ANCHORING SYSTEM FOR ANCHORING A BASE THAT SUPPORTS A WIND TURBINE

Abstract

Anchoring system for anchoring an object to a floor of a body of water includes a weighted portion, an explosive charge arrangement on the weighted portion, a movable pole arranged on the weighted portion, and a penetration system that moves the pole downward after initiation of the explosive charge arrangement. When the weighted portion rests on the floor of the body of water and the explosive charge arrangement is initiated, a concentrated jet of explosive product penetrates an area of the floor to create a pre-penetration area and the penetration system then moves the pole into the pre-penetration area to cause the pole to penetrate therein and be secured in the floor. The anchoring system can anchor a raft to which a wind turbine is mounted.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an anchoring system that anchors an object to the floor of a body of water, and more particularly to an anchoring system that anchors a base to which a wind turbine is connected, such as a submersible, buoyant raft, to thereby secure the wind turbine to the floor of the body of water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In view of the growing demand for renewable energy as well as the fact that stronger winds prevail offshore in comparison to those onshore, offshore wind farms have a great potential to significantly grow in the coming years. Although an offshore wind farm is more productive than its onshore, terrestrial counterpart, one of its main constraints of offshore wind farms is the depth limit of the ocean floor to which the wind turbines of the wind farms are connected.

Existing technologies that anchor wind turbines to the ocean floor provide an economical solution at offshore locations where the water depth is not greater than about 30 meters. A number of research and development projects have tried to implement various technologies in order to develop a floating raft as a basis for an offshore, large span wind turbine. However, all current solutions known to the inventor are either not effective or not cost effective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An anchoring system for anchoring an object to a bottom floor of a body of water includes a weighted portion, an explosive charge arranged on the weighted portion and that, when initiated, causes a concentrated jet of explosive product produced by the explosion of the explosive charge, such as plasma, to be directed in a direction downward from the weighted portion, and a pole arranged on the weighted portion and arranged to move relative to the weighted portion. The anchoring system also includes a penetration system arranged partly on the weighted portion and that moves the pole in the downward direction after initiation of the explosive charge at least partly into an area in which the concentrated jet is directed. A connecting system couples the weighted portion to the object being anchored, e.g., a rope from the pole to a base that supports a wind turbine. In use, when the weighted portion rests on the floor of the body of water and the explosive charge is initiated, the concentrated jet creates an initial penetration into an area of the floor of the body of water and the penetration system is then activated to move the pole into the pre-penetrated area to cause the pole to penetrate into the pre-penetrated area and be secured in the floor of the body of water.

Various penetration systems are contemplated including ones that use rotation of the pole into the pre-penetrated area, an additional explosive to force the pole into the pre-penetrated area, a linear pushing optionally with a vibration component and hammering of the pole into the pre-penetrated area.

Also disclosed is a related anchoring arrangement wherein a plurality of the anchoring systems are used to anchor a single object to the floor of the body of water, and a method for anchoring an object to a bottom floor of a body of water using the above structure.

Other and further objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the annexed drawings, wherein like parts have been given like numbers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view, partially in cross-section, of a first embodiment of an anchoring system in accordance with the invention shown resting on the floor of a body of water prior to penetration of an anchoring pole into the floor of the body of water;

FIG. 2 is a side view, partially in cross-section, of the anchoring system shown in FIG. 1 in a state after penetration of the anchoring pole into the floor of the body of water;

FIG. 3 is a side view, partially in cross-section, of a second embodiment of an anchoring system in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of an anchoring arrangement in accordance with the present invention, wherein the submerged floating raft section secures an airborne wind turbine system;

FIG. 5 is another side view of an anchoring arrangement in accordance with the present invention, wherein the submerged floating raft section secures a tower-mounted wind turbine system; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of an embodiment of a variation of the anchoring system shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein the same reference numerals designate the same or similar elements, an anchoring system in accordance with the invention generally comprises a weighted portion that will rest on the floor of a body of water, e.g., the ocean floor, an explosive charge that, when initiated, causes a pre-penetration of explosive product, e.g., plasma, into the ocean bed, an anchoring pole or penetrating pole that is forced into the pre-penetrated ocean bed and thereby penetrate the pre-penetrated portion of the ocean bed, and a connecting system that couples the anchoring pole or penetrating pole to an object to be anchored, e.g., a buoyant, submerged raft or other base that supports a wind turbine.

