GB2530302A - Method and apparatus for transporting offshore floating wind turbines - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for transporting offshore floating wind turbines Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2530302A
GB2530302A GB1416518.7A GB201416518A GB2530302A GB 2530302 A GB2530302 A GB 2530302A GB 201416518 A GB201416518 A GB 201416518A GB 2530302 A GB2530302 A GB 2530302A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
wind turbine
floating wind
vessel
hulled
hulled vessel
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB1416518.7A
Other versions
GB201416518D0 (en
Inventor
Wei He
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Equinor Energy AS
Original Assignee
Statoil Petroleum ASA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Statoil Petroleum ASA filed Critical Statoil Petroleum ASA
Priority to GB1416518.7A priority Critical patent/GB2530302A/en
Publication of GB201416518D0 publication Critical patent/GB201416518D0/en
Publication of GB2530302A publication Critical patent/GB2530302A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/003—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for for transporting very large loads, e.g. offshore structure modules
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B77/00—Transporting or installing offshore structures on site using buoyancy forces, e.g. using semi-submersible barges, ballasting the structure or transporting of oil-and-gas platforms
    • B63B77/10—Transporting or installing offshore structures on site using buoyancy forces, e.g. using semi-submersible barges, ballasting the structure or transporting of oil-and-gas platforms specially adapted for electric power plants, e.g. wind turbines or tidal turbine generators
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D13/00—Assembly, mounting or commissioning of wind motors; Arrangements specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
    • F03D13/20—Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
    • F03D13/25—Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors specially adapted for offshore installation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D13/00—Assembly, mounting or commissioning of wind motors; Arrangements specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
    • F03D13/40—Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2240/00—Components
    • F05B2240/90—Mounting on supporting structures or systems
    • F05B2240/93—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a structure floating on a liquid surface
    • F05B2240/932—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a structure floating on a liquid surface which is a catamaran-like structure
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2240/00—Components
    • F05B2240/90—Mounting on supporting structures or systems
    • F05B2240/95—Mounting on supporting structures or systems offshore
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
    • Y02E10/72—Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
    • Y02E10/727—Offshore wind turbines

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Wind Motors (AREA)

Abstract

A method of moving a floating wind turbine 2 having a buoyant support structure 6 offshore by floating the wind turbine in the water and supporting it with a multi-hulled vessel 12 during transport. The vessel preferably provides lateral support to the wind turbine, which may be carried in an upright or inclined position. The wind turbine may be supported between two hulls of the vessel, which may be a catamaran, preferably via a support arrangement (22, fig. 2), e.g. a cylindrical holding member which in use encircles a portion of the wind turbine. Moreover, the vessel may be towed by a tugboat 14, and optionally tied to a second, trailing boat 18 for enhanced stability. An apparatus 1 for applying the aforementioned method is also claimed.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING OFFSHORE FLOATING
WIND TURBINES
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for transporting offshore floating wind turbines.
As used herein, the term "floating wind turbine" means a wind turbine structure of the kind that is designed to float in a body of water when in use. For example, the wind turbine may be mounted on a buoyant support structure that means that the turbine can generate electricity when installed in areas in which the water depths result in bottom-mounted towers not being feasible or being costly.
Floating wind turbines may comprise a buoyant body which forms a support structure. The support structure may typically comprise a lower support structure, which, when installed, is generally mostly submerged, and a tower, which, when installed, is generally above the water line. Usually, at the upper end of the tower is a nacelle, which contains an electrical generator and other components, and a rotor. The body is generally long and approximately cylindrical in shape.
Offshore wind farms comprising floating wind turbines are currently only in a demonstration phase as this is still a relative new technology. Nevertheless, floating wind turbines are increasingly becoming very large structures, the tower, for example, being typically 50-1 50 metres in length and the rotor blades, for example, and being in the range of 40-1 00 metres long. They are assembled onshore or in protected waters and it is a significant challenge to move them to their desired location out at sea.
Presently, the transport of the floating wind turbines to their operation site differs greatly, and faces different challenges, from the transport of the wind turbines with fixed foundations. As a result, it has been found that transportation methods used with fixed foundation floating wind turbines are not always suitable for use with floating wind turbines.
It is known to tow offshore floating wind turbines to their installation site by floating the fully assembled wind turbine in the body of water through which it will be towed and then towing the floating wind turbine using a towing boat.
One advantage of floating wind turbines is that the whole unit can be fully assembled onshore or in protected water areas. Then the fully assembled wind turbine can be towed to the installation destination.
Increasingly, it is desired for installation sites for floating wind turbines to be further from land. As a result, it is becoming necessary to tow the floating wind turbines over longer distances. Also, wind turbines are becoming larger and thus transporting fully assembled floating wind turbines to their offshore site is becoming more of a challenge.
