Patent Grant
8708605
The present application is a 35 U.S.C. §371 National Phase conversion of PCT/FR2009/051175, filed Jun. 19, 2009, which claims benefit of French Application No. 0854097, filed Jun. 20, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The PCT International Application was published in the French language.
The present invention relates to a structure for transport and offshore installation of at least one wind turbine or underwater generator.
The invention also relates to methods for transport and offshore installation of at least one wind turbine or underwater generator using such a structure.
Traditionally, wind turbines or underwater generators include a mast having a nacelle containing an electrical production means driven by blades.
The mast is mounted on a base secured on the ground or on a sea bottom for an offshore installation.
In the case of wind turbines, the nacelle is fastened to the upper end of the mast and the blades are driven in rotation by the wind.
In the case of underwater generators, the nacelle supported by the mast is placed below the surface of the water and the blades are driven in rotation by the ebb and flow of the water.
The offshore installation of wind turbines or underwater generators consists of placing and fixing the base on the sea bottom, then bringing, most often by transport vessel, the other part of the wind turbines or underwater generators, i.e. the mast bearing the nacelle and the blades.
The mast bearing the nacelle and the blades is placed on the base using different methods.
One known method consists of transporting the mast in a vertical position and suspending said mast from a hoisting apparatus, e.g. a crane supported by a vessel, then gradually lowering the mast using the crane to engage its lower end in the base.
Another known method consists of transporting the mast equipped with its nacelle and its blades in the horizontal position on a vessel, then tilting the mast into a vertical position and gradually lowering the mast using a guide column in order to engage its lower end in the base.
But these known methods have a significant drawback.
Indeed, during the gradual lowering of the mast, the mast is borne by a vessel that is subject to the motion of the swell, with the result that the mast oscillates, which requires that its lower end be held to engage it in the base.
Once its lower end is engaged in the base, the mast still undergoes the motions of the vessel, which can cause significant stresses or strains in the base and buckling of the mast as long as the mast is connected to the vessel.
The invention aims to propose a structure for transport and offshore installation of at least one wind turbine or underwater generator that avoids this drawback.
The invention therefore relates to a structure for transport and offshore installation of at least one wind turbine or underwater generator comprising a nacelle and blades borne by a mast intended to be mounted on a base anchored on the sea bottom, the structure including:
According to other features of the invention:
The invention also relates to a method for transport an d offshore installation of at least one wind turbine or underwater generator using a structure as previously defined, the method including the following steps:
The invention also relates to a method for transport and offshore installation of at least one wind turbine or underwater generator using a structure as previously defined, the method including the following steps:
The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, provided solely as an example and done in reference to the appended drawings, in which:
This structure 10 can also be used for the transport and installation of at least one underwater generator and preferably two underwater generators.
In the following, we will describe the transport and installation of a wind turbine, the transport and installation of another wind turbine being identical.
Generally, the structure 10 comprises a U-shaped floating hull 11 including two parallel lateral arms 11a opposite each other, connected to each other by a central arm 11b.
The lateral arms 11a are formed by two floats extending parallel to each other and forming a free space between them and the central arm 11b is formed by a cross beam 11c borne by said lateral branches 11a.
Preferably, the cross beam 11c forming the central arm is made up of a mesh of tubes connected to each other by longitudinal elements.
The lateral arms 11a of the structure 10 can be moved by sliding relative to each other on the cross beam 11c so as to adjust their separation, as will be seen later.
To that end, the float of each lateral arm 11a includes a moving means 13 on the cross beam 11c for example formed by an assembly including guide rails and a rack-and-pinion system, not shown, and of a known type.
Moreover, the float of each lateral arm 11a is equipped with locking means, not shown, on the cross beam 11c so as to keep the separation between said lateral arms 11a constant and determined.
Thus as shown in
This door 15 is formed by two beam sections 16 opposite each other and movable by sliding each on a lateral arm 11a.
The two beam sections 16 can be moved between a separated position, as shown in
To that end, each lateral arm 11a of the hull 11 includes means 17 for moving each beam section 16. This means 17 is for example formed by an assembly including guide rails and a rack-and-pinion system or using any other known means.
Lastly, each lateral arm 11a also includes a locking means, not shown, for locking the corresponding beam section 16 in the closed position or in the open position.