More specifically, in a first embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an anchoring system 10 includes a weighted portion 12 that includes one or more rigid materials such as concrete and one or more reinforcement materials such as a composite material 14. The weighted portion 12 is formed as a block of mixed material that is preferably prefabricated, i.e., formed outside of the ocean or other body of water and then brought to a site on the ocean floor 8 where it will be used. Thus, weighted portion 12 may be a prefabricated concrete body with reinforcement material 14. Prefabrication may be done on land using a cost effective manufacturing process.

Anchoring system 10 also includes an explosive charge arrangement 16 situated at the bottom of the weighted portion 12. As shown, the explosive charge arrangement 16 has an angular conical shape with a hollowed conical portion that has been found, when initiated, to provide advantageous penetration into the ocean floor, or any other type of surface. In this case, the lower surface of the weighted portion 12 is provided with a conical depression and the explosive charge arrangement 16 is then placed therein, e.g., when fabricating the anchoring system prior to placement at the usage site.

The explosive may be virtually any type of known explosive that can be shaped or formed to achieve the objective of creating a pre-penetration area in the ocean bed. That is, different explosives may be used in the invention so long as they provide, when initiated, a concentrated jet of explosive product that penetrates the ocean bed to facilitate a subsequent penetration of the anchoring pole or penetrating pole. Some explosives, when formed as hollow charge explosives, can create a concentrated jet of plasma that can be implemented in the invention and cause the pre-penetration area to reach a depth of about 10 meters, which is sufficient to facilitate the subsequent penetration of the anchoring or penetration pole.

Anchoring system 10 also includes an anchoring pole 18 arranged above the explosive charge arrangement 16 and in an elongate hole 20 in the weighted portion 12 that extends to an opening in the top surface of the weighted portion 12. Anchoring pole 18 includes a drill head 22 and an elongate portion 24, and is situated at least partially in the elongate hole 20 in the weighted portion 12. Optionally, a holding and guiding cylinder may be interposed in the elongate hole 20 between the weighted portion 12 and the elongate portion 24 of the anchoring pole 18.

Elongate portion 24 optionally includes one or more axially extending slots 26 therein, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Slots 26 function to enable the elongate portion 24 to increase its circumference, the purpose of which is explained below. In some embodiments, the slots 26 may be omitted and other constructions provided to enable the increase in the circumference of the elongate portion 24, or alternatively, the elongate portion 24 can be constructed to achieve the results of the increase in circumference of the elongate portion 24 but in a different manner that does not require such an increase in circumference. For example, when the penetration path of the anchoring pole 18 is at a non-perpendicular angle to the ocean floor 8, the slots 26 in the elongate portion 24 may be omitted and the anchoring of the anchoring pole 18 can be achieved by friction alone between the anchoring pole 18 and the edges of the pre-penetration area into which the anchoring pole 18 is being drilled.

A rotation mechanism is coupled to the anchoring pole 18 to rotate the anchoring pole 18 and thus the drill head 22. In the illustrated embodiment, this rotation mechanism comprises a motor 28 and a transmission mechanism, e.g., one or more gears 30 coupled to the anchoring pole 18, that converts output of the motor 28 into rotation of the anchoring pole 18 and the drill head 22 thereof. Motor 28 may be an air motor that is driven by compressed air from a tank attached to the weighted portion 12 (not shown) or by air pressure supply from the crane boat. Instead of compressed air, other fluids may be used, including compressed water.

Conversion of the output of motor 28 into rotation of the anchoring pole 18 may be obtained by shaping an aperture in the gear 30 as a non-circular form, e.g., rectangular, square or hexagonal, and providing the part of the elongate portion that is accommodated in to the gear 30 with a corresponding shape. This fitness allows the gear 30 to rotationally drive the anchoring pole 18 and thus enables the anchoring pole 18 to move linearly forward (downward in to the ocean floor 8) during the drilling process.

The anchoring system also includes a connecting system, such as one including a rope 32, that connects to an object sought to be anchored to the ocean floor 8. When used for a wind turbine, this object may be a support base for the turbine, such as a submersible, buoyant raft (shown in FIG. 4). Rope 32 may be made from KEVLAR®, or another comparable strong material.

At the end of the rope 32 in the anchoring system, a conically shaped wedge element 34 is provided and is situated in an interior of the elongate portion 24 of the anchoring pole 18. The conical shape of the wedge element 34 enables the outer circumference of the bottom edge region of the elongate portion 24 of the anchoring pole 18 to increase, e.g., an increase in its diameter if the bottom edge region is circular, when the rope 32 is pulled upward. The diameter increase is aided by the axially extending slots 26 when present. This pulling occurs at the end of the anchoring process, as described below.

