WO2011014075A1 - Method of anchoring a floating wind turbine and also a system for use during practice of the method - Google Patents

Method of anchoring a floating wind turbine and also a system for use during practice of the method Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2011014075A1
WO2011014075A1 PCT/NO2010/000293 NO2010000293W WO2011014075A1 WO 2011014075 A1 WO2011014075 A1 WO 2011014075A1 NO 2010000293 W NO2010000293 W NO 2010000293W WO 2011014075 A1 WO2011014075 A1 WO 2011014075A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
wind turbine
depth
unit
coupling unit
coupling
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NO2010/000293
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Arnfinn Nergaard
Original Assignee
Universitetet I Stavanger
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Universitetet I Stavanger filed Critical Universitetet I Stavanger
Priority to EP10804769.7A priority Critical patent/EP2459875A4/en
Publication of WO2011014075A1 publication Critical patent/WO2011014075A1/en

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D13/00—Assembly, mounting or commissioning of wind motors; Arrangements specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
    • F03D13/20—Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
    • F03D13/25—Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors specially adapted for offshore installation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B21/00—Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring
    • B63B21/50—Anchoring arrangements or methods for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers
    • B63B21/502—Anchoring arrangements or methods for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers by means of tension legs
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D13/00—Assembly, mounting or commissioning of wind motors; Arrangements specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
    • F03D13/10—Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2240/00—Components
    • F05B2240/90—Mounting on supporting structures or systems
    • F05B2240/93—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a structure floating on a liquid surface
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2240/00—Components
    • F05B2240/90—Mounting on supporting structures or systems
    • F05B2240/95—Mounting on supporting structures or systems offshore
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2240/00—Components
    • F05B2240/90—Mounting on supporting structures or systems
    • F05B2240/97—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a submerged structure
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
    • Y02E10/72—Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
    • Y02E10/727—Offshore wind turbines