The hull 11 is equipped with legs 20 vertically movable relative to said floating hull 11. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the hull 11 is equipped with four legs 20 arranged in pairs on each lateral arm 11a of the hull 11.
Each of the legs 20 for example has a triangular section as shown in the figures, or a square or circular section.
As appears in particular in
The mechanical movement means 23 is housed in a supporting framework 18, also called a “jack-house,” that is supported by the hull 11.
As shown in
The mechanical movement means 23 also comprises several assemblies 25 distributed on either side of the plate 24, along the height thereof. Each assembly 25 comprises a gear motor 26 ensuring the driving of a pinion 27 that meshes with a series of teeth 24a of the corresponding plate 24.
In the embodiment shown in
The structure 10 also includes, combined with each of the legs 20, a shuttle designated by general reference 30 that can be moved by the corresponding leg 20 between a lower position bearing on the floating hull 11 as shown in
The shuttles 30 combined with the legs 20 are moved simultaneously by the legs 20.
In the embodiment shown in
The vertical arm 32 is formed by two parallel vertical beams 32a.
The arm 32 is provided, on one hand, in its upper portion with a plate 33 extending substantially perpendicular to said arm 32 and, on the other hand, in its lower portion, a horizontal supporting base 35 for supporting a pair of higher and lower arms globally designated by reference 60 and 70 (
The plate 33 includes an opening 34 having a cross-section with a shape complementary to the transverse section of the corresponding leg 20 and, in the case at hand, a triangular-shaped cross-section. The plate 33 is connected to the base 35 by stiffening beams 36.
Each shuttle 30 is provided with a locking means 40 for locking on the corresponding leg 12 and/or a set of small beams (not shown) situated on the upper portion of the shuttle 30 that are moved by sliding towards the inside of the shuttle 30 and the leg 20 that makes it possible, by raising the leg 20 upwards, to drive the corresponding shuttle 30.
This locking means 40, shown in more detail in
The counter-rack 41 can be moved by at least one actuating member 42 and, preferably, by two actuating members 42 for example formed by hydraulic or pneumatic jacks in order to move the counter-rack 41 between a retracted position and a locking position engaged on a series of teeth 24a of the corresponding leg 20.
The assembly formed by the counter-rack 41 and the actuating members 42 is carried by the plate 33 of each shuttle 30.
The hull 11 also includes, at each leg 20, a means 50 for guiding the corresponding shuttle 30 between the low (
As shown in these
During the movement of the shuttle 30 between the low position and the high position, by the leg 20, the base 35 of the shuttle 30 is guided by the columns 51 and in the low position shown in
Generally, the transport structure 10 includes at least one support assembly for assembling a wind turbine 1 and preferably, as shown in the figures, two support assemblies each for a wind turbine 1.
As shown in
As shown in
In reference now to
The support assembly of the wind turbine 1 is made up of two shuttles 30 opposite each other and each combined with a leg 20.
The shuttles 30 carry a pair of higher arms 60 and a pair of lower arms 70.
The pair of upper arms 60 includes a first arm 61 borne by a first shuttle 30 and a second opposite arm 62 borne by a second shuttle 30 opposite the first shuttle 30 and the pair of lower arms 70 includes a first arm 71 borne by the first shuttle 30 and a second opposite arm 72 borne by the second shuttle 30. The arms 61 and 71 can be moved by pivoting around a horizontal axis 63 borne by the first shuttle 30 and the arms 62 and 72 can be moved by pivoting around a horizontal axis 64 borne by the second shuttle 30 between a substantially vertical retracted position and an active position tilted against the mast of the wind turbine, as shown in
The arms 61 and 62 of the pair 60 of higher arms each have a length substantially equal to the height of the mast 2 of the wind turbine 1 and the arms 71 and 72 of the pair 70 of lower arms have a length substantially equal to half the distance separating the inner edges of the two lateral arms 11a of the hull 11.
Alternatively, the arms 61 and 62 have a variable length that can be adjusted as a function of the height of the collar 5 on the mast 2 of the wind turbine. The arms are for example telescoping and provided with immobilization means for a given length.
The free ends of arms 71 and 72 of the pair 70 of lower arms include a gripping assembly for example formed by jaws 73 or by any other suitable gripping means of a known type.
