KR101422236B1 - Leg protection apparatus of floating structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A leg protector of a floating structure having a jack-up mode is disclosed. The leg protector of the floating structure according to the present invention includes a leg protector including a first protector part and a second protector part which are pivotally turned about a hinge axis so as to cover the leg and a locking device for fixing the leg protector to the leg .

Description

[0001] LEG PROTECTION APPARATUS OF FLOATING STRUCTURE [0002]

The present invention relates to a leg protector of a floating structure.

As the demand for environmentally friendly energy development grows, the development using wind power generators is getting popular all over the world. However, installation of wind turbines requires strict environmental conditions. For example, the place where the wind turbine is installed should be a place where a certain level of wind speed can be guaranteed to obtain significant rotation of the blade, and the pollution caused by the noise generated when driving the wind turbine should not be an issue do. Even if these environmental conditions are satisfied, a very large area of space is required to install a wind turbine generator.

In recent years, interest in offshore wind turbines has increased, which is relatively free from the above-mentioned constraints. Offshore wind turbines can be installed in a variety of ways, but generally they are constructed by dividing the components into several units, making them on land, and then transferring the units to sea for assembly.

A ship that moves offshore wind turbine units on the sea to the sea and installs offshore wind turbine generators is commonly referred to as a wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV).

Wind turbine installation The ship can be operated in the transit mode and the jackup mode according to the characteristics of the operation. Specifically, the ship installed with the wind turbine moves to the navigation mode to the position where the off-axis wind turbine is to be installed. In sailing mode, the legs can be moved upward to reduce resistance by seawater. After that, the ship installed with the wind power generator is switched to the jack-up mode, the leg is lowered into the sea floor, and then the main body is lifted up along the leg so that the main body is separated from the sea level by a certain distance. When the main body reaches a certain position, the wind turbine installation ship stops the movement of the main body and installs the offshore wind turbine generator. When the installation is completed, proceed in the reverse order to move to the next installation position.

While this floating structure is in operation, the legs have a shape extending from the body floating above the sea surface to the seabed. At this time, various kinds of fatigue loads are applied to the legs due to wind, algae, waves, etc. In particular, the load due to the waves is greatest near the sea surface. Therefore, there is a great risk that legs are damaged, such as deformation, breakage, or the like, where the legs meet the sea surface.

If damage occurs at the portion where the leg meets the sea level, a load greater than the designed value is applied to the vertical movement of the leg when the mode of the floating structure is changed in the future. In some cases, the leg can not be moved up and down, It can cause serious accidents.

(Patent Document 1) United States Patent Application Publication No. US2010 / 0067989 (published on May 18, 2010)

(Patent Document 2) United States Patent Application Publication No. US2008 / 0247827 (published on September 10, 2008)

An embodiment of the present invention is to provide a leg protector for a floating structure that can be installed and fixed so as to surround a portion where a risk of damage to the leg is high, to prevent a leg from being damaged.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a leg protector of a floating structure having a jack-up mode includes a leg protector including a first protector portion and a second protector portion that are turned on and off around a hinge axis so as to surround the leg, To the legs.

Wherein the leg includes a brace that includes a plurality of codes and supports the codes in a lattice manner, and when the hinge axis corresponds to any one of the codes, the first and second protector portions have corners corresponding to the remaining codes, May be provided.

The first and second protector portions may include a plurality of rollers provided in a position adjacent to the hinge axis and in a direction perpendicular to an inner surface of a corner.

The rollers provided at the positions adjacent to the hinge shaft are a pair, and the rollers can be engaged with the rack gears formed on the cords so as to face each other.

The locking device may include a solenoid attached to one of the protector parts, a locking protrusion attached to the other protector part, and a hook member hinged to the shaft of the solenoid and rotatably attached.

The hook member may be provided with a hook groove to be inserted into the locking projection, and the axis of the solenoid may contract to fix the leg protector in a state where the locking projection is inserted into the hook groove.

The leg protector may further include a bulb formed on the outer surface.

