SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LEVELLING AND GRIPPING A JACKET LEG INTO A HOLLOW FOUNDATION PILE

Abstract

A system for levelling and gripping a jacket leg into a hollow foundation pile has a levelling assembly for adjusting the longitudinal axis of a jacket leg partially inserted in a hollow foundation pile with an actuation group arranged about the jacket leg and configured to exert a force parallel to the longitudinal axis between the upper edge of the hollow foundation pile and the jacket leg and selectively attachable to the jacket leg and recoverable for further use in another levelling assembly; and a gripping assembly for locking the jacket leg in a designated position with respect to the hollow foundation pile once leveled.

Claims

1-19. (canceled)

20. A system comprising: a levelling assembly configured to adjust a jacket leg when the jacket leg is partially inserted into a hollow foundation pile, the levelling assembly comprising an actuation group arrangeable about the jacket leg and configured to exert a force parallel to a longitudinal axis of the jacket leg between an upper edge of the hollow foundation pile and the jacket leg, the actuation group being selectively attachable to the jacket leg and recoverable from the jacket leg; and a gripping assembly arrangeable about the jacket leg and configured to lock the jacket leg in a position with respect to the hollow foundation pile responsive to the jacket leg being leveled by the levelling assembly, the gripping assembly comprising: a plurality of wedges distributable about the jacket leg along an outer surface of the jacket leg in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the jacket leg, and a plurality of actuators, each of the plurality of actuators being mountable to the jacket leg, mountable to a wedge of the plurality of wedges and configured to insert that wedge into a clearance between the hollow foundation pile and the jacket leg.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a stopper bracket that, when fixed to the outer surface of the jacket leg, extends in a radial direction and is configured to limit the insertion of the jacket leg into the hollow foundation pile.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the actuation group of the levelling assembly comprises an actuator extending in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the levelling assembly comprises a connecting element fixable to the actuator and configured to retain the actuator in a predefined positon in which the actuator extends in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the levelling assembly comprises at least a couple of actuators mounted to the connecting element and extending in the direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein for each actuator of the actuation group, the levelling assembly comprises: a guiding support which is fixed to the jacket leg and defines a respective through opening; a jacking block guided in the guiding support; and a levelling bracket fixed to the jacket leg and facing the guiding support, the levelling bracket configured to block a longitudinal displacement of that actuator, wherein that actuator is configured to exert a force parallel to the longitudinal axis between the leveling bracket and the jacking block resting on an edge of the hollow foundation pile.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein: the levelling assembly comprises a locking pin mechanism fixable to the levelling bracket, the connecting element comprises a rod, and the locking pin mechanism is configured to selectively block the rod in a predefined position in which the rod extends in the direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the levelling assembly comprises, for each rod, a bar fixed to the guiding support, one end of the rod being coupled to the bar to enable a rotation of the rod around the bar.

28. The system of claim 20, wherein each actuator of the plurality of actuators of the gripping assembly is selectively dismountable from the jacket leg and the respective wedge.

29. The system of claim 20, wherein each wedge is configured to run along a respective guide extending in the direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis on the outer surface of the jacket leg.

30. The system of claim 20, wherein at least one actuator of the plurality of actuators of the gripping assembly comprises a hydraulic cylinder extending in the direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

31. The system of claim 20, further comprising, for each actuator of the plurality of actuators of the gripping assembly, a first padeye fixed to the jacket leg and a second padeye fixed to the wedge, wherein the actuator is hinged to the first padeye and to the second padeye.

32. The system of claim 20, further comprising, for each actuator of the plurality of actuators of the gripping assembly, a restraining member arranged around that actuator and configured to retain the actuator parallel to the longitudinal axis.

33. A method of levelling and gripping a jacket leg extending along a longitudinal axis, the method comprising: adjusting, by a levelling assembly, a direction of the longitudinal axis of the jacket leg when the jacket leg is partially inserted into a hollow foundation pile; for each of a plurality of wedges, inserting, by an actuator for that wedge, that wedge into a clearance between the hollow foundation pile and the jacket leg; and at least partially dismounting the levelling assembly from the jacket leg.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising dismounting each actuator from the jacket leg and from the respective wedge.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising running a plurality of wedges distributed about the jacket leg along a respective guide extending in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis on the outer surface of the jacket leg.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising mounting the levelling assembly on the jacket leg before inserting the jacket leg into the hollow foundation pile.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the dismounting of the levelling assembly from the jacket leg is performed by a remote operated vehicle.

