GB2402109A - Multiple turbine offshore support structure - Google Patents

Multiple turbine offshore support structure Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2402109A
GB2402109A GB0411754A GB0411754A GB2402109A GB 2402109 A GB2402109 A GB 2402109A GB 0411754 A GB0411754 A GB 0411754A GB 0411754 A GB0411754 A GB 0411754A GB 2402109 A GB2402109 A GB 2402109A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
support structure
multiple turbine
structural
offshore support
arms
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0411754A
Other versions
GB0411754D0 (en
Inventor
David Bone
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ocean Synergy Ltd
Original Assignee
Ocean Synergy Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ocean Synergy Ltd filed Critical Ocean Synergy Ltd
Publication of GB0411754D0 publication Critical patent/GB0411754D0/en
Publication of GB2402109A publication Critical patent/GB2402109A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02BHYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B17/00Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63BSHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/44Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03DWIND MOTORS
    • F03D1/00Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor 
    • F03D1/02Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor  having a plurality of rotors
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03DWIND MOTORS
    • F03D13/00Assembly, mounting or commissioning of wind motors; Arrangements specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
    • F03D13/20Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
    • F03D13/22Foundations specially adapted for wind motors
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02BHYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B17/00Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor
    • E02B2017/0056Platforms with supporting legs
    • E02B2017/0065Monopile structures
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02BHYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B17/00Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor
    • E02B2017/0091Offshore structures for wind turbines
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05BINDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2240/00Components
    • F05B2240/90Mounting on supporting structures or systems
    • F05B2240/95Mounting on supporting structures or systems offshore
    • YGENERAL 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
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70Wind energy
    • Y02E10/72Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
    • YGENERAL 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
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70Wind energy
    • Y02E10/727Offshore wind turbines

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Wind Motors (AREA)

Abstract

A multiple turbine offshore support structure has a foundation 1 fixed to the seabed or a watertight hull floating above the seabed and flexibly connected to it. A shaft 2 extends upwardly from the foundation or hull, with a rotatable hub 3 located on the shaft, which can rotate about the vertical axis. Two or more structural arms 4 are connected to the hub and are inclined symmetrically across a diameter drawn through the vertical axis of the shaft. The structural arms are of sufficient size and strength to support a wind turbine 5 at the free upper end. The structural arms are connected to the hob by hinged or rigid joints.