The embodiment of the present invention has the effect that the cause of the damage of the leg can be solved in advance by being able to wrap the leg with the leg protector at the sea level portion where there is a high risk of damage to the leg.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a floating structure according to an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a view showing a jack-up state of the floating structure of FIG. 1 in which the leg protector of the present invention is installed,
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a leg protector surrounding the leg of FIG. 2,
FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views, respectively, in which the leg protectors shown in FIG. 3 are wrapped around the legs of the triangular truss structure. FIG. 4B is a cross-
Figs. 5A and 5B are operational states of the fixing device of Fig. 3 leg protectors,
6 is a schematic view showing an example of a bulb formed on the outer surface of the leg protector,
Fig. 7 is a schematic view showing another example of the bulb of Fig. 6,
Fig. 8 is a schematic view showing another example of the bulb of Fig. 6; Fig.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a floating structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a jack-up state of the floating structure of FIG.

1 and 2, a floating structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 10 capable of floating in water, a leg 20 extending vertically through the main body 10, And leg supports 30 for relatively moving the legs 20 and the main body 10 in the vertical direction and supporting the legs 20.

The floating structure 1 may be a wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) or a jack-up platform. In this embodiment, the floating structure 1 is a wind turbine installation vessel I'll explain it to you. However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to this, and any floating structure having a jack-up mode to be described later may be included in the scope of the present invention.

The body 10 may have a planar structure of a floating rectangular shape as shown in FIG. 1, and may be formed in a structure having a wide width, a low height, and a short length as compared with a general commercial line (for example, a container line) . However, this is merely an example, and the body 10 according to the teachings of the present invention may have any three-dimensional structure in which the legs 20 and the leg supports 30 can be installed.

The main body 10 can be loaded with the load 2 according to the function of the floating structure 1. A blade, a nacelle, a tower, or the like, which is a part of an offshore wind power generator, can be loaded as the object 2 to be loaded on the main body 10 and the loading unit 2 for fixing the object 2 to the main body 10 (12) may be provided. The type and loading method of the load 2 shown in Fig. 1 are merely an example, and the load 2 can be loaded in various forms within the scope of the present invention. For example, the blades and nacelle can be loaded separately from each other, and the load 2 can be a riser pipe if the floating structure 1 is a jack-up platform.

In addition, the main body 10 may be provided with a propulsion device (not shown) for movement and position control.

A plurality of legs 20 may be provided depending on the purpose of use of the floating structure 1. In the embodiment of the present invention, a total of four legs 20 are provided, one pair at each of the port and starboard sides of the main body 10 I will explain what is provided as an example.

The leg 20 is installed to penetrate the main body 10 in the vertical direction and a leg well 35 through which the leg 20 passes is formed in the main body 10. The legs 20 can be moved downward of the main body 10 and fixed to the seabed so that they are rigid enough to withstand the load of the main body 10 in the jack-up state of FIG. 2, , A triangular truss structure, or the like. In the present embodiment, the legs 20 are formed in a triangular truss structure.

The leg support portion 30 is provided at a position corresponding to the leg well so that the leg 20 can pass therethrough and supports the leg 20 so that the leg 20 and the main body 10 can relatively move in the vertical direction . Specifically, the leg support portion 30 is provided with a driving device such as a motor, and the leg portion 20 is moved up and down with respect to the main body 10 by the operation of the driving device, In the vertical direction. For example, a pinion gear and a motor are provided on the leg support portion 30, and a rack gear is formed on the leg 20, so that the leg 20 and the main body 10 Exercise can be achieved.

The vertical movement of the leg 20 and the main body 10 in the present embodiment means that the leg 20 moves in the vertical direction with respect to the main body 10 and that the main body 10 moves in the vertical direction relative to the leg 20 It will be understood that the present invention includes both moving in the up and down direction.

On the other hand, the main body 10 may be provided with a crane 40 capable of installing the offshore wind power generator by transporting the loads 2 such as blades, nacelles, and towers.

The floating structure 1 having the above configuration can be operated in a transit mode and a jackup mode.

The floating structure (1) moves to the navigation mode to the position where the offshore wind turbine is to be installed. In the general navigation mode, the floating structure 1 can move in a state in which the legs 20 are moved upward in order to reduce the resistance by the legs 20.

The floating structure 1 can be moved to the target position and then accurately positioned for lowering the leg 20 using dynamic positioning. The automatic position control can be continued until the leg 20 descends and touches the seabed.

Thereafter, the floating structure 1 is switched to the jack-up mode to insert the legs 20 into the seabed B. Fig. In this process, the legs 20 can be moved downwardly of the main body 10 by the gravity and the driving device of the leg support 30.