Definitions

  • a coupling unit provided with multiple tension moorings attached to a seabed is arranged submerged in a mass of water at a prescribed first depth under a water surface;
  • a floating turbine unit provided with a buoyancy element having a draught equal to a second depth, wherein the first depth is greater than the second depth, is displaced in over the coupling unit;
  • the wind turbine unit being ballasted and displaced vertically until the first depth is equal to the second depth and the wind turbine unit is supported by the coupling unit.
  • a wind turbine positioned offshore is placed on a foundation arranged on the sea bed, or, at least for wind turbines hav- ing a horizontal axis, having a tower arranged floating in the mass of water, for example by being partly submerged in the mass of water and having an end portion towering above the mass of water, or that the wind turbine is an integrated, extending part of a floating device such as a floating plat- form or the like.
  • the floating wind turbine is anchored directly or indirectly in the seabed.
  • anchor floating wind turbines There is a long series of ways to anchor floating wind turbines .
  • the anchoring provides for the wind turbine maintain- ing its position, i.e. is prevented from drifting off, and it as a rule provides for an increase in stability, i.e. heave and heel movements are dampened.
  • Anchoring a floating installation is time-consuming, costly and complicated, and in ocean areas where wind turbines are installed, there is natu- rally often a lot of wind and waves, leading to installation operations taking a long time and are often difficult to accomplish due to lack of sufficiently long periods of suitable working conditions.
  • US 7476074 B2 describes a floating foundation submerged under a sea surface and anchored to the seabed by cables or chains. On the foundation being below the wave movement depth is raised a structure, particularly a wind turbine tower.
  • US 7293960 B2 describes a floating power generator assembly comprising at least three floating units anchored to the sea- bed below the mass of water.
  • US 2009/0072544 Al describes a wind turbine having a vertical axis mounted on a platform.
  • the platform may be made up of assembled module elements.
  • the platform is semi-submerged with the turbine tower extending up over a water surface and with a counterweight extending downward from the platform.
  • the platform may float on the water surface and have several arms extending outward from the platform to increase the extent of the platform.
  • an anchor system being connected with the seabed may be used allowing the wind turbine to be adjusted actively or pas- sively to adapt to changes in water level due to tide or swell .
  • EP 1666722 Al describes an attachment system for floating wind turbines, wherein to the footing of a shank is arranged a submerged structure being arranged to be able to provide buoyancy to the wind turbine, as said submerged structure is designed to function as a guide element for a cable connecting the footing with at least a central anchor element.
  • Several buoys are arranged in the vicinity of the wind turbine, and each buoy is connected to independent anchor elements via chains and to the footing by means of cables, and the buoys are arranged about the shank a certain distance away.
  • GB 2454585 A describes a method for transport of a building structure, such as a wind turbine, in a mass of water. At least one float is connected with the structure in such a way that the structure is floating stably in the water as the float encircles the structure, and a bottom portion of the structure extends downwards from the lower edge of the float. Two barges connected to each other to hold on to the struc- ture may form the float.
  • the object of the invention is to remedy or reduce at least one of the prior art drawbacks .
  • the invention provides a foundation for a floatable wind turbine unit, as the foundation is provided as a coupling unit anchored to a seabed by several tension moorings and arranged submerged in a water surface.
  • the wind turbine unit is provided with buoyancy elements and may be displaced in the mass of water having a draught less than the distance of the coupling unit from the water surface. Ballasting may lower the wind turbine to supporting abutment against a contact surface on the coupling unit.
  • the wind turbine unit and the coupling unit are preferably locked to each other by means of coupling elements detachably meshing with each other.
  • the buoyancy of the connected unit is balanced to create tension in the moorings during all operating conditions and to give desired stability to the unit.
  • the wind turbine may be brought to a port or other waters for maintenance.
  • the invention relates more specifically to a method for anchoring of a floating wind turbine, characterised in that the method comprises the steps:
  • a coupling unit provided with multiple tension moorings attached to a seabed is arranged submerged in a mass of water at a prescribed first depth under a water surface;
  • a floating wind turbine unit provided with a buoyancy body having a draught equal to a second depth, wherein the first depth is larger than the second depth, is displaced in over the coupling unit;
  • the wind turbine unit being ballasted and displaced vertically until the first depth is equal to the second depth and the wind turbine unit is supported by the coupling unit.
  • the coupling unit may be brought to the prescribed first depth by ballasting and/or by being pulled by means of one or more anchor winches connected to the tension moorings.