Description

MULTIPLE TURBINE OFFSHORE SUPPORT STRUCTURE
This invention relates to offshore support structures for wind turbines.
Currently foundation structures for offshore wind turbines, where the foundation is rigidly fixed to the seabed become increasingly uneconomical as the water depth increases. This has created a need for floating support structures in deeper water. Stability requirements during installation and dynamic requirements during operation make it difficult to produce a floating support structure that can support more than one wind turbine. Current solutions tend to provide one support structure for one wind turbine, so that wind farms typically consist of multiple single turbine support structures. The use of a single turbine mounted on a tower on either a fixed or floating support structure results in a high tower structure for a given power output. This in turn results in very high bending moments (hence greater costs) in the tower construction, and in the case of the floating turbine support structure difficult stability problems.
We have now devised a fixed or floating offshore windtower support structure that alleviates the above problems.
According to the present invention there is provided a multiple turbine offshore support structure comprising a foundation fixed to the seabed or a watertight hull floating above the seabed and flexibly connected to it, a shaft extending upwardly from said foundation or hull, a rotatable hub located on said shaft and capable of rotating around the vertical axis, and two (or more) inclined (symmetrically across a diameter drawn through the vertical axis of the shaft) structural arms connected by hinged or rigid joints to said rotatable hub, said structural arms being of sufficient size and strength to support a wind turbine at the free upper end, and with sufficient vertical adjustability to allow clearance for safe operation of adjacent turbines.
The rotatable hub allows the turbine blades to be aligned optimally to the wind direction obviating the need to rotate the whole structure via its moorings.
In an alternative embodiment the structural arms are arranged so that they are each inclined by the same angle normal to an initial incline (in a backward extension) said initial incline being symmetrically across a diameter drawn through the vertical axis of the shaft and are balanced using an additional structural arm with a counter balance weight in the horizontal plane at 180 degrees around the vertical plane of the shaft bisecting the other structural arms (in a forward extension). The structural arm with counter balance is configured so as to provide a balance of forces about the vertical plane of the shaft. Each structural arm including the counter balance arm may be capable of supporting a turbine rotor. The structural arms can be lowered or rotated to suit wind conditions. Also, the backward extension of the structural arms permits the rotatable hub to self-align the rotors to the optimal wind direction by weathervaning and thus obviates the need for powered drive or computer control systems.
In a further embodiment using the inclined arms with counter balance configuration, the structural arms are designed with an aerofoil or streamlined type shape to reduce wind loading on the structure. It is possible to do this because of the smaller load capacity required normal to the airflow when using this structural configuration with intermediate tie member. i
The narrower arms further improve airflow and lower wind resistance thus resulting in less load on the structure. The improved airflow also allows better rotor blade efficiency.
Also, because of an improved airflow the backward extension and streamlining effects allows use of rear mounted turbine blades, or two bladed rotors, which give better efficiency than front mounted or three blade rotors.
Preferably the floating embodiment is taut moored to the seabed (or seabed foundation device) with flexible connectors that are pre-tensioned due to the watertight hull being installed at a draught which causes excess buoyancy.
The floating embodiment preferably has a watertight hull comprising one or more chambers spaced for stability and inter-linked with structural braces.
Preferably the structural arms are transported in the horizontal position to improve stability and hence aid installation of the support structure and turbines. An A frame and cables can be utilised to assist lohg and raising of the arms. Also, the shaft may be telescopic to aid installation and transportation.
Preferably, once in the desired position, the structural arms are linked at the top by a cable or rigid brace to assist holding them in position and to aid distribution of structural forces away from said arms.
The use of pinpointed arms and cable stays lowers the structural weight when compared to single turbine support structures. By this means the estimated weight of a support structure for two turbines will be about 1. 5 times the weight for a single turbine support structure.
Hence, an overall weight saving of 25% is achieved, and hence cost savings.
A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows in vertical cross section the multiple turbine offshore support structure on location with the shaft extended and the structural arms in the operating position.
Referring to Figure I the structure comprises a watertight foundation 1 from which protrudes a telescopic shaft 2, a rotatable hub 3 attached to the shaft 2, and adjustable structural arms 4.
The turbines 5 are attached to the end of the structural arms 4. A cable brace 6 is used to link the structural arms 4 at the top ends.
The structural arms 4 are connected to the rotatable hub 3 with pin joints, thus allowing the arms 4 to be held in the horizontal position during transportation and installation. When the structure is in position the arms 4 are raised to the desired position as shown. The rotatable hub 3 (with axis of rotation indicated by arrow 7) allows the turbines 5 (and arms 4) to be manoeuvred into any desired orientation in order to maximise wind energy available. i

Claims (15)

