WO2010059489A1

WO2010059489A1 - Stationary positioned offshore windpower plant (owp) and methods and means for its assembly, transportation, installation and servicing

Info

Publication number: WO2010059489A1
Application number: PCT/US2009/064099
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sydney Belinsky; Aleksey Belinskiy
Original assignee: Sydney Belinsky; Aleksey Belinskiy
Priority date: 2008-11-19
Filing date: 2009-11-12
Publication date: 2010-05-27

Abstract

An Offshore Windpower Plant (OWP) is a combination of a typical offshore wind turbine installed on a fixed foundation using suction buckets as the anchoring means with a new technology for their assembly, transportation, installation and service. By this technology the OWP processes of assembling the Foundation and Wind Turbine at the High-rise Crane Station could be done during strong wind, due to short boom crane and a pair of winches with hoisting lines preventing lifted load from free swinging. The foundation with suction buckets would be towed to the destination site floating on an air cushion fanned in suction buckets, thus excludes the need for gigantic floating cranes for their delivery and installation. The assembled in vertical position Wind Turbine on a Shore Stand would be lifted by Catamaran wind turbine Installer using buoyancy force and transported to a preinstalled foundation.

Description

STATIONARY POSITIONED OFFSHORE WINDPOWER PLANT (OWP)

AND METHODS AND MEANS FOR ITS ASSEMBLY, TRANSPORTATION,

INSTALLATION AND SERVICING

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application No. 61/199,727

filed November 19, 2008, disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to harvesting wind energy offshore by wind power plants

installed on the stationary foundations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At the present time installation of offshore wind turbine farms begun moving from

depth of 20 meters, where they were installed on monopoles, to the depth of 45 meters.

Thus, since monopoles are not efficient in depth below 20 meters, it created the need for

foundations to be fabricated at shipyards and then transported to designated site, where

floating cranes lift them into vertical position from barges, lower them on seabed and anchor

them to seabed by underwater piles. Assembling wind turbines in most of the cases are

expected to be done by cranes installed on jack up barges capable of being installed in 45 meters of water. In some cases the wind turbines are preassembled near shore and then

delivered to preinstalled foundations and placed on them by gigantic floating cranes. It is

intended to use these same cranes for replacing wind turbines major parts during operation

as well. One of the major drawbacks of the present technology for installing wind turbines

in water depth up to 45 meters is in its heavy dependence on the weather conditions.

The operation of jack up barges for wind turbine installation is limited to a certain heiglit of the waves, because during the transition period from waterbome to airborne and vice versa they are prone to be overturned by suddenly acting waves that are larger than the waves they are designed to withstand. This requires an interruption of their operation before storms with waves higher than that of designed would arrive. Therefore, since it is hard to predict what category storm can be expected on the basis of a few days forecast, assembling the wind turbine is limited mostly to the seasons of calm weather and by this greatly reducing the window of weather availability for offshore wind turbine installation.

The high-rise and heavy lift cranes that are used for assembling modem Wind turbines have booms of 100 plus meters in height. During strong winds the swinging of the lifted part complicates its assembling with other stationary parts of the Wind turbine and the dynamic force of swinging a heavy part can break the boom or damage existing installation. Thus, there is another reason why assembling an offshore Wind turbine is limited only to the seasons of calm weather.

Installation of the foundations for Wind turbines in most of the cases requires the assistance of floating cranes and special barges used for their installation and for the anchoring of foundations to a sea floor. These floating cranes and special barges are also subject to the weather restriction.

Transporting a fully assembled wind turbine from shore to the destination site and placing it on the preinstalled foundation, which is presently done by gigantic floating cranes, is also limited to calm seas, because, even a small roll and pitch of a barge on which the crane is installed leads to a significant displacement of the crane tip and correspondingly to a significant swinging of the assembled wind turbine suspended from the crane tip.

The use of more efficient foundations utilizing suction buckets, which presently arc - -

widely used by the offshore oil industry, is halted, because of the suspicion that possible scouring around suction buckets and wind turbine vibration might lead to reduction of their bearing capacity. The instant Invention addresses the above concerns. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is a prime objective of the present invention to provide means and methods for assembling wind turbine foundations and wind turbines themselves near shore in shallow waters, transporting them to their destination sites, installing and anchoring them to the seabed in waters up to 100 meters deep in a manner that would lead to a significant increase in the window of weather availability for Wind turbines assembling, transportation and installation and also to a significant reduction of assembling and installation time and costs. It is also one of the prime objectives of the present invention to provide means for replacing major parts of the wind turbine that would enable to them operate during moderate stormy seas regardless of the depth in which wind turbines are installed.

An Offshore Windpower Plant ("OWP") according to the present invention uses a offshore wind turbine assembled on a underwater tripod foundation anchored to the seabed.

The first aspect of the present invention is in the specific changes to a typical offshore Wind turbine used by OWP. One of the changes is in the use of a vibration absorbing gasket, which, when placed between the wind turbine nacelle and tower, would mitigate vibration spreading to the Foundation suction buckets. This vibration, if not prevented, might weaken the holding power of suction buckets. The other change in the Wind turbine tower design is in having the lower end of the tower shaped in the form of a sphere. The sphere shape of the tower end would allow adjusting the Wind turbine to a vertical position, in case the Foundation is not leveled perfectly horizontally. Also specifics - A -

of the wind turbine tower is in the use of three equally spread trust stools through which the assembled wind turbine is lifted up from near Shore Stand by a Catamaran wind turbine Installer.

