FR3064974A1 - FLOAT, IN PARTICULAR OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE - Google Patents

Abstract

This float, in particular an offshore wind turbine, is characterized in that it comprises means forming an additional buoyancy and weighting caisson (11), movably mounted under the remainder of the float (1) between a retracted maneuvering position, against this float. , and a deployed operating position, spread beneath the float.

Description

© Publication number: 3,064,974 (to be used only for reproduction orders) (© National registration number: 17 53095 ® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

COURBEVOIE © Int Cl ⁸ : B 63 B 35/44 (2017.01), F 03 D 13/25

A1 PATENT APPLICATION

©) Date of filing: 10.04.17. © Applicant (s): DCNS ENERGIES— FR. (© Priority: @ Inventor (s): MOIRET CYRILLE, PALLIER BER- NARD and GAMBARETTI PATRICK. (43) Date of public availability of the request: 12.10.18 Bulletin 18/41. ©) 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): (© Agent (s): LAVOIX.

104 / FLOAT PARTICULARLY OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE.

(6 /) This float, in particular offshore wind turbine, is characterized in that it comprises means forming an additional buoyancy and ballast box (11), mounted displaceable under the rest of the float (1) between a retracted operating position. , against this float, and a deployed operating position, spread under the float.

FR 3 064 974 - A1

OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE FLOAT

The present invention relates to a float, in particular an offshore wind turbine, for example for producing electrical energy.

One of the major performances targeted when designing a floating wind turbine of this nature is its "static" tilt under the nominal thrust of the turbine.

This inclination value can give trends in the dynamic behavior of the floating wind turbine, movements and accelerations, and can also become a constraint imposed by the turbine manufacturer as a limit, so as not to depart from the operating modes and mechanical performance of the different components of the wind turbine.

This static inclination is thus obtained from a certain number of parameters and data and has made it possible to retain a specific architecture in a number of current projects.

Thus, for example, such a column architecture has a significant form stability which is provided in particular by the center distance of several tens of meters, between external columns called "satellites" and a central column of such a wind turbine float.

But this choice of architecture is limited by the widths of the forms of construction or generally of reception, that is to say of the installations, intended to receive these floats.

These widths then constrain the value of this center distance coupled to the diameter of the outer columns.

Indeed if there are certain forms of construction which allow such a large spacing, especially in European countries or elsewhere, it is not the same for the forms available in several other regions of the world.

The solution to take these constraints into account is then to play on the weight stability of the whole.

But this unfortunately has an impact on the ballast characteristics of the floating unit, making it incompatible with the port capacities of certain regions of the world, whose bathymetry is perhaps lower than that of the reference form used.

The invention is therefore to propose a solution which makes it possible to act on the weight stability of the assembly, while respecting more restrictive industrial constraints, such as widths and depths of form or in the manner of industrial installations, reduced .

To this end, the subject of the invention is a float, in particular an offshore wind turbine, characterized in that it comprises means forming an additional buoyancy and ballast box, mounted movable under the rest of the float between a retracted operating position, against this float, and a deployed operating position, spread under the float.

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

- The means forming additional buoyancy and ballast box include ballasts;

- The box-forming means comprise means for filling / emptying the ballasts;

- The rest of the float and the means forming an additional buoyancy and ballast box comprise additional means for guiding the movements of the means forming a box with respect to the rest of the float;

- the complementary guide means comprise on one side of the guide legs connected to the box-forming means and on the other hand of the complementary guides for these legs, associated with the rest of the float;

- The guide means are provided around the rest of the float;

- The guide means are provided in line with the rest of the float;

- The float comprises at least four columns including a central column and three external columns connected to the central column by branches in the form of a pontoon and it comprises means for guiding the movement of the means forming a box associated with each external column of the float;

- The float comprises a single float and it comprises means for guiding the movement of the means forming a box associated with this single float;

- It comprises means in the form of a winch for moving the means forming a box relative to the rest of the float.

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:

- Figures 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a float according to the invention, comprising means in the form of additional buoyancy box and ballast, respectively in retracted operating positions, against the float, and deployed operating , spread under the float;

- Figures 3, 4 and 5 show details of embodiment of the means for guiding the means in the form of an additional buoyancy box and ballasting entering into the constitution of such a float;

- Figures 6 and 7 show an alternative embodiment of this float according to the invention; and

- Figures 8 and 9 show yet another alternative embodiment of such a float.

We have indeed illustrated in these figures, and in particular in Figures 1 and 2, an offshore wind turbine float.

In these Figures 1 and 2, the offshore wind turbine float according to the invention is designated by the general reference 1, while the rest of the wind turbine is designated by the general reference 2.

In the embodiment illustrated in these figures, the float in fact comprises for example a central column designated for example by the general reference 4, and external columns designated by the references 5, 6 and 7, which are connected to the column central for example by means of pontoon 8, 9 and 10.

It is known in fact that such floats with such pontoons and such columns have already been proposed in the state of the art.

Some of these floats also have, for example, a mixed structure, that is to say in which the pontoons are made for example of concrete and the columns are made of steel or any composite material.

To solve the various problems mentioned above, there are provided in the float according to the invention, means forming an additional buoyancy and ballast box, which are designated by the general reference 11 in these Figures 1 and 2.

In fact and as illustrated in these Figures 1 and 2, these means forming additional buoyancy and ballast box 11 are mounted displaceable under the rest of the float 1, between a retracted operating position, against this float, illustrated in the figure 1, and a deployed operating position, separated under the float, illustrated in FIG. 2.

The means forming additional buoyancy and ballast box 11 may then include ballasts and be associated with means for filling / emptying these ballasts to vary the effect of these.

