GRAVITY FOUNDATION FOR THE INSTALLATION OF OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES

• US 20180119675A1
• Filed: 03/27/2015
• Published: 05/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Drace Geocisa SA
• Original Assignee: Dragados SA (ACS Actividades de Construcción y Servicios SA), DRACE infraestructuras, SA (Dragados SA (Ireland))
• Inventors: REMN HIGUERA, Jaime, POLIMN OLABARRIETA, Carlos Jess, GONZALEZ PATIO, Noelia, VZQUEZ ROMERO, Miguel
• Granted Patent: US 10,443,574 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/0004 Nodal points
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/024 shock absorbing means for the supporting construction
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/027 steel structures E02B17/021 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0069 Gravity structures
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0091 Offshore structures for wind turbines
• 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: F03D 13/25 specially adapted for offshore installation
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/95 offshore
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/97 on a submerged structure
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/141 circular
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/727 Offshore wind turbines

Abstract

A gravity-based foundation for the installation of offshore wind turbines, manufactured in a floating dock for towing to the final destination thereof, where it is anchored and finally completely submerged below sea level, comprising a concrete floating caisson, in the shape of a prism, with a hexalobular base, divided into several cells by at least one partition with a significantly circular cross section, concentric with a central cell, determining inner vertical cells interconnected with each other and with the exterior, which is closed at the top by a cover or covers that are removed once the foundation is anchored before being filled with a ballast material.

Claims

1-6. -6. (canceled)

7. A gravity-based foundation for the installation of offshore wind turbines, manufactured in a floating dock for towing to the final location thereof, where it is anchored and finally completely submerged below sea level comprising a floating concrete caisson, in the shape of a straight prism, closed at its base, provided with vertical inner cells interconnected with each other and with the exterior, equipped with emptying and filling devices, which enables self-regulation of the ballast level for anchoring at its final location;

closed at the top by means of a cover and provided with at least one concrete node in at least one of the cells of the caisson, which defines means of connection of a shaft or structure that joins the caisson to the superstructure, to which in turn the wind turbine is fastened, characterized in that said caisson has a lobular cross section, in a circular arrangement, wherein each of said lobes has a trapezoidal configuration, with a curved-convex outer side, while the inner side is a portion of the partition that defines a significantly circular central cell, each of these lobes being divided into several cells by at least one partition with a significantly circular cross section, concentric with the central cell;

the closing cover or covers having a configuration equivalent to the caisson or to each of said lobes and a support on said caisson that enables the removal of the cover or covers once the foundation is anchored, before being filled with a ballast material.

8. The foundation according to claim 7, wherein the base of the caisson has a polygonal floor plan, thicker than the walls of the caisson, and protruding slightly from the bottom of the caisson, acting as a counterweight with the aim of lowering the center of gravity, which allows the caisson to be stabilized in flotation, during the transfer thereof or in anchoring operations.

9. The foundation according to claim 7, wherein the closing cover or covers do not cover the central cell in which the mast is fastened, particularly when a node has been formed in said cell for the fastening of the shaft.

10. The foundation according to claim 8, wherein the closing cover or covers do not cover the central cell in which the mast is fastened, particularly when a node has been formed in said cell for the fastening of the shaft.

11. The foundation according to claim 7, wherein the radius of curvature of each of the lobes into which the floor plan is divided is smaller than the radius of the body of the foundation.

12. The foundation according to claim 8, wherein the radius of curvature of each of the lobes into which the floor plan is divided is smaller than the radius of the body of the foundation.

13. The foundation according to claim 9, wherein the radius of curvature of each of the lobes into which the floor plan is divided is smaller than the radius of the body of the foundation.

14. The foundation according to claim 10, wherein the radius of curvature of each of the lobes into which the floor plan is divided is smaller than the radius of the body of the foundation.

15. The foundation according to claim 7, wherein the number of lobes is comprised between 5 and 8.

16. The foundation according to claim 8, wherein the number of lobes is comprised between 5 and 8.

17. The foundation according to claim 9, wherein the number of lobes is comprised between 5 and 8.

18. The foundation according to claim 10, wherein the number of lobes is comprised between 5 and 8.

19. The foundation according to claim 11, wherein the number of lobes is comprised between 5 and 8.

20. The foundation according to claim 12, wherein the number of lobes is comprised between 5 and 8.

21. The foundation according to claim 13, wherein the number of lobes is comprised between 5 and 8.

22. The foundation according to claim 14, wherein the number of lobes is comprised between 5 and 8.

23. The foundation according to claim 7, wherein the caisson has a hexalobular floor plan.

24. The foundation according to claim 8, wherein the caisson has a hexalobular floor plan.

25. The foundation according to claim 9, wherein the caisson has a hexalobular floor plan.

26. The foundation according to claim 22, wherein the caisson has a hexalobular floor plan.