of heavy loads and more particularly but not exclusively those of gravity bases (also called GBF for "Gravity Base Foundation”) used in offshore wind power, or those of jacket structures or floating foundations.
• GBF Gravity Base Foundation
• Wind turbine towers are becoming increasingly tall to maximize energy capture by maximizing the area swept by the blades.
• Offshore wind turbines can reach a rotor height of 140 meters or more.
• Their design includes a gravity-based foundation whose weight is proportional to the installed power (typically 6,000 to 12,000 tons). These foundations are most often prefabricated onshore to optimize construction costs.
• the lower (submerged) section of the tower is constructed of concrete along with the base, while the above-water section can be constructed of either concrete or steel.
• the lower section of the mast constructed of concrete, always covers at least the submerged portion. Since wind turbines are commonly installed at depths of between 20 and 40 meters, the corresponding mast height of the base is generally between 40 and 60 meters. Traditional deployment methods become more expensive as the dimensions and weight of the components to be deployed increase.
• the movement of the transport structures between the lifting and retracted configurations is carried out without carrying the load, before loading or after unloading it, this movement being carried out for the sole purpose of clearing the passage for the load in order to allow it to be positioned under the transport structures or to be released, and when the load is a gravity base, to allow its mast to extend vertically between the transport structures.
• the invention offers multiple advantages.
• the invention allows the support of a concrete tower or a tall metal mast, with or without its generator (wind nacelle, rotor and blades).
• the invention also makes it possible to limit maintenance operations at the marine site such as dredging at the launching site, because little equipment is in motion underwater.
• the invention provides a heavy lifting system in which the transport structures can be easily engaged and retracted to insert and symmetrically support the base.
• the base has a taller element than the transport structures themselves. This solution allows the load to be lifted onto a platform, moved over the required distance, and then lowered to float.
• the invention makes it possible to avoid the need for a large-capacity barge, a significant draft, and a large number of SMPT-type rolling modules, of which The job generally requires the strengthening of port structures and has a high carbon footprint.
• each transport structure includes at least one steel crossbeam, which reduces weight.
• Each transport structure may, in particular, include a set of steel crossbeams connected together.
• Each crossbeam may have a main truss section, for example with two, three, or four longitudinal elements, extended by end pieces, for example with two vertically superimposed longitudinal elements. These end pieces bear on the support structure and/or the support structure when switching from the lifting configuration to the retracted configuration or vice versa, so that at all times the transport structure rests on at least two longitudinally spaced supports, namely either on at least two support structures, or on at least one support structure and one end piece.
• the system may include at least two movable supports, such as sliding supports, for example in the form of trolleys, moving along the support structures, which carry the transport structures. These transport structures may move laterally relative to the trolleys.
• the movable supports are, for example, moved along the support structures by cable jacks, and the transport structures are, for example, moved relative to the movable supports by cable jacks.
• the term "trolley” should be understood broadly, encompassing trolleys with or without wheels or rollers, and capable of moving by sliding, rolling, or other means.
• Each transport structure may include a plurality of lifting devices to lift the load, for example cable jacks.
• Each support structure can be supported by concrete piles.
• Each support structure can be located at a lower ground level than the top of the mast when the load is a gravity base.
• the top of the mast, when the base rests on the ground is at least twice the height of the support structures.
• Such a process is particularly suitable for a load with a mast, the latter extending between the front and rear transport structures and at a height greater than these during the movement of the load between the loading and unloading areas, and in particular for a load consisting of a gravity base.
• a launching system 1 usable for launching a load consisting of a gravity base E comprising a base B and a mast F, both made of concrete and constructed on land.
• Base E is intended to receive an upper part of the mast and a wind turbine nacelle (not shown).
• the weight of the load is, for example, greater than or equal to 3000t.
• the base's pedestal B may have ballast caissons to ensure its buoyancy until it reaches its final location on the seabed.
• the outer diameter of pedestal B is, for example, greater than or equal to 15 m.
• System 1 comprises front transport structures 10a and rear 10b that can move along two parallel support structures 20a and 20b extending from a load loading zone L on the ground to a load unloading zone U in the water.
• Movement paths 40 can be provided, as illustrated, to bring the base E from a manufacturing area (not shown) to the loading area L.
• Each transport structure 10a or 10b comprises in the illustrated example several parallel crossbeams 17 made together by connecting elements 15, the crossbeams 17 being three in the example considered.
• each crossbeam 17 is made with a metal frame, and has a main section 11 extended by chamfers 12 and 16 at its longitudinal ends.
• the main section 11 presents four longitudinal elements 111 parallel to each other and arranged in section like the vertices of a rectangle, as visible on the figure 4 in particular, these longitudinal elements 111 being joined together by metal mesh elements 112.
• the nozzles 12 and 16 each have two parallel longitudinal elements 113, superimposed vertically, joined by metal mesh elements 114.
• the upper longitudinal element 113 is connected to the two upper longitudinal elements 111 by transition elements 115 forming a V, and the same is true of the lower longitudinal element 113.
• the support structures 20a and 20b each comprise a beam 23, for example made of concrete, resting on vertical piers 21.
• Inclined bracing beams 22 are arranged on the outside side of the piers 21, to stabilize the support structures against lateral forces.
• Rear support structures 30a and front support structures 30b extend at a distance from support structure 20b.
• Each support structure includes, for example, as illustrated, a horizontal beam 31, for example made of concrete, resting at its ends on vertical piers 32.
• the support structures 30a and 30b can be stabilized by oblique bracing beams 33, in pairs on the inner and outer sides of the piers 32.