It is therefore understandable that such a structure with these means forming a retractable / deployable box makes it possible, when the means forming an additional buoyancy and ballasting box, are in the retracted position against the float, to ensure towing and maneuvering performance thereof. this.

In fact, it is then easier to handle the float in this retracted configuration of the means forming a box.

This also makes it easier to receive it in installations such as shapes.

On the other hand, when these means forming an additional buoyancy and ballast box are in the deployed operating position, separated under the float, they make it possible to guarantee the performance of the float in operation, that is to say when the wind turbine is in position for example in a production park.

Thus the wind turbine float according to the invention is more compact than those of the state of the art, by using weight stability while keeping a small draft in port, by limiting the light draft of the floating wind turbine, while adapting to different types of architecture and allowing to follow the evolution of the powers of the turbines without changing the reference concept.

It is indeed possible with such a configuration to change the means in the form of a box to adapt them to changes, for example in turbines.

Such a structure in fact also makes it possible to widen the panel of forms, in particular of construction, which can accommodate such floating units, to keep the industrial production unit, even if the turbines evolve, or even to standardize a float to optimize the tool. manufacturing industrial if necessary.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, additional means are also used for guiding the movements of the box-shaped means relative to the rest of the float.

In the embodiment illustrated in these Figures 3, 4 and 5, the means for guiding the movements of the means forming the box 11, for example comprise means which are arranged around the rest of the float 1 and more particularly in the example described , which are arranged around each outer column of this float.

Thus, for example, the box-forming means comprise a body proper, designated by the general reference 12, which comprises at each angle, associated with a corresponding column of the rest of the float, like the columns 5, 6 and 7 of this float 1, guide legs, such as for example the legs designated by the references 13 and 14 in these figures, for guiding the part of the box-shaped means around the outer column 6 of the float.

The other angles of these means also include such guide legs associated with the corresponding columns of the float.

The or each outer column of the float may then itself include guide tabs for these guide legs in displacement of the box-shaped means, such as for example the tab designated by the general reference 15.

Such guide tabs can be distributed for example regularly, along and around the columns of the float.

Of course, numerous other embodiments can be envisaged.

It will also be noted for example that means in the form of a winch, for example motorized, and with a displacement cable of the means forming a box relative to the rest of the float, can be envisaged, to control the movements of these different elements.

As indicated above, means for filling / emptying ballasts of these means forming an additional buoyancy and ballast box can also be associated with these.

These means can be carried on board the float itself or be carried on board a floating unit for implementing and deploying these floats, so as to be shared between several floats.

It goes without saying of course that very many other alternative embodiments of these different means can be envisaged.

Another embodiment of such a float has thus been illustrated in FIGS. 6 and

7.

In these figures, the float is designated by the general reference 21 and the wind turbine by the general reference 22.

Means forming an additional buoyancy and ballast box are also provided in association with the rest of the float and are designated by the general reference 22 in these FIGS. 5 and 6.

In fact in this exemplary embodiment, the means for guiding the displacements of these means forming an additional buoyancy and ballast box, relative to the rest of the float, are provided at the right of this float and in particular at the right of the outer columns of this float.

Thus, for example, the box forming means 22 then comprise three guide legs, respectively 23, 24 and 25, adapted to penetrate into guide wells, formed in the external columns, for example 26, 27 and 28 of the float.

21.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the wind turbine comprises a single float 41, from which the rest of the wind turbine 40 extends.

This float 41 is associated with means forming additional buoyancy and ballast box 5, designated by the general reference 42.

These box-forming means also include three guide legs 43, 44 and 45, adapted to pass through and extend into corresponding guide holes in the float.

These means are thus mounted movable between a retracted position and a deployed position.

It goes without saying of course that still other embodiments can be envisaged.

It is therefore understandable that such a structure has a certain number of advantages by making it possible to optimize the performance of the float according to the position of the means forming a buoyancy and ballast box.

Claims (10)

1. - Float, in particular offshore wind turbine, characterized in that it comprises means forming an additional buoyancy and ballast box (11; 22; 42), mounted displaceable under the rest of the float (1; 21; 41) between a retracted operating position, against this float and, a deployed operating position, spread under the float. 2. - Float according to claim 1, characterized in that the means forming an additional buoyancy and ballast box comprise ballasts. 3. - Float according to claim 2, characterized in that the box-forming means comprise means for filling / emptying the ballasts. 4. - Float according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rest of the float and the means forming an additional buoyancy and ballast box comprise complementary means (5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15; 23 , 24, 25, 26, 27, 28; 43, 44, 45) for guiding the movements of the box-forming means relative to the rest of the float. 5. - Float according to claim 4, characterized in that the complementary guide means comprise on one side of the guide legs (13, 14; 23, 24, 25; 43, 44, 45) connected to the box-forming means and on the other hand complementary guides (5, 6, 7, 15; 26, 27, 28; 41) for these legs, associated with the rest of the float. 6. - Float according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the guide means are provided around the rest of the float. 7. -Float according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the guide means are provided in line with the rest of the float. 8. - Float according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the float comprises at least four columns including a central column and three external columns (5, 6, 7) connected to the central column by branches in the form of a pontoon ( 8, 9, 10) and in that it comprises means for guiding the movement of the means forming a box associated with each outer column (5, 6, 7; 26, 27, 28) of the float. 9. - Float according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the float 5 comprises a single float (41) and in that there are provided means for guiding the movement of the means forming a box associated with this single float. 10. - Float according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means in the form of a winch for displacement of the means forming 10 box compared to the rest of the float. 1/3 12 h 2/3