GB2580103A

GB2580103A - Underwater pedestal synchronous sinking and posture fixing and solid release control device and method thereof

Info

Publication number: GB2580103A
Application number: GB1821002.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: jiang Jia-hong; Jiang Mao-Xiong; lin Jin-cheng; Wu Xaing-Yi; Zhen Zhen-Xing
Original assignee: Ship and Ocean Industries R&D Center
Current assignee: Ship and Ocean Industries R&D Center
Priority date: 2018-12-21
Filing date: 2018-12-21
Publication date: 2020-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 2038-12-21
Also published as: GB2580103B; GB201821002D0

Abstract

The system includes a floating device 10 having a top surface with a plurality of first winches 13, one winch being an active control winch and the remained being passive, all of which are connected to a synchronous release control system, the top surface also having a plurality of second winches (14, Fig. 1) for maintaining the position of the floating device at sea, the system including a crane 30 with an hydraulic compensation system, the system also include 2 sensors, one for placing on the top 201 of a base 200 to be installed, and one located on the floating device, the two sensors being electrically connected to the crane compensation system and the synchronous control system. The sensors may be a motion sensor, gyroscope or displacement sensor. The base may be lowered by a crane cable and the 1st winch cables 131, whilst the position of the floating device is controlled by second winch cables, the winches and crane being automatically controlled to maintain the correct position of the base onto its pile 400. Also claimed is a method.

Description

RELEASE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR SUBMERGING AND ADJUSTING UNDERWATER BASE SYNCHRONOUSLY AND METHOD THEREOF

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the installation of an underwater base, and more particularly to a release control apparatus for submerging and adjusting an underwater base synchronously and a method thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There are various ways to generate electricity, including thermal power generation, nuclear power generation, solar power generation, and wind power generation. Wind power generation uses the wind generated by nature to generate electricity, and it has the advantages of low cost, no emission of waste gas or waste. It creates a green energy and low carbon environment effectively and aims at non-nuclear homes. Offshore wind has the advantages of longer wind period, higher wind speed, stable wind, no shelter and no impact on the environment. Therefore, the offshore installation of wind turbines has gradually become the main trend of wind power generation.

[0003] In recent years, offshore wind power generation has been widely developed around the world, and it is developing towards deep water areas. The underwater base of the wind turbine is larger, and the weight of the underwater base may exceed 1,000 tons. However, foreign countries currently use barges to transport underwater bases to the construction site. When installed, the underwater base is submerged to the sea. At this time, the underwater base on the sea floats due to its buoyancy or external buoy, and the lower end of the underwater base sinks into the sea due to its own weight, so that the underwater base stands in an upright position, and then is righted by a lifting system. After that, the underwater base is installed and placed under water to be positioned, and then piling is performed to fix the underwater base. In the above process, the position of the underwater base is not easy to control, resulting in instability of the underwater base when the underwater base is submerged, and the accuracy is reduced. Because of the above disadvantages and the different construction sequences, the inventor of this application believes that it is necessary to improve the existing installation method of the underwater base. The present invention is directed to the construction condition of pre-piling, and the vertical descent installation is the best way. Moreover, it is considered that the domestic construction machines arc insufficient, so it is necessary to rely on the floating device to reduce the weight of the underwater base. Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention is to provide a release control apparatus for submerging and adjusting an underwater base synchronously and a method thereof. The underwater base is submerged in an upright manner to increase the safety and stability for submerging the underwater base.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a release control apparatus for submerging and adjusting an underwater base synchronously is provided. The underwater base is provided with at least one first sensor. A top surface of a floating device is provided with first winches corresponding to support legs of the underwater base for lashing the support legs. The first winches are all connected to a synchronous release control system. One of the first winches is connected to an active control compensation system as an active winch. The other first winches are connected to passive compensation systems as passive winches. The top surface of the floating device is provided with a plurality of second winches. The second winches are configured to retain the floating device at sea. The floating device is provided with at least one second sensor. A crane is disposed at one side of an installation position of the underwater base. The crane is connected to a crane compensation hydraulic system. Wherein, the first sensor and the second sensor are electrically connected to the synchronous release control system and the crane compensation hydraulic system.