  • wind turbine unit and the coupling unit may be joined together by means of coupling elements.
  • the buoyancy of the wind turbine unit and the coupling unit may subsequent to connection be adjusted to provide a prescribed tension in the tension moorings.
  • the invention relates more specifically to an anchoring system for a floating wind turbine, characterised in that
  • a coupling unit is provided with several tension moor- ings arranged to be able to be made fast to a seabed, as the coupling unit is provided with means arranged to be able to arrange the coupling unit submerged in a mass of water in a prescribed first depth below a water surface;
  • a floating wind turbine unit is provided with one or more buoyancy elements and has a draught equal to a second depth, where the first depth is greater than the second depth;
  • the wind turbine unit is arranged to be able to be ballasted and be displaced vertically until the first depth is equal to the second depth for support of the wind turbine unit on the coupling unit.
  • the wind turbine unit and the coupling unit may be provided with means arranged for detachably being able to make the wind turbine unit fast to the coupling unit.
  • the wind turbine unit may be provided with means arranged for ballasting the wind turbine unit.
  • the invention relates more specifically to use of a coupling unit anchored to a seabed by means of tension moorings and arranged submerged in a mass of water at a prescribed first depth below a water surface, as a foundation for a floatable wind turbine unit.
  • Fig. 1 shows a side view a principle sketch of a device according to the invention, as a floating wind tur- bine is arranged near a submerged, floating foundation anchored by tension moorings to a seabed; and
  • Fig. 2 shows a side view of the floating wind turbine submerged and attached to the submerged, floating foundation.
  • the reference numeral 1 indicates a water mass delimited by a seabed 11 and a water surface 12.
  • a foundation 2 for a wind turbine is arranged floating in the mass of water 1 as a coupling unit 21 is arranged submerged in the mass of water 1 and anchored to the seabed 11 by means of several tension moorings 22 each connected to an anchor 23 of a per se known type. Each tension mooring 22 is tied to an anchor winch 221 in the coupling unit 21.
  • the coupling unit 21 is provided with a first ballasting de- vice 213, shown schematically here, typically in the form of a ballast tank having one or more connected pumps and lines (not shown) connecting the ballast tank to the surrounding mass of water 1.
  • the coupling unit 21 is provided with an upward facing con- tact surface 211 and also several first coupling elements 212.
  • a wind turbine unit 3 is provided with a buoyancy element 31 comprising a downward facing contact surface 311 arranged to be able to abut the contact surface 211 of the coupling unit 21, several second coupling elements 312 arranged to be able to grip the corresponding first coupling elements 212 of the coupling unit 21, and also a second ballasting device 313, shown schematically here, typically in the form of a ballast tank having one or more connected pumps and conduits (not shown) connecting the ballast tank to the surrounding mass of water 1.
  • a buoyancy element 31 comprising a downward facing contact surface 311 arranged to be able to abut the contact surface 211 of the coupling unit 21, several second coupling elements 312 arranged to be able to grip the corresponding first coupling elements 212 of the coupling unit 21, and also a second ballasting device 313, shown schematically here, typically in the form of a ballast tank having one or more connected pumps and conduits (not shown) connecting the ballast tank to the surrounding mass of water 1.
  • the wind turbine 33 comprises an engine housing 331, a rotor shaft 332 and a multiple bladed rotor 333.
  • the engine housing 331 houses a generator (not shown) , which via leads may be connected to a grid for electric power (not shown) .
  • the foundation 2 is preinstalled in the mass of water 1 in a for the purpose suitable location with the coupling unit 21 at a desired depth D 1 .
  • the installation may comprise connecting up to the electric power grid (not shown) , and the coupling unit 21 and the wind turbine unit 3 may be provided with for the purpose suitable connectors (not shown) to con- nect the engine housing 331 with the grid.
  • the wind turbine unit 3 is displaced floating in the mass of water 1, for example by means of one or two tugs (not shown), until the wind turbine unit 3 is positioned directly above the coupling unit 21.
  • the wind turbine unit 3 is then lowered by ballasting to supportive abutment against the coupling unit 21.
  • the wind turbine unit 3 is fastened to the coupling unit 21 by means of the coupling elements 212, 312.
  • the buoyancy of the wind turbine unit 3 and the coupling unit 21 is subsequently adjusted by means of the ballasting devices 213, 313 to achieve the desired tension in the tension moorings 22 and the desired weight distribution and stability.
  • the wind turbine unit 3 may be disconnected from the coupling unit 21 by reversing the above described process and be towed to a protected port or protected waters, where the maintenance may be carried out more easily. It is self-evident that even though what is described here is a wind turbine unit 3 having a horizontal rotor shaft 332, the principle of the invention still applies for wind turbines having a vertical rotary axis.

