Semi-submersible type floating substructure and wind turbine offshore installation method using semi-submersible type floating substructure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11519388-B2
Application number	US-202016783255-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2020
Priority date	Apr 9, 2019
Publication date	Dec 6, 2022
Grant date	Dec 6, 2022

Abstract

A wind turbine offshore installation method of installing a wind turbine using a semi-submersible type floating substructure includes: a step of towing the semi-submersible type floating substructure on which the wind turbine is erected to an installation target site on a sea; and a step of coupling the wind turbine and a spar type floating substructure for supporting the wind turbine on the sea at the installation target site to install the wind turbine on the sea.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wind turbine offshore installation method of installing a wind turbine using a semi-submersible type floating substructure, the method comprising:
towing the semi-submersible type floating substructure on which the wind turbine is erected to an installation target site on a sea; and
coupling the wind turbine and a spar type floating substructure for supporting the wind turbine on the sea at the installation target site to install the wind turbine on the sea,
wherein the coupling of the wind turbine and the spar type floating substructure includes:
submerging the spar type floating substructure in the sea so as to dispose the spar type floating substructure in an upright state entirely below a bottom of the semi-submersible type floating substructure; and
floating the spar type floating substructure in the upright state from below the bottom of the semi-submersible type floating substructure so as to vertically pass through a penetration part penetrating the semi-submersible type floating substructure.

2. The wind turbine offshore installation method according to claim 1 , wherein
the coupling of the wind turbine and the spar type floating substructure includes coupling the spar type floating substructure and the wind turbine by flange coupling, or by inserting one of a tower of the wind turbine and the spar type floating substructure into the other.

3. The wind turbine offshore installation method according to claim 1 , wherein
the towing of the semi-submersible type floating substructure includes towing the semi-submersible type floating substructure and the wind turbine to the installation target site while a lower portion of a tower of the wind turbine is supported on a support part provided at the semi-submersible type floating substructure along an edge of the penetration part, and
the coupling of the wind turbine and the spar type floating substructure includes coupling the spar type floating substructure and the lower portion of the tower supported on the support part while the spar type floating substructure is floating in the upright state through the penetration part of the semi-submersible type floating substructure.

4. The wind turbine offshore installation method according to claim 1 , wherein
the coupling of the wind turbine and the spar type floating substructure includes locating the spar type floating substructure below the penetration part using a thruster provided at the spar type floating substructure or a winch provided at the semi-submersible type floating substructure, or by towing the semi-submersible type floating substructure.

5. The wind turbine offshore installation method according to claim 1 , wherein
the floating of the spar type floating substructure includes floating a tapered upper end portion of the spar type floating substructure in the penetration part.

6. The wind turbine offshore installation method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
releasing coupling between the wind turbine and the semi-submersible type floating substructure after the wind turbine and the spar type floating substructure are coupled;
after the releasing of the coupling between the wind turbine and the semi-submersible type floating substructure, separating the wind turbine and the spar type floating substructure from the semi-submersible type floating substructure through a communication path in the penetration part formed in a floating substructure body of the semi-submersible type floating substructure so as to communicate with waters surrounding the floating substructure body; and
towing the semi-submersible type floating substructure after being released from the coupling to the wind turbine to remove the semi-submersible type floating substructure from the installation target site.

7. The wind turbine offshore installation method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
erecting the wind turbine on the semi-submersible type floating substructure along a quay.

8. The wind turbine offshore installation method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
towing the spar type floating substructure to the installation target site.

9. The wind turbine offshore installation method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
anchoring the spar type floating substructure at a sea bottom.

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Karikomi Kai

Classifications

• B63B2035/446

  for converting wind energy into electric energy · CPC title

• F05B2240/93

  on a structure floating on a liquid surface · CPC title

• B63B2001/044

  with a small waterline area compared to total displacement, e.g. of semi-submersible type · CPC title

• B63B2035/442

  Spar-type semi-submersible structures, i.e. shaped as single slender, e.g. substantially cylindrical or trussed vertical bodies · CPC title

• Y02E10/72

  Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction · CPC title