In this regard, according to calculations made by the applicant, the towing speed for such turbines should generally be not higher than 1 mIs since it is desirable to keep the roll amplitude smaller than 10 deg. As a result it can take about a week or more to tow a unit to a typical installation destination.
Given the many uncertainties of a weather window forecast over a such period, there is a high level of risk associated with these installations. Therefore, there is a desire to provide a way of increasing the speed of the transportation of floating wind turbines.
Accordingly, it has been necessary to devise a novel and cost effective method and apparatus which is suitable for transporting offshore floating wind turbines to their operation site.
In a first aspect the present invention provides a method of moving a floating wind turbine relative to a body of water, the floating wind turbine having a buoyant support structure, the method comprising: providing a multi-hulled vessel; providing a floating wind turbine; floating the floating wind turbine in the body of water; and supporting the floating wind turbine with the multi-hulled vessel whilst the floating wind turbine is floating in the body of water and is being transported relative to the body of water.
In a second aspect the present invention provides an apparatus for moving a floating wind turbine relative to a body of water, the apparatus comprising: a floating wind turbine having a buoyant support structure, and a multi-hulled vessel for supporting the floating wind turbine when the floating wind turbine is floating in the body of water and is being transported relative to the body of water.
With this transporting method and arrangement, because the floating wind turbine is supported, i.e. stabilised, by the multi-hulled vessel, the motions of the wind turbine can be reduced during transportation. This is because the multi-hulled vessel can have a high transverse metacentre which can reduce motions (such as rolling and pitching) of the floating wind turbine. These motions, such as the rolling motions, may be caused by various factors such as varying towing forces applied to the floating wind turbine during towing.
The transporting method and apparatus means that it is possible to transport the floating wind turbine at a faster speed.
By support it may be meant that the multi-hulled vessel provides a means to stabilise (i.e. reduce motions of) the floating wind turbine.
By "multi-hulled vessel" it is meant a vessel with multiple hulls (i.e. two or more) which are rigidly connected together by a frame. The multi-hulled vessel may be a unitary structure.
The hulls may be parallel and laterally offset from each other.
The floating wind turbine maybe received and supported between two parallel hulls of the multi-hulled vessel.
The multi-hulled vessel may be a barge with multiple hulls.
For example, the multi-hulled vessel may be a twin hulled vessel (i.e. a vessel with only two hulls) and may be termed a catamaran.
The multi-hulled vessel may be a multi-hulled boat, ship or barge etc. which may be unpowered.
The multi-hulled vessel may be specially designed to receive and support a floating wind turbine whilst it is being transported to their intended destination, i.e. the multi-hulled vessel may be manufactured purely for this purpose.
The multi-hulled vessel may thus be a simple and relatively cheap structure.
The multi-hulled vessel may be dimensioned specifically for the floating wind turbine it is intended to support during transportation.
The floating wind turbine may be fully assembled when it is being transported to its installation site, i.e. the floating wind turbine may be assembled onshore or in protected waters before being moved to its installation site.
The buoyant support structure may be a buoyant body of the floating wind turbine. The support structure may comprise a lower support structure, which, when installed, is generally mostly submerged, and a tower, which, when installed, is generally above the water line. Usually, at the upper end of the tower is a nacelle, which contains an electrical generator and other components, and a rotor.
The body is may be long and approximately cylindrical in shape.
The floating wind turbine may be transported in an upright position (relative to the body of water with the nacelle at the upper end of the floating wind turbine).
Alternatively the floating wind turbine may be transported in an inclined position whilst it is supported by the multi-hulled vessel. This has the advantage that the draught of the floating wind turbine may be reduced. This may be useful if the floating wind turbine needs to be transported through areas of shallow or shallower water, If the floating wind turbine is to be transported at an inclined angle it is desirable for the nacelle to be configured so that it may be tilted to a large angle from the vertical position, e.g. up to 90 degrees, for transport without causing S damage to the components of the nacelle and generator.
When the floating wind turbine is transported in an inclined position, a float, such as a buoy, may be attached to the floating wind turbine so as to help maintain the floating wind turbine at the inclined angle.
The floating wind turbine may be supported between two hulls of the multi-F! hulled vessel whilst it is being transported. In other words, the multi-hulled vessel may be arranged to support the floating wind turbine between two of its hulls during transportation.
For example, when the multi-hulled vessel is a twin-hulled vessel the floating wind turbine may be supported between the two hulls of the twin-hulled vessel.
The multi-hulled vessel may support the floating wind turbine by preventing or minimising motions in lateral (i.e. horizontal) directions.
