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
  • F03D13/256—Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors specially adapted for offshore installation on a floating support, i.e. floating wind motors
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
  • B63B35/44—Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
• • 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
  • F03D13/201—Towers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B43/00—Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for
  • B63B43/02—Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for reducing risk of capsizing or sinking
  • B63B43/04—Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for reducing risk of capsizing or sinking by improving stability
  • B63B43/06—Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for reducing risk of capsizing or sinking by improving stability using ballast tanks
• • 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 
  • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
  • B63B35/44—Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
  • B63B2035/4433—Floating structures carrying electric power plants
  • B63B2035/446—Floating structures carrying electric power plants for converting wind energy into electric energy
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
  • E02B17/00—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor
  • E02B2017/0091—Offshore structures for wind turbines
• • 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
  • F05B2240/93—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a structure floating on a liquid surface
  • F05B2240/932—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a structure floating on a liquid surface which is a catamaran-like structure
• • 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
  • F05B2240/96—Mounting on supporting structures or systems as part of a wind turbine farm
• • 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

• the present invention relates to a floating platform for a wind turbine.
• it relates to a wind turbine and floating structure as disclosed in the preamble of the inde pendent claim. Background of the invention
• each corner of the triangle typically comprises one or more vertical buoyancy columns, and the wind turbine tower is typically positioned in the center of the triangle.
• this arrangement implies challenges for the assembly, since the assembly crane has to reach from the periphery of the platform to the center of the platform, which can be up to 35 m or more.
• an offshore wind turbine system comprising a wind turbine in combination with a floating platform.
• the platform comprises three buoyancy modules in corners of a triangular configuration.
• the tower is located off- centered near a baseline of the triangle midway or almost midway between two buoy ancy modules that are located at the ends of the baseline.
• buoyancy module is used for an element that provides buoyancy and/or stability to the platform.
• the buoyancy module is a buoyancy tank or com- prises a plurality of buoyancy tanks fitted together.
• a buoyancy module comprises or is a vertical or near-vertical cylinder, a group of two or more vertical or near-vertical cylinders, or other configuration of relevant vertical or near-vertical ves sels that are located at the corners of the triangular configuration and can provide buoy ancy and/or stability to the platform.
• the presented construction significantly reduces the outreach of the crane used to install the wind turbine on the platform.
• the presented construction requires less ballasting to counterbalance the weight of the load of the wind turbine, as not one but two buoyancy modules are used to support the turbine. This reduces the operational depth when the turbine is installed.
• the third buoyancy module is provided with some ballast to balance the platform, for example a ballast on the order of one- third to two-thirds of the weight of the wind turbine.
• the offshore platform comprises a tower support, for example tower sup port column, which carries the tower of the wind turbine, the tower carrying a wind rotor.
• the platform comprises three buoyancy modules.
• each module comprises a group of buoyancy members, for example a group of two, three or more buoyancy members, such as buoyancy tanks.
• the buoyancy modules are lighter than water and provide buoyancy to the platform when in water.
• the three modules are ar ranged in a triangular configuration in corners of an isosceles triangle, which has a base line and two equally long sides extending from two base corners at ends of the baseline and meeting at a top corner of the triangle.
• the isosceles triangle is an equi- lateral triangle with three equally long sides.
• the center axis of the tower is located equidistant to the base corners and located on the baseline. Alternatively, it is located at a distance to the base line, inside or outside of the triangle.
• the distance is in the range of 0- 15% of the length L of the baseline, for example 0-15% of the length L of the baseline.
• the tower is located on a line that extends from the top corner through the middle of the base line.
• the typical position of the center axis of the tower is in the middle of the base line, a slight deviation from the equidistance to the baseline corners is also possible.
• the deviation is within 2 % to 10 %, such as with 2 % to 5 %.
• a 10% deviation from an equidistant configuration would imply that the distance to one baseline corner is 0.55L and to the other baseline corner is 0.45L, each distance from the centerline of the tower to the baseline corners being reduced or enlarged by 10% of L/2.
• the platform comprises a frame of rigid tubular mem bers, in particular braces, that are connecting the buoyancy modules with the tower sup port.
• a convenient and useful configuration is a tetrahedral or approximately tetrahedral configuration.