A non-limiting, exemplifying use of the anchoring system 10 shown in FIG. 1 will now be described. The anchoring system 10 is formed outside of the ocean as a prefabricated unit and is brought by a ship, e.g., a crane boat, to the selected location in the ocean or other body of water. Typically, several anchoring systems 10 may be carried by the crane boat since two or more anchoring systems may be needed for each object being anchored to the ocean floor.

Once at the selected location, the anchoring system 10 is lowered down to its desired anchoring site on the ocean floor 8 via ropes 36. At this stage, the rope 32 is tension-free.

Once at the desired anchoring site on the ocean floor 8, the explosive charge arrangement 16 is initiated and the hollow charge ignites and a concentrated jet of explosive product penetrates the ocean floor 8 causing formation of a pre-penetration area 38 in the ocean bed (see FIG. 2). Then, the motor 28 is initiated, e.g., by a control unit, to cause rotation of the anchoring pole 18 via the gear 30. Drill head 22 thus rotates and follows the penetration path of the explosive product until it is situated in the pre-penetration area 38. Since there is little or no resistance to the drilling of the drill head 22 into the pre-penetration area 38 resulting from the concentrated jet produced by the exploding explosive charge arrangement 16, drilling can take a little as a few minutes.

After the drilling is completed and the drill head 22 is at a desired depth in the pre-penetration area 38, the rope 32 is pulled upward and tightened causing the wedge element 34 to be pulled upward. This causes an increase in the circumference of the bottom edge region of the elongate portion 24 of the anchoring pole 18 and thus the elongate portion 24 is forced against the peripheral walls 40 of the pre-penetration area 38. This pressing force thereby secures the elongate portion 24 of the anchoring pole 18 to the ocean bed and thus strengthens the anchoring force provided by the anchoring system 10. The anchoring process for the anchoring system 10 is now complete.

The upper end region of rope 32 is then tightened to the object, e.g., a raft or other base to which a wind turbine is secured. The same raft may be secured by other anchoring systems and once all anchoring systems are anchored to the ocean floor and their ropes to the raft tightened, the ropes are shortened to force the raft to be submerged under the ocean surface at a desired submersion depth.

Submerging the raft provides significant advantages when used as a support for a wind turbine. Among others, a submerged raft is less subject to surface conditions of the body of water when it is submerged, i.e., it is not substantially affected by waves and atmospheric conditions at the ocean surface, and therefore provides increased stability. The depth to which the raft should be submerged can vary on the operational and constructional conditions and may be, for example, about 30 feet or more below the water surface.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of an anchoring system 42 in accordance with the invention that includes a weighted portion 44, which may be as described above with respect to weighted portion 12, a primary explosive charge arrangement 46 situated at the bottom of the weighted portion 44, and which may be as described above with respect to explosive charge arrangement 16.

Anchoring system 42 also includes a barrel 48 fixed to the weighted portion 44, a penetrating pole 50 arranged in a hollow interior of the barrel 48 and a secondary explosive charge arrangement 52 arranged in a compartment in the barrel 48 that communicates with the top of the penetrating pole 50 or a space above the penetrating pole 50. Barrel 48 may be cylindrical and define a cylindrical hollow interior. Further, at the lower end region, the peripheral walls of the barrel 48 taper inward to form a truncated conical surface 54 such that the diameter of the upper portion of the interior of the barrel 48 is larger than the diameter of the lower portion. The penetrating pole 50 is preferably constructed with a unique shape wherein it has an upper portion 56 that fits tightly against the inner surface defining the interior space of the barrel 48, a penetrating portion 58 that penetrates into the ocean bed and a tapering portion 60 therebetween. The penetrating portion 58 includes ribs 62 on an outer surface thereof which serve to increase the anchoring force.

The barrel 48 is preferably embedded in the weighted portion 44 by pouring concrete around the lower portion of the barrel 48, e.g., using a mold and pouring the wet concrete around the barrel 48 so that when the concrete solidifies, the weighted portion 44 and barrel 48 are integrated with one another. Barrel 48 may be made from steel or another comparable rigid material.

