Construction device and method for offshore wind turbine foundation with piling performed later

• US 10,253,475 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2016
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ming Yang Smart Energy Group Ltd., Zhejiang Hua Yun Offshore Engineering & Technology Service Co., Ltd
• Original Assignee: Ming Yang Smart Energy Group Ltd., Zhejiang Hua Yun Offshore Engineering & Technology Service Co., Ltd
• Inventors: Zhu, Ronghua, Tian, Zhenya
• Primary Examiner(s): Fiorello, Benjamin D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Toledo-Duran, Edwin J
• Application Number:
  US15/750,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20180223497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 4051951, 405196, 405197, 405198, 405199, 4052231, 405224, 4052241, 405227, 405228, 405231, 405232, 405244, 405249, 405250, 405251, 114258, 114259, 114260, 114261, 114262, 114263, 114264, 114265, 114266, 114267
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 27/42 Foundations for poles, masts or chimneys sockets or holders for poles or masts per se E04H12/22
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 27/425 specially adapted for wind motors masts wind motors per se F03D1/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 5/28 made of steel or other metals E02D5/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 5/60 Piles with protecting cases

Abstract

A construction device for an offshore wind turbine foundation with piling performed later. The construction device comprises an offshore wind turbine foundation (1), a pile casing (2) and a sleeve (3). The pile casing (2) is used for the installation of a steel pile (4) and arranged at the bottom of the offshore wind turbine foundation (1). The lower end of the sleeve (3) is detachably connected with the upper end of the pile casing (2). A construction method for an offshore wind turbine foundation with piling performed later is also provided.

Claims

1. A device for constructing an offshore wind turbine foundation, comprising the offshore wind turbine foundation, pile casings and sleeves, wherein the pile casings are each configured to install a steel pile, the pile casings are provided at a bottom of the offshore wind turbine foundation, and a lower end of each sleeve is detachably connected with an upper end of one respective pile casing,

wherein the piling is performed after the offshore wind turbine foundation is placed on seabed and each of the steel piles is placed inside one respective pile casing,

each of the pile casings comprises a platform inside the each pile casing,

the sleeves are each configured for allowing a construction person to go down from the platform inside the pile casing, so as to ensure that leveling of the offshore wind turbine foundation and connection of the steel piles with the offshore wind turbine foundation can be achieved through a dry operation;

the constructing device further comprises leveling devices configured for leveling the offshore wind turbine foundation, wherein the leveling devices are each provided within one respective pile casing; and

each of the leveling devices comprises a jack and a leveling supporting plate, the leveling supporting plate is provided at a periphery of a top of one corresponding steel pile, and the jack is provided between the leveling supporting plate and the platform inside one corresponding pile casing.

2. The device for constructing an offshore wind turbine foundation with piling performed afterwards according to claim 1, wherein each of the pile casings further comprises a vertical pipe at a grouting segment of the each pile casing and an upper-end casing of the each pile casing, a lower end of the upper-end casing of the each pile casing is connected with an upper end of the vertical pipe at the grouting segment of the each pile casing through the platform inside the each pile casing, and an upper end of the upper-end casing of the each pile casing is detachably connected with a lower end of one respective sleeve.

3. The device for constructing an offshore wind turbine foundation with piling performed afterwards according to claim 1, wherein an upper portion of each of the pile casings is connected with the offshore wind turbine foundation by a bottom connecting plate, a lower portion of the each pile casing is connected with the offshore wind turbine foundation by a transverse connecting plate, and an outer sidewall of the each pile casing is connected with the offshore wind turbine foundation by a vertical connecting plate.

4. The device for constructing an offshore wind turbine foundation with piling performed afterwards according to claim 3, wherein a lower end of the each pile casing is flush with the bottom connecting plate or protrudes from the bottom connecting plate.

5. The device for constructing an offshore wind turbine foundation with piling performed afterwards according to claim 1, wherein an upper end of each of the sleeves is provided with a temporary platform, and the temporary platform is connected with the offshore wind turbine foundation.

6. A method for constructing an offshore wind turbine foundation, wherein the method is applicable to the device for constructing an offshore wind turbine foundation with piling performed afterwards according to claim 1, and the method comprises:

connecting each of the sleeves to the upper ends of the respective pile casing before hoisting the offshore wind turbine foundation;

placing the offshore wind turbine foundation on seabed in such a manner that steel pipes at bottoms of the pile casings are placed on the seabed or inserted into soil of the seabed;

placing each steel pile inside one respective pile casing and driving the each steel pile by using a pile hammer to a specified design elevation within the respective pile casing;

drawing out seawater and silt within the sleeves and the pile casings after pile-driving process is completed;

leveling the offshore wind turbine foundation;

connecting the pile casings with the steel piles on site by welding and grouting which can be performed separately or simultaneously; and

removing the sleeves,

each of the pile casings comprises a platform inside the each pile casing,

the sleeves are each configured for allowing a construction person to go down from the platform inside the pile casing, so as to ensure that leveling of the offshore wind turbine foundation and connection of the steel piles with the offshore wind turbine foundation can be achieved through a dry operation;

the constructing device further comprises leveling devices configured for leveling the offshore wind turbine foundation, wherein the leveling devices are each provided within one respective pile casing; and

each of the leveling devices comprises a jack and a leveling supporting plate, the leveling supporting plate is provided at a periphery of a top of one corresponding steel pile, and the jack is provided between the leveling supporting plate and the platform inside one corresponding pile casing.

7. The method for constructing an offshore wind turbine foundation with piling performed afterwards according to claim 6, further comprising a leveling method for leveling the offshore wind turbine foundation, wherein the leveling method is applicable to a leveling device, the leveling device comprises a jack and a leveling supporting plate, the leveling supporting plate is provided at a top of each steel pile, the each pile casing is provided therein with the platform inside the pile casing, and the jack is provided between the leveling supporting plate and the platform inside the pile casing;

and

the leveling method comprises;

placing, by a construction person on the platform inside the pile casing, the jack between the leveling supporting plate and the platform inside the pile casing, the jack abutting against the leveling supporting plate to jack up the steel pile so that the offshore wind turbine foundation is pressed down, thus leveling the offshore wind turbine foundation.

8. The method for constructing an offshore wind turbine foundation with piling performed afterwards according to claim 6, wherein each of the pile casings further comprises a vertical pipe at a grouting segment of the each pile casing and an upper-end casing of the each pile casing, a lower end of the upper-end casing of the each pile casing is connected with an upper end of the vertical pipe at the grouting segment of the each pile casing through the platform inside the each pile casing, and an upper end of the upper-end casing of the each pile casing is detachably connected with a lower end of one respective sleeve.

9. The method for constructing an offshore wind turbine foundation with piling performed afterwards according to claim 6, wherein an upper portion of each of the pile casings is connected with the offshore wind turbine foundation by a bottom connecting plate, a lower portion of the each pile casing is connected with the offshore wind turbine foundation by a transverse connecting plate, and an outer sidewall of the each pile casing is connected with the offshore wind turbine foundation by a vertical connecting plate.

10. The method for constructing an offshore wind turbine foundation with piling performed afterwards according to claim 9, wherein a lower end of the each pile casing is flush with the bottom connecting plate or protrudes from the bottom connecting plate.

11. The method for constructing an offshore wind turbine foundation with piling performed afterwards according to claim 6, wherein an upper end of each of the sleeves is provided with a temporary platform, and the temporary platform is connected with the offshore wind turbine foundation.