The second aspect of the present invention is in the specific changes to the design of the known tripod foundation with suction buckets. One of these specific changes are in placing on a Foundation head upper part, a connector for accommodating the Wind turbine tower spherical end. The other specifics of tripod foundation design is in locating inside of the connector on the upper part of the foundation, a hydraulic shock absorber, the purpose of which is to mitigate impact during lowering the assembled Wind turbine on the installed Foundation. There are three inclined legs that are connected by their upper parts to the Foundation head and by their lower part to suction buckets. The suction buckets by the present invention differ from the known suction buckets design. Presently suction buckets are designed in a way that their holding power depends entirely on the friction force between walls of their cylinders and the soil. In an OWP foundation design, the major force acting on suction buckets is compression. The specifics of the present invention for the design of the suction buckets are in the introduction of a thrust ring around the bucket's cylinder and in its location slightly below the bucket top. When the suction bucket cylinder's penetration into the soil would be stopped by the thrust ring, then the hydrostatic force, originated by vacuum in suction bucket, would compress soil under thrust ring. This would allow the suction bucket to precompress soil under thrust ring, thus allowing for accommodation of a compression force significantly larger than that tension force.

The thrust ring around the suction bucket cylinder also serves as a means prevent from scouring. Since the thrust ring would be penetrated in the soil the underwater current would be going above it and this would exclude washing out any soil, around the suction bucket cylinder. The third aspect of the present invention is in the processes of assembling Wind turbine on a Shore Stand and assembling the Foundation in a vertical position on Underwater Supports at the special High-rise Crane Stations.

The fourth aspect of the present invention is in the use of High-rise Crane Stations, which includes a heavy lift crane and rotating platform with two winches for restraining the load from swinging. The heavy lift crane installed on this station has a relatively short boom, which hook in combination with two tension lines, attached to lifted load by one end and by the other end to two winches on the rotating platform, would form a three point suspension of the load hanging from the tip of crane boom, which would prevent the load from free swinging and by this allowing substantial increased in the window of weather availability for assembling Wind turbines.

The fifth aspect of the present invention is in the use of a Shore Stand, on which the wind turbine is assembled near a High-rise Crane Station. The Shore Stand has a shape imitating the head of the Wind turbine Foundation, and thus allows the special Catamaran wind turbine Installer to berth to it and then rise up together completely assembled on the Shore Stand Wind turbine. The Shore Stand has hydraulic grabbers that keep the Wind turbine tower safely attached to the Assembling Stand during the Wind turbine assembly and would release it when Catamaran wind turbine Installer starts lifting the fully assembled Wind turbine from the Shore Stand.

The sixth aspect of the present invention is in the use of Underwater piled supports as the basis on which semi-submersed suction buckets of Foundation would be assembled. The semi-submersed suction buckets, when filled with compressed air, will float up from the piled foundations and will lift up folly assembled Foundation using their buoyancy, thus excluding the need for a very heavy lifting capacity crane.

The seventh aspect of the present invention is in the use of the Catamaran wind turbine Installer. It is designed to lift a completely assembled Wind turbine from the Shore Stand and to transport it in a vertical position to the already installed Foundation. There the Catamaran wind turbine Installer would place the assembled Wind turbine on the Foundation. Among specifics of the Catamaran wind turbine Installer designs are:

The capability to be berthed to the installed Foundation regardless of the depth in which it is installed and during rough seas. Since the head of Foundation is cylindrical the Catamaran wind turbine Installer can approach it from any angle, thus allowing it to always orient the Catamaran wind turbine Installer against the waves and by this effectively controlling the speed by which it approaches the Foundation.

Having Guides that allow the Catamaran wind turbine Installer to be centered with the Foundation vertical axis and also absorbing energy of initial impact during Catamaran wind turbine Installer berthing to the Foundation.

A pair of shock absorbing rollers that mitigate final impact between the Catamaran wind turbine Installer and the Foundation, when the Catamaran wind turbine Installer comes to a foil stop.

Two pairs of pivoted roller guides and two central guides providing Catamaran wind turbine Installer with the capability of being firmly engaged with the Foundation, which excludes any of its rolling or pitching, but provides the capability of heaving (vertical movement).

Use of a centering apparatus at the top of the Catamaran wind turbine Installer cross - -

frame, which secures the Wind turbine tower connection to the Catamaran wind turbine Installer frame during the Catamaran wind turbine Installer voyage to the installed Foundation and adjusts its vertical position after the Wind turbine tower is initially installed on the Foundation.

Four large diameter cylindrical columns located on the comers of the Catamaran wind turbine Installer pontoons and extended upward from their deck, serves as additional buoyancy and waterplane area, which provides to Catamaran wind tui'bine Installer the capability to operate in semi submersible mode, thus significantly reducing its waves induced motion.

Use of on board propulsion systems, which provide to the Catamaran wind turbine Installer self-propelled capability, thus excluding the need for tugs to move it.

The eighth aspect of the present invention is in the use of a special Catamaran Foundation Installer for moving assembled and floating near a High-rise Crane Station Foundation to destination site and lowering it there to sea bottom. Among specifics of this Catamaran Foundation Installer are:

The use of three cranes, which secure Foundation stability during transportation period and control the speed and the depth of the Foundation decent to sea bottom during the installation process.