When the lower end of the leg 20 touches the seabed B, the leg 20 can no longer move downward. In this state, the floating structure 1 actuates the driving device of the leg support 30 to move the main body 10 upward along the legs 20. The load of the main body 10 acts to force the leg 20 into the seabed B so that the leg 20 penetrates into the seabed B and is fixed.

The main body 10 may be spaced apart from the sea surface S by moving the main body 10 upward along the legs 20 so that the main body 10 is separated from the sea surface S, The state that is different from the set work position can be referred to as a jack-up state.

The floating structure 1 covers the legs 20 with the leg protectors 100 to be described later to protect the legs 20 in the jack-up state and installs an offshore wind power generator using the crane 40. Once the installation is complete, you can proceed in the reverse order to initiate the flight again.

The method of switching the floating structure 1 to the jack-up state is merely an example, and various changes can be made within the scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the leg 20 of the floating structure 1 of the present invention in a jack-up state has a shape extending from the main body 10 floating on the sea surface to the seabed. In this case, various kinds of fatigue loads are applied to the legs 20 due to wind, algae, waves, etc. In particular, since the loads due to the waves are greatest in the vicinity of the sea surface, the leg protectors of the present invention, It is possible to prevent the leg 20 from being damaged.

Figure 3 shows a leg protector wrapping the leg of Figure 2;

Specifically, when the legs 20 are formed in a triangular truss structure, three cords 22 serving as pillars are arranged so as to form the vertexes of a triangle, and the cords 22 are arranged by a brace 24, As shown in Fig. The legs 20 may also include a rack gear 26 projecting from the cord 22 and extending along the length of the cord 22.

The leg protector 100 may be determined depending on the shape of the leg 20. [ Although the leg protector 100 is also formed in a triangular prism shape in the present embodiment, the leg protector 100 is provided in a triangular truss structure. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 20, < / RTI >

The leg protector 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes the first protector part 120 and the second protector part 120 which are rotated about the hinge shaft 110 to be opened and closed so as to cover the leg 20 of the triangular truss structure, 140 and may be formed in the form of a triangular prism when closed.

When the hinge axis 110 is positioned corresponding to any one of the cords 22 arranged to form the apexes of the triangle and the first and second protector parts 120 and 140 And may be located at the corners corresponding to the two codes 22, respectively.

A plurality of rollers 112 may be installed in the first and second protector parts 120 and 140 at positions adjacent to the hinge shaft 110 in the vertical direction and the first and second protector parts 120 A plurality of rollers 142 may be installed in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, a pair of rollers 112, which are centered on the hinge shaft 110, can be opposed.

And a locking device 160 for pulling the first and second protector parts 120 and 140 against each other to fix the leg protector 100 to the part of the leg 20 that meets the sea surface.

The first and second protector parts 120 and 140 are rotated about the hinge shaft 110 to open the roller 112 of the hinge shaft 110 as shown in FIG. When the first and second protector parts 120 and 140 are closed, the rollers of the first and second protector parts 120 and 140 are positioned so as to be engaged with the rack gear 26 of the cord 22 of the first and second protector parts 120 and 140, 142 are brought into close contact with the outer surface of the remaining cord 22. 4b, a pair of rollers 112 adjacent to the hinge axis 110 are engaged with the rack gear 26 on both sides of the cord 22, causing the leg protectors 100 to move along the sea surface It can be positioned in the leg 20 of the part where it meets.

Fig. 5 shows a locking device 160 for locking the leg protectors of Fig.

As described above, the leg protectors 100 can be fixed by using the locking device 160 after the leg protectors 100 are positioned at the portions where the protector legs 20 meet the sea surface.

5, the locking device 160 includes a solenoid 180 attached to the second protector 140, a locking protrusion 122 attached to the first protector 120, a solenoid 180 And a hinge member 190 hingedly coupled to the shaft 182 of the hinge member 190 and rotatably attached thereto.

The hook member 190 may be provided with a hook groove 192 into which the locking protrusion 122 is inserted. It is needless to say that the locking protrusion 122 and the solenoid 180 are installed in the second protector 140 and the first protector 120 in the same manner.

On the other hand, various types of vortex induced vibration may occur in the leg 20 of the sea level surface due to waves.