1. A multiple turbine offshore support structure comprising a foundation fixed to the seabed or a watertight hull floating above the seabed and flexibly connected to it, a shaft extending upwardly from said foundation or hull, a rotatable hub located on said shaft and capable of rotating around the vertical axis, and two (or more) inclined (symmetrically across a diameter drawn through the vertical axis of the shaft) structural arms connected by hinged or rigid joints to said rotatable hub, said structural arms being of sufficient size and strength to support a wind turbine at the free upper end, and with 1 sufficient vertical adjustability to allow clearance for safe operation of adjacent turbines..
2. A multiple turbine offshore support structure as claimed in Claim I wherein the rotatable hub allows the turbine blades to be aligned optimally to the wind direction obviating the need to rotate the whole structure via its moorings.
3. A multiple turbine offshore support structure as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2, wherein "i the structural arms are arranged so that they are each inclined by the same angle normal to an initial incline (in a backward extension) said initial incline being symmetrically.
across a diameter drawn throuthe vertical axis of the shaft and are balanced using an additional structural arm with a counter balance weight in the horizontal plane at 180 degrees measured around the vertical plane of the shaft bisecting the other structural arms (in a forward extension).
A. - multiple turbine offshore support structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the structural arm with counter balance is configured so as to provide a balance of forces about the vertical plane of the shaft.
5. A multiple turbine offshore support structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each structural arm including the counter balance arm may be capable of supporting a turbme rotor.
6. A multiple turbine offshore support structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the structural arms can be lowered or rotated to suit wind conditions.
7. A multiple turbine offshore support structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the backward extension of the structural arms permits the rotatable hub to self-align the rotors to the optimal wind direction by weathervaning and thus obviates the need for powered drive or computer control systems.
8. A multiple turbine offshore support structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein using the inclined arms with counter balance configuration, the structural arms are designed with an aerofoil or streamlined type shape to reduce wind loading on the structure.
9 A multiple turbine offshore support structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the improved airflow from the backward extension and streamlining effects allows use of rear mounted turbine blades, or two bladed rotors, which give better efficiency than front mounted or three blade rotors. : :1
10. A multiple turbine offshore support structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the floating embodiment is taut moored to the seabed (or seabed foundation device) with flexible connectors that are pre-tensioned due to the watertight hull being installed at a draught which causes excess buoyancy.
11. A multiple turbine offshore support structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the floating embodiment has a watertight hull comprising one or more chambers spaced for stability and inter-linked with structural braces.
12. A multiple turbine offshore support structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the structural arms are transported in the horizontal position to improve stability and hence aid installation of the support structure and turbines.
13. A multiple turbine offshore support structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the shaft may be telescopic to aid installation and transportation.
14. A multiple turbine offshore support structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein once in the desired position, the structural arms are linked at the top by a cable or rigid brace to assist holding them in position and to aid distribution of structural forces away from said arms.
15.A multiple turbine offshore support structure substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
GB0411754A 2003-05-27 2004-05-26 Multiple turbine offshore support structure Withdrawn GB2402109A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0312069.8A GB0312069D0 (en) 2003-05-27 2003-05-27 Multiple turbine offshore support structure

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0411754D0 GB0411754D0 (en) 2004-06-30
GB2402109A true GB2402109A (en) 2004-12-01

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GB0411754A Withdrawn GB2402109A (en) 2003-05-27 2004-05-26 Multiple turbine offshore support structure

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Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007135391A2 (en) * 2006-05-18 2007-11-29 Epl Composite Solutions Limited A turbine blade support assembly
US8038383B2 (en) * 2004-11-18 2011-10-18 Wind Power Limited Vertical axis turbine apparatus
CN102305188A (en) * 2011-08-19 2012-01-04 天津大学 Multi-rotor wind generating system capable of automatically facing wind
WO2017186244A1 (en) * 2016-04-29 2017-11-02 Vestas Wind Systems A/S A method for erecting a multirotor wind turbine with elevated hub height
EP3339631A1 (en) * 2016-12-22 2018-06-27 Skywind GmbH Wind energy plant system
CN108700024A (en) * 2015-12-22 2018-10-23 维斯塔斯风力系统有限公司 The method of the wind turbine component of installation or dismounting multi-rotor wind turbine
WO2019102434A1 (en) * 2017-11-24 2019-05-31 Zhuhai Kaluosi (Macau) Engineering Consultant Ltd. Self-aligning to wind facing floating platform supporting multi-wind turbines and solar for wind and solar power generation and the construction method thereon
CN113492952A (en) * 2021-07-15 2021-10-12 招商局海洋装备研究院有限公司 Non-anchoring floating type large megawatt wind power generation platform
EP3740676B1 (en) 2018-01-19 2022-03-02 Freia Offshore AB Floating wind power platform
WO2023079179A1 (en) * 2021-11-08 2023-05-11 Marine Power Systems Limited Renewable energy system mounting apparatus and buoyant platform
WO2023140736A1 (en) * 2022-01-24 2023-07-27 Bjarte Nordvik Windmill construction and method for installation of same