38. The method of claim 33, further comprising grouting the jacket leg into the hollow foundation pile.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0070] A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0071] FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of an offshore wind turbine installed on a bed of a body of water;

[0072] FIG. 2 is a perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a system for levelling and gripping a jacket leg into a hollow foundation pile of the offshore wind turbine of FIG. 1;

[0073] FIG. 3 is a frontal elevation view, with parts removed for clarity, of a levelling assembly of the system of FIG. 2;

[0074] FIG. 4 is a lateral elevation view, with parts removed for clarity, of the levelling system of FIG. 3 in a particular operational configuration;

[0075] FIG. 5 is a scheme, with parts removed for clarity, of the system of FIG. 2;

[0076] FIG. 6 is a section view, with parts removed for clarity and parts in cross-section along a horizontal plane, of the offshore wind turbine of FIG. 1; and

[0077] FIG. 7 is a detailed lateral elevation view, with parts removed for clarity, of the system of FIG. 2.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0078] Number 1 in FIG. 1 indicates an offshore wind turbine installed in an offshore site.

[0079] The offshore wind turbine 1 comprises a tower 2; a nacelle 3 rotatably mounted atop the tower 2; a rotor 4 rotatably mounted to the nacelle 3 and comprising a hub 5 and blades 6 radially extending from the hub 5; a support structure 7 which comprises jacket legs 8 and a support frame 9; and foundations 10 which comprise hollow foundation piles 11.

[0080] In the particular embodiment of FIG. 1, the support structure 7 comprises three jacket legs 8, each of which inserted into a respective hollow foundation pile 11.

[0081] The number of jacket legs 8, the number of the hollow foundation piles 11 and the configuration of the support frame 9 can vary according to a wide range of different applications or different offshore sites, not shown in the attached Figures. For example, the offshore wind turbine can have one or more jacket legs and relevant hollow foundation piles.

[0082] With reference to FIG. 1, the hollow foundation piles 11 are inserted on the bed of the body of water penetrating by a depth in the bed of the body of water.

[0083] Each jacket leg 8 is partially inserted into the respective hollow foundation pile 11.

[0084] The offshore wind turbine 1 comprises a system 12 for levelling and gripping each jacket leg 8 into the respective hollow foundation pile 11, mounted on each jacket leg 8 close to the edge of the respective hollow foundation pile 11.

[0085] Although in FIG. 1 the system 12 is used in an underwater environment, the system 12 can be also used over the surface of the body of water.

[0086] Moreover, the system 12 can be used for onshore wind turbines and for other applications comprising the inserting and positioning of a first body into a second hollow body.

[0087] Therefore, the underwater application shown in FIG. 1 is not intended as limiting the wide variety of different possible applications of the present invention.

[0088] With reference to FIG. 2, the system 12 comprises a plurality of gripping assembly 13, a levelling assembly 14 and at least a stopper bracket 15.

[0089] The gripping assembly 13 comprises a plurality of wedges 16 distributed about each jacket leg 8 and configured to run along the outer surface of the jacket leg 8 in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the jacket leg 8; one actuator 17 for each wedge 16, which is mounted to the jacket leg 8 and to the wedge 16, is configured to insert the respective wedge 16 in the clearance between the hollow foundation pile 11 and the jacket leg 8, and is selectively dismountable from the jacket leg 8 and the respective wedge 16.

[0090] The actuator 17 is a hydraulic cylinder extending in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A.

[0091] According to alternative embodiment of the present invention, not shown in the attached Figures, the actuator can be of different types, preferably hydraulic or electro-mechanical or pneumatic type.

[0092] The gripping assembly 13 further comprises a guide for each wedge 16 comprising a couple of ribs 18 fixed on the outer surface of the jacket leg 8 and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A; and a restraining member 19 for each actuator 17 arranged around the respective actuator 17 and configured to retain the respective actuator 17 to the jacket leg 8.

[0093] Moreover, the gripping assembly 13 comprises for each actuator 17 at least one padeye 20 fixed to the jacket leg 8 and at least one padeye 21 fixed to the wedge 16.

[0094] In particular, the gripping assembly 13 comprises for each actuator 17 a couple of padeye 20 and a couple of padeye 21. Each actuator 17 is hinged to the padeye 20 and 21 by means of respective pins 22 and 23.