A non-limiting, exemplifying use of the anchoring system 42 shown in FIG. 3 will now be described. The anchoring system 42 is formed outside of the ocean as a prefabricated unit and is brought by a ship, e.g., a crane boat, to the selected location in the ocean or other body of water. Typically, several anchoring systems 42 may be carried by the crane boat since two or more anchoring systems may be needed for each object being anchored to the ocean floor.

Once at the selected location, the anchoring system 42 is lowered down to its desired anchoring site on the ocean floor 8. At this stage, a rope 64 connecting the barrel 48 to the object being anchored, e.g., a raft for a wind turbine, is tension-free. Once at the desired anchoring site on the ocean floor 8, the explosive charge arrangement 46 is initiated, in a manner known to those skilled in the art, and the hollow charge ignites and a concentrated jet produced by the exploding primary explosive charge arrangement 46, represented as 66, penetrates the ocean floor 8 causing the formation of a pre-penetration area in the ocean bed. Thereafter, the secondary explosive charge arrangement 52 is initiated, in a manner known to those skilled in the art. Initiation of secondary explosive charge arrangement 52 may occur immediately after initiation of the primary explosive charge arrangement 46, the exact time differential may be determined by routine experimentation.

Initiation of the secondary explosive charge arrangement 52 creates high pressure above or behind the penetrating pole 50 and thereby causes the penetrating pole 50 to be urged downward through the interior of the barrel 48 with the penetrating portion 58 thereof being urged into the pre-penetration area formed by the concentrated jet produced by the exploding primary explosive charge arrangement 46. The downward movement of the penetrating pole 50 stops when the tapering portion 60 abuts against the truncated conical surface 54 of the barrel 48. Since there is little or no resistance to the forcing of the penetrating portion 58 of the penetrating pole 50 into the ocean bed as a result of the formation of the pre-penetration area by the concentrated jet of exploding explosive charge arrangement 46, anchoring of the penetrating pole 50 to the ocean bed can take a little as a few minutes. The ribs 62 improve the anchoring effect.

Another improvement to the anchoring effect may be obtained by angling the direction of penetration of the penetrating pole 50 into the ocean bed to be other than perpendicular to the ocean bed. Such a penetration angle may depend on the angle of the rope between the anchoring system and the object being anchored thereby. A possible range of angles is from about 20° to about 70°, more particularly from about 30° to about 60°.

The upper end region of rope 64 is then tightened to the object, e.g., a raft or other base to which a wind turbine is secured. The same raft may be secured by other anchoring systems and once all anchoring systems are anchored to the ocean floor and their ropes to the raft tightened, the ropes are shortened to force the raft to be submerged under the ocean surface at a desired submersion depth.

A common feature of the embodiments described above is initiation of an explosive charge arrangement to cause a concentrated jet of explosive product produced by the exploding explosive charge arrangement to penetrate the ocean floor to facilitate subsequent movement of an anchoring member into the pre-penetrated ocean bed, i.e., penetration of the anchoring member into the ocean bed. This subsequent movement of the anchoring member may be obtained via rotation as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a secondary explosion as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, or by any other technique including but not limited to other types of rotation, linear pushing with or without vibration and hammering. Thus, it is important to emphasize that other variations of anchoring systems and processes are envisioned and within the scope of the invention. Any variation that includes an initial penetration into or disturbance of the ocean bed using an explosive, such as a hollow charge explosive, and a secondary penetration of an anchoring member should therefore be considered to be covered by this invention.

Furthermore, each of the anchoring systems of the present invention can include more than one anchoring pole or penetrating pole. Each pole can be placed, instead of perpendicular to the ocean floor as shown in FIGS. 1-3, in a different angular position such that the penetration path will not be perpendicular to the ocean floor. This is likely to achieve a stronger anchoring force.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplifying use of any of the anchoring systems in accordance with the invention, designed here as 68, to secure a raft 70 in a submerged state and which raft 70 secures an airborne wind turbine arrangement. The anchoring systems 68 are installed at the desired locations so that the anchoring poles or penetrating poles 72 thereof penetrate into the ocean bed. FIG. 4 also shows an angular penetration of the anchoring poles or penetrating poles 72, described above as an alternative to the perpendicular penetration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Ropes 74 connect the raft 70 to the anchoring systems 68, although other connecting members or connecting elements may be used. Winches 76 are mounted on the raft 70 to tighten and shorten the ropes 74, i.e., one winch 76 may be associated with each rope 74, and thereby control the ability to submerge the raft 70 and the level to which the raft 70 is submerged. Raft 70 optionally includes inflatable, flexible elements 78 therein. Raft 70 may have a rectangular shape and be made of fiberglass profiles, fiber glass screws and Kevlar ropes that are constructed together, although this shape and constructions are not limiting.

