Floating device supporting an offshore wind turbine, and corresponding floating wind turbine unit

Abstract

A floating device for supporting an offshore wind turbine, comprising a central floating pillar for fixedly receiving a tower of the wind turbine, at least three peripheral floaters, and one leg per floater, each leg extending in a longitudinal direction that runs radially in relation to the central pillar; each leg has a proximal end that is secured to the central pillar, and a distal end that is secured to the floater; the legs include an outer tubular element, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the leg and has a curved cross-section perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, and an inner tubular element, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the leg and has a polygonal cross-section perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, the polygonal cross-section being inscribed in the curved cross-section. The invention also relates to a floating wind turbine unit comprising the device and a wind turbine.

Claims

1. A floating device for supporting an offshore wind turbine, comprising: a central floating pillar arranged for fixedly receiving a tower of the offshore wind turbine; at least three peripheral floaters, each of the at least three peripheral floaters including at least one leg, each leg extending in a radial longitudinal direction in relation to the central floating pillar and comprising a proximal end secured to the central floating pillar and a distal end secured to a respective peripheral floater of the at least three peripheral floaters; wherein each leg further comprises: an outer tubular element in extending along the radial longitudinal direction having a curved cross-section perpendicular to the radial longitudinal direction, and an inner tubular element extending along the radial longitudinal direction having a polygonal cross-section perpendicular to the radial longitudinal direction, the polygonal cross-section being inscribed in the curved cross-section of the outer tubular element.

2. The floating device of claim 1, further comprising at least one connection member positioned between each pair of adjacent legs, each connection member comprising a first end and a second end secured in proximity to the respective distal ends of each pair of adjacent legs.

3. The floating device of claim 1, wherein the legs extend horizontally with respect to a gravitational frame of reference.

4. The floating device of claim 1, wherein the at least three peripheral floaters are symmetrically positioned around the central floating pillar.

5. The floating device of claim 1, wherein the central floating pillar comprises a securing member comprising structure defining a hollow volume for receiving a tower of the offshore wind turbine, the hollow volume being cylindrical or truncated in such a way as to hug the shape an outer dimension of the tower.

6. The floating device of claim 1, wherein the central floating pillar comprises a polygonal cross-section having a number of sides, wherein the number of sides is equal to double the number of legs, and wherein the legs are respectively secured to non-adjacent sides of the polygonal cross-section.

7. The floating device of claim 1, wherein the at least three peripheral floaters comprise a truncated lower portion with a vertical axis and a cylindrical upper portion with a vertical axis.

8. The floating device according to any of claim 1, wherein the floating device is made, at least partially, of reinforced concrete.

9. The floating device of claim 1, wherein the floating device comprises portions made of steel.

10. A floating wind turbine unit, comprising: a floating device according to claim 1, and the offshore wind turbine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other characteristics and innovating advantages shall come from the description hereinafter, provided for the purposes of information and in a non-limiting manner, in reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a front view of a floating wind turbine unit according to embodiments of the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective side view of the floating wind turbine unit of FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective bottom view of the floating wind turbine unit of FIGS. 1 and 2,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a floating device according to embodiments of the invention,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the floating device of FIG. 4,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a partial and exploded view of the floating device of FIGS. 4 and 5,

(8) FIG. 7 shows a vertical cross-section of a leg of the device of FIGS. 4 to 6,

(9) FIGS. 8a and 8b diagrammatically show the transmission of bending forces from a wind turbine to a leg in a floating wind turbine unit according to embodiments of the invention,

(10) FIG. 9 diagrammatically shows the transmission of the compression forces in a leg of a floating device according to embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) FIGS. 1 to 3 show a floating wind turbine unit according to embodiments of the invention. The floating wind turbine unit comprises a wind turbine 1 and a floating device 2 for supporting the wind turbine 1.

(12) The wind turbine 1 comprises a turbine 11 and a tower 12 supporting the turbine 11. The turbine 11 is adapted for use offshore and has a power of several megawatts. Preferably, it is a three-bladed turbine with a horizontal axis. The tower 12 is comprised of cylindrical elements advantageously made from steel without longitudinal stiffening. The upper portion of the tower 12 is arranged to receive the turbine 11.