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

Abstract

What is described is a method for anchoring of a floating wind turbine, wherein the method comprises the steps: - a coupling unit (21) provided with multiple tension moorings (22) attached to a seabed (11) is arranged submerged in a mass of water (1) at a prescribed first depth (D1) under a water surface (12); - a floating wind turbine unit (3) provided with a buoyancy element (31) having a draught equal to a second depth (D2), wherein the first depth (D1) is larger than the second depth (D2), is displaced in over the coupling unit (21); - the wind turbine unit (3) being ballasted and displaced vertically until the second depth (D2) is equal to the first depth (D1) and the wind turbine unit (3) is supported by the coupling unit (21). Also described is an anchoring system for use in applying the method.

Description

METHOD OF ANCHORING A FLOATING WIND TURBINE AND ALSO A SYSTEM FOR USE DURING PRACTICE OF THE METHOD
There is described a method for anchoring of a floating wind turbine, more particularly where the method comprises the steps :
a coupling unit provided with multiple tension moorings attached to a seabed is arranged submerged in a mass of water at a prescribed first depth under a water surface;
a floating turbine unit provided with a buoyancy element having a draught equal to a second depth, wherein the first depth is greater than the second depth, is displaced in over the coupling unit;
the wind turbine unit being ballasted and displaced vertically until the first depth is equal to the second depth and the wind turbine unit is supported by the coupling unit.
Also described is an anchoring system for use in applying the method.
A wind turbine positioned offshore is placed on a foundation arranged on the sea bed, or, at least for wind turbines hav- ing a horizontal axis, having a tower arranged floating in the mass of water, for example by being partly submerged in the mass of water and having an end portion towering above the mass of water, or that the wind turbine is an integrated, extending part of a floating device such as a floating plat- form or the like. The floating wind turbine is anchored directly or indirectly in the seabed.
There is a long series of ways to anchor floating wind turbines . The anchoring provides for the wind turbine maintain- ing its position, i.e. is prevented from drifting off, and it as a rule provides for an increase in stability, i.e. heave and heel movements are dampened. Anchoring a floating installation is time-consuming, costly and complicated, and in ocean areas where wind turbines are installed, there is natu- rally often a lot of wind and waves, leading to installation operations taking a long time and are often difficult to accomplish due to lack of sufficiently long periods of suitable working conditions.
US 7476074 B2 describes a floating foundation submerged under a sea surface and anchored to the seabed by cables or chains. On the foundation being below the wave movement depth is raised a structure, particularly a wind turbine tower.
US 7293960 B2 describes a floating power generator assembly comprising at least three floating units anchored to the sea- bed below the mass of water.
US 2009/0072544 Al describes a wind turbine having a vertical axis mounted on a platform. The platform may be made up of assembled module elements. The platform is semi-submerged with the turbine tower extending up over a water surface and with a counterweight extending downward from the platform.
Alternatively the platform may float on the water surface and have several arms extending outward from the platform to increase the extent of the platform. For anchoring the turbine an anchor system being connected with the seabed may be used allowing the wind turbine to be adjusted actively or pas- sively to adapt to changes in water level due to tide or swell .
EP 1666722 Al describes an attachment system for floating wind turbines, wherein to the footing of a shank is arranged a submerged structure being arranged to be able to provide buoyancy to the wind turbine, as said submerged structure is designed to function as a guide element for a cable connecting the footing with at least a central anchor element. Several buoys are arranged in the vicinity of the wind turbine, and each buoy is connected to independent anchor elements via chains and to the footing by means of cables, and the buoys are arranged about the shank a certain distance away.
GB 2454585 A describes a method for transport of a building structure, such as a wind turbine, in a mass of water. At least one float is connected with the structure in such a way that the structure is floating stably in the water as the float encircles the structure, and a bottom portion of the structure extends downwards from the lower edge of the float. Two barges connected to each other to hold on to the struc- ture may form the float.
The object of the invention is to remedy or reduce at least one of the prior art drawbacks .
The object is achieved by the features stated in the below description and in the following claims. The invention provides a foundation for a floatable wind turbine unit, as the foundation is provided as a coupling unit anchored to a seabed by several tension moorings and arranged submerged in a water surface. The wind turbine unit is provided with buoyancy elements and may be displaced in the mass of water having a draught less than the distance of the coupling unit from the water surface. Ballasting may lower the wind turbine to supporting abutment against a contact surface on the coupling unit. The wind turbine unit and the coupling unit are preferably locked to each other by means of coupling elements detachably meshing with each other. The buoyancy of the connected unit is balanced to create tension in the moorings during all operating conditions and to give desired stability to the unit.
By the connection between the wind turbine unit and the coupling unit being reversible, the wind turbine may be brought to a port or other waters for maintenance.