The use of several propulsion units located along a cross frame, which can provide sufficient propulsion force to tow the floating Foundation with economically justified speed,

The use of funnel type centering arrangement, which simplifies the process of berthing Catamaran Foundation Installer to various sizes of Foundations while they are afloat on suction buckets filled with compressed air. The ninth aspect of the present invention is a Catamaran Crane Installer with a heavy lift short boom crane for servicing and replacing major parts of Wind turbines regardless of the depth in which they are installed and with the possibility of operating during rough seas. The Catamaran Crane has the same capabilities as the Catamaran wind turbine Installer for approaching and berthing to the installed Wind turbine and operating (lifting and lowering loads) near it in a semisύbmersible mode. Because it is designed to serve an already installed Wind turbine, it has two berthing and centering systems spread on a significant larger distance. This would allow the Catamaran Crane to rotate 90 degrees in a plane with full load during semisubmersible mode. The overturning moment would be safely transmitted to the Wind turbine Foundation through sets of rollers on each of the berthing and centering systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows the Offshore Windpower Plant (OWP) in an installed position (elevation view);

Fig. 2 shows Offshore Windpower Plant (OWP) in installed position (side view);

Fig. 3 is a section A-A from Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a Detail I from Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 shows Foundation in Elevation View.

Fig. 6 shows Foundation in Side View.

Fig. 7 shows Foundation in Plan View.

Fig. 8 is a Detail II from Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a Detail III from Fig. 5. Fig. 10 shows Catamaran wind turbine Installer in Elevation View.

Fig. 11 shows Catamaran wind turbine Installer in Side View.

Fig. 12 is a section B-B from Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a section C-C from Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged view of Detail V from Fig. 13 illustrating side roller guide in open position and central roller in extended position;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged view of Detail V from Fig. 13 illustrating side roller guide in closed position and central roller in contracted position;

Fig. 16 is Detail Vl from Fig. 17.

Fig. 17 is a section D-D from Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a Detail IV from Fig. 11.

Fig. 19 is a plan view of Fig. 14 illustrating side grips in open position;

Fig. 20 is a plan view of Fig. 14 illustrating side grips in closed position;

Fig. 21 shows Foundation Assembled at High-rise Crane Station. Elevation.

Fig. 22 shows Foundation Assembled at High-rise Crane Station. Plan.

Fig. 23 shows Catamaran Foundation Installer. Elevation.

Fig. 24 shows catamaran Foundation Installer. Plan.

Fig. 25 shows Catamaran Foundation Installer towing floating Foundation to the destination site. Elevation.

Fig. 26 shows Catamaran Foundation Installer towing floating Foundation to the destination site. Plan.

Fig. 27 shows Foundation at initial stage of lowering to sea bottom;

Fig. 28 shows Foundation at intermittent stage of lowering to sea bottom; Fig. 29 shows Foundation at the moment of touching sea bottom;

Fig. 30 shows Foundation inserted in soil of sea bottom.

Fig. 31 shows High-rise Crane Station and Underwater Basis in Elevation View.

Fig. 32 is a Plan View of Fig. 31.

Fig. 33 is a Detail VII from Fig. 31.

Fig. 34 is a Plan View from Fig. 33.

Fig. 35 is a Section E-E from Fig. 31.

Fig. 36 is a Detail VIII from Fig. 33.

Fig. 37 shows initial position of lowering Wind turbine tower on a Shore Stand.

Fig. 38 is a Detail IX from Fig. 35.

Fig. 39 shows Wind turbine tower lowered on the Shore Stand.

Fig. 40 is a Detail X from Fig. 39.

Fig. 41 shows nacelle in the process of lowering on tower.

Fig. 42 shows rotor in the process of connecting it to nacelle.

Fig. 43 shows process of Catamaran wind turbine Installer approaching Wind turbine assembled on the Shore Stand.

Fig. 44 shows initial moment when Catamaran wind turbine Installer engaged with Shore Stand.

Fig. 45 is a Detail XI from Fig. 44.

Fig. 46 shows moment when Catamaran wind turbine Installer lifted Wind turbine from the Shore Stand.

Fig. 47 is a detail XII from Fig. 46.

Fig. 48 shows Catamaran wind turbine Installer with Wind turbine moved away from Assembling Station.

Fig. 49 shows Catamaran wind turbine Installer with Wind turbine mowed toward installed Foundation.

Fig.50 shows Catamaran wind turbine Installer with Wind turbine approaching and engaged with Foundation.

Fig 51 shows Catamaran wind turbine Installer with Wind turbine in the initial stage of engagement with Foundation being in waterborne mode.

Fig. 52 is a Detail XIII from Fig. 51.

Fig. 53 shows Catamaran wind turbine Installer lowered Wind turbine on Foundation and being in semisubmerslble mode.

Fig. 54 is a Detail XIV from Fig. 53.

Fig. 55 shows Catamaran wind turbine Installer out of vertical contact with Wind Tower Foundation.

Fig. 56 is a Detail XV from Fig. 55.

Fig. 57 shows Catamaran wind turbine Installer disconnected from installed Wind turbine being in semisubmersible mode and mowing back in waterbome mode.