As shown in
As shown in these figures, the offsetting means 80 includes a support assembly for supporting the mast 2 via the collar 5. This support assembly includes a sliding means formed in a plate 81 provided with a U-shaped housing 82 and fastened to the free end of one of the arms of the pair 60 of higher arms and in particular the free end of the arm 61 of the pair 60 of higher arms. This plate 81 is intended to cooperate with a locking system 83, of a known type, mounted at the free end of the arm 62 of the pair 60 of higher arms in the active position tilted against the mast 2 of the wind turbine 1, as shown in
The U-shaped housing 82 of the plate 81 has a width larger than the diameter of the mast.
The sliding means of the support assembly of the mast 2 also comprises a platen 90 provided with a U-shaped housing 91 having a width substantially equal to the diameter of the mast 2. This platen 90 can be moved on the plate 81 by the rolling members 85 along a horizontal plane substantially parallel to the support assembly of the mast. To that end, the lower face of the platen 90 includes three rails 92 forming a 120° angle between them.
The platen 90 includes a latch 93 for closing the U-shaped housing 91 and that can be moved between an open position making it possible to position the mast 2 inside the housing 91 of the platen 90, as well as inside the housing 82 of the plate 81 and a closing position of the housing 91, as shown in
Thus, the sliding means of the support assembly formed by the plate 81, the platen 90 and the rolling members 85 offset the horizontal movements of the hull 11 relative to the mast 2 when the latter part is introduced into the base 4, and after the tilting of the pair 70 of lower arms in the retracted position in order to free the lower portion of the mast 2 relative to the hull 11.
As an example and as shown in
This sliding means therefore prevents any transmission of stresses or strains in the base 4, and any buckling of the mast 2, after placement of the mast 2 of the wind turbine 1 in said base 4.
According to the manner in which the wind turbine(s) is (are) placed in the structure 10, the U-shaped housings 82 and 91 of the plate 81 and the platen 90, respectively, are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said hull 11 towards the open portion of said hull 11.
Referring now to
First of all, the structure 10 is positioned near a loading zone for loading the wind turbine 1 with the legs 20 in the high position and the shuttles 30 in the low position bearing against the hull and with the arms 61 and 62 and the arms 71 and 72, respectively, of the pair 60 of higher arms and the pair 70 of lower arms, in the substantially vertical retracted position, as shown in
The wind turbine 1 is raised by a hoisting engine, such as a crane for example, and the mast 2 of the wind turbine 1 is placed between the lateral arms 11 a of the hull 11, as shown in
The arm 61 including the U-shaped housings 82 and 91 of the plate 81 and of the platen 90 is tilted in the active position to place the mast 2 in these U-shaped housings 82 and 91 below the collar 5 of the mast 2. The arm 62 of the pair 60 of higher arms is then tilted in the active position and the arms 61 and 62 are secured to each other by the locking system 83 (
The mast 2 is lowered by the crane to make the collar 5 bear on the platen 90, as shown in
The placement of the second wind turbine on the structure 10 is done similarly.
The platen 90 is locked during the transport of the plate 81.
The structure 10 bearing the wind turbine or two wind turbines 1 is moved to an installation site at which one or two bases 4 have been previously installed on the sea bottom.
The placement of the mast 2 of each wind turbine 1 on its corresponding base 4 is done as follows.
The legs 20 are lowered and each shuttle 30 is locked on the corresponding leg 20.
These legs 20 are raised to lift the mast 2 using the shuttles 30 and pairs 60 and 70 of higher and lower arms, as shown in
Then, the legs 20, the shuttles 30 and the pair 60 of higher arms are lowered to gradually engage the mast 2 in the base 4. During this engagement, the horizontal movements of the hull 10 are offset by the offsetting means 80 provided on the pair 60 of higher arms such that the mast 2 still remains in a substantially vertical position.
The mast 2 is placed in the base 4, and the arms 60 and 61 of the pair 60 of upper arms are unlocked and the latch 93 of the platen 90 is released to open the U-shaped housing 91. The arms 60 and 61 are tilted to the retracted position, as shown in
The structure 10 is then removed and another mast 2 is placed on the base 4 of a second wind turbine in an identical manner.