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0761964A1 (en) * 1995-08-28 1997-03-12 Grégoire Alexandroff Wind turbine with twin rotor
FR2752443A1 (en) * 1996-08-19 1998-02-20 Alexandroff Gregoire Dual rotor wind generator for use on or off-shore
WO1998032968A1 (en) * 1997-01-24 1998-07-30 Beheermaatschappij P. Buitendijk B.V. Wind turbine
WO2003069156A1 (en) * 2002-02-14 2003-08-21 Aloys Wobben Wind energy turbine

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0761964A1 (en) * 1995-08-28 1997-03-12 Grégoire Alexandroff Wind turbine with twin rotor
FR2752443A1 (en) * 1996-08-19 1998-02-20 Alexandroff Gregoire Dual rotor wind generator for use on or off-shore
WO1998032968A1 (en) * 1997-01-24 1998-07-30 Beheermaatschappij P. Buitendijk B.V. Wind turbine
WO2003069156A1 (en) * 2002-02-14 2003-08-21 Aloys Wobben Wind energy turbine

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8038383B2 (en) * 2004-11-18 2011-10-18 Wind Power Limited Vertical axis turbine apparatus
WO2007135391A2 (en) * 2006-05-18 2007-11-29 Epl Composite Solutions Limited A turbine blade support assembly
WO2007135391A3 (en) * 2006-05-18 2008-01-10 Epl Composite Solutions Ltd A turbine blade support assembly
GB2452207A (en) * 2006-05-18 2009-02-25 Epl Composite Solutions Ltd A turbine blade support assembly
GB2452207B (en) * 2006-05-18 2011-05-04 Epl Composite Solutions Ltd A turbine blade support assembly
CN102305188A (en) * 2011-08-19 2012-01-04 天津大学 Multi-rotor wind generating system capable of automatically facing wind
CN108700024A (en) * 2015-12-22 2018-10-23 维斯塔斯风力系统有限公司 The method of the wind turbine component of installation or dismounting multi-rotor wind turbine
CN108700024B (en) * 2015-12-22 2019-12-10 维斯塔斯风力系统有限公司 Method for mounting or dismounting wind turbine components of a multi-rotor wind turbine
US10934999B2 (en) 2015-12-22 2021-03-02 Vestas Wind Systems A/S Methods for mounting or dismounting wind turbine components of a multirotor wind turbine
WO2017186244A1 (en) * 2016-04-29 2017-11-02 Vestas Wind Systems A/S A method for erecting a multirotor wind turbine with elevated hub height
EP3339631A1 (en) * 2016-12-22 2018-06-27 Skywind GmbH Wind energy plant system
WO2019102434A1 (en) * 2017-11-24 2019-05-31 Zhuhai Kaluosi (Macau) Engineering Consultant Ltd. Self-aligning to wind facing floating platform supporting multi-wind turbines and solar for wind and solar power generation and the construction method thereon
ES2772950R1 (en) * 2017-11-24 2020-07-10 Carlos Wong WIND SELF-ALIGNING FLOATING PLATFORM SUPPORTING MULTIPLE WIND AND SOLAR TURBINES FOR THE GENERATION OF WIND AND SOLAR ENERGY AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION METHOD
GB2583244A (en) * 2017-11-24 2020-10-21 Wong Carlos Self-aligning to wind facing floating platform supporting multi-wind turbines and solar for wind and solar power generation and the construction method
GB2583244B (en) * 2017-11-24 2023-03-29 Wong Carlos Self-aligning to wind facing floating platform supporting multi-wind turbines and solar for wind and solar power generation and the construction method
EP3740676B1 (en) 2018-01-19 2022-03-02 Freia Offshore AB Floating wind power platform
CN113492952A (en) * 2021-07-15 2021-10-12 招商局海洋装备研究院有限公司 Non-anchoring floating type large megawatt wind power generation platform
WO2023079179A1 (en) * 2021-11-08 2023-05-11 Marine Power Systems Limited Renewable energy system mounting apparatus and buoyant platform
WO2023140736A1 (en) * 2022-01-24 2023-07-27 Bjarte Nordvik Windmill construction and method for installation of same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0312069D0 (en) 2003-07-02
GB0411754D0 (en) 2004-06-30

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