[0006] According to another aspect of the present invention, a release control method for submerging and adjusting an underwater base synchronously by using the above release control apparatus comprises the following steps: (1) preparing: preparing the underwater base, the underwater base having the plurality of support legs, the underwater base being disposed in the accommodating space of the floating device in an upright standing manner, the support legs being lashed by the cables of the first winches, the crane hoisting an upper end of the underwater base, a plurality of piles being disposed in a predetermined underwater position corresponding to the support legs for mounting and fixing the support legs of the underwater base; (2) submerging a floating dock after lashed: after the underwater base is secured to the floating device, the underwater base and the floating device being transported and positioned by the floating dock, the floating dock being submerged to a predetermined depth, the floating device floating on the sea due to its own buoyancy, the underwater base standing on the floating dock due to gravity and sinking simultaneously; (3) leaving after the floating dock is positioned: when the floating dock is submerged to the predetermined depth, the floating device tightening the first winches to disengage a bottom of the underwater base from the floating dock, the floating dock being driven away from the underwater base; (4) lashing and positioning the floating device: the floating device being moored and positioned by the second winches; (5) submerging the underwater base: the first winches and the crane controlling a length of the cable of each of the first winches and an operating speed of the crane according to information obtained by the first sensor of the underwater base and the second sensor of the floating device through the synchronous release control system and the crane compensation hydraulic system so that the underwater base is submerged synchronously in an upright manner, wherein if the floating device is displaced due to wind and wave flows, the second winches perform a positioning operation for the floating device; (6) completing installation: the support legs of the underwater base being connected to the piles to complete installation.

[0007] The synchronous release control system and the crane compensation hydraulic system can control the first winches and the operating speed of the crane and perform automatic compensation, so that the underwater base can be submerged in an upright manner to reduce the offset and increase the safety and stability of the underwater base when submerged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the assembly of the underwater base and the floating device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the floating device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0010] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the release control system in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the crane in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0012] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0013] FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the carrying of the underwater base and the floating device on the shore in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0014] FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the crane used to hoist the underwater base in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0015] FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing that the underwater base is submerged in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0016] FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the floating device to be moored and positioned in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and [0017] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the connection between the underwater base and the preset piles in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] FIG. I is a perspective view showing the assembly of an underwater base and a floating device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The present invention discloses an underwater base 200. The underwater base 200 is configured to carry a wind turbine (not shown). The underwater base 200 has a top 201 for carrying the wind turbine. The underwater base 200 is provided with a plurality of support legs 202 that are mounted to underwater preset piles. The main features of the release control apparatus of the present invention are described below.

[0019] The underwater base 200 is provided with at least one first sensor 203. The first sensor 203 may be disposed at the center of gravity of the underwater base 200 or a top end of the underwater base 200. In this embodiment, the first sensor 203 is disposed at the top 201 of the underwater base 200. The first sensor 203 may be one of a motion sensor, a gyroscope and a displacement sensor.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, a floating device 10 has a hollow accommodating space 11. One side of the floating device 10 has an opening 12. The opening 12 communicates with the accommodating space 11. The floating device 10 has a U shape. The top surface of the floating device 10 is provided with first winches 13 corresponding to the support legs 202 of the underwater base 200. Each of the first winches 13 has a cable 131 that can be wound and unwound. Each of the first winches 13 is actuated by a pump-controlled hydraulic motor to control the motion of the cable 131. Referring to FIG. 3, the first winches 13 are all connected to a synchronous release control system 20. One of the first winches 13 is connected to an active control compensation system 132 as an active winch, and the other first winches 13 are connected to passive compensation systems 133 as passive winches. The top surface of the floating device 10 is provided with a plurality of second winches 14. Each of the second winches 14 has a cable 141 that can be wound and unwound. The second winches 14 are configured to retain the floating device 10 at sea. At least one second sensor 15 is disposed on the floating device 10. The second sensor 15 is disposed at the center of gravity of the floating device 10. The second sensor 15 may be one of a motion sensor, a gyroscope and a displacement sensor.

