Offshore wind turbine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10738765-B2
Application number	US-201716338047-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2017
Priority date	Sep 30, 2016
Publication date	Aug 11, 2020
Grant date	Aug 11, 2020

Abstract

An offshore wind turbine, having a supporting structure, having a nacelle, having a rotor, having an interior space, having at least one access opening, and having a means of ascent, such as a ladder, a staircase or the like, wherein the supporting structure has a tower and a foundation structure, wherein the tower supports the nacelle and the rotor, wherein the access opening is configured as an access for people to the interior space, wherein the means of ascent is arranged in the interior space, wherein the means of ascent is assigned to the access opening, and wherein no external work platform is arranged between the foundation structure and the access opening, as viewed along a vertical extent of the supporting structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An offshore wind turbine, comprising:
a supporting structure;
a nacelle;
a rotor;
an interior space;
at least one access opening; and
an apparatus for ascent, such as a ladder or a staircase,
wherein the supporting structure has a tower and a foundation structure,
wherein the tower supports the nacelle and the rotor,
wherein the access opening is an access for people to the interior space,
wherein the apparatus for ascent is arranged in the interior space,
wherein the apparatus for ascent is assigned to the access opening, and
wherein no external work platform is arranged between the foundation structure and the access opening, as viewed along a vertical extent of the supporting structure,

a lifting device; and
a loading opening,
wherein the lifting device is assigned to the loading opening, wherein the lifting device is movable from a first into a second position, and
wherein, in the first position, the lifting device is completely accommodated in the interior space.

2. The offshore wind turbine as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the lifting device and the loading opening are arranged between the access opening and the nacelle, as viewed along the vertical extent, and
wherein, in the second position, the lifting device is extended in the region of the loading opening so as to project at least in sections over an outer circumferential surface of the supporting structure.

3. The offshore wind turbine as claimed in claim 2 , wherein no external apparatus for ascent, such as a ladder or a staircase, is arranged between the access opening and the loading opening, as viewed along the vertical extent of the supporting structure.

4. The offshore wind turbine as claimed in claim 2 ,
wherein the lifting device has a trolley and a cantilever,
wherein the trolley is provided for the mounting of a hoist or of loads and is displaceable along the cantilever, and
wherein the cantilever is movable at least in sections out of the interior space, and therefore the cantilever is extended so as to project at least in sections over an outer circumferential surface of the supporting structure.

5. The offshore wind turbine as claimed in claim 2 ,
wherein the loading opening is closable with a flap, and
wherein the flap is fastened to the supporting structure so as to be pivotable outward, and therefore the flap in an open position forms a loading platform projecting over an outer circumferential surface of the supporting structure.

6. The offshore wind turbine as claimed in claim 2 , wherein, in the completely assembled state of the offshore wind turbine, the lifting device is arranged at a height of 5 m to 10 m above the lowest tidal water level, as viewed along the vertical extent of the supporting structure.

7. The offshore wind turbine as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the access opening is assigned a baffle plate which is set back inward in relation to the access opening into the interior space, and
wherein the access opening is assigned a ledge which can be reached via a ladder located outside the foundation structure, and
wherein a door for opening and closing the access opening is provided.

8. The offshore wind turbine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, in the completely assembled state of the offshore wind turbine, the access opening is arranged 15 m or less above the lowest tidal water level, as viewed along the vertical extent of the supporting structure,
and
in the completely assembled state of the offshore wind turbine, the apparatus for ascent is arranged at least in sections 15 m or less above the lowest tidal water level, as viewed along the vertical extent of the supporting structure,

and
wherein, in the completely assembled state of the offshore wind turbine, the access opening is spaced apart 5 m or more from a lower passage of rotor tips of the rotor, as viewed along the vertical extent of the supporting structure,

and
wherein, in the completely assembled state of the offshore wind turbine, no external work platform is arranged at a height of 15 m or more, in particular 10 m or more, above the lowest tidal water level and below a lower rotor passage of the rotor, as viewed along the vertical extent of the supporting structure.

9. The offshore wind turbine as claimed in claim 8 ,
wherein, in the completely assembled state of the offshore wind turbine, the access opening is arranged 10 m or less above the lowest tidal water level, as viewed along the vertical extent of the supporting structure,

and
wherein, in the completely assembled state of the offshore wind turbine, the apparatus for ascent is arranged at least in sections 10 m or less above the lowest tidal water level, as viewed along the vertical extent of the supporting structure,

and
wherein, in the completely assembled state of the offshore wind turbine, the access opening is spaced apart 10 m or more from a lower passage of rotor tips of the rotor, as viewed along the vertical extent of the supporting structure.

10. The offshore wind turbine as claimed in claim 9 ,
wherein, in the completely assembled state of the offshore wind turbine, the access opening is arranged 5 m or less above the lowest tidal water level, as viewed along the vertical extent of the supporting structure,

and
wherein, in the completely assembled state of the offshore wind turbine, the apparatus for ascent is arranged at least in sections 5 m or less above the lowest tidal water level, as viewed along the vertical extent of the supporting structure,

and
wherein, in the completely assembled state of the offshore wind turbine, the access opening is spaced apart 15 m or more from a lower passage of rotor tips of the rotor, as viewed along the vertical extent of the supporting structure.

11. The offshore wind turbine as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the supporting structure has a transition piece,
wherein the transition piece is arranged between the tower and the foundation structure, as viewed along the vertical extent of the supporting structure,
wherein the transition piece connects the foundation structure to the tower, and
wherein the access opening is provided on the transition piece.

Assignees

• Innogy Se

Inventors

• Bartminn Daniel
• Weber Joerg Johannes
• Zipfel Bernadette
• Heinrich Oliver

Classifications

• E02B2017/0065

  Monopile structures · CPC title

• E02B2017/0091

  Offshore structures for wind turbines · CPC title

• Y02E10/727

  Offshore wind turbines · CPC title

• E02B17/0034

  Maintenance, repair or inspection of offshore constructions · CPC title

• F05B2240/95

  offshore · CPC title