• Each support structure 30a or 30b is located at a distance from the adjacent support structure 20b which is less than the length of each transport structure 10a or 10b.
• the rear support structure 30a allows the rear transport structure 10b to be able to switch from a lifting configuration, illustrated in the figure 1 in particular, where it rests on support structures 20a and 20b, in a retractable configuration, visible on the Figure 10A in particular, where it rests on the support structure 20b and the support structure 30a.
• the front support structure 30b allows the front transport structure 10a to be able to switch from a lifting configuration, illustrated in the Figure 10A in particular, where it rests on support structures 20a and 20b, in a retractable configuration, visible on the figure 10G in particular, where it rests on support structure 20b and support structure 30b.
• the spacing between the support structures 20a and 20b corresponds approximately to the length of the main section 11 of the crossbeams 17; the transition portions comprising the transition elements 115 come, for example, directly above the support structures in the lifting configuration.
• each transport structure 10a or 10b can rest, by its longer prongs 12, on the support structure 20b, and by its shorter prongs 16, on its corresponding support structure. Before the prongs 16 cease to rest on the support structure, the prongs 12 come to rest on the support structure 20a.
• 60 trolleys are mobile on each support structure 20a or 20b to allow the transport structures 10a and 10b to move along the support structures, between the loading and unloading areas.
• each drive system 61 can include a cable 65 attached to the ends of the corresponding support structure, and extending between them.
• the trolley 60 traveling on the support structure 20b, on which each transport structure is always supported, can carry, as can be seen in particular at the figure 9 , at least one drive system 64 adapted to move the corresponding transport structure laterally, between the lifting and retracted configurations, for example at least one cable jack drive system 66.
• the latter can extend between the connecting elements 15 arranged at the level of the beaks 12 and 16.
• the trolleys 60 may include supports 69 to guide the crossbeams 17 laterally during their movement between the retracted and lifted configurations.
• each transport structure 10a or 10b includes beams 13 resting on the upper longitudinal elements 111 of the main sections 11, these beams 13 supporting lifting devices 50, for example cable jacks.
• the distribution of the lifting devices 50 on each crossbeam 17 is chosen according to the nature and geometry of the load to be lifted; in the example considered, the Transport structures 10a and 10b have symmetrical arrangements with respect to a plane of symmetry oriented perpendicularly to support structures 20a and 20b.
• the crossbeam 17 furthest from the mast F can bear as illustrated in the figure 8 four lifting members 50 grouped in pairs, the latter being separated by a distance d1 and positioned symmetrically with respect to the middle of the crossbeam 17, the middle crossbeam can carry four lifting members 50, the two most central of which are separated by a distance d2 less than d1, and the two most external are separated by a distance d3 greater than d1, the crossbeam 17 closest to the mast F having four lifting members 50 of which the two most central are positioned on the crossbeam 17 substantially like the pairs of lifting members of the most external crossbeam 17, and the two most external lifting members 50 are separated by a distance d4 greater than d3.
• the lifting devices 50 have attachments 51, visible on the figure 7 in particular, which can be attached to anchors 53 of the base E.
• System 1 can be used in the following way.
• the rear transport structure 10b is brought into the retracted configuration, where it rests by the prongs 16 on the rear support structure 30a and by the prongs 12 on the support structure 20b, as illustrated in the Figure 10A
• the front support structure 10a is in a lifting configuration, and rests by the main section 11 on the support structures 20a and 20b.
• the base E can be brought into the loading area L, as illustrated in the figure 10B
• the mast F can be moved up to the front cross member 10a, thanks to the sufficiently recessed positioning of the lugs 12 of the rear support structure 10b.
• the rear cross member 10b is returned to its lifting configuration, as illustrated in the figure 10C , and mast F extends between support structures 10a and 10b.
• the fasteners 51 are attached to the base E and the lifting devices 50 are actuated to lift it above the ground.
• the two transport structures 10a and 10b can be moved together to bring the base E into the unloading area U, above the water, as illustrated in the figure 10D
• the base E can be lowered into the water by actuating the lifting devices 50 so as to to float, as illustrated in figures 10E And 10F
• the fasteners 51 can be detached from the base E.
• the front transport structure 10a can then be moved laterally to be brought into a retracted configuration, as illustrated in the figure 10G , in order to free the base E and allow it to leave the unloading area U.
• the front transport structure 10a rests by the slats 16 on the front support structure 30b, and on the support structure 20b by the slats 12.
• the forward transport structure 10a can be brought back into lifting configuration and then moved aft so that it can take charge of the next base E to be put into the water.
• support structures 30a and 30b can be replaced by a support structure extending continuously along support structures 20a and 20b.
• the arrangement of the transport structures 10a and 10b can be modified; for example, the number of crossbeams can be increased or decreased depending on the size of the base to be deployed.
• the transport structures can be brought into their retracted configuration by means other than translational movement along their longitudinal axis, for example, by rotation in a horizontal or vertical plane, or by a more complex movement.
• Air Pad System type drive solutions air cushion sliding system commonly used for the translation of heavy loads, allowing friction to be limited to less than 1% of the vertical force
• translation system with sliding supports on air cushions as described in the patent EP1854746 (on skates, 3)

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Bridges Or Land Bridges (AREA)
• Conveying And Assembling Of Building Elements In Situ (AREA)
• Earth Drilling (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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ID=78212362

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2021
  • 2021-09-30 FR FR2110315A patent/FR3127467B1/fr active Active
• 2022
  • 2022-09-28 WO PCT/EP2022/077013 patent/WO2023052444A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2022-09-28 PL PL22789237.9T patent/PL4408734T3/pl unknown
  • 2022-09-28 EP EP22789237.9A patent/EP4408734B1/fr active Active

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