• the frame comprises an arrangement of braces where each buoyancy mem ber is connected to the tower support with a support brace connecting the buoyancy member to the base of the tower support and with an additional brace that are connecting the buoyancy module to the upper part, for example top, of the tower support.
• the buoyancy modules may be connected to each other with supplementary braces. This arrangement of braces may in total form a tetrahedral shape.
• the method of installation of the tower comprises an act of locating the floating platform adjacent to a quay wall with the tower support, such as tower support column, arranged separately from the buoyancy modules and arranged with the center- line of the tower in a position on or adjacent to the base line, near or at the center of the baseline, with the base line arranged adjacent to the quay wall.
• the tower and the nacelle and rotor are then installed on the tower support of the floating platform.
• the floating platform may be towed to the final location offshore. This ar rangement allows for installing the wind turbine directly on the floating platform while the floating platform is in the port without requiring excessive crane reach even in a port with relatively low depth adjacent to the quay wall.
• buoyancy modules for example buoyancy tanks
• the third buoyancy module for example buoyancy tank
• the third buoyancy member is at a significant distance and will not require very sub stantial ballasting. The entire arrangement allows for placing even large-scale load on large scale floating platforms in ports with otherwise imposed limits caused by the depth.
• a 15 MW wind turbine may be installed on a floating platform as dis closed docked at a quay in a port with a depth of no more than 8 m.
• the draft during installation, i.e. whilst floating, of any buoyancy member may be less than 8 m.
• the draft, also during installation, of the third buoyancy member may be less than 8 m, less than 6 m, or less than 4 m.
• Fig. 1 illustrates a triangular construction principle for a floating platform for a wind turbine
• Fig. 2 illustrates a wind turbine on a floating platform
• Fig. 3 illustrates a top view of the floating platform of FIG. 2
• Fig. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment
• Fig. 5 illustrates a further alternative embodiment
• Fig. 6 illustrates the floating platform in use in deep sea, when exposed to a) a calm water surface, b) low waves, and c) high waves.
• FIG. l is a sketch for explaining the principle of a triangular platform 1 and the location of the wind turbine tower 2 on the platform 1.
• buoyancy modules 6 are provided, which are dimensioned for providing sufficient buoyancy for holding the platform 1 with the wind turbine at the surface of the water, in which the offshore platform 1 is floating.
• the reference triangle 9 which is used for describing the triangular shape of the plat form 1 as well as the location of the tower 2, extends from the centers of single buoyancy modules 6.
• the buoyancy module 6 in each corner 5A, 5B, 5C is not a single member but a group of buoyancy members, for example tanks.
• the center of the buoyancy module 6 then has to be constructed as the center for the plurality of buoyancy members, for example the center between the two buoyancy members in a pair of buoyancy members.
• the triangle 9 is an isosceles triangle with a base line 3 and two equally long sides 4A, 4B that meet at the top comer 5A.
• it could also be an equilateral triangle.
• the tower 2 is located on an imaginary line 7 that extends from the top comer 5A through the middle of the base line 3.
• the line 7 follows a tubular support brace as part of a frame of the platform 1.
• the tower 2 is positioned with its center 2A located on the middle of the baseline 3.
• the center of the tower 2 is outside the triangle 9 and dislocated a distance XI from the baseline 3, which is indicated with the reference number 2’.
• buoyancy mod ules 6 are arranged in more complex configurations than illustrated in FIG. 1.
• XI is in the range of 0-15% of the length L of the baseline, potentially 0-10% of the length L.
• the tower 2 is optionally located inside the triangle, dislocated a distance X2 from the baseline 3 towards the center of the triangle 9. This is indicated by the reference number 2”.
• X2 is in the range of 0-15% of the length L of the baseline, potentially 0-10% of the length L. This is advantageous in resulting in a lower necessary depth for the platform during mounting, as the weight of the wind tower is loaded more onto the buoyancy module 6 at the top corner 5 A.
• the centerline 2A of the tower is located equidistant to the base corners 5B, 5C, in some cases, a slight deviation 20 from such equidistant configuration may be desired to counteract resonance frequencies.
• FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a floating platform 1 configured to support a wind turbine 8.