A tower 80 is arranged on the raft 70 and extends from below surface level to above surface level and a plate 82 is arranged on the tower 80 above the surface level. An electrically operated winch 84 is arranged in the plate 82 and controls a length of a rope 86 that connects to the airborne wind turbine system 88. Rope 86 may be made of KEVLAR® or a comparable material. One or more inflatable elements 90, e.g., a wing balloon, are also connected to the airborne wind turbine system 88. Wing balloon is a lighter-than-air element with an aerodynamic shape that provides a lifting force of the wind turbine system 88. A plurality of towers 80 can be supported by the raft 70.

Other types of wind turbine arrangements may also be coupled to the raft 70. For example, FIG. 5 shows a large tower 92 is arranged on the raft 70 and extending from below surface level to above surface level and a wind turbine 94 mounted proximate an upper end of the tower 92. Tower 92 can support a single wind turbine or a plurality of wind turbines. Similarly, raft 70 can support a single tower 92 or a plurality of towers 92.

Referring now to FIG. 6, each weighted portion 12 may include a plurality of anchoring poles 18, e.g., two as shown. As such, the anchoring system 10 would include a plurality of explosive charge arrangements 16, each associated with a respective anchoring pole 18 and which forms a respective pre-penetration area 38, and the remaining structure associated with each anchoring pole 18 to enable it to penetrate into the respective pre-penetration area 38. Preferably, the explosive charge arrangements 16 and anchoring poles 18 are oriented or angled in different directions relative to the bottom of the ocean floor 8 to improve the anchoring force provided by the anchoring system 10.

With the foregoing structure, the present invention provides an anchoring system and method that eliminate the depth constraint for anchoring offshore wind turbines and thereby enable the effective development of offshore wind farms at any ocean depth. Moreover, the present invention provides an economical viable solution that addresses the two core flaws the prevail in the development of a floating raft as a basis for anchoring wind turbines, namely the construction of an anchoring system and the cost and survivability of the raft in ocean conditions.

Furthermore, the system of the present invention provides a stable basis or platform for offshore wind turbines that is isolated from weather conditions and ocean surface conditions such as waves. The prefabricated anchoring systems provide adequate forces to submerge a floating raft that can then be used as a stable and isolated basis for the wind turbines. Instead of supporting wind turbines, the anchoring systems and raft coupled thereto may be used in other industries such as oil drilling and processing, drilling rafts and the like.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but includes any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. While the invention has been described above with respect to specific apparatus and specific implementations, it should be clear that various modifications and alterations can be made, and various features of one embodiment can be included in other embodiments, within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An anchoring system for anchoring an object to a bottom floor of a body of water, comprising: a weighted portion;at least one explosive charge arrangement arranged on said weighted portion and that, when initiated, causes a concentrated jet of explosive product to be directed in a direction downward from said weighted portion;at least one pole arranged on said weighted portion, each arranged to move relative to said weighted portion;a penetration system arranged partly on said weighted portion and to move said at least one pole in the downward direction after initiation of said at least one explosive charge arrangement at least partly into an area in which the concentrated jet is directed; anda connecting system coupled to said weighted portion and to the object being anchored,whereby when said weighted portion rests on the floor of the body of water and said at least one explosive charge arrangement is initiated, said concentrated jet penetrates an area of the floor of the body of water and said penetration system is then arranged to move said at least one pole into a pre-penetration area to cause said at least one pole to penetrate into the pre-penetration area and be secured in the floor of the body of water.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one explosive charge arrangement has a generally conical shape with a hollow interior such that said at least one explosive charge arrangement is a hollow charge, a bottom of said weighted portion having at least one cavity each adapted to conform to said conical shape of said at least one explosive charge arrangement.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one pole is arranged above a respective one of said at least one explosive charge arrangement, further comprising a drill head arranged at a bottom of said pole, said penetration system being arranged to rotate said at least one pole and thus said drill head to cause the downward movement of said at least one pole.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one pole is arranged in a respective elongate hole in said weighted portion, said at least one pole including an elongate portion situated at least partially in said respective elongate hole in said weighted portion and movable relative to said respective elongate hole.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said penetration system comprises a motor and a transmission that converts output of said motor into rotation of said at least one pole, said motor and said transmission being arranged on said weighted portion.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wedge element situated in an interior of said at least one pole, said connecting element being connected to said wedge element such that upon exertion of a pulling force to said connecting element, said wedge element is urged upward causing an outer circumference of a bottom edge region of said at least one pole to increase.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a drill head arranged at a bottom of said at least one pole, said at least one pole being arranged above said at least one explosive charge arrangement and in a respective elongate hole in said weighted portion, said at least one pole being movable relative to said respective elongate hole and including an elongate portion situated at least partially in said respective elongate hole in said weighted portion and at least one axially extending slot,a wedge element situated in an interior of said at least one pole, said connecting element being connected to said wedge element such that upon exertion of a pulling force to said connecting element, said wedge element is urged upward causing an outer circumference of a bottom edge region of said at least one pole to increase,said penetration system being arranged to rotate said at least one pole and thus said drill head to cause the downward movement of said at least one pole.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one barrel fixed to said weighted portion and having an interior, each of said at least one pole being arranged in said interior of a respective one of said at least one barrel and being movable in said interior of said respective barrel.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said penetration system includes at least one additional explosive charge arrangement arranged in a compartment in each of said at least one barrel that communicates with a top of said pole movable in said barrel or a space above said pole in said barrel such that when said additional explosive charge arrangement is initiated, said pole is forced outward from said interior of said barrel.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one barrel has walls that taper inward at a lower end region and said pole in said barrel has a tapering surface adapted to contact said tapering walls of said barrel during the downward movement of said pole and thereby stop movement of said pole.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one pole comprises first and second poles and said at least one explosive charge arrangement comprises first and second explosive charge arrangements each associated with a respective one of said first and second poles.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said first pole and said first explosive charge arrangement are directed at an angle relative to a bottom of said weighted portion different than an angle at which said second pole and said second explosive charge arrangement are directed relative to the bottom of said weighted portion such that said first and second explosive charge arrangements are arranged to create pre-penetration areas at different angles relative to the bottom of said weighted portion and said first and second poles are arranged to penetrate into the pre-penetration areas at different angles relative to the bottom of said weighted portion.