(13) In reference to FIG. 4, the floating device 2 comprises a central floating pillar 21 arranged for receiving the tower 12, at least three peripheral floaters 22, one leg 23 per floater and advantageously at least two connection parts 24 per pair of adjacent legs 23.

(14) In reference to FIG. 6, the central pillar 21 comprises a trunk 211 having the shape of a straight prism with a vertical generatrix. The trunk 211 comprises a lower face 2111 and a lower face 2112 that are polygonal. The lower face 2111 and the lower face 2112 are horizontal. The lower face 2111 comprises a slab whereon rests the base of the tower 12 of the wind turbine 1. Furthermore, the central pillar 21 comprises a securing part 212 comprising a hollow volume 2120 for receiving the tower 12 of the wind turbine 1, the hollow volume 2120 being cylindrical or truncated in such a way as to hug the shape of the tower 12. The securing part 212 is preferably a part made of steel secured to the inside of the central pillar 21. For example, the central pillar 21 being made of concrete, the securing part 212 is taken in the concrete of the pillar. The securing part 212 is adapted to the wind turbine 1 as the floating device 2 is for receiving. On the other hand, the rest of the floating device 2 is designed in such a way as to be able to receive a wide diversity of wind turbines.

(15) The central pillar 21 is hollow in order to provide the floatability required to support the wind turbine 1. The central pillar 21 comprises compartments that can be filled at least partially with ballast. The ballast is for example seawater or another solid, liquid or granular material, denser than seawater, making it possible to adjust the mass of the unit of the system in order to adjust the draught for dock operations, transit operations or an installation on site. In the case of a liquid ballast, adapted means for adjustment are for example means for pumping liquid that make it possible to add or to remove ballast within compartments suitable for ballasting.

(16) According to a preferred embodiment, the central pillar 21 is made at least partially of reinforced concrete in order to resist the cyclical stresses of fatigue generated in particular by the movements of the wind turbine 1.

(17) According to a particular embodiment, the central pillar 21 is made at least partially from steel although steel does not resist fatigue as well as concrete does.

(18) The peripheral floaters 22 comprise a truncated lower portion 221 and an upper cylindrical portion 222. The truncated lower portion 221 and the upper cylindrical portion 222 extend according to a vertical axis. Here, the vertical axis is a rotational axis of symmetry of the floaters. At the interface between the truncated lower portion 221 and the upper cylindrical portion 222, the diameter of the two portions is identical. The interface between the truncated lower portion 221 and the upper cylindrical portion 222 is materialized by a slab. The truncated portion flares towards the bottom in such a way as to provide a better hydrodynamic damping in order to improve the dynamic behavior of the platform. The lower base of the truncated portion is materialized by a slab. Preferably, in the truncated portion, the diameter of the lower base is greater than the height.

(19) The geometry of the floaters 22 makes it possible to provide a substantial volume of floatability and a mechanical resistance to the hydrostatic forces. According to a preferred embodiment, the waterline L is located at the level of the cylindrical portion of the floaters.

(20) The floaters are dimensioned so that the periods that are proper to the floaters in roll and pitch are beyond the energy periods of the wave swell.

(21) The upper cylindrical portion 222 comprises a platform that forms a planar surface intended to allow for human intervention or a fastening of devices required for the operations of towing, installation, or maintenance for example.

(22) The floaters 22 further comprise a partitioning device inside the upper and lower portions that makes it possible to provide stability for the floater as a whole in case of damage, for example with a pillar filled with water.

(23) With the same principle as that of the central pillar 21, the floaters 22 comprise compartments able to be filled at least partially with ballast. The ballast is for example seawater or another solid, liquid or granular material, denser than seawater, making it possible to adjust the overall mass of the system in order to adjust the draught for dock operations, transit operations or an installation on site. In the case of a liquid ballast, adapted means for adjustment are for example means for pumping liquid that make it possible to add or to remove ballast. The compartments intended for the ballast are located far from the axis of the floater 22 and in the lower portion so as to contribute to the stability of the system by increasing its inertia in roll and pitch.

(24) According to a preferred embodiment, the floaters 22 are made at least partially from reinforced concrete in order to resist the stresses coming from the wind turbine 1, from the aquatic environment and from the dynamics of the floating device 2.

(25) According to a particular embodiment, the floaters 22 are made at least partially from steel.

