MONOPILE FOUNDATION AND METHOD FOR INSTALLATION OF A MONOPILE FOUNDATION

Abstract

A monopile foundation in the form of a cylindrical steel pipe that can be driven into the bottom of a water basin. The monopole foundation includes a bottom area, and an area above the bottom area. The area above the bottom includes a connection flange, and a tight membrane consisting of a bottom panel and of a top panel with at least one reinforcing rib, and filling between the panels. Above the membrane, the monopile foundation contains dry functional space between the membrane and the top connection flange, while in the bottom area of the monopile foundation, below the bottom panel of the membrane, there are openings in the cylindrical steel pipe of the monopile foundation. The space between the bottom panel of the membrane and the top edge of the outlet openings is filled by an air cushion.

Claims

1. A monopile foundation in the form of a cylindrical steel pipe intended for driving into the bottom of a water basin, including the area above the bottom and the bottom area, wherein the area above the bottom includes the connection flange wherein the monopile foundation in the area above the bottom includes a tight membrane inside, consisting of a bottom panel and of a top panel with at least one reinforcing rib and filling between the panels, wherein above the membrane, the monopile foundation contains dry functional space between the membrane and the top connection flange, while in the bottom area of the monopile foundation, below the bottom panel of the membrane, in the cylindrical steel pipe of the monopile foundation outlet openings are present, wherein the space between the bottom panel of the membrane and the top edge of the outlet openings is filled by the air cushion.

2. A monopile foundation according to claim 1, wherein the dry functional space of the monopile foundation 2 contains the internal working infrastructure.

3. A monopile foundation according to claim 2, wherein the working infrastructure is located on at least one level separated inside the monopile foundation by a working platform with at least one spreader beam installed on it.

4. A monopile foundation according to claim 1, wherein the functional space inside the area above the bottom of the monopile foundation is filled with an inert gas.

5. A monopile foundation according to claim 1, wherein the filling of the membrane, between the bottom panel and the top panel is a cement-based material.

6. A monopile foundation according to claim 2, wherein the working infrastructure includes at least one energy storage unit.

7. A monopile foundation according to claim 2, wherein the working infrastructure includes at least one device generating and pumping gas, including a storage tank.

8. A monopile foundation according to claim 2, wherein the working infrastructure includes at least one water desalination device.

9. A monopile foundation according to claim 2, wherein the working infrastructure includes at least one cooling device.

10. An installation method for a monopile foundation in the bottom of the water basin, wherein the monopile foundation is placed at the installation station, placed vertically and its position is stabilised, and then the monopile foundation is brought into contact with the bottom of the water basin, followed by driving of the monopile foundation into the bottom of the basin, wherein vertical positioning and lowering of the monopile foundation are executed using a surrounding clamp, wherein before setting the monopile foundation vertically in the bottom area, the surrounding clamp is attached and the attachment is attached to the connection flange of the monopile foundation and the monopile foundation is placed vertically, and once the monopile foundation is set vertically, a geopositioning device is closed on its circumference and the monopile foundation is submerged in the water basin, and then the monopile foundation is driven into the bottom of the basin, wherein during the submersion and driving, air and water with sediments are discharged outside the monopile foundation through outlet openings located below the bottom panel of the membrane, and once the monopile foundation is driven under gravity, the clamp is released and the attachment is removed, next, at the top of the monopile foundation and instead of it a driving device for the monopile foundation in the bottom of the basin is installed and the monopile foundation is driven mechanically and the target location and subsequently, the clamp is removed while the monopile foundation is weighed down such that the dry area above the bottom inside the monopile foundation, above the membrane is equipped with working infrastructure and next the intermediate part is installed on the connection flange at the top of the monopile foundation and the working device is installed on said part, while the area above the bottom inside the monopile foundation above the membrane is filled with an inert gas.

11. An installation method according to claim 11, wherein before the driving device for the monopile is installed, a device generating an air curtain is installed at the bottom of the basin, around the base of the monopile, wherein the air outlets from this device are directed towards the surface of the basin.

12. An installation method according to claim 11, wherein the volume of the air cushion under the bottom panel of the membrane, above the outlet openings is filled during installation of the monopile foundation.

13. An installation method according to claim 11, wherein the position of the monopile foundation is controlled digitally using a geopositioning device comprising a part of the on-board computer of the installation location.

14. An installation method according to claim 11, wherein the monopile foundation is driven mechanically into the bottom of the basin using vibration technology.

15. An installation method according to claim 11, wherein the monopile foundation is driven mechanically into the bottom of the basin using impulse technology.

Description

[0036] The object of the invention is presented in the attached figures in an embodiment, wherein the individual drawing figures illustrate as follows:

[0037] FIG. 1Method of transport of the monopile foundation to the installation location.

[0038] FIG. 2The monopile at the installation location.

[0039] FIG. 3Installation of the surrounding clamp.

[0040] FIG. 4Installation of the transport attachment.

[0041] FIG. 5The first stage of monopile submersion into the water basin.

