Foundation systems and methods using in-situ shaped pile-anchors that are particularly adapted for use in aquatic environments. The shaped pile-anchor of the invented foundation includes a concrete filled tubular metal casing, the bottom end of which is positioned at a predetermined depth in the ground (e.g., aquatic-floor soil) and the top end of which protrudes above the water or soil surface. Concrete fills the inside the metal casing, substantially all the way to the top end of the casing, forming an upper portion of a concrete column. The lower portion of the concrete column extends down below the bottom end of the metal casing and further into the ground. The lower portion is shaped to have a cross-section greater than the cross-section of the upper portion, which equals to the inner diameter of the tubular metal casing. A platform is coupled to one of more of the shaped pile-anchors to support a structure above.

A method for selectively coupling or uncoupling a coupling with a release, arranged between the supply conduit and a cylinder, on the basis of pressure in a supply conduit. The method includes providing an operating pressure prevailing in the supply conduit in order to provide hydraulic liquid to the cylinder on the basis thereof, and providing an uncoupling pressure prevailing in the supply conduit for the purpose of activating shut-off valves in the supply conduit and on the cylinder, and activating a release which uncouples the coupling. A coupling for respectively coupling and uncoupling a supply conduit which is connected to the coupling to/from a cylinder, as well as to an assembly including a pump, a cylinder, a supply conduit between the pump and the cylinder, and such a coupling.

The invention introduces a connection system for connecting a shaft of a wind tower to a support surface, by means of a shaft, a foundation cage and a plurality of pairs of tendons wherein each tendon has a lower anchoring adapted for the placement thereof inside the foundation, an upper anchoring, at least one strand with a first end and a second end, the strand extending from the upper anchoring to the lower anchoring, a pair of sleeves for each strand, a sleeve fixed to the upper anchoring and a sleeve fixed to the lower anchoring, each sleeve housing a segment of the strand. Additionally, the system introduces a method for connecting a shaft of a wind tower to a support surface.

A method of forming a wind turbine foundation includes providing an anchor cage in an excavation pit, the anchor cage including an upper flange, a lower flange, and a plurality of anchor bolts extending therebetween. A first cementitious material is directed into the excavation pit so that the anchor cage becomes at least partially embedded in the material, which is allowed to cure to form a rigid body. A connecting element is selectively engaged with the upper flange and an actuating element is positioned in operative relation with the connecting element, the connecting and actuating elements positioned in non-contact relation with the anchor bolts. The actuating element is actuated relative to the connecting element to raise the upper flange from the rigid body into a leveled position. A second cementitious material is directed into a space beneath the raised upper flange and is allowed to cure to form a support layer.

The invention relates to a foundation for a wind turbine, wherein the foundation comprises substantially prefabricated elements, preferably made of reinforced concrete, with a first, vertically extending base-like portion, on which a tower of the wind turbine can be arranged, and a second substantially horizontally extending portion as foundation body, which is in contact with the ground. The first portion is arranged above the second portion and has at least one closed, preferably sleeve-shaped, base element, which is annular or polygonal, and the second portion is formed from at least two horizontal elements, which each have at least one base portion. The at least one base element of the first portion and the base portion of the horizontal element of the second portion have substantially vertical apertures, which are mounted in line with one another and in which substantially vertical bracing elements, preferably threaded rods, are arranged. The at least one base element of the first portion and the at least two horizontal elements of the second portion are preloaded against one another by the substantially vertical preloading elements. No further fastening means, in particular horizontal fastening means, are necessary for dissipation of the loads from the wind turbine.

The present invention is a grouting method for single pile rock-socketed foundation for offshore wind power, comprising: driving a steel casing into an overburden layer to dig the overburden layer and a rock stratum so as to dig a pile hole; hoisting a steel pipe pile into the steel casing and positioning the steel pipe pile in the pile hole, wherein an annular cavity is formed between the inner walls of the steel pipe pile and the pile hole and the bottom of the steel casing; grouting a first grouting layer to the bottom of a pipe hole of the steel pipe pile; grouting a plurality of grouting layers into the upper end of the first grouting layer in the annular cavity; and pulling out the steel casing, wherein after a grouting solution is aged, the steel pipe pile is stably connected to the overburden layer and the rock stratum.

A structure for mounting offshore installations such as wind turbines or oil and gas platforms. The structure comprises a base, a top piece, and a lattice structure connecting the base to the top piece. The sub-components of the structure can be pre-assembled prior to installation to facilitate ease of construction, or they may be transported to a pre-determined location and assembled on site.

A lightning protection system for a tower of a wind turbine is provided. The tower includes a reinforced concrete tower wall in which a plurality of electrically conductive structural reinforcing elements are embedded during construction. The lightning protection system includes a plurality of the structural reinforcing elements connected in an electrically conductive manner with each other and with a ground terminal. Further, a method of incorporating such a lightning protection system in a reinforced concrete tower, and a wind turbine with such a lightning protection system is provided.

A mechanical device system that draws power from the wind by means of near-vertical blades pivotally mounted on a platform rotor that is flush with the ground and rotatable about a vertical axis. Wind forces are generated on the blades causing the platform rotor to turn thereby generating shaft power. An electrical generator coupled to the platform rotor converts the shaft power to electrical power, which is then distributed through conventional transmission means. The power output is maximized for a given wind speed by cyclically controlling each blade rotation to intercept the relative wind vector so as to create maximum blade forces over the periodic cycle. The blade axes are canted to match the rotational speed to the normal speed gradient of the prevailing wind to maintain constant (π*h*D)/Vw at all levels. The turbine is mounted atop an earth mound tailored to accelerate the flow near the ground to produce an optimum wind speed profile. The rotor speed is controlled to match the wind speed within narrow limits for maximum efficiency and power output.

A floating foundation for an offshore wind turbine has a center pipe, a buoyancy section, a weight section, and a plurality of wire ropes, The buoyancy section is connected to the center pipe to keep the foundation floating. The weight section is connected to the center pipe to provide stability to the foundation. The wire ropes are connected to the buoyancy section and the weight section and are arranged for being tensioned so as to add bending strength to the foundation The floating foundation has hoisting means for lowering or raising the center pipe. The hoisting means includes winches for increasing or decreasing a length of each of wire ropes connecting the buoyancy section and the weight section, for lowering or raising the center pipe of the floating foundation. A system is disclosed for extracting energy from wind. A method is disclosed for installing a wind turbine.