• the platform 1 is configured with a tower support, in the form of a power support column 10, supporting the wind turbine tower 2.
• Three buoyancy modules 6, in the form of pairs of buoyancy members 6 A, such as tanks, are providing buoyancy and stability.
• the buoyancy members 6A are arranged at corners 5A, 5B, 5C of the planar triangle 9.
• each of the buoyancy member 6A is provided with a heave plate 16 for damping vertical motion in the sea.
• the heave plates 16 are within a refer ence plane 17, which is parallel to the reference triangle 9 and perpendicular to the center line 2A of the cylindrical tower 2.
• the heave plates 16 are collapsible for convenience when maneuvering in a harbor.
• the platform 1 achieves stability by a tubular structure, comprising a first support brace 12A, which extends from the most distal buoyancy module 6, at the top comer 5A, to the tower support column 10, and two further support braces 12B, possibly combined into a single further support brace, that extends from the tower support column 10 to each of the other two buoyancy modules 6 at the baseline corners 5B, 5C.
• Further sta bility is achieved by additional braces 13 A and 13B that extend from the two further support braces 12B to the first support brace near the buoyancy module 6 that is most distal to the tower support column 10 at the tope comer 5 A.
• the additional braces 13 A, 13B form a planar triangular shape with the two further support braces 12B. As exem- plified, this planar triangle is in the same plane as the reference triangle 9.
• Stabilizer braces 15 extend from an upper end of the support tower support column 10 to each of the support braces 12 A, 12B at the position of the buoyancy modules 6 in order to provide a rigid structure for the platform 1.
• the shape approximately resembles a tetrahedron.
• a working platform 14 surrounds the tower 2 and is typically fastened to the to the tower 2.
• the support tower support column 10 is provided with its center line 2A on the base line 3 midway between the buoyancy members 6 and supporting the wind turbine tower 2. This is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 3, which is a top view.
• FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the floating platform 1 corresponding to what was indi cated with the reference number T in FIG. 1, namely a location of the tower outside the reference triangle and offset by a certain distance, for example corresponding to not more than 15% of the length of the base line 3.
• the two further support braces 12B are not parallel with the base line 3 but form an angle.
• FIG. 4 resembles an arrow shape.
• Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of the floating platform 1 corresponding to what was indicated with the reference number T ’ in FIG. 1, namely a location of the tower inside the reference triangle 9 and offset by a certain distance inward towards it, for example corresponding to no more than 15% of the length of the base line 3.
• FIG. 6A, 6B, and 6C illustrate the turbine 8 on the platform 1 in three different situations with respect to waves.
• FIG. 6A illustrates a calm sea. Due to the weight of the wind turbine 8, which optionally is in the order of 2000 tons (2,000,000 kg) the two buoyancy modules 6’ adjacent to the tower 2, which carry the weight of the tower 2, are deeper in the water than the buoyancy module 6” at larger distance to the tower 2. The increased inclination of the tower 2 due to increased wind, which is illustrated by the sequence of FIG. 6A, 6B, and 6C, presses this distal buoyancy module 6” out of the water so that the weight of the buoyancy module 6" as well as the weight of that part of the platform, which above the surface adds to stability.
• this this distal buoyancy module 6” and a part of the platform 1 is pressed out of the water depends on the wind on the wind turbine. However, the combination of the adjacent buoyancy modules 6’ being pressed further down and the distal buoyancy module 6” being pressed out of the water has a stabilizing effect during wave action on the platform 1 as well as wind press on the wind turbine 8.
• the platform is anchored to the seabed 19 by cables 18A, 18B.

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

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (7)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2021
  • 2021-04-12 DK DKPA202170169A patent/DK202170169A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2022
  • 2022-04-07 AU AU2022257182A patent/AU2022257182A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2022-04-07 US US18/286,239 patent/US20240191695A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2022-04-07 EP EP22718065.0A patent/EP4323643B1/en active Active
  • 2022-04-07 WO PCT/DK2022/050073 patent/WO2022218488A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2022-04-07 KR KR1020237038774A patent/KR20230169283A/ko active Pending
  • 2022-04-07 JP JP2023555151A patent/JP2024513316A/ja active Pending

Patent Citations (7)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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