[0042] FIG. 6The intermediate stage of submersion into the water basin with the air cushion shown.

[0043] FIG. 7The final stage of monopile submersion into the water basin.

[0044] FIG. 8Mechanical monopile driving into the bottom of the basin.

[0045] FIG. 9The monopile with the working infrastructure in the form of energy storage units.

[0046] FIG. 10The monopile driven into the bottom of the basin, before installation of the working infrastructure.

[0047] FIG. 11Longitudinal cross-section of the monopile foundation driven into the bottom of the basin with working infrastructure in the form of electricity storage units.

[0048] FIG. 12Level module including two energy storage units on a single working platform.

[0049] FIG. 13Monopile containing the working infrastructure for gas generation and storage.

[0050] FIG. 14Monopile containing the working infrastructure for fresh water generation and storage.

[0051] FIG. 1 shows that during the initial stage, an installation crane 1 is used to transfer the monopile 2 from the delivery station 3 to the installation location 4. The installation location 4 in this embodiment is a jack-up vessel. In another embodiment, not shown in the attached figure, the installation location is a vessel equipped with a dynamic positioning and ballasting system. Transport takes place using the installation crane 1, wherein a traverse 6 is attached to the crane slings 5, with at least two crane slings 5 are attached to its opposite working ends 7, to which the monopile 2 is attached and transported using the installation crane 1 to the installation location 4.

[0052] In another embodiment, not shown in the attached figure, transport and vertical position of the monopile 2 are executed using a crane 1 provided as a separate installation location. In another embodiment, the delivery station 3 is provided as a transport barge, while a jack-up vessel is the installation location.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows the stage of monopile 2 placement at the installation location 4, where the monopile 2 is placed on supports 8a and 8b and secured using a tensioning strap 9, which is connected to the platform of the installation location 4. In another embodiment, the tensioning strap 9 may be connected to the support 8b. Next, the slings 5 and the traverse 6 are detached from the monopile 2 and the monopile 2 is left at the installation location 4, on the on-board support 8b containing a drum-type rope winch 10 and on the outer support 8a containing a set of guiding rollers 11.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows the next stage of monopile 2 placement, wherein the installation crane 1 is used to apply the surrounding clamp 13 in the bottom area 12 of the monopile 2, below the membrane 21. The transport is performed during the stage such that the surrounding clamp 13 is applied onto the monopile 2 using a crane sling 5 system attached to both working ends 7 of the traverse 6. Next, the ropes 16 of the drum-type winches 10 are attached to the hooks of the surrounding clamp 13. Once the ropes 16 are applied, the installation crane 1 is used to install the transport attachment 14 on the inner edge of the connection flange 15, as shown in FIG. 4 and the monopile is submerged in the water basin, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0055] FIG. 5 shows the initial submersion stage, during which the geopositoning device 17a is closed on the monopile circumference 2, thus enabling the motion of the monopile 2 upwards or downwards using an installation crane 1, wherein the geopositioning device 17a is controlled using the on-board computer 17b. Once the geoposition of the monopile 2 is determined, the monopile 2 is lowered further, while its vertical position is maintained. The monopile 2 is still supported by the installation crane 1, ropes 16 of the drum-type winches 10 and by the geopositioning device 17a.

[0056] FIG. 6 shows the intermediate stage of monopile 2 submersion at the bottom of the basin, where the monopile foundation 2 is further submersed towards the bottom of the basin 18b, such that work of the outlet openings 19 of the air cushion 20a is used to ensure smooth submersion of the monopile 2, such that the pressure inside the bottom area 12 of the monopile foundation 2 is adjusted by spontaneous creation of the air cushion 20a during submersion of the monopile foundation 2. The air cushion 20a is located above the edges of the outlet openings 19 and below the bottom panel 22 of the membrane 21. During driving of the monopile 2 into the bottom of the basin 18b the air cushion 20a is subjected to increasing pressure and decreases its volume as a result of compressibility of air present inside the cushion. FIG. 6 additionally presents the submersion stage, wherein the monopile 2 is supported on the bottom of the basin 18b by the air cushion 20a resting on the inner water column reaching the area of outlet openings 19. During this stage, the monopile 2 is supported by the installation crane 1 and positioned using the geopositioning device 17a. In another embodiment, the volume of the air cushion 20a is adjusted through operation of a compressor 24a, such that lines of the air compressor 24b are introduced through the outlet openings 19, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0057] FIG. 8 presents the next stage, where equipment is replaced by removing the transport attachment 14 at the top of the monopile and a device for impulse or vibration driving 25 of the monopole 2 in the bottom of the basin 18b is installed. A device generating an air curtain 20b is installed at the bottom of the basin 18b, around the monopile 2, wherein outlets of this device are directed towards the surface of the water basin.