(26) Preferably, the floating device 2 comprises between three and eight floaters 22 and in particular four floaters 22. The number of floaters 22 is calculated in order to retain a relatively small size in relation to floating devices for supporting high-power turbines and for remaining within a range of inclination during operation and an extreme environment that is compatible with the use of existing turbines.

(27) The legs 23 extend in a radial longitudinal direction in relation to the central pillar 21 and each leg 23 comprises a proximal end secured to the central pillar 21 and a distal end secured to a floater 22 associated with the leg 23. In reference to FIG. 7, the legs 23 further comprise an outer tubular element 231 and an inner tubular element 232. The inner and outer tubular elements extend in the longitudinal direction of the leg 23. The outer tubular element 231 has a curved cross-section, here, circular perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction. The inner tubular element 232 has polygonal cross-section, here, rectangular perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction. The rectangular cross-section is inscribed in the circular cross-section, the vertices of the rectangular cross-section being secured to an inner wall with a circular cross-section. The geometry corresponding to a rectangular cross-section inscribed in a circular cross-section is studied to take up the forces coming from the turbine and from the marine environment. Furthermore, the hull of the outer tubular element 231 and the hull of the inner tubular element 232 form a double hull, which reduces the risks of infiltration and therefore increase the safety of the floating device 2. The inner tubular element 232, thanks to its rectangular cross-section, makes it possible to take up the bending in the plane, generated by the force of the wind on the blades of the turbine, and the alternating bending in the plane, induced by the roll, pitch and heave movements. Indeed, the inner tubular element 232 which has a rectangular cross-section comprises slabs located in particular in the extension of a top portion and in the extension of a bottom portion of the circular cross-section of the leg 23 in order to make it possible to provide continuity in the transmission of forces, in particular of the bending moments transmitted from the wind turbine 1 to the legs 23. FIGS. 8a and 8b show that the force P generated by the force P of the wind on the blades of the turbine induce a bending moment F.sub.C on the central pillar 21. The bending moment F.sub.C in the central pillar 21 is transmitted in the form of bending moments F.sub.B in the legs 23 having a longitudinal direction that is parallel to the force P. The bending moments F.sub.B in the legs are taken up in the form of stresses C.sub.H in the slab of the top portion of the leg and in the form of stresses C.sub.B in the slab of the bottom portion of the leg.

(28) The outer tubular element 231, thanks to its curved cross-section, makes it possible to take up the external forces of pressure as compression, generated by the aquatic medium. FIG. 9 shows that the external pressure forces in compression C are transmitted to the outer tubular element 231 in the form of peripheral stresses C.sub.P. The peripheral stresses C.sub.P in the outer tubular element 231 are then transmitted to the inner tubular element 232 in the form of internal stresses C.sub.I.

(29) Alternatively, the curved cross-section is elliptical and/or the polygonal cross-section is triangular, pentagonal or hexagonal.

(30) According to a preferred embodiment, the legs 23 have a cylindrical exterior shape of revolution.

(31) In another embodiment, the legs 23 have an outer truncated shape.

(32) According to a preferred embodiment, the legs 23 extend horizontally. The axes of elongation of the legs 23 are therefore coplanar.

(33) In another embodiment, the axes of elongation of the legs 23 form generatrix of a cone of revolution of which the vertex is located on the axis of the tower 12.

(34) The longitudinal direction of a leg 23 and the vertical direction define a radial plane. According to a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the device is arranged in such a way that the radial planes are planes of symmetry of the device. In other terms, the legs 23 are arranged in a star around the central pillar 21 in a regular manner, i.e. the angle formed by the axes of elongation of two legs 23 of a pair of successive legs 23 is the same regardless of the pair of legs 23 and is equal to 360 that divides the total number of legs 23. This symmetrical configuration makes it possible to retain a similar behavior regardless of the orientations of the environmental disturbances, such as wind, current or wave swells, in such a way as to expand the scope of possible installation sites. In this case, according to a particular embodiment, the turbine comprises a controlled actuator that orients the turbine according to the direction of the wind.