In reference now to
As shown in
In this case, the U-shaped housings 82 and 91 of the plate 81 and the platen 90 are oriented in the longitudinal axis of the hull 11 towards the open portion of the hull 11. The arms 71 and 72 of the pair 70 of lower arms are in a substantially vertical retracted position.
The arms 61 and 62 of the pair 60 of higher arms at the front of the hull 11 are in a substantially vertical retracted position and the arms 61 and 62 of the pair 60 of higher arms situated at the back of the hull 11 are placed in an active position and locked to each other as shown in
The structure 10 is moved towards the pontoon 8 to place the pontoon 8 between the lateral arms 11a of the hull 11.
After the first wind turbine 1 passes beyond the first support assembly, as shown in
The latch 93 of the U-shaped housing 91 of each platen 90 is closed and the arms 71 and 72 of the pair 70 of lower arms of each assembly are tilted simultaneously to grip each mast 2 at its lower portion.
Each shuttle 30 is locked on the corresponding leg 20 the legs 20 are raised to lift the shuttles 30, and the pairs 60 and 70 of higher and lower arms are lifted by the shuttles 30 to bring the platen 90 of each assembly in contact with the collar 5 of the corresponding mast 2.
The mast 2 of each wind turbine 1 is lifted from the pontoon 8 via shuttles 30 and pairs 60 of upper arms by raising the legs 20, the pairs 70 of lower arms holding each mast 2 at its lower portion.
The legs 20 are then relowered to replace the shuttles in the low position bearing against the hull.
Each shuttle 30 is then unlocked from each corresponding leg 20 and the legs 20 are raised to the upper position, to minimize the draught.
Then, the structure 10 bearing the wind turbines 1 is moved to an installation site of each wind turbine 1 on its base 4, previously installed on the sea bottom.
The installation of each wind turbine 1 is done as follows.
The legs 20 are raised to lift the mast 2 using shuttles 30 and pairs 60 and 70 of arms and the structure 10 is moved to position the mast 2 in alignment with the base 4. The arms 71 and 72 of the pair 70 of lower arms are tilted to the retracted position and the same steps are carried out as in the preceding method.
Also in this case, when the mast 2 is engaged with the corresponding base 4 and after tilting of the pair 70 of lower arms, the horizontal movements of the hull are offset by the offsetting means 80 of the pair 60 of higher arms such that the mast 2 still remains in the substantially vertical position.
According to another method for placing one or two wind turbines on the hull 11 of the structure 10, the one or two wind turbines can be mounted on the wagons moving on the rails. To that end, each wagon is equipped with pairs 60 and 70 of higher and lower arms in order to keep the wind turbine in a substantially vertical position. The wind turbines are positioned on the structure 10 by moving the wagon(s) by rolling on the rails between the pontoon and the structure 10 to position the pairs of arms bearing the wind turbine on the corresponding shuttles.
To transport and install an underwater generator, the same steps are carried out. But, in this case, the base does not extend past the surface of the water and, after placing the mast on its base, the nacelle containing the electricity producing means and bearing the blades is lowered below the surface of the water by sliding on its mast. For this application, the arms of the pair of higher arms have a length smaller than that provided for the installation of a wind turbine.
The structure for placement and installation of at least one wind turbine or at least one underwater generator has the advantage of preventing stresses or strains from having repercussions on the base due to the movements of the hull created by the swell.
The invention is not limited to the installation of wind turbines borne by the base 4 placed on the bottom of the expanse of water. Alternatively, the base 4 floats on the surface of the water and is anchored on the bottom of the expanse of water.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08 54097 | Jun 2008 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FR2009/051175 | 6/19/2009 | WO | 00 | 2/2/2011 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2009/153530 | 12/23/2009 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3874180 | Sumner | Apr 1975 | A |
| 6488446 | Riemers | Dec 2002 | B1 |
| 7234409 | Hansen | Jun 2007 | B2 |
| 7513713 | Thomas et al. | Apr 2009 | B2 |
| 8070388 | Thomas | Dec 2011 | B2 |
| 20040262926 | Hansen | Dec 2004 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 200 10 086 | Nov 2000 | DE |
| WO 03066427 | Aug 2003 | WO |
| WO 03093584 | Nov 2003 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| International Search Report dated Dec. 17, 2009, issued in corresponding international application No. PCT/FR2009/051175. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20110139056 A1 | Jun 2011 | US |