[0058] The next FIG. 9 shows the stage, where the geopositioning device 17a, the ropes 16 and the clamp 13 are removed and the monopile 2 is left driven into the bottom of the basin 18b, at the target location, while the dry functional space 26b is then equipped with the working infrastructure 27, while the intermediate part 28 is installed onto the connection flange 15. In this embodiment, an electricity storage unit 34 comprises the working infrastructure 27. The intermediate part 28 of the foundation should be understood as a structure attached to the connection flange 15 of the monopile 2, and the working device 29 is installed on the intermediate part 28. At the end of the installation and after trial runs of the equipment, the dry zone above the bottom 26a is filled with an inert gas. In this embodiment, the working device 29 is provided as a wind turbine.

[0059] In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 10, structural elements of the monopile foundation 2 are shown. In this embodiment, the monopile foundation 2 contains a membrane 21 in the area above the bottom, comprised of the bottom panel 22 and the top panel 23. The membrane 21 should be understood as an impenetrable barrier between the area above the bottom 26a and the bottom area 12 of the monopile foundation 2, with a filling 30 comprising a cement-based material and stiffening elements in the form of reinforcing ribs 31. The filling 30 is located between the bottom panel of the membrane 22 and its top panel 23. In this embodiment, the filling 30 is made of concrete. The monopile has an above-bottom area 26a above the membrane, intended for installation of the working infrastructure 27. In the bottom area 12 of the monopile foundation 2 structure, near the bottom membrane panel 22, there are outlet openings 19 for water and air used during monopile 2 placement in the bottom of the water basin.

[0060] FIG. 11 to FIG. 14 present management of the dry functional space 26b inside the area above the bottom 26a of the monopile 2. In the embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 11, the configuration includes the working infrastructure 27 in the form of electricity storage units 34. The layout of the electricity storage units 34 is presented in this embodiment as a modular system, in the form of two sets of batteries 35 per one level module 36, placed vertically on individual levels 37 inside the dry area above the bottom 26a. In this embodiment, each level 37 includes a working platform 39 containing two sets of batteries 35 in each set, provided as a block. The level module 36 is also separated in this embodiment with a working platform 39, used to traverse the level module 36.

[0061] The level module 36 in the embodiment according to FIG. 12 includes the main cable duct 40, the cable duct 38 and the transport duct 41 used to transport the service technicians and the equipment between level modules 36. Each of the level modules 36 additionally includes a centrally placed column fragment 42 with an inspection manhole 43, as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12. Individual level modules 36 are connected with one another using connecting columns 48, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

[0062] In another embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 13, the layout inside the monopile 2, in the area above the bottom 26a shown in FIG. 10 was executed as internal installation, as working infrastructure 27 in the form of a module generating, pumping and storing gas 44 and a gas pressure tank 45. In this embodiment, the generated and stored gas is hydrogen. In another embodiment, this may be ammonia or other gases. Another example of the layout of working infrastructure 27 may include a device generating and storing fresh water, in the form of a desalination module 46 and a storage space for fresh water 47, as shown in FIG. 14.

[0063] In a different embodiment, the working infrastructure 27 may include sets of other equipment, for example cooling equipment.

[0064] As a general rule, the listed example equipment comprising the working infrastructure 27 inside the monopile 2 are supplied with electricity from the working device 29 installed at the top of the monopile foundation 2 according to the invention. The described embodiments do not exhaust other example solutions of the monopile 2 according to the invention, both in terms of its design and its layout intended to provide its dry interior for use.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0065] 1. Installation crane [0066] 2. Monopile foundation [0067] 3. Delivery station [0068] 4. Installation location [0069] 5. Crane slings [0070] 6. Traverse [0071] 7. Working end [0072] 8a. End support [0073] 8b. On-board support [0074] 8c. Support [0075] 9. Tensioning strap [0076] 10. Drum-type winch [0077] 11. Guiding roller set [0078] 12. Bottom area [0079] 13. Surrounding clamp [0080] 14. Transport attachment [0081] 15. Connection flange [0082] 16. Rope [0083] 17a. Geopositioning device [0084] 17b. On-board computer [0085] 18a. Water line [0086] 18b. Bottom of the basin [0087] 19. Outlet opening [0088] 20a Air cushion [0089] 20b Air curtain [0090] 21. Membrane [0091] 22. Bottom panel of the membrane [0092] 23. Top panel of the membrane [0093] 24a. Compressor [0094] 24b. Air compressor lines [0095] 25. Device for driving [0096] 26a. Area above the bottom [0097] 26b. Dry functional space [0098] 27. Working infrastructure [0099] 28. Intermediate part [0100] 29. Working device [0101] 30. Filling [0102] 31. Reinforcing rib [0103] 32. Reinforcing-stiffening column [0104] 33. Structure of the bottom of the basin [0105] 34. Electricity storage unit [0106] 35. Battery set [0107] 36. Level module [0108] 37. Level [0109] 38. Cable duct [0110] 39. Working platform [0111] 40. Main cable duct [0112] 41. Transport duct [0113] 42. Column piece [0114] 43. Inspection manhole [0115] 44. Gas generating and pumping module [0116] 45. Gas pressure tank [0117] 46. Desalination module [0118] 47. Fresh water storage space [0119] 48. Connecting column [0120] 49. Spreader beam