Fig. 58 shows Catamaran Crane in elevation view;

Fig: 59 shows Catamaran Crane in side view.

Fig. 60 is a section F-F from Fig. 59.

Fig. 61 is a section G-G from Fig. 59.

Fig. 62 is an enlarged view of Detail XVI from Fig. 60 illustrating side roller guide in open position and central roller in extended position.

Fig. 63 is an enlarged view of Detail XVI from Fig. 60 illustrating side roller guide in closed position and central roller in contracted position.

Fig. 64 is Detail XVII from Fig. 64.

Fig. 65 is a section G-G from Fig. 64.

Fig. 66 is a section H-H from Fig. 58

Fig. 67 shows Elevation View of Catamaran Crane engaged with the installed Wind turbine.

Fig. 68 shows Side View of Catamaran crane engaged with the Installed Wind turbine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Figures 1 through 4 illustrate an Offshore Windpower Plant (OWP) 21 installed on the sea bottom. It consists of a typical offshore Wind turbine 22, which includes nacelle 24, vibration absorbing gasket 25, rotor 26 and tower 28, and foundation 30. Tower 28 has three thrust stools 32 and sphere 34 on its end through which tower 28 is welded to Foundation 30.

Figures 5 through 9 illustrate the design of Foundation 30. It consists of head 35 in the form of a vertically oriented tube 36 with top plate 37 and lower plate 38. The head 35 has on its bottom three footings 39 through which head 35 are connected with three legs 40. Each leg 40 has on its upper pail: a head block 41 with a centering cone 42. Each of three legs 40 have on their lower parts suction buckets 43, which are interconnected by horizontal ties 44. Each suction bucket 43 is comprised of a cylinder 45, a top plate 46 and thrust ring 48, which is located over cylinder 45 and slightly below top plate 46, thrust rings 48 serve as scouring preventive means. The upper part of head 35, which serves as a landing platform - -

50, also has a Wind turbine tower sphere receiver 52 with shock absorber 54 in its middle.

Figure 10 and 11 are Elevation and side Views of Catamaran wind turbine Installer 60. It is comprised of two pontoons 62, each of them has on their ends an extended buoyancy volume in the form of vertical cylinders 63. Also on the stem end of each pontoon 62 is located a propulsion unit 61. Pontoons 62 are interconnected by cross frame 64 having three supports for Wind turbine thrust stools 32, one central support plate 65 and two side support plates 66. Each side support plate has cantilever-beams 67 and 68, vertical beam 69 and bracket 70. Inside of cross frame 64 are located machinery room 72 containing a diesel- generator, hydraulic power pack and ballast pumping stations, which are not shown. Berthing and centering system 73 is located on the lower part of Catamaran wind turbine Installer.

Figures 12 and 13 are Catamaran wind turbine Installer 60 Sections B-B and C-C. Fig. 13 illustrates Catamaran wind turbine Installer berthing and centering system 73, comprising two pivoting guiding bars 75 forming a funnel and each having a shock absorber 77 and two side guide arrangements 78, which includes a side roller 82, two arm lever 83 and hydraulic cylinder 84 and two center rollers 80. Each side guide arrangements 78 are located some vertical distance apart (see Fig. 10) and by this forming a lever to transmit the moment acting on Catamaran wind turbine Installer to the Foundation head 35.

Figures 14 and 17 illustrating Detail V from Fig. 13, which are plan views of side guide arrangements 78 in open and closed positions. Fig. 14 illustrates initial contact of Catamaran wind turbine Installer 60 with Foundation 30. At this moment pivoting guiding rollers 82 are in open position and centers rollers 80 are in expanded position. Fig. 15 illustrates position after Catamaran wind turbine Installer 60 is stopped at Foundation 30 by compressing extended center roller 80. At this position both side roller 82 are activated and by this fixing Catamaran wind turbine Installer 60 to Foundation 30 in a manner that prevents it from rolling and pitching, but provides with possibilities of moving up and down vertically due to engagement through, rollers. Central roller guide 80 is comprised of guides 85, slider 86 with incorporated roller 87 and hydraulic cylinder 88 with piston rode 89. Fig. 16, which is a blow-up of a Detail VI from Fig. 14, shows hydraulic piston rode 89 extended. Fig. 17 is a section D-D from Fig. 16, which shows piston rode 89 contracted.

Figures 18 through 20 illustrate Wind turbine tower 28 centering apparatus 92, located on the upper and middle part of interconnecting frame 64 and consisting of two side grips 94, each having pivoted lever 95, base 96, hydraulic actuator 97 and one central grip 98 consisting of hydraulic actuator 99 with contact plate 100.

Figures 21 and 22 Illustrate the High-rise Crane Station 110 for assembling Wind turbine Foundation, which includes underwater piled supports 1 12a, 112b and 112c for supporting Wind turbine Foundation suction buckets 43. It also includes a short boom heavy lift crane 113, having a support in form of cylindrical column 114 on the base of which is located a rotating platform 115 with two load swinging restraining winches 1 16 with tensioning lines 117. The short boom heavy lift crane 113 is positioned on the lattice type support structure 118, which is based on pilled foundation 119.