[0095] Each stopper bracket 15 is fixed to the outer surface of the jacket leg 8 and extending in the radial direction for a length greater than the clearance between the hollow foundation pile 11 and the jacket leg 8 in order to limit the insertion of the jacket leg 8 into the hollow foundation pile 11 to keep the wedges 16 at given distance from the hollow foundation pile 11. Said distance being shorter than the stroke of the actuator 17 in the axial direction.

[0096] In particular, each stopper bracket 15 is welded to the jacket leg 8 and comprises at least one longitudinal wall 24 extending in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A, and a base wall 25 having a radial dimension much greater than the clearance between the hollow foundation pile 11 and the jacket leg 8 and configured to bear on the edge of the hollow foundation pile 11.

[0097] The levelling assembly 14 is configured to adjust the longitudinal axis A of the jacket leg 8 partially inserted in the hollow foundation pile 11 prior to inserting the wedges 16 into the clearance between the jacket leg 8 and the hollow foundation pile 11.

[0098] The levelling assembly 14 comprises at least one actuation group 26 arranged about the jacket leg 8.

[0099] In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 2, not limiting the present invention, the actuation group 26 comprises at least one actuator 27 extending in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A.

[0100] In greater detail, each actuation group 26 comprises a couple of actuators 27 coupled together.

[0101] The actuator 27 is a hydraulic cylinder extending in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A.

[0102] According to alternative embodiment of the present invention, not shown in the attached Figures, the actuation group 26 can comprise a different number of actuators or different types of actuator, for example of electro-mechanical actuators or pneumatic actuators.

[0103] The levelling assembly 14 further comprises a connecting element 28 for each couple of actuators 27 configured to retain each actuator 27 in a predefined positon and to fix together the two actuators 27 of the couple of actuators 27; a couple of guiding supports 29 for each couple of actuators 27 fixed to the jacket leg 8; a couple of levelling brackets 30 for each couple of actuators 27 fixed to the jacket leg 8; and a locking pin mechanism 31 fixed to each couple of levelling brackets 30.

[0104] With reference to FIG. 3, the guiding supports 29 of the couple of guiding supports 29 are welded to the jacket leg 8, have a through opening and are connected by a bar 32 extending in a direction transversal to the longitudinal axis A.

[0105] The levelling brackets 30 of the couple of the levelling brackets 30 are welded to the jacket leg 8 and are connected by bar 33 extending in a direction transversal to the longitudinal axis A.

[0106] The connecting element 28 comprises a rod 34 placed between the two actuators 27 of each couple of actuators 27. One end of the rod 34 is fork shaped and is coupled to the connecting bar 32 in such a way to allow the rotation of the rod 34 around the connecting bar 32.

[0107] The locking pin mechanism 31 comprises a guiding cylinder 35 and a sliding pin 36 configured to slide inside the guiding cylinder 35 in order to selectively block the rod 34 in a predefined position, in which the rod 34 is bounded in radial direction between the sliding pin 36 and the bar 33 extending in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A.

[0108] With reference to FIG. 4, each actuator 27 comprises a jacking block 37 in the lower end, which is configured to bear on the edge of the hollow foundation pile 11, passing through the through opening of the guiding support 29.

[0109] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, not shown in the attached Figures, each guiding support 29 is not welded to the jacket leg 8 but is fixed to the respective jacking block 37 and is configured to bear on the edge of the hollow foundation pile 11.

[0110] With reference to FIG. 5, the system 12 comprises a control panel 38; a hydraulic circuit 39 for supplying fluid to the actuators 17 and 27; and an umbilical 40 within which are contained the flow lines of the hydraulic circuit 39.

[0111] The hydraulic circuit 39 comprising a control valve 41 configured to selectively control the actuators 27; a control valve 42 in parallel with respect to the control valve 41 and configured to selectively control the actuators 17; and a flowmeter 43 placed on actuators 27 flow line, in order to measure the flow rate of fluid flowing into the hydraulic circuit 39 for providing a feedback to the control panel 38.

[0112] The hydraulic circuit 39 further comprises an accumulator 44 in fluidic communication with the actuators 17 flow line, and an actuated check valve 45 for each actuator 17 or 27.

[0113] In particular, the control panel 38 is configured to control and adjust the tilt of the longitudinal axis A and the clearance between the hollow foundation pile 11 and the jacket leg 8.

[0114] It is sufficient only one control panel 38 for each offshore wind turbine 1 since a single control panel 38 can control the correct positioning of all longitudinal axis A of each jacket leg 8 of the offshore wind turbine 1.

