FR3064694A1 - HYBRID FLOAT OF WINDMILL - Google Patents

Abstract

This hybrid float including offshore wind, comprising at least four steel columns, including a central column and three outer columns connected to the central column by concrete pontoon-shaped branches, is characterized in that it comprises means (21) sealing and sealing of the columns relative to the pontoon-shaped branches.

Description

® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY © Publication number: 3,064,694 (to be used only for reproduction orders)

©) National registration number: 17 00333

COURBEVOIE © Int Cl ⁸ : F03 D 13/25 (2017.01), B 63 B 35/44

A1 PATENT APPLICATION

©) Date of filing: 28.03.17. © Applicant (s): DONS ENERGIES— FR. (© Priority: @ Inventor (s): MOIRET CYRILLE. ©) Date of public availability of the request: 05.10.18 Bulletin 18/40. ©) List of documents cited in the report preliminary research: Refer to end of present booklet (© References to other national documents ® Holder (s): DCNS ENERGIES. related: ©) Extension request (s): Polynesia-Fr (© Agent (s): CABINET LAVOIX Joint-stock company simplified.

164) HYBRID WIND TURBINE FLOAT.

This hybrid float, in particular offshore wind turbine, comprising at least four steel columns, including a central column and three external columns connected to the central column by branches in the form of a concrete pontoon, is characterized in that it comprises means (21) for sealing and sealing the columns with respect to the pontoon-shaped branches.

FR 3 064 694 - A1

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HYBRID WIND TURBINE FLOAT

The present invention relates to a hybrid float, especially an offshore wind turbine.

Such floats are already known in the state of the art, as for example by the document WO 2014/031009.

This document describes such a float which comprises at least four steel columns, including a central column, and three outer columns, connected to the central column by branches in the form of a concrete pontoon.

In this document, the outer columns are connected to the central column in a star configuration.

The outer columns and the pontoon-shaped branches of this float then also include ballasts, making it possible to adjust the level of buoyancy of this float.

This allows for example the transport and installation of this wind turbine on an electricity production site.

Floats of this nature are said to be hybrid because they use a mixed steel structure for the columns and concrete for the pontoon-shaped branches, between them.

In the prior document mentioned above, means for pumping out these ballasts are also provided.

These pumping means make it possible to pump water out of these ballasts to modify the buoyancy of the assembly.

This prior document therefore generally describes the concept of a hybrid float.

The present invention aims to advance the definition of this type of floats.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a hybrid float, in particular offshore wind turbine, comprising at least four steel columns, including a central column and three external columns connected to the central column by branches in the form of a concrete pontoon, characterized in that it comprises means for closing and sealing the columns with respect to the pontoon-shaped branches.

According to other characteristics of the float according to the invention taken alone or in combination:

- the pontoon-shaped branches have steel flanges on which the corresponding columns are fixed;

- Each flange includes, opposite the corresponding column, a plate forming the sealing and sealing means;

- the sealing and sealing plate is welded to the flange;

- Each flange is placed in the extension of a branch in the form of a pontoon and each branch in the form of a pontoon has fixing elements which engage in holes in the corresponding wall portion of each flange;

- The fastening elements include prestressing cables embedded in the concrete of the pontoon-shaped branches;

- the fastening elements include studs and / or tie rods;

- The fastening elements include protruding parts of the pontoon-shaped branches;

- each column is welded to the corresponding flange;

- each column is screwed onto the corresponding flange.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a hybrid offshore wind turbine float according to the invention;

- Figure 2 illustrates the different parts of this float;

- Figure 3 shows a view with cutaway portions illustrating such a structure;

- Figure 4 shows a top view of such a float showing the reinforcement thereof;

- Figure 5 shows the connection between the prestressing cables of the float and a flange for fixing a column forming part of a float according to the invention;

- Figure 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a flange;

- Figure 7 illustrates the connection between a column and a flange; and

- Figure 8 shows the use of sealing and sealing means integrated in a flange forming part of a float according to the invention.

In fact, in FIG. 1, a hybrid float, in particular of an offshore wind turbine, has been illustrated.

This offshore wind turbine is designated by the general reference 1 in this figure 1, and the float thereof is designated by the general reference 2.

In the present application, the term hybrid is used to describe a float using two different materials to make parts of it.

Thus and as was indicated in the prior document mentioned above, such a float 2 comprises at least four steel columns, including a central column, designated by the general reference 3, and three outer columns designated by the references 4, 5 and 6.

These outer columns are connected to the central column by branches in the form of a concrete pontoon, two of which, for example 7 and 8, are illustrated more clearly in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

As previously indicated also, the central and external columns can be steel columns and have a cylindrical section while the pontoon-shaped branches can be made of concrete and have a rectangular section.

Also conventionally, in this type of float, the outer columns and the pontoon-shaped branches include ballasts.

This is visible in particular in Figure 3, where we recognize the float 2, the central column 3, the outer columns 4, 5 and 6 thereof and the pontoon-shaped branches 7 and 8.

We see appear in this figure 3, the ballasts for example 9 and 10 respectively, at the level of the pontoon-shaped branches 7 and 8 and of the columns 4 and

5.