In a first aspect the invention relates more specifically to a method for anchoring of a floating wind turbine, characterised in that the method comprises the steps:
a coupling unit provided with multiple tension moorings attached to a seabed is arranged submerged in a mass of water at a prescribed first depth under a water surface;
a floating wind turbine unit provided with a buoyancy body having a draught equal to a second depth, wherein the first depth is larger than the second depth, is displaced in over the coupling unit;
the wind turbine unit being ballasted and displaced vertically until the first depth is equal to the second depth and the wind turbine unit is supported by the coupling unit.
The coupling unit may be brought to the prescribed first depth by ballasting and/or by being pulled by means of one or more anchor winches connected to the tension moorings.
The wind turbine unit and the coupling unit may be joined together by means of coupling elements.
The buoyancy of the wind turbine unit and the coupling unit may subsequent to connection be adjusted to provide a prescribed tension in the tension moorings. In a second aspect the invention relates more specifically to an anchoring system for a floating wind turbine, characterised in that
a coupling unit is provided with several tension moor- ings arranged to be able to be made fast to a seabed, as the coupling unit is provided with means arranged to be able to arrange the coupling unit submerged in a mass of water in a prescribed first depth below a water surface;
a floating wind turbine unit is provided with one or more buoyancy elements and has a draught equal to a second depth, where the first depth is greater than the second depth;
the wind turbine unit is arranged to be able to be ballasted and be displaced vertically until the first depth is equal to the second depth for support of the wind turbine unit on the coupling unit.
The wind turbine unit and the coupling unit may be provided with means arranged for detachably being able to make the wind turbine unit fast to the coupling unit. The wind turbine unit may be provided with means arranged for ballasting the wind turbine unit.
In a third aspect the invention relates more specifically to use of a coupling unit anchored to a seabed by means of tension moorings and arranged submerged in a mass of water at a prescribed first depth below a water surface, as a foundation for a floatable wind turbine unit.
In the following is described an example of a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 shows a side view a principle sketch of a device according to the invention, as a floating wind tur- bine is arranged near a submerged, floating foundation anchored by tension moorings to a seabed; and
Fig. 2 shows a side view of the floating wind turbine submerged and attached to the submerged, floating foundation.
In the figures the reference numeral 1 indicates a water mass delimited by a seabed 11 and a water surface 12.
A foundation 2 for a wind turbine is arranged floating in the mass of water 1 as a coupling unit 21 is arranged submerged in the mass of water 1 and anchored to the seabed 11 by means of several tension moorings 22 each connected to an anchor 23 of a per se known type. Each tension mooring 22 is tied to an anchor winch 221 in the coupling unit 21.
The coupling unit 21 is provided with a first ballasting de- vice 213, shown schematically here, typically in the form of a ballast tank having one or more connected pumps and lines (not shown) connecting the ballast tank to the surrounding mass of water 1.
The coupling unit 21 is provided with an upward facing con- tact surface 211 and also several first coupling elements 212.
A wind turbine unit 3 is provided with a buoyancy element 31 comprising a downward facing contact surface 311 arranged to be able to abut the contact surface 211 of the coupling unit 21, several second coupling elements 312 arranged to be able to grip the corresponding first coupling elements 212 of the coupling unit 21, and also a second ballasting device 313, shown schematically here, typically in the form of a ballast tank having one or more connected pumps and conduits (not shown) connecting the ballast tank to the surrounding mass of water 1.
From the buoyancy element 31 extends upwards a tower 32 carrying a per se known wind turbine 33. The wind turbine 33 comprises an engine housing 331, a rotor shaft 332 and a multiple bladed rotor 333. The engine housing 331 houses a generator (not shown) , which via leads may be connected to a grid for electric power (not shown) .
The foundation 2 is preinstalled in the mass of water 1 in a for the purpose suitable location with the coupling unit 21 at a desired depth D1. The installation may comprise connecting up to the electric power grid (not shown) , and the coupling unit 21 and the wind turbine unit 3 may be provided with for the purpose suitable connectors (not shown) to con- nect the engine housing 331 with the grid.
The wind turbine unit 3 is displaced floating in the mass of water 1, for example by means of one or two tugs (not shown), until the wind turbine unit 3 is positioned directly above the coupling unit 21. The wind turbine unit 3 is then lowered by ballasting to supportive abutment against the coupling unit 21. The wind turbine unit 3 is fastened to the coupling unit 21 by means of the coupling elements 212, 312. The buoyancy of the wind turbine unit 3 and the coupling unit 21 is subsequently adjusted by means of the ballasting devices 213, 313 to achieve the desired tension in the tension moorings 22 and the desired weight distribution and stability.
If the wind turbine unit 3 requires maintenance, which may not be carried out offshore, it may be disconnected from the coupling unit 21 by reversing the above described process and be towed to a protected port or protected waters, where the maintenance may be carried out more easily. It is self-evident that even though what is described here is a wind turbine unit 3 having a horizontal rotor shaft 332, the principle of the invention still applies for wind turbines having a vertical rotary axis.