In order to effectively reduce the occurrence of such swirl induced vibration, the leg protector of the floating structure of the present invention includes a bulb on the outer surface of the leg protector 100, specifically, the protector parts 120 and 140 And can be additionally included.

6 to 8 show various examples of the bulb formed on the outer surface of the leg protector.

The bulb may be formed of a streamlined shaped bulb 220 or a wedge shaped bulb 240, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, such that the pair is designed to be slanted and asymmetrically opposed to one another, , And the occurrence of vortex around the protector parts (120, 140) can be suppressed. Also, the distance between each bulb 220 (240) can be set at a sufficiently large interval that flow interference does not occur.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, the spiral protrusion 260 and the wedge-shaped bulb 240 may be formed in combination, or may be combined as bulbs of various other shapes.

The operation of the leg protector of the floating structure of the present invention constructed as above will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B.

When the main body 10 is separated from the sea level surface S to be in a jack-up state different from the predetermined working position, the leg protector 100 of FIG. 3 is moved to a position where it meets the sea level by using the crane 40 of the hull, .

Next, the operator rotates the leg protector 100 manually to rotate the first and second protector parts 120 and 140 around the hinge shaft 110, and then protrudes from the cord 22, The leg protector 100 is positioned at the portion of the leg 20 where the rack gear 26 extending along the longitudinal direction of the hinge shaft 110 and the roller 112 of the inner side surface of the hinge shaft 110 are engaged with each other, The rollers 142 provided at the corners of the first and second protector parts 120 and 140 are rotated by the outer surfaces of the cords 22 and the second protector parts 120 and 140, And the leg protector 100 may be attached to the leg 20 at a location where it meets the sea level.

5A, the hook member 190 is rotated to insert the hook groove 192 into the hook protrusion 144. Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, the shaft 182 of the solenoid 180 is rotated The leg protectors 100 are firmly attached to portions of the legs 20 that meet the sea surface as the first and second protector portions 120,140 of the leg protectors 100 are pulled together .

As described above, according to the present invention, the leg protector 100 is fixed by wrapping the leg at the part where the leg protector 100 meets the sea level, thereby effectively preventing damage to the leg.

In addition, the bulge formed on the outer surface of the body of the leg protector 100 can effectively suppress the swirling-induced vibration VIV.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, You will understand. For example, a person skilled in the art can change the material, size and the like of each constituent element depending on the application field or can combine or substitute the embodiments in a form not explicitly disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Therefore, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and that such modified embodiments are included in the technical idea described in the claims of the present invention.

1: Floating structure 2: Loaded material
10: main body 20: leg
30: leg support 35: leg well
40: Cranes 100: Leg protectors
110: hinge shaft 120: first protector part
112, 142: roller 122:
140: second protector 160: locking device
180: Solenoid 182: Axis
190: hook member 192: hook groove
220: streamlined shape bulb 240: wedge shaped bulb
260: Spiral protrusion bulb

Claims (7)

In a leg protector of a floating structure having a jack-up mode,
A leg protector 100 including a first protector part 120 and a second protector part 140 which are rotated around a hinge axis 110 so as to cover the leg 20; And
And a locking device (160) for securing the leg protector (100) to the leg (20)
The locking device 160
A solenoid 180 attached to one of the protector parts of the first protector part 120 and the second protector part 140,
A locking protrusion 122 attached to a protector part of the first protector part 120 and the second protector part 140,
And a hook member (190) hinged to the shaft end of the solenoid (180) and rotatably attached thereto. The method according to claim 1,
The leg protector (20) includes a brace (24) that includes a plurality of cords and supports the cords in a lattice. 3. The method of claim 2,
The first and second protector parts 120 and 140 include a plurality of rollers disposed adjacent to the hinge shaft 110 and perpendicular to the edges of the hinge shaft 110. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the pair of rollers provided at a position adjacent to the hinge shaft (110) are a pair, and the rollers are opposed to each other to mesh with the rack gear formed in the cord. delete The method according to claim 1,
In the hook member 190,
A hook groove 192 to be inserted into the locking protrusion 122 is provided,
Wherein the axis of the solenoid (180) is contracted to fix the leg protector (100) when the locking protrusion (122) is inserted into the hook groove (192). The method according to claim 1,
The leg protector (100) of claim 1, wherein the leg protector (100) further comprises a bulb formed on an outer surface of the leg protector.

Images