(35) The interfaces between the legs 23 and the central pillar 21 are located in vertical planes. At the interface between a leg 23 and the central pillar 21, the cross-section of the leg 23 is tangent to a side of the polygon that is formed by the lower face 2111 of the trunk 211 of the central pillar 21; the diameter of the cross-section of the leg 23 is less than or equal to the distance between the lower face 2112 and the lower face 2111 of the trunk 211. The trunk 211 has, horizontally, a polygonal cross-section of which the number of sides is equal to double the number of legs 23 in such a way that the legs 23 are respectively secured to sides of the polygonal cross-section that are not adjacent between them. For example, when the floating device 2 comprises four floaters 22 and therefore four legs 23, the lower face 2111 and the lower face 2112 of the trunk 211 are octagonal.

(36) Each leg 23 is secured to the truncated lower portion 221 of the floater that is associated with it. The interface between the leg 23 and the truncated lower portion 221 is an angle, according to a structure that is conventionally used in the field of pipework. At the interface between the leg 23 and the truncated lower portion 221, the cross-section of the leg 23 is tangent in the lower portion to the base of the truncated lower portion 221 and in the upper portion at the interface between the truncated lower portion 221 and the upper cylindrical portion 222. Thus, the transmission of the forces is provided between the leg 23 and the slab that constitutes the base of the truncated lower portion 221 and between the leg 23 and the slab that constitutes the interface between the truncated lower portion 221 and the upper cylindrical portion 222.

(37) The legs 23 are arranged in such a way as to delimit a volume that is sufficient to have positive floatability and are designed hollow. With the same principle as that of the central pillar 21 and of the floaters 22, the legs 23 comprise compartments that can be filled at least partially with ballast. The ballast is for example seawater or another solid, liquid or granular material, denser than seawater, making it possible to adjust the mass of the unit of the system in order to adjust the draught for dock operations, transit operations or an installation on site. In the case of a liquid ballast, adapted means for adjustment are for example means for pumping liquid that make it possible to add or to remove ballast in said compartments.

(38) According to a preferred embodiment, the legs 23 are entirely submerged in operation in such a way as to guarantee a behavior that is acceptable from the standpoint of movements and of the forces undergone in extreme conditions, i.e. when the wind turbine 1 is stopped and in the case of a strong wave swell. According to another embodiment, the legs 23 are partially submerged.

(39) According to a preferred embodiment, the legs 23 are made at least partially from reinforced concrete in order to better resist the fatigue stresses and the extreme loads coming from the turbine 11 and from the aquatic environment.

(40) According to a particular embodiment, the legs 23 are made at least partially from steel.

(41) The connection parts 24 connect the legs 23 in pairs and extend horizontally. Each connection part 24 comprises a first and a second ends secured respectively in the vicinity of the distal ends of the first and second legs 23 of said pair of adjacent legs 23. The connection parts 24 that connect the same pair of legs 23 are located in the same vertical plane. The connection parts 24 provide a mechanical continuity between the legs 23 in order to limit the out-of-plane moments which generate deflected bending. These connection parts 24 have a cross-section of small size in relation to the dimensions of the other elements.

(42) According to a preferred embodiment, the connection parts 24 are made of steel because they work mainly in traction, yet steel resists the forces of traction contrary to concrete.

(43) According to an embodiment, the floating device 2 comprises means of anchoring. The anchoring means are a set of lines 30 that connect the platform to a fixed external element, for example, the bottom of the aquatic mass on which the platform is floating. The lines 30 comprise a first end connected to the floating device 2 in one or several points and a second end connected to the fixed external element, for example by the intermediary of an anchor or of a dead body. The lines 30 can be comprised of cables, chains or other flexible elements adapted to the maintaining in position of a floating object subjected to drift forces under the effect of the environment. According to particular embodiments, the lines 30 are fully or partially stretched vertically or on a slant.

(44) In an alternative embodiment, the lines 30 are catenaries.

(45) According to a mode of use, the draught of the floating wind turbine unit is low, for example of about ten meters not ballasted and of about fifteen meters ballasted, in order to facilitate the operations of towing and installation.

(46) Alternatively, the draught is identical between the installation phase and the operational phase which avoids the operations of ballasting/de-ballasting on the production site. The draught can however be adjusted by ballasting once on the production site.

(47) Embodiments of the invention are described hereinabove by way of example. It is understood that those skilled in the art are able to produce various alternatives of the invention, by associating for example the various characteristics hereinabove taken individually or in combination, without however leaving the scope of the invention.