Claims

C l a i m s
1. A method for anchoring of a floating wind turbine, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the method comprises the steps:
- a coupling unit (21) provided with multiple tension moorings (22) attached to a seabed (11) is arranged submerged in a mass of water (1) at a prescribed first depth (D1) under a water surface (12) ; a floating wind turbine unit (3) provided with a buoyancy element (31) having a draught equal to a second depth, wherein the first depth (D1) is larger than the second depth (D2) , is displaced in over the coupling unit (21) ;
the wind turbine unit (3) being ballasted and displaced vertically until the second depth (D2) is equal to the first depth (D1) and the wind turbine unit (3) is supported by the coupling unit (21) .
2. A method according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the coupling unit (21) is brought to the prescribed first depth (D1) by ballasting and/or being pulled by means of one or more anchoring winches connected to the tension moorings (22) .
3. A method according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that wind turbine unit (3) and the cou- pling unit (21) are interconnected by means of coupling elements (212, 312) .
4. A method according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the buoyancy of the wind turbine unit (3) and the coupling unit (21) is adjusted subse- quent to interconnection to provide a prescribed tension in the tension moorings (22) .
5. An anchoring system for a floating wind turbine, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that
a coupling unit (21) is provided with several tension moorings (22) arranged to be able to be made fast to a seabed (11) , as the coupling unit (21) is provided with means (213, 221) arranged to be able to arrange the coupling unit (21) submerged in a mass of water (1) in a prescribed first depth (Di) below a water surface (12) ;
a floating wind turbine unit (3) is provided with one or more buoyancy elements (31) and has a draught equal to a second depth (D2) , where the first depth (Di) is greater than the second depth (D2) ;
the wind turbine unit (3) is arranged to be able to be ballasted and be displaced vertically until the first depth (D1) is equal to the second depth (D2) for support of the wind turbine (3) unit on the coupling unit (21) .
6. An anchoring system according to claim 5, c h a r - a c t e r i s e d i n that the wind turbine unit (3) and the coupling unit (21) are provided with means (212, 312) arranged for detachably being able to attach the wind turbine (3) to the coupling unit (21) .
7. An anchoring system according to claim 5, c ha r - a c t e r i s e d i n that the wind turbine unit (3) is provided with means (313) arranged for ballasting the wind turbine unit (3) .
8. The use of a coupling unit (21) being anchored to a seabed (11) by means of tension moorings (22) and ar- ranged submerged in a mass of water (1) at a prescribed first depth (Di) under a water surface (12) , s a foundation (2) for a floatable wind turbine unit (3) .
PCT/NO2010/000293 2009-07-31 2010-07-29 Method of anchoring a floating wind turbine and also a system for use during practice of the method WO2011014075A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP10804769.7A EP2459875A4 (en) 2009-07-31 2010-07-29 Method of anchoring a floating wind turbine and also a system for use during practice of the method