Figures 23 and 24 Illustrate Catamaran Foundation Installer 122 for transporting and installing Turbine Foundation 30 comprised of: two pontoons 124 shaped as ship hull, which are interconnected by cross frame 126. In the middle of cross frame 126 are located two guides 128 forming a funnel 130, which is designed to facilitate berthing of the Catamaran Foundation Installer to one of Foundation 30 suction bucket 43 and also simplifies the process of accommodating various sizes of floating Foundations. For the purpose of securing the position of Wind turbine Foundation 30 with Catamaran Foundation Installer 122 and providing its stability during transportation to the designated site, two cranes 132 are positioned on pontoons 124 and one crane 134 is positioned in the center of cross frame 126. On the lower part of cross frame 126 are positioned between pontoons 124 at least two propulsion units 136, which number and power would provide to Catamaran Foundation Installer 122 economically justified speed to tow Wind turbine Foundation without tugs assistance.

Figures 25 and 26 Illustrate Wind turbine Foundation assembled together with Catamaran Foundation Installer during transport mode. Fig. 25 Elevation shows section through one of the suction buckets that demonstrates that compressed air provides needed buoyancy for Wind turbine Foundation to float on air cushions. Also Fig. 25 illustrates how hoists line 138 of cranes 132 and 134 are attached to suction buckets 43.

Figures 27 through 30 illustrates process of transporting Foundation 30 to destination point and installing it there using suction buckets as the means for anchoring Foundation to ocean bottom. During this process the Catamaran wind turbine Installer- Crane 60 serves as a means for securing stability of the Foundation and also for controlling Foundation decent to ocean bottom.

Figures 31 through 36 illustrates High-rise Crane Station 141 for assembling Wind turbine, which includes: a pilled foundation 142, lattice type support 144, support column 146, heavy lift crane 148 and rotating platform 150 with two load swinging restraining winches 152 and tensioning lines 154. It also includes Shore Stand 156 consisting of a pilled foundation 158, central column 160, receiver cylinder 164 and four grabbers 166. Each of grabbers 166 has a support 168 and consists of pivot base 170, two amis lever 172 and

hydraulic cylinder 174.

ASSEMBLING, TRANSPOTING AND INSTALLING WIND TURBINE FOUNDATION ON THE DESIGNATED SITE.

Figures 21 and 22 illustrate the completely assembled Wind turbine Foundation 30 at

the High-rise Crane Station 110 The assemblage would be done at the following order.

Suction piles 43 would be installed on the underwatei foundations 112a, 112b and

1 12c m a manner that positions suction buckets 43 top plates 46 slightly above watei level.

Suction piles 43 would be intei connected by horizontal ties 44.

Legs 40 would be placed on corresponding suction piles 43 m inclined position and

welded to them

Completely assembled Foundation Head 35 would be loweied on the legs 40 and

welded together

Compressed an would be pumped in upper parts of suction buckets 43, thus would

create sufficient buoyancy to lift up the eiitne Foundation 60, which would make it floatable.

Catamaian Foundation Installei 122 would appioach floating Foundation 30 and

would berth to one of its suction buckets using funnel 130 foi centering it with Foundation

30. After this the cranes 132 and crane 134 thiough their hoists 138 would secuie

connection of Foundation 30 to Catamaian Foundation Installei

Catamaian Foundation Installer 122 with Foundation 30 would float to destination

site

At the destination site compiessed an from suction buckets 43 would be giadually let out and Foundation 30, would start to sink and their speed of decent would be controlled by

the cranes 132 and crane 134.

After Foundation 30 touches the sea bottom water from suction buckets 43 would be pumped out and under hydrostatic pressure suction buckets 43 would be pressed into sea

bottom soil and by this firmly anchoring Foundation 30 to sea bottom.

ASSEMBLING, TRANSPORTING AND INSTALLING WIND TURBINE ON THE

PREINSTALLED FOUNDATION

Figures 35 through 40 illustrate the sequence of steps of assembling Wind turbine 22

on the Shore Stand 136, which are in the following order:

Lowering Wind turbine tower 28 on Shore Stand 136;

Fixing it in a vertical position by grabbers 146;

Installing nacelle 24 on tower 28;

Installing Wind turbine rotor 26 on tower 28.

During these processes the tensioning lines 154, which are wound up on winches 152

and when attached to tower, nacelle and Wind turbine, would prevent them from swinging

due to wind action.

Figure 43 through 46 illustrate the sequence of steps of engaging Catamaran wind

turbine Installer 60 with Wind turbine 22 assembled on Shore Stand 156, which are done in

the following order:

During the process of approaching Assembling Stand with Wind turbine Catamaran,

wind turbine Installer 60 takes ballast in its pontoons and by this it lowers its supports plates

65 and 66 below Wind turbine thrust stools 32. At this semi submersible position stability of Catamaran wind turbine Installer 60 is provided by waterplane aiea of vertical cylindeis 63

Centeπng moving Catamaran wind turbine Installer 60 with Shore Stand 156 is achieved by two pairs of pivoting guiding bars 75. Fixation of Catamaran wind turbine Installer to the Shoie Stand 156 is done by two pan of guide arrangements 78 and two central roller guides 80, which excludes it fiom any rolling and pitching, but piovides availability for vertical movement The dynamic impact between mowing Catamaran wind turbine Installer 60 and Shore Stand 156, would be absorbed by hydiauiic cylinders 84 of pivoting guides 75. (See Figures 12, 13 and Figures 17 thiough 20)