The floating wind turbine may float in the water under its own buoyancy, i.e. the multi-hulled vessel may not support (at least to any significant degree) the floating wind turbine in a vertical direction. This means that the multi-hulled vessel may only be used to reduce lateral motions (e.g. pitch, roll, surge and sway) of the floating wind turbine rather than providing a vessel on which the floating wind turbine is supported in the vertical direction. If the buoyancy of the floating wind F: turbine itself is used to hold the vertical position of the floating wind turbine in the body of water, the multi-hulled vessel can be a simple and small structure which can aid fast transportation of the floating wind turbine. This also has the benefit that the multi-hulled vessel can be relatively cheap to produce.
The floating wind turbine may be ballasted and/or attached to floats or weights so as to control the draught of the floating wind turbine.
For example, the draught may be reduced, for example by deballasting or attaching floats to the floating wind turbine, before or during transportation. This may be useful if the intended route has shallow parts through which the floating wind turbine needs to be transported. The draught may be increased, for example by ballasting or attaching weights, before or during transportation. This may be useful to increase the stability of the floating wind turbine during transportation.
The system may be arranged so that the draught can be controlled/adjusted during transportation. This is so that the optimum draught for the conditions can be achieved throughout the whole transportation route.
The draught during transportation may depend on a number of factors such as the desired draught of the final installed floating wind turbine, the water depth of the transportation, the conditions, such as weather conditions, during towing and the stability of the wind turbine during the transporting.
The multi-hulled vessel may provide lateral support to the floating wind turbine whilst it is being transported and optionally provide no support in a vertical direction. The lateral support may stabilise the floating wind turbine during transportation so that the speed at which the floating wind turbine is transported can be increased. The lateral direction is a direction which is parallel to the plane of the water, i.e. a horizontal direction or a front-aft or side to side direction with respect to the multi-hulled vessel.
As noted above, the multi-hulled vessel may provide no support (or at least no significant support) in a vertical direction. This means that it is possible for the multi-hulled vessel to be a simple light structure as it does not have to bear any significant loads in the vertical direction.
The multi-hulled vessel may have a support arrangement. The support arrangement may hold the floating wind turbine in position relative to the multi-hulled vessel during towing, i.e. the support arrangement may allow the floating wind turbine to be connected to the multi-hulled vessel.
The method may comprise connecting the floating wind turbine to the multi-hulled vessel before the floating wind turbine is transported to the offshore installation site.
The support arrangement may be a part of the multi-hulled vessel which directly contacts the floating wind turbine during transportation to provide the support from the multi-hulled vessel.
The support arrangement may have an open and a closed configuration.
The open configuration may be the configuration assumed when the wind turbine is being installed into/connected to the multi-hulled vessel and the closed configuration may be the configuration assumed when the floating wind turbine is held by the multi-hulled vessel during transporting of the floating wind turbine.
The support arrangement may have a fixed portion which is rigidly fixed relative to the hulls of the multi-hulled vessel. The support arrangement may have one or more (e.g. two) movable portions, e.g. movable arms, which can move relative to the multi-hulled vessel between the open configuration and the closed configuration.
The support arrangement may be arranged to maintain/hold the floating wind turbine in an upright position during transportation. Alternatively, the support arrangement may be arranged to maintain/hold the floating wind turbine in an inclined position during transportation.
The support arrangement may be elongate in the direction parallel to the axis of the support arrangement, e.g. in a direction parallel to the vertical direction when it is arranged to hold the floating wind turbine in an upright position. The length (i.e. dimension in the direction parallel to the axis of the support arrangement) of the support arrangement may be may be at least half the lateral dimension (i.e. the diameter in the case of a cylindrical floating wind turbine) of the portion of the floating wind turbine which the support arrangement surrounds and/or contacts. For example, the length (i.e. dimension parallel to the axis of the support arrangement) of the support arrangement may be between 0.25 and 4 times, or 0.5 and 1 times the lateral dimension (i.e. the diameter in the case of a cylindrical floating wind turbine) of the portion of the floating wind turbine which the support arrangement surrounds and/or contacts.
When the floating wind turbine is installed in the support arrangement and the support arrangement is in the closed configuration, the fixed portion and the one or more movable arms may encircle or surround (entirely) a portion of the floating wind turbine such as the body of the floating wind turbine. The body may be, or be part of, the buoyant support structure, i.e. a buoyant body. This is so that the floating wind turbine may be held securely to the multi-hulled vessel so that lateral support can be provided.
When the support arrangement is in the closed configuration around the floating wind turbine, the floating wind turbine may be able to move freely in a vertical direction relative to the multi-hulled vessel. In this case, the floating wind turbine may be held in a position with the nacelle above the water by its own buoyancy.
Alternatively, when the support arrangement is in the closed configuration around the floating wind turbine, the floating wind turbine may not be able to move (i.e. it may be rigidly fixed) in a lateral direction relative to the multi-hulled vessel.