[0021] Referring to HG. 4, a crane 30 is disposed at the installation position of the underwater base 200. The crane 30 has a hook 31. Referring to HG. 3 again, the crane 30 is connected to a crane compensation hydraulic system 32.

[0022] The first sensor 203 and the second sensor 15 are electrically connected to the synchronous release control system 20 and the crane compensation hydraulic system 32, so that the first sensor 203 and the second sensor 15 transmit the gravity center shift variation of the underwater base 200 and the floating device 10 to the synchronous release control system 20 and the crane compensation hydraulic system 32, respectively. The synchronous release control system 20 and the crane compensation hydraulic system 32 can automatically compensate in time and control the length of the cable 131 of each first winch 13 and the operating speed of the crane 30 to achieve synchronous submergence.

[0023] Thereby, the first winches 13 and the crane 30 can maintain the vertical stability of the underwater base 200 when submerged through the synchronous release control system 20 and the crane compensation hydraulic system 32 respectively, increasing the safety and stability for submerging the underwater base 200.

[0024] FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The present invention discloses a release control method for submerging and adjusting an underwater base synchronously, comprising the following steps: [0025] (1) preparing: preparing the underwater base 200. The underwater base 200 has the plurality of support legs 202. The underwater base 200 is disposed in the accommodating space 11 of the floating device 10 in an upright standing manner. The support legs 202 are lashed by the cables 131 of the first winches 13. A plurality of piles 400 are disposed in a predetermined underwater position corresponding to the support legs 202 for mounting and fixing the support legs 202 of the underwater base 200.

[0026] (2) submerging a floating dock after lashed: referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, after the underwater base 200 is secured to the floating device 10, the underwater base 200 and the floating device 10 are transported from a shore 500 to a predetermined position at sea by a floating dock 300 to be moored and positioned. The hook 31 of the crane 30 hoists the upper end of the underwater base 200, so that the crane 30 and the floating device 10 share the weight of the underwater base 200. The floating dock 300 is submerged to a predetermined depth, and the floating device 10 floats on the sea due to its own buoyancy. The underwater base 200 stands on the floating dock 300 due to gravity and sinks synchronously.

[0027] (3) leaving after the floating dock is positioned: referring to FIG. 8, when the floating dock 300 is submerged to the predetermined depth. the floating device 10 tightens the first winches 13, the bottom of the underwater base 200 disengages from the floating dock 300, and the lashing system of the floating dock 300 is retracted so that the floating dock 300 leaves the underwater base 200.

[0028] (4) lashing and positioning the floating device: referring to FIG. 9, the floating device 10 is moored and positioned by the cables 141 of the second winches 14.

[0029] (5) submerging the underwater base: the first winches 13 and the crane 30 control the length of the cable 131 of each of the first winches 13 and the operating speed of the crane 30 according to the information obtained by the first sensor 203 of the underwater base 200 and the second sensor 15 of the floating device 10 through the synchronous release control system 20 and the crane compensation hydraulic system 32, so that the underwater base 200 is submerged synchronously in an upright manner. During the submergence, if the floating device 10 is displaced due to wind and wave flows, the second winches 14 will perform a positioning operation for the floating device 10.

[0030] (6) Completing installation: Referring to FIG. 10, the underwater base 200 is submerged synchronously until the support legs 202 of the underwater base 200 are connected to the piles 400, respectively. Then, the cables 131 of the first winches 13 and the hook 31 of the crane 30 are respectively separated from the underwater base 200 to complete the installation.

[0031] It is worth mentioning that the synchronous release control system 20 controls the forces of the first winches 13 and the crane 30 according to the wind and wave flows. Moreover, the speed may be up to 4.8 in/min, so that the underwater base 200 when submerged can maintain the output force and perform the automatic compensation simultaneously. The underwater base 200 can be submerged in an upright manner to reduce the offset. In the case of a significant wave height of 1.0 in, the first winches 13 helps the underwater base 200 be submerged and lashed simultaneously to ensure the stability and operation safety of the underwater base 200 when submerged, and the installation is completed successfully.