After centering and fixation of Catarnaian wind tuibine Installer 60 to Shore Stand 156 is completed, the ballast is pumped out fiom pontoons and Catamaran wind tuibine Installer 60 flows up and meets the Wind turbine 22 trust stools 32 by its support plates 65 and 66 and by tins starts the Wind turbine lifting piocess At the end of this piocess the Grabbers 172 would be disconnected fiom Towei 28 spheie 34 Aftci Catamaian wind turbine Installer generates sufficient buoyancy foice, Catamaran wind tuibine Installei would flow up UOm a semisubmersible position to normal seagoing position togethei with Wind turbine 22, thus enabling them to flows out of connection with Shore Stand 156

Figuies 48 thiough 55 illustrates sequence of steps of tiansporting Wind tuibine to installed Foundation 30, engaging Catamaran wind turbine Installer 60 with Foundation 30, lowering Wind Tuibme on Foundation and disengaging Catamaian wind turbine Installer 60 from the installed Offshoie Wind powei Plant 21, which aie done in the following older:

The floating Catamaran wind tuibine Installei 60 with the installed on it Wind turbine 22 will be moved toward installed Foundation 30 using theii piopulsion units 61

When Catamaran wind turbine Installei 60, floating m ocean going mode, ieaches the Foundatioα 30, centering and engaging with Foundation 30 would be done in a similar way as it was done during the process of its centering and engaging with Shore Stand 156.

After centering and fixating Catamaran wind turbine Installer 60 to Foundation 30 is completed, the Catamaran wind turbine Installer 60 takes ballast in its pontoons 62 and by this starts moving downward.

Before sphere 34 of Tower 28 comes in contact with Foundation 30, the upper connector 54 of the Catamaran wind turbine Installer 60 would go from ocean going mode to semisubmersible mode and by this significantly reduce possible vertical movement (heave) of Catamaran wind turbine Installer 60.

On the way down, before getting in contact with upper connector 54, the Tower 28 sphere 34 would meet the shock absorber 58, which would mitigate dynamic impact due to Catamaran wind turbine Installer 60 still possible small heave.

After sphere 34 comes in full contact with Foundation 30 upper connector 54, the Catamaran wind turbine Installer 60 would continue taking the ballast until the full weight of Wind turbine 22 is transmitted to Foundation 30. During this period the vertical orientation of Wind turbine 22 Tower 28 would be checked. If there would be deviation from an acceptable level, by activating centering apparatus 92 of Catamaran wind turbine Installer 60, the Tower 28 would be rotated around the sphere 34 center on a required angle to position it in exact vertical position, hi this position the sphere 34 and upper connector 54 would be welded together.

To continue taking ballast, after full weight of Wind turbine 22 is transferred to Foundation 30, would disconnect Catamaran Barge 60 from contact with Wind turbine 22, but it would be still centered and engaged with Foundation 30 through roller guide arrangement 78.

By disconnecting side roller guides 82 from engagement with vertical tubular 36 of the Foundation 30, the Catamaran wind turbine Installer 60 would be able in a semisubmersible mode to move out of connection with Offshore Wind power Plant and return to waterboπie mode.

The Catamaran wind turbine Installer 60 semisubmersible mode without Wind turbine 22 can be considered safe even in stormy seas, since it will have a low location of the Center of Gravity and smaller areas exposed for wind and waves action, comparable versus its oceangoing mode with the Wind turbine on it.

DESCRIPTION OF CATAMARAN CRANE

Figures 58 through 60 illustrate Elevation, side Views and Plan section E-E of Catamaran Crane 200. It shows a short boom heavy lift crane 213, having a support in form of cylindrical column 214 on the base of which is located a rotating platform 215 with two load swinging restraining winches 216 and tensioning lines 217. Figure 61 is a section F-F through a cylindrical column 214 illustrating rotating platform 215 and restraining winches 216. The catamaran consists of two pontoons 262, each having on their ends an extended buoyancy volume in form of vertical cylinders 263. Pontoons 262 are interconnected by cross frame 264. Inside of cross frame 264 are located machinery room 272 containing diesel-generator, hydraulic power pack and ballast pumping stations, which are not shown. On the upper and lower part of Catamaran Crane cross frame 264 are located two berthing and centering systems 273. Each Catamaran Crane berthing and centering system 273, consists of two pivoting guiding bars 275 forming a funnel and each having a shock absorber 277 and two side guide aπ^*angements 278, which consists of roller 282, two arm lever 284 and hydraulic cylinder 284, and two center rollers 280. Berthing and centering systems 273 are located a significant vertical distance apart (see Fig. 37 and 38) and ^"by tin^'s forming a lever to transmit a moment acting on Catamaran Crane to Wind turbine Foundation.