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO20092792A NO329254B1 (en) 2009-07-31 2009-07-31 Method for anchoring liquid wind turbine and system for use in the practice of the process
NO20092792 2009-07-31

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2011014075A1 true WO2011014075A1 (en) 2011-02-03

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PCT/NO2010/000293 WO2011014075A1 (en) 2009-07-31 2010-07-29 Method of anchoring a floating wind turbine and also a system for use during practice of the method

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WO2012131116A1 (en) * 2011-04-01 2012-10-04 Sarrasin Gomez David Floating support for installing a wind turbine in bodies of sea water, lakes and reservoirs, and wind turbine tower including the floating support
WO2012169914A1 (en) * 2011-06-07 2012-12-13 Vistal Wind Power Sp. Z O.O. Offshore wind power turbine and a method of erecting offshore wind power turbine.
EP3051128A1 (en) * 2014-07-01 2016-08-03 Aerodyn Engineering GmbH Method for installing an offshore wind turbine with a floating foundation
WO2018054419A1 (en) * 2016-09-26 2018-03-29 Aerodyn Consulting Singapore Pte Ltd Mooring buoy for a floating wind turbine
WO2018054532A1 (en) * 2016-09-23 2018-03-29 LEMPART, Marc-Alexander Structure for erecting on the surfaces of bodies of water, and method for erecting same
EP3212496A4 (en) * 2014-10-27 2018-05-23 Principle Power, Inc. Connection system for array cables of disconnectable offshore energy devices

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Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2012131116A1 (en) * 2011-04-01 2012-10-04 Sarrasin Gomez David Floating support for installing a wind turbine in bodies of sea water, lakes and reservoirs, and wind turbine tower including the floating support
WO2012169914A1 (en) * 2011-06-07 2012-12-13 Vistal Wind Power Sp. Z O.O. Offshore wind power turbine and a method of erecting offshore wind power turbine.
EP3051128A1 (en) * 2014-07-01 2016-08-03 Aerodyn Engineering GmbH Method for installing an offshore wind turbine with a floating foundation
CN106164482A (en) * 2014-07-01 2016-11-23 爱罗丁工程有限公司 Including the floating type down-wind turbines of floating foundation with for the method installing such wind turbine
US10308328B2 (en) 2014-07-01 2019-06-04 Aerodyn Engineering Gmbh Floating wind turbine with a floating foundation, and method for installation of such a wind turbine
EP3212496A4 (en) * 2014-10-27 2018-05-23 Principle Power, Inc. Connection system for array cables of disconnectable offshore energy devices
WO2018054532A1 (en) * 2016-09-23 2018-03-29 LEMPART, Marc-Alexander Structure for erecting on the surfaces of bodies of water, and method for erecting same
WO2018054419A1 (en) * 2016-09-26 2018-03-29 Aerodyn Consulting Singapore Pte Ltd Mooring buoy for a floating wind turbine
JP2019536691A (en) * 2016-09-26 2019-12-19 エアロディーン コンサルティング シンガポール ピーティーイー エルティーディー Mooring buoy for floating wind turbine
US10745087B2 (en) 2016-09-26 2020-08-18 Aerodyn Consulting Singapore Pte Ltd Mooring buoy for a floating wind turbine

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Publication number Publication date
NO20092792A (en) 2010-09-20
NO329254B1 (en) 2010-09-20
EP2459875A4 (en) 2014-04-30
EP2459875A1 (en) 2012-06-06

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