13. An anchoring arrangement for anchoring an object to a floor of a body of water, comprising: a plurality of anchoring systems as claimed in claim 1; anda raft connected to said connecting system of each of said anchoring systems.

14. The arrangement of claim 13, further comprising at least one winch associated with said connecting systems, said at least one winch being arranged to adjust a distance between said weighted portions of said anchoring systems and said raft such that said raft is submersible in the body of water.

15. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein the object is a wind turbine, said wind turbine being connected to said raft.

16. A method for anchoring an object to a bottom floor of a body of water, comprising: fabricating a weighted portion outside of the body of water;arranging at least one explosive charge arrangement on the weighted portion and that, when initiated, causes a concentrated jet of explosive product to be directed in a direction downward from the weighted portion;arranging at least one movable pole on the weighted portion;coupling the weighted portion to the object being anchored;positioning the weighted portion at a desired placement site on the floor of the body of water; thereafterinitiating the at least one explosive charge arrangement to cause the concentrated jet of explosive product to penetrate an area of the floor of the body of water and form a pre-penetration area; and thereaftercausing the at least one pole to move into and penetrate the pre-penetration area and thereby be secured in the floor of the body of water.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising arranging a drill head at a bottom of the at least one pole, the step of causing the at least one pole to move into and penetrate the pre-penetration area comprising rotating the at least one pole and thus the drill head to cause downward movement of the at least one pole into the pre-penetration area.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one pole includes a wedge element is situated in an interior of the pole, the step of coupling the weighted portion to the object being anchored comprising connecting a connecting element to the wedge element, whereby upon exertion of a pulling force to the connecting element, the wedge element is urged upward causing an outer circumference of a bottom edge region of the pole to increase and thereby increase an anchoring force.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one barrel is fixed to the weighted portion and has an interior, further comprising: arranging the at least one pole in the interior of a respective one of the at least one barrel such that the pole is movable in the interior of the barrel;the step of causing the at least one pole to move into and penetrate the pre-penetration area comprising initiating an additional explosive charge arrangement in a compartment in the at least one barrel that communicates with a top of the pole in the barrel or a space above the pole in the barrel such that when the additional explosive charge arrangement is initiated, the at least one pole is forced outward from the interior of the at least one barrel.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the object is a raft adapted to support a wind turbine.