Figures 62 and 63 are blowup of Detail XVI from Fig. 60 and are plan views of side guide arrangements 278 in open and closed positions. Fig. 62 illustrates initial contact of Catamaran Crane 200 with Wind turbine Foundation and tower. At this moment pivoting guiding rollers 278 and 279 are in open position and centers rollers 280 are in expanded position. Fig. 62 illustrates position after the Catamaran Crane 200 is stopped at Wind turbine 22 by compressing extended center roller 280. At this position the pair of side roller guides 278 are activated and by this fixing Catamaran Crane 200 to Wind turbine Tower 28 and Foundation 30 in a manner that prevents it from rolling and pitching, but provides possibilities of moving up and down vertically due to engagement through rollers. Central roller guide 280 consists of guides 285, slider 286 with incorporated roller 287 and hydraulic cylinder 288 with piston rod 289. Fig. 63, which is a blow-up of a Detail VI from Fig. 61, shows hydraulic piston rod 289 extended. Fig. 64 is a section F-F from Fig. 16, which shows piston rod 89 contracted. Fig. 66 is a section H-H from Fig. 58 shows a pair of trust-supports 291 and 293 attached to cross frame 264 and engaged with sphere 34 flange. The thrust- supports 291 and 293 each consists of pivotal beam 295 and hydraulic cylinder shock absorber 297.

SERVICING INSTALLED OFFSHORE WINDPOWER PLANT BY CATAMARAN

CRANE It is expected that during operation of Offshore Wind Farms comprsing of hundreds of Offshore Wind power Plants (OWP) 21 there would be a need for unscheduled replacement of Wind turbines major parts such as: generators, gearboxes and blades. This function would be performed by a Catamaran Crane 200. Figures 66 and 67 illustrate Catamaran Crane 200 engaged with OWP 21. The process of Catamaran Crane engagement with OWP 21 is similar to the process of Catamaran wind turbine Installer 60 with Wind turbine 22 engaging with Foundation 30. The Figure 56 and 57 show Catamaran Crane in ocean going mode. Figure 66 and 67 shows Catamaran Crane in a semisubinersible mode. During the process when the short boom heavy lift crane 213 would handle major parts Wind turbine 22 it would be in a semisubmersible mode, which would significantly reduce possible heave of it, but not completely eliminate it. To provide the crane firm support, Catamaran wind turbine installer sinks during semisubmersible mode until its thrust- supports 291 and 293 contact sphere flange 34 on the wind turbine foundation. The possible impact between them would be accommodated by hydraulic cylinders 297. Further talcing ballast creates preload force between sphere flange 34 and pair of thrust supports 291 and 293. This preload force would prevent Catamaran wind turbine installer from floating up under limited, due to semisubmersible mode, wave's action and by this would allow the crane to operate from a fixed foundation.

Claims

What is Claimed is:

Claim 1 : An offshore windpower plant (OWP) having a t}φical offshore wind turbine mounted by its tower to the head of a foundation anchored to sea bed by suction buckets comprising: said typical offshore wind turbine having a mavelle and tower and including; a vibration absorbing gasket between nacelle and tower; three thrust stools equally distributed along the circumference of a said tower and located near said tower lower end, and on the tip of its lower end; a sphere located on said tower lower end tip, through which said tjφical offshore wind turbine is attached to said foundation anchored to sea bottom; said foundation having suction buckets; means for near-shore assembling said foundation with suction buckets in a vertical position at a high-rise crane station; a Catamaran Foundation Installer for transporting said foundation with suction buckets to a destination site and then lowering and anchoring it to the sea bottom; means for near-shore assembling said typical offshore wind turbine on a shore stand imitating said head of said foundation with suction buckets; and a Catamaran Wind Turbine Installer for lifting said assembled typical offshore wind turbine from said shore stand, transporting it to said installed foundation with suction buckets, engaging with it and lowering said assembled typical offshore wind turbine on the said installed foundation with suction buckets anchored to sea bottom. Claim 2: The OWP according to claim 1, wherein said foundation with suction buckets comprises: said head of said foundation has the form of a vertical cylinder having on its upper part a receiver for said wind turbine tower sphere; a shock absorber located inside and in the middle of said a receiver of said wind turbine tower sphere; at least three support legs attached by their upper ends to the lower part of said vertical cylinder and by their lower ends to said suction buckets; and said suction buckets have thrust rings over their cylinders, which are located slightly below said suction buckets tops and also serve as the means for protecting said suction buckets from scouring.

Claim 3; The OWP according to claim 1, wherein said means for near-shore assembling said foundation with suction buckets in vertical position at a high-rise crane station comprises: a heavy lift crane with a short boom having: a cylindrical column supporting said heavy lift crane with short boom; a rotating platform on the lowest part of said vertical column having two opposite located winches with hoisting lines intended to prevent lifting load by said heavy lift crane from swinging; a high-rise support structure for said vertical cylindrical column based on piled foundation; and at least three underwater foundations for supporting partially submerge said suction buckets of said wind turbine foundation. Claim 4: The OWP according to claim 1, wherein said Catamaran Foundation Installer for transporting said foundation with suction buckets to destination site and then lowering and anchoring it to sea bottom comprising: two pontoons shaped as a ship hull for reduction their drag; a cross frame connecting both of said pontoons; a funnel type guide, for centering with said suction bucket of said foundation, which is located in the middle of said cross frame; at least three cranes for handling floating on said suction buckets foundation of said wind turbine, two of which are located on opposite pontoons and one on the top and in the middle of said cross frame; and at least two propulsion units attached to lower part of said cross frame and symmetrically to its center line.