[0115] With reference to FIG. 6, the offshore wind turbine 1 comprises three hollow foundation piles 11, three jacket legs 8 partially inserted in the respective hollow foundation pile 11, and three systems 12, 46 and 47 mounted on the respective jacket leg 8.

[0116] With reference to FIG. 6, the systems 12 and 46 comprises one levelling assembly 14, six wedges 16 spaced equidistantly from one another on a circular pattern around the jacket leg 8, and two stopper brackets 15 fixed on opposite sides of the jacket leg 8.

[0117] The system 47 does not comprise the levelling assembly 14 since the levelling assemblies 14 of the systems 12 and 46 are sufficient to the correct positioning of the three jacket legs 8 into the respective hollow foundation pile 11.

[0118] In particular, the levelling assembly 14 is not mounted on the higher jacket leg 8, which is statically supported by the stopper brackets 15 while the other two jacket legs 8 can be lifted by the respective levelling assembly 14.

[0119] In use and with reference to FIG. 2, before the jacket leg 8 is partially inserted into the hollow foundation pile 11, the system 12 is mounted on the jacket leg 8 prior to the installation at the final offshore or onshore site.

[0120] Once that the jacket leg 8 is partially inserted into the hollow foundation pile 11 and before the activation of the levelling assembly 14 the at least one stopper bracket rest on the edge of the hollow foundation pile 11, bearing the weight of the jacket leg 8.

[0121] The actuators 27 are then activated, setting a distance in the longitudinal direction between the edge of the hollow foundation pile 11 and the at least one stopper bracket 15.

[0122] In greater detail, the upper end of each actuator 27 bear on the respective levelling bracket 30 and the jacking block 37 (FIG. 4) bear on the edge of the hollow foundation pile 11.

[0123] The control panel 38 distributes the power among the actuators 27 controlling the displacement of each actuator 27 in order to adjust the tilt of the longitudinal axis A and the clearance between the hollow foundation pile 11 and the jacket leg 8.

[0124] Once the longitudinal axis A is in the predefined position, each wedge 16 of the plurality of wedges 16 is inserted into the clearance between the hollow foundation pile 11 and the jacket leg 8.

[0125] With reference to FIG. 7, each actuator 17 pushes the respective wedge 16, which slides on the jacket leg 8 outer surface following the respective ribs 18, into the clearance between the hollow foundation pile 11 and the jacket leg 8, blocking the lateral and the vertical movement of the jacket leg 8 with respect to the hollow foundation pile 11.

[0126] In particular, the edge of the hollow foundation pile 11 has a chamfer to allow the insertion of the wedges 16.

[0127] Once the wedges 16 are inserted into the clearance between the hollow foundation pile 11 and the jacket leg 8, the control panel 38 controls the position of the longitudinal axis A and if necessary commands the displacement of the actuators 27 in order to re-adjust the position of the longitudinal axis A.

[0128] In the case of re-adjustment of the longitudinal axis A position, the wedges 16 are pressed again in the clearance between the hollow foundation pile 11 and the jacket leg 8.

[0129] Once the jacket leg 8 is blocked in the predefined position by the wedges 16, the jacket leg 8 is grouted to the hollow foundation pile 11, filling with grout the clearance between the hollow foundation pile 11 and the jacket leg 8.

[0130] The actuators 27 are then removed from the jacket leg 8 for being re-used in a further system 12.

[0131] In a particular embodiment of the present invention, also the actuators 17 are removed from the jacket leg 8 for being re-used in a further system 12.

[0132] In a further particular embodiment of the present invention, the actuators 17 and 27 are maintained in position until the grout is cured.

[0133] In a preferred embodiment not limiting the present invention, the actuators 17 and 27 are removed from the jacked leg 8 by a ROV, not shown in the attached Figures, for being re-used in a further system 12.

[0134] In this description, the term “ROV” means a Remote Operated Vehicle. In greater detail, the term “ROV” means a vehicle remotely operated by a human interface eventually operated by human or software, to perform underwater operations of different kinds.

[0135] With reference to FIG. 3, for the removal of the actuators 27, each actuator 27 is retracted, releasing the loads exerted against the respective levelling bracket 30 and the edge of the hollow foundation pile 11.

[0136] Then, the sliding pin 36 slides inside the guiding cylinder 35 to unblock the radial movement of the rod 34 and to allow the removal of the couple of actuators 27.

[0137] It is clear that the present invention includes variations that are not specifically described and fall within the scope of the protection of the following claims.