SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORTING AND INSTALLING WIND TURBINES ON THE SEAFLOOR

Abstract

System for transporting and installing wind turbines on the seafloor, made up of a structure that has adjustable flotation capacity and is made up of two floating hulls and a series of columns onto which they are mounted with the capacity to move over the same, an upper peripheral frame and a lower peripheral frame, on which means are mounted for fastening and manipulating the wind turbines and piles and ferrules for anchoring said wind turbines to the seafloor.

Claims

1. A system for transporting and installing wind turbines on the seafloor, wherein it is made up of a supporting structure which has adjustable floating capacity and is able to transport a series of wind turbines and anchoring piles and coupling ferrules for said wind turbines, the supporting structure of which comprises: Two lower and parallel floating hulls; A series of vertical columns anchored at the lower end thereof to the floating hulls, distributed on the same in two parallel rows; An upper peripheral frame and a lower peripheral frame, mounted at different heights on the vertical columns from one side to the other, with the capacity to move over the length of said columns; A first rail that is suspended from the upper frame and traces a path that runs within the contour defined by the two rows of vertical columns, close to the same, and holds at least one conveyor carriage with the ability to move over the length of said rail; Means for fastening and manipulating the wind turbines, made up of main upper cranes and main lower cranes mounted on second upper rails and lower rails which run on the outside of the rows of columns close to the same and are suspended from the upper peripheral frame and lower peripheral frame, respectively; and Fastening means for the piles and ferrules in a vertical position located within the rows and columns and below the first rail.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first rail traces a U-shaped path, the lateral extensions of which run in a perpendicular direction to that of the vertical columns, each extension close to one of the rows of columns, and the central extension of which runs between the two alignments of vertical columns in a direction perpendicular to said alignments.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower peripheral frames comprise longitudinal and transverse beams which run between rings mounted on the vertical columns, with the capacity to slide over the length of the same.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the supporting structure is also a carrier structure, outside the contour defined by rows of vertical columns, with means for fixing the position of the wind turbines which are mounted and have the ability to move over the length of the second rail and are made up of an auxiliary crane formed by a telescopic arm which ends at an end gripper, capable of making physical contact and with the objective of millimetrically measuring a previously installed coupling ferrule.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] A non-limiting exemplary embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, where:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective of a system constituted in accordance with the invention.

[0018] FIGS. 2 and 3 show a front and side elevation view, respectively, of the same system.

[0019] FIG. 4 shows a similar view to that of FIG. 2, including the fastening and transport means of the wind turbines.

[0020] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the system of the invention.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a detailed perspective view of the upper inner rail, carrier of the conveyor carriages.

[0022] FIG. 7 is a detailed perspective view of the position gauge, for the mounting of the wind turbines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0023] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a system for transporting and installing wind turbines on the seafloor which is made up of a supporting structure made up of two lower parallel floating hulls (1-2) and by a series of vertical columns (3) that are anchored at the lower end thereof to the floating hulls, preferably at coinciding positions, made up of two parallel rows (4 and 5).

[0024] The floating hulls (1 and 2) will have floodable chambers in order to adjust their floating capacity.

[0025] The columns (3) will preferably be made of a tubular structure, forming watertight chambers that can be floodable to provide adjustable floating capacity.

[0026] Mounted on the columns (3) is an upper peripheral frame (6) and a lower peripheral frame (7) located at different heights and with the capacity to move on said columns by means of systems of actuation that are mechanical, hydraulic, etc., in order to adjust the height thereof.

[0027] Each frame (6-7) is made up of longitudinal and transverse beams (8, 9, respectively) that run between rings (10) mounted on the columns (3), with the capacity to slide the length of the same.

[0028] According to FIGS. 4 and 5, between the two rows (4 and 5) of columns (3) the supporting structure supports a first rail (11) that traces a U-shaped path, the lateral extensions (12 and 13) of which run in a perpendicular direction to that of the columns (3), each lateral extension (12 and 13) close to one of the rows (4 and 5) of the columns, while the central extension (14) runs in perpendicular direction to that of rows (4 and 5) of the columns.

[0029] Mounted on the rail (11) are conveyor carriages (15), capable of sliding the length of said carriage.

[0030] FIG. 6 shows a section of the first rail (11) with a conveyor carriage (15), which is provided with suspension means (16) of a known constitution.

[0031] According to FIG. 4, the system is also provided with means for fastening and manipulating the wind turbines, located outside the limited contour by alignments (4 and 5) of vertical columns (3) and made up of main upper cranes (17) and main lower cranes (18) distributed in two levels, which serve to load the wind turbines at the point of embarkation, to fasten the wind turbines (19) in a vertical position during the transportation thereof and to manipulate the wind turbines at the moment of their installation at the point of assembly.

[0032] The main upper and lower cranes (17 and 18, respectively) are mounted on upper rails (20) and lower rails (21) which run on the outside of the rows (4-5) of columns (3), close to the same, and are suspended, respectively, from the upper peripheral frame (5) and from the lower peripheral frame (6).

[0033] Arranged inside the contour delimited by the two rows (4 and 5) of columns (3) are fastening means in a vertical position consisting of anchoring piles (22) and coupling ferrules (23) for the generators, distributed on either side of the rows located below the first rail (11) and conveyor carriages (15).

[0034] Also mounted on the supporting structure, on the outside of each row (4 and 5) of columns (3) and on the second lower rail (21), FIG. 7, are means for measuring the position of the wind turbines consisting of an auxiliary crane (24) made up of a telescopic arm (25) which ends at an end gripper (26). This auxiliary crane has the capacity to move over the length of the second rail (21).

[0035] For the installation of the wind turbines, once the supporting structure is positioned in the desired location, by means of conveyor carriages (15), FIG. 6, a pile (22) is taken, it is transported to the installation point and it is driven into the seafloor until reaching the position (22′), FIG. 4. Following this step, by means of a conveyor carriage (15), one of the ferrules (23) is taken in the same way and coupled to the pile (22′), until reaching position (23′). Following this step, by means of the end gripper (26) of the auxiliary crane (24), FIG. 7, the position of the ferrule (23′) is adjusted and calibrated. Lastly, by means of the main upper and lower cranes (17 and 18, respectively), a wind turbine (19) is taken and transported to be placed on the previously adjusted ferrule (23′) and inserted into the same until it is supported on the pile (22′) in the final position (27).

[0036] This way, the wind turbines are mounted on the piles, coupled to the same by means of the corresponding ferrules.

[0037] The system of the invention is especially suited for the mounting of wind turbines at offshore location points, able to adapt to any size or power of the same, with the special particularity in that the mounting can be integral, meaning that when departing from the coast the wind turbine assembly is totally mounted with an equal number of piles and ferrules, mounted in a vertical position, and, as was previously described, it adapts to any type of foundation.

[0038] According to the depth of the seafloor on which the wind turbines will be installed, the height of the floating structure is adjusted by means of floodable chambers of the floating hulls (1 and 2) and of the columns (3).

[0039] During the mounting of the wind turbines, the height and separation of the upper and lower peripheral frames (6 and 7, respectively) is adjusted in accordance with the dimensions of the wind turbines.