Claim 5: The OWP according to claim 1 , wherein said means for near-shore assembling said typical offshore wind turbine on a shore stand imitating said head of said foundation with suction buckets comprising: heavy lift crane with a short boom having; a vertical cylindrical column supporting said heavy lift crane with short boom; a rotating platform on the lowest part of said vertical column having two opposite located winches with hoisting lines intended to prevent lifting load by said heavy lift crane from swinging; a high-rise support structure for said vertical cylindrical column based on piled foundation; said shore stand imitating said head of said wind turbine foundation is comprised of: a head, similar to the head of said wind turbine foundation, having on its upper part a receiver of said wind turbine tower sphere with attached to said receiver at least three hydraulically operated grabbers for keeping said wind turbine tower attached to said shore stand head through said sphere of said wind turbine tower during the process of assembling said wind tower on said shore stand; and a pilled support for said head pile.

Claim 6: The OWP according to claim 1, wherein said Catamaran Wind Turbine Installer for lifting said assembled typical offshore wind turbine from said shore stand, transporting it to said installed foundation with suction buckets and lowering said assembled typical offshore wind turbine on the said installed foundation with suction buckets anchored to sea bottom comprises: two pontoons, each shaped as a ship hull for reduction of their drag and having one propulsion unit on one end and two vertical cylinders on each ends of said pontoon, serving as an additional buoyancy and waterplane area during semisubmersible mode of said Catamaran Wind Turbine Installer operation; a cross frame connecting both of said pontoons having on its structure three support plates for engaging with three thrust stools of said typical offshore wind turbine tower during the process of lifting said assembled wind turbine from said shore stand and supporting said wind turbine during its transportation to the installed said foundation; a berthing and centering system comprising: two pivoting guiding bars forming a funnel, which allows to align said Catamaran wind turbine Installer center line with said wind turbine tower center and also absorb impact between one of said pivoting guiding bars and said wind turbine tower through an hydraulic cylinder connected with each of said pivoting guiding bars; two side guide arrangements, located apart on some distance vertically, each of them having a pair of liydraulically operated pivoted rollers and one central roller with a hydraulic cylinder serving as shock absorber; and a centering apparatus, which is locate on the center line of the upper part of said cross frame, comprising of two liydraulically actuated side grips and one central grip, which keep said wind turbine stable during transportation mode and adjust the vertical position of said wind turbine tower during its installation on said foundation.

Claim 7: A method of assembling, transporting and installing the wind turbine foundation at the destination site comprising the steps of: assembling a wind turbine with suction buckets foundation in a vertical position at a High-rise Crane Station hi the following order; placing suction buckets on underwater foundations in a manner that places suction buckets upper plates slightly above water level; interconnecting suction buckets by horizontal ties; placing inclined legs on suction buckets; lowering foundation head on legs and interconnecting them; pumping compressed air into upper part of suction buckets until they flow up with fully assembled wind turbine foundation; assembling floating wind turbine foundation with Catamaran Foundation Installer and securing their connection by hoist from three cranes on Catamaran Foundation Installer, towing floating on suction buckets wind turbine foundation to destination site by Catamaran Foundation Installer; lowering wind turbine foundation on sea bottom by letting out compressed air from suction buckets and by controlling speed of it decent by cranes on Catamaran Foundation Installer; and anchoring suction bucket into sea bottom soil by pumping out water from suction buckets.

Claim 8: A method of assembling, transporting and installing the wind turbine on the preinstalled foundation at the destination site comprising: a) assembling wind turbine on a shore stand; b) approaching assembled on shore stand wind turbine by Catamaran wind turbine Installer in a semisubmersible mode; c) engaging with the head of shore stand through berthing and centering system of Catamaran wind turbine Installer and activating centering apparatus that grabs the tower of wind turbine from three points; d) floating Catamaran wind turbine Installer up by pumping ballast out of the pontoons and by this bringing in contact Catamaran wind turbine Installer three supports plates with three trust stools on wind turbine tower, further pumping out of ballast from pontoons lifts wind turbine from shore stand and brings Catamaran wind turbine Installer in waterbome mode; e) Catamaran wind turbine Installer sails under its own propulsion power with assembled wind turbine to the installed wind turbine foundation using Catamaran wind turbine Installer propulsion system; f) berthing Catamaran wind turbine Installer in waterbome mode to the head of installed wind turbine foundation, in this position it still can pitch, but roll is significantly limited; g) taking ballast into Catamaran wind turbine Installer pontoon lowers it down to a semisubraersible mode at which side guide arrangements of Catamaran wind turbine

Installer would engage with head of foundation and by this excluding any roll and pitch by Catamaran wind turbine Installer, but provides it with vertical movement; h) by further taking ballast into pontoons Catamaran wind turbine Installer lowers the wind turbine tower lower end having form of a sphere on the sphere receiver on the wind turbine foundation head, inside of sphere receiver is located shock absorber that dumpers possible impact; i) adjusting vertical position of wind turbine tower by activating all three grips of

Catamaran wind turbine Installer centering apparatus, which correspondingly incline wind turbine tower around the center of wind tower sphere; j) welding wind turbine tower sphere to wind tower foundation sphere receiver, k) by further taking ballast into pontoons the Catamaran wind turbine Installer bring Its supports plates from contact with wind turbine tower trust stools; 1) by disconnecting side guide arrangements from engagement with wind turbine foundation head the Catamaran wind turbine Installer flows out of engagement with wind turbine foundation in a semisubmersible mode; and m) by pumping out ballast from pontoon Catamaran wind turbine Installer gets into waterborne mode and sails back to home base.