OFFSHORE SUPPORT STRUCTURE, OFFSHORE TOWER INSTALLATION WITH THE OFFSHORE SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND OFFSHORE WIND POWER PLANT WITH THE OFFSHORE TOWER INSTALLATION

Abstract

An offshore support structure is provided, including at least one upper support structure section for supporting at least one functional device with a functional mass, at least one lower support structure section for founding the offshore support structure at a seabed of a sea and at least one transition support structure section which is arranged between the upper support structure section and the lower support structure section for physically connecting the upper support structures section and the lower support structure section. The lower support structure section forms a foundation of an offshore tower installation. With such an arrangement, it is possible that the transition support structure section is developed with a lower mass in comparison to an arrangement where the transition support structure section is in the water. The offshore tower installation is used for offshore wind power plants.

Claims

1. An offshore support structure comprising: at least one upper support structure section for supporting at least one functional device with a functional mass; at least one lower support structure section for founding the offshore support structure at a seabed of a sea; and at least one transition support structure section which is arranged between the at least one upper support structure section and the at least one lower support structure section for physically connecting the at least one upper support structures section and the at least one lower support structure section. wherein the at least one upper support structure section, the at least one functional device and the at least one transition support structure section comprise together an upper support structure mass, and the at least one lower support structure section comprises a lower support structure mass, wherein a mass ratio of the lower support structure mass to the upper support structure mass is in a range from 1 to 2.

2. The offshore support structure according to claim 1, wherein the mass ratio is within a range from 1.3 to 2.

3. The offshore support structure according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transition support structure section comprises at least one gravitational mass of at least 500 t.

4. The offshore support structure according to claim 3, wherein the at least one gravitational mass comprises at least 1000 t.

5. The offshore support structure according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transition support structure section comprises concrete.

6. The offshore support structure according to claim 1, wherein the at least one upper support structure section comprises a tower.

7. The offshore support structure according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lower support structure section comprises at least one subsea structure which is selected from the group consisting of, a jacket structure, a monopile structure, a tripod structure, and a gravity structure.

8. The offshore support structure according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lower support structure section comprises at least one foot for arranging the at least one lower support structure section on the seabed of the sea.

9. The offshore support structure according to claim 1, wherein the at least one functional device is a wind turbine.

10. The offshore tower installation with the offshore support structure according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lower support structure section forms a foundation of the offshore tower installation.

11. The offshore tower installation according to claim 10, wherein the at least one lower support structure section is arranged at a seabed of a sea such that the at least one transition support structure section remains arranged above a sea water level of the sea.

12. An offshore wind power plant with at least one offshore tower installation according to claim 10, wherein the at least one functional device is a wind turbine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0025] Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a detail of an embodiment of an offshore support structure; and

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a detail of an embodiment of an offshore tower installation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Subject matter of the example is an offshore tower installation 10 (FIG. 2) for an offshore wind power plant 100. The offshore tower installation is used for an offshore wind power plant 100. Thereby, kinetic wind energy is transferred into electrical energy. The offshore tower installation is used for offshore wind power plants.

[0029] The offshore tower installation 10 comprises an offshore support structure 1 (FIG. 1).

[0030] The offshore support structure 1 comprises an upper support structure section 11 for supporting at least one functional device 14 with a functional mass. The upper support structure section 11 comprises a tower 111. The functional device 14 is a wind turbine (including nacelle, hub and rotor blades). The wind turbine is supported by the tower 111.

[0031] The offshore support structure 1 comprises a lower support structure section 12. The lower support structure section 13 forms a foundation 110 of the offshore tower installation 10. The lower construction section comprises a subsea structure 121. The subsea structure is a jacket structure 1211 with four legs 1212. Every leg 1212 comprises a foot 1213. Via the roots 1213 the subsea structure 1211 is arranged on the seabed 21 of the sea 2. A mass of each of foot is of about 200 t.

[0032] Additionally, the offshore support structure 1 comprises a transition support structure section 13. The transition support structure section 13 is located between the upper support structure section 11 and the lower support structure section 12. With the aid of the transition support structure section 13, the upper support structure section 11 and the lower construction section 12 are physically connected together. The transition support structure section 13 is sandwiched between the upper support structure section 11 and the lower construction section 12.

[0033] The transition construction section is a kind of a platform which is arranged between the upper support structure section 11 and the lower support structure section 13.

[0034] The transition support structure section 13 comprises a gravitational mass 131 of about 1000 tons. The gravitational mass 131 of the transition support structure section 13 is made of reinforced concrete. In the reinforced concrete iron bars are incorporated into concrete for reinforcement of the concrete.

[0035] For the offshore tower installation 100 the lower construction section 12 is arranged at the seabed 21 of the sea 2 or in the seabed 21 of the sea 2 such that the transition support structure section 13 remains arranged above a sea water level (surface of the water) 22 of the sea 2. Thereby, tides an height of waves are taken into account.

[0036] With such an arrangement it is possible that the transition support structure section 13 is developed with a lower mass in comparison to an arrangement where the transition support structure section 13 is located under the water level (in the water). Buoyancy force doesn't affect the gravity foundation function of the transition support structure section 13. The resulting offshore tower installation 10 remains erected with the aid of the gravitational mass 131 of the transition support section 13.

[0037] Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0038] For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of a or an throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and comprising does not exclude other steps or elements.