[0032] The features of the invention and its achievable effects are stated as follows: [0033] 1. The invention provides a release control apparatus for an underwater base to be submerged and adjusted synchronously and a method thereof The underwater base 200 is disposed in the accommodating space 11 of the floating device 10 and is lashed by the first winches 13. The crane 30 hoists the top end of the underwater base 200, so that the crane 30 and the floating device 10 share the weight of the underwater base 200. The synchronous release control system 20 and the crane compensation hydraulic system 32 can control the length of the cable 131 of each first winch 13 and the operating speed of the crane 30 and perform automatic compensation according to the wind and wave flows, so that the underwater base 200 can be submerged in an upright manner to reduce the offset and increase the safety and stability of the underwater base 200.

[0034] 2. The present invention enables the underwater base 200 to be installed in an upright manner, and by the arrangement of the floating device 10, the auxiliary floating device 10 can assist the crane 30 in positioning the underwater base 200 in the sea As the underwater base 200 is submerged to a certain depth, the overall center of gravity is lowered, improving stability and safety.

[0035] Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been desciibed in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A release control apparatus for submerging and adjusting an underwater base synchronously, the underwater base having a top for carrying a wind turbine, the underwater base being provided with a plurality of support legs; characterized by: the underwater base being provided with at least one first sensor; a floating device, a top surface of the floating device being provided with first winches corresponding to the support legs for lashing the support legs, the first winches being all connected to a synchronous release control system, one of the first winches being connected to an active control compensation system as an active winch, the other first winches being connected to passive compensation systems as passive winches, the top surface of the floating device being provided with a plurality of second winches, the second winches being configured to retain the floating device at sea, the floating device being provided with at least one second sensor; a crane, disposed at one side of an installation position of the underwater base, the crane being connected to a crane compensation hydraulic system; wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are electrically connected to the synchronous release control system and the crane compensation hydraulic system.
2. The release control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor is one of a motion sensor, a gyroscope and a displacement sensor.
3. The release control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 herein the first sensor is disposed at the top of the underwater base.
4. The release control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second sensor is disposed at a center of gravity of the floating device.
5. The release control apparatus as claimed in claim 1. wherein the floating device has a U shape. the floating device has a hollow accommodating space, one side of the floating device having an opening, and the opening communicates with the accommodating space.
6. A release control method for submerging and adjusting an underwater base synchronously by using the release control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising the following steps: (1) preparing: preparing the underwater base, the underwater base having the plurality of support legs, the underwater base being disposed in the accommodating space of the floating device in an upright standing manner, the support legs being lashed by the cables of the first winches, the crane hoisting an upper end of the underwater base, a plurality of piles being disposed in a predetermined underwater position corresponding to the support legs for mounting and fixing the support legs of the underwater base; (2) submerging a floating dock after lashed: after the underwater base is secured to the floating device, the underwater base arid the floating device being transported mid positioned by the floating dock, the floating dock being submerged to a predetermined depth, the floating device floating on the sea due to its own buoyancy, the underwater base standing on the floating dock due to gravity and sinking simultaneously; (3) leaving after the floating dock is positioned: when the floating dock is submerged to the predetermined depth, the floating device tightening the first winches to disengage a bottom of the underwater base from the floating dock, the floating dock being driven away from the underwater base; (4) lashing and positioning the floating device: the floating device being moored and positioned by the second winches; (5) submerging the underwater base: the first winches and the crane controlling a length of the cable of each of the first winches and an operating speed of the crane according to information obtained by the first sensor of the underwater base and the second sensor of the floating device through the synchronous release control system and the crane compensation hydraulic system so that the underwater base is submerged synchronously in an upright manner, wherein if the floating device is displaced due to wind and wave flows, the second winches perform a positioning operation for the floating device; (6) completing installation: the support legs of the underwater base being connected to the piles to complete installation.
7. The release control method as claimed in claim 6, wherein in the step of preparing, the first winches and the crane jointly carry the underwater base of more than one thousand tons.
8. The release control method as claimed in claim 6, wherein in the step of submerging the underwater base, the first winches and the crane are actuated by a pump-controlled hydraulic motor.