Sealing Arrangement for a Connection Between Two Connecting Elements of an Offshore Structure and Method for Producing Same

Abstract

Seal arrangement for a joint of two joint elements, in particular realized as a monopile and a transition piece, of an offshore structure, preferably an offshore wind energy installation, in particular a substructure thereof, in which, for the purpose of producing a stable joint, an upper joint element and a lower joint element are inserted into each other in a clamping manner by means of at least one seal unit, comprising one of the joint elements and the at least one seal unit fixed to the joint element, in such a manner that the seal unit, in a joining position, is arranged between an inner joint surface of one joint element and an outer joint surface of the other joint element, at least one seal unit having at least one elastic sealing element, which extends in the circumferential direction around the entire circumference and the thickness (D) of which is greater than the thickness (D) of an adjoining seal unit region and method for producing a seal arrangement.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2.-25. (canceled)

26. Seal arrangement for a joint of two joint elements, in particular realized as a monopile and a transition piece, of an offshore structure, preferably an offshore wind energy installation, in particular a substructure thereof, in which, for the purpose of producing a stable joint, an upper joint element and a lower joint element are inserted into each other clamping at least one seal unit, comprising one of the joint elements and the at least one seal unit fixed to the joint element, the at least one seal unit being fixed to the joint element in such a manner that the seal unit, in a joining position, is arranged between an inner joint surface of one joint element and an outer joint surface of the other joint element, the at least one seal unit being load-bearing, such that said seal unit distances the joint elements in the joining position from each other and supports the upper joint element, at least one seal unit having at least one elastic sealing element, which extends in the circumferential direction around the entire circumference and the thickness (ID) of which is greater than the thickness (D) of an adjoining region of the seal unit.

27. Seal arrangement according to claim 26, characterized in that the at least one seal unit has a thickness of from 5 mm to 75 mm, preferably 20 mm to 50 mm, particularly preferably 25 mm to 30 mm.

28. Seal arrangement according to claim 26, characterized in that the at least one seal unit is of a multilayer construction.

29. Seal arrangement according to claim 26, characterized in that the one or more sealing elements has/have a greater elasticity than the rest of the seal unit.

30. Seal arrangement according to claim 26, characterized in that the at least one seal unit is designed to be hydrolysis-stable and comprises one or more materials from the group polypropylene, polyethylene, polyoxymethylene, rubber, nylon, polyvinyl chloride, polyurea, polyurethane.

31. Seal arrangement according to claim 26, characterized in that the at least one seal unit comprises up to 50% of one or more fillers, preferably in the form of CaCO3, wollastonite, graphite and/or carbon black.

32. Seal arrangement according to claim 26, characterized in that the at least one seal unit adheres to the joint surface of at least one of the joint elements by means of an adhesion promoter.

33. Seal arrangement according to claim 26, characterized in that the at least one sealing element has a Shore A hardness of between 40 and 100.

34. Seal arrangement according to claim 26, characterized in that the at least one seal unit is designed to withstand a compressive load of from 0.1 Nimm2 to 50 N/mm2.

35. Seal arrangement according to claim 26, characterized in that the at least one seal unit is composed of a plurality of seal segments arranged next to each other.

36. Seal arrangement according to claim 26, characterized in that the seal arrangement comprises at least two seal units that are distanced from each other.

37. Seal arrangement according to claim 26, characterized in that the at least one seal unit has at least one recess in the circumferential direction, in at least one height portion.

38. Seal arrangement according to claim 26, characterized in that the seal arrangement comprises a sensor arrangement for sensing the mechanical forces occurring in the seal arrangement.

39. Method for producing a seal arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, for a joint of two joint elements, in particular realized as a monopile and a transition piece, of an offshore structure, preferably an offshore wind energy installation, in particular a substructure thereof, characterized in that a grouting compound is poured onto a joint surface of a joint element and hardens to form at least one seal unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0075] Further advantages and details are given by the following description of the figures.

[0076] There are shown in the schematically represented figures:

[0077] FIG. 1 a sectional representation of a subject according to the invention in a joining position, with two enlarged detail views,

[0078] FIG. 2 a sectional representation of a further subject according to the invention, with two enlarged detail views,

[0079] FIG. 3 a sectional representation of the seal unit from FIG. 2, with two enlarged detail views,

[0080] FIG. 4 a sectional representation of a further subject according to the invention, with two enlarged detail views,

[0081] FIG. 5 a sectional representation of the seal unit from FIG. 4, with two enlarged detail views,

[0082] FIG. 6 a sectional representation of a further subject according to the invention, with two enlarged detail views,

[0083] FIG. 7 a sectional representation of the seal units from FIG. 6, with two enlarged detail views,

[0084] FIG. 8 a further subject according to the invention, in a transparent view,

[0085] FIG. 9 a non-transparent sectional representation of the subject from FIG. 8,

[0086] FIG. 10 a flow diagram of the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0087] Parts that have the same or similar function are denotedwhere appropriateby identical reference numbers. Individual technical features of the exemplary embodiments described below may also result, with the features of the exemplary embodiments described above and the features of an independent claim, in further developments according to the invention.