We also see in this figure 3, the difference in the nature of the material for making these elements, namely the steel columns and the branches in the form of a concrete pontoon.

To ensure the connection between the columns and the branches, steel flanges are used which are associated with the pontoon-shaped branches and on which the corresponding columns are fixed.

In this figure 3, we see for example flanges 11, 12, 13, interposed between columns and corresponding branches.

In fact and as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, prestressing cables of the pontoon-shaped branches are used, for example, for fixing the flanges to these pontoon-shaped branches and the columns made of steel can then be welded or screwed on these flanges.

For example, FIG. 4 shows a reinforcement, that is to say members such as prestressing elements, embedded in the concrete during the production of the branches in the form of a pontoon and which therefore extend between the different columns 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Thus in this FIG. 4, we recognize the float 2 and the columns 3, 4, 5 and 6, which are therefore connected by branches in the form of a pontoon, such as the branches 7 and 8.

These branches are each provided with prestressing cables as designated by the references 14 and 15 respectively for these branches 7 and 8.

These prestressing cables 14 and 15 make it possible to provide the connection between the flanges 11, 12 and 13 and the rest of the structure.

They constitute the main elements which ensure the overall rigidity of the float.

To this end, there are illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, embodiments of the flanges 11 and 12 respectively, which allow to fix for example the outer column 4 and the central column 3 on the rest of the structure of the float.

The flange 11 for example is then placed in the extension of the pontoon-shaped branch 7 and the reinforcement 14 of this branch has projecting fastening elements which engage in holes in the corresponding wall portion of this flange 11 , next to this branch, to fix it on this one.

Thus in FIG. 5, we see a reinforcement appear, such as the reinforcement 14, embedded in the rest of the branch in the form of a pontoon and the ends of which engage in holes in the wall of the flange 11 to ensure its fixing. .

In FIG. 6, the two reinforcements, for example 14 and 15, are illustrated.

These reinforcements also comprise projecting parts engaging in holes in the wall of the flange 12 opposite the pontoon-shaped branches to ensure the fixing of this flange and therefore of the central column 3 to the rest of the structure of the float.

These reinforcements can for example be constituted by prestressing cables embedded in the concrete of the pontoon-shaped branches, during the production thereof.

Of course, other embodiments of these fixing means can be envisaged.

Thus, for example, these may include studs and / or tie rods or even protruding parts of the branches in the form of a pontoon, then engaging in openings, for example flanges.

As shown in Figure 7, the steel column is for example fixed to the corresponding flange by means of a weld bead.

This can be seen in particular in this FIG. 7, where there is shown column 4, the corresponding fixing flange 11 and the weld bead designated by the general reference 20.

Of course, still other fixing methods can be envisaged, such as, for example, the use of screwing or other means of the column in position on the flange.

It will also be noted with reference to FIG. 8, that each flange such as for example the flange 11 illustrated in this figure, may include means for closing and sealing the corresponding column with respect to the pontoon-shaped branch or branches of the float.

Thus, for example, these sealing and sealing means can be formed by a plate, for example also made of steel, which closes the flange.

Such a plate is designated by the general reference 21 in this figure 8.

This plate can then be welded, for example, to the flange to ensure closure and complete sealing of the branch.

Of course, still other embodiments can be envisaged.

It is therefore understandable that such a structure has a number of advantages in terms of the ease of making the entire float, its reliability and its tightness.

Claims (10)

1, - Hybrid float (2) including offshore wind turbine (1), comprising at least four steel columns, including a central column (3) and three external columns (4, 5, 6) connected to the central column by concrete pontoon-shaped branches (7, 8), characterized in that it comprises means (21) for closing and sealing the columns with respect to the pontoon-shaped branches. 2, -Hybrid float including offshore wind turbine according to claim 1, characterized in that the pontoon-shaped branches have steel flanges (11, 12, 13) on which are fixed the corresponding columns (3, 4, 5 , 6). 3, - Hybrid float, in particular offshore wind turbine according to claim 2, characterized in that each flange (11) comprises, opposite the corresponding column (4), a plate (21) forming the sealing and sealing means . 4, - Hybrid float including offshore wind turbine according to claim 3, characterized in that the closure and sealing plate (21) is welded to the flange (11). 5, - Hybrid float including offshore wind turbine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each flange (11, 12, 13) is placed in the extension of a branch in the form of a pontoon (7, 8) and in that each pontoon-shaped branch (7, 8) has fixing elements (14, 15) engaging in holes in the corresponding wall portion of each flange. 6, - Hybrid float including offshore wind turbine according to claim 5, characterized in that the fastening elements comprise prestressing cables (14, 15) embedded in the concrete branches in the form of pontoon. 7, - Hybrid float including offshore wind turbine according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the fastening elements comprise studs and / or tie rods. 8.- Hybrid float in particular offshore wind turbine according to any one of claims 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that the fastening elements comprise protruding parts of the branches in the form of a pontoon. 5 9.- Hybrid float including offshore wind turbine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each column (3, 4, 5, 6) is welded to the corresponding flange. 10, - Hybrid float including offshore wind turbine according to any one of claims 10 to 8, characterized in that each column is screwed onto the corresponding flange.