[0088] FIG. 1 shows a seal arrangement 2 according to the invention in a joining position. In this case, an upperjoint element 4 and a lowerjoint element 6 have been inserted into each other, with the tapered portion 4a of the upper joint element 4 and the tapered portion 6a of the lower joint element 6 overlapping. As can be seen particularly well in the enlarged view B (detail B), the joint elements 4, 6 have been inserted into each other, with a seal unit 8 clamped-in between them.

[0089] The upper joint element 4, in a lower region, encompasses an upper region of the lowerjoint element 6, and thus constitutes the outerjoint element, while the lower joint element 6 may be regarded as the inner joint element.

[0090] The seal unit 8 is arranged between an inner joint surface 10 of the upper joint element 4 and an outer joint surface 12 of the lower joint element 6, distances the joint elements 4, 6 from each other, and transmits forces between the joint elements 4, 6, for example transmits the weight force of the upperjoint element 4 to the lower joint element 6. In this sense, the seal unit 8 supports the upper joint element 4.

[0091] The seal unit 8 is additionally realized in the form of a hollow truncated cone, which is matched to the geometry of the joint elements 4, 6. For this purpose, the tapered portions 4a, 6a of the joint elements 4, 6, and the seal unit 8, can be described by one and the same cone opening angle , which is defined by the inclination of the cone envelope in relation to a vertical V (see enlarged view B (detail B)). In the examples shown here, the cone opening angle is 4. The angle of inclination of the cone envelope in relation to the vertical, which is clearly visible in the enlarged view B, corresponds to half the cone opening angle , and is 2. Furthermore, the rotational symmetry of the hollow conical shaped body defines a central axis Z for the seal unit 8.

[0092] The seal unit 8 has an elastic sealing element 14, which extends in the circumferential direction around the entire circumference. The thickness D of the sealing element 14 is greater than the thickness D of an adjoining seal unit region, as can be seen in FIG. 3, enlarged view C (detail C). The sealing element 14, which protrudes with respect to the rest of the seal unit 8, exerts a compressive force upon an opposite joint surface that, in the examples shown here, is the outer joint surface 12 of the lower joint element 6. If the joint elements 4, 6 move relative to each other, the assembly remains encapsulated, such that no harmful seawater and/or moisture can enter.

[0093] FIG. 2 shows a seal arrangement 2, the seal unit 8 of the upper joint element 4 being fixed, in the tapered portion 4a, to the inner joint surface 10. To make the joint, the upperjoint element 4 comprising the seal unit 8 is placed over a lower joint element 6, or lowered onto the lower joint element 6, until a clamped joint is produced. It can be seen that the seal unit 8 may alternatively be fixed to the lowerjoint element 6, in the tapered portion 6a, on the outerjoint surface 12, before the joint is made.

[0094] FIG. 3 shows the seal unit 8 from FIG. 2. The seal unit 8 is realized in the form of a hollow truncated cone, and in this case has a plurality of recesses 16 in the circumferential direction in a height portion 15, between an upper circumferentially closed height portion 17 and a lower circumferentially closed height portion 19, resulting in saving of material. In addition, the height H of the seal unit 8 is represented as an outer dimension of the seal unit 8 measured parallel to the central axis Z.

[0095] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the seal arrangement 2 according to the invention, with a seal unit 8. FIG. 5 shows the seal unit 8 from FIG. 4, having a plurality of recesses 16 in the circumferential direction over the entire height portion 15 above the sealing element 14.

[0096] FIG. 6 also shows a further embodiment of the seal arrangement 2 according to the invention, with a multiplicity of mutually distanced seal units 8, which form a group of seal units. FIG. 7 shows the seal units 8, 8 from FIG. 6. The upper seal units 8 in this case realize segments of a hollow truncated cone, which in each case are mutually distanced in the circumferential direction with respect to the longitudinal central axis L of the upper joint element 4 and with respect to a direction parallel to the longitudinal central axis L. The lower seal unit 8 is distanced from the other seal units 8 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal central axis L, and comprises the sealing element 14 that extends around the entire circumference. Furthermore, the lower seal unit 8 has a plurality of recesses 16 in the circumferential direction in a height portion 15 above it. In addition, the total height GH of the group of sealing units is shown.

[0097] FIGS. 8 and 9 shows a step of a method according to the invention. In this case, a grouting compound 18 is poured onto the innerjoint surface 10, by means of a grouting device 20, in the tapered portion 4a of the upper joint element 4. The upper joint element 4 in this case rotates about its longitudinal central axis L. The grouting device 20 has a slot-type grouting opening 22 that, when the grouting compound 18 is being applied, is located vertically beneath the longitudinal central axis L and above the joint surface 10. During the pouring operation, the grouting derive 20 is moved in a direction R perpendicular to the circumferential direction. This movement, in combination with the rotation of the joint element 4, causes the grouting opening 22 to execute a spiral movement relative to the joint surface 10. A particularly even, large-area and rapid application of the grouting compound 18 is thus achieved.

[0098] FIG. 10 shows a flow diagram of a method according to the invention, whereby, in a first step 31, the joint surface 10, 12 is cleaned, in particular degreased. In a second step 32, the joint surface 10, 12 is sandblasted. In a third step 33, the joint surface 10, 12 is cleaned again, and in particular cleaned of dust. In a fourth step 34, the adhesion promoter, or primer, is applied to the joint surface 10, 12. In a fifth step 35, the adhesion promoter, or primer, is dried and/or left to dry. And in a sixth 36 step, the grouting compound 18 is applied.