When the support arrangement is in the closed configuration, it may be in direct contact with a portion of the floating wind turbine, such as around its body. In other words, the internal lateral dimension of the support arrangement when it is in the closed configuration may be substantially the same as the lateral dimension (i.e. the diameter in the case of a cylindrical floating wind turbine) of the portion of the floating wind turbine which the support arrangement surrounds. As previously mentioned, the body may be, or be part of, the buoyant support structure, i.e. a buoyant body.
In the case of a floating wind turbine which has a cylindrical body, the support arrangement may also be cylindrical when it is in the closed configuration.
The arrangement to hold the floating wind turbine may be adjustable in size so as to be able to accommodate floating wind turbines of different sizes, i.e. floating wind turbines with buoyant bodies of different diameters.
The distance between the centres of two of the hulls of the multi-hulled vessel may be between 1.5 and 4, or 2 to 3 times the lateral dimension, i.e. the diameter in the case of a cylindrical body, of the floating wind turbine being transported. By lateral dimension it is meant the dimension of the portion of the floating wind turbine which is being laterally supported by the multi-hulled vessel, i.e. the portion which is received in the support arrangement.
Preferably the distance between the centres of two of the hulls of the multi-hulled vessel is about 2 times the diameter of the floating wind turbine being transported. For example, the diameter of the floating wind turbine may be around m and the distance between the centres of two of the hulls may be about 30m.
This means that the floating wind turbine can be accommodated between the hulls and an appropriate level of stability can be provided during transportation without the multi-hulled vessel being too large.
The length of each of the hulls of the multi hulled vessel may each be at least two times the lateral dimension (i.e. the diameter in the case of a cylindrical floating wind turbine) of the portion of the floating wind turbine which the support arrangement in use will surround.
The length of each of the hulls may be 3 to 5 times or about 4 times the lateral dimension (i.e. the diameter in the case of a cylindrical floating wind turbine) of the of the floating wind turbine.
One or more, or all, of the hulls of the multi-hulled vessel may comprise a fin or a rudder. This is so that the stability of the system comprising the multi hulled vessel can be further increased. The fin or rudder may be provided near, or at the rear end of the hull on which it is located.
The floating wind turbine which is supported by the multi-hulled vessel may be transported by being towed. In this case, the multi-hulled vessel may be not self-propelled (i.e. not powered). This means that the multi-hulled vessel can be a simple small structure which is cheap to produce.
Alternatively, the multi-hulled vessel may be able to propel itself so as to transport the floating wind turbine.
When the floating wind turbine is transported by being towed, it may be towed by an additional vessel. Thus the apparatus may also comprise a towing vessel for towing the floating wind turbine whilst it is supported with the multi-hulled vessel.
The towing vessel may be connected, such as via line, to the multi-hulled vessel and/or the floating wind turbine.
When the towing vessel is connected via a line to the multi-hulled vessel, the line may be bifurcated (i.e. Y-shaped). When the line is bifurcated, the line may have one end connected to one of the hulls, another of the ends connected to another of the hulls and a third end connected to the towing vessel. This is so that the towing forces can spread equally between two of the hulls of the multi-hulled vessel.
Further, additional vessels may be connected, such as via a line, to the multi-hulled vessel and/or the floating wind turbine. For example, a second additional vessel may be located on the opposite side of the multi-hulled vessel to the first additional vessel which is for towing (the towing vessel). This second additional vessel can be used to help further balance the movement of the multi-hulled vessel. These two additional vessels may be the only vessels attached/connected to the floating wind turbine and multi-hulled vessel arrangement. 1; The arrangement may not comprise the second additional vessel. For example, there may not be a second additional vessel if the stability of the wind turbine supported by the multi hulled vessel is sufficient without the second additional vessel.
The first additional vessel and optionally the second additional vessel (if present) may each be self-powered.
The arrangement may therefore consist of a first additional vessel (additional to the multi-hulled vessel for supporting the floating wind turbine) and a second additional vessel.
Due to the fact that the floating wind turbine is supported with a multi-hulled vessel, the towing arrangement can consist of fewer boats than known towing arrangements. This is because previously more boats, e.g. three, were employed to help stabilise the floating wind turbine whilst it was being towed, When the floating wind turbine is supported with a multi-hulled vessel it is possible for there to only be one boat in front (for towing) and optionally one boat behind whilst providing a stable towing arrangement.
The second additional vessel may also be connected to the multi-hulled vessel by means of a bifurcated towing line.
Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic of an example transporting arrangement; Figure 2 is schematic of a plan view of a twin-hulled vessel for supporting a floating wind turbine; and Figure 3 is a schematic cross section of part of a floating wind turbine being H supported by a twin-hulled vessel.
Figure 1 shows (schematically) an arrangement 1 for towing a floating wind turbine 2 to an offshore installation location through a body of water. The floating wind turbine 2 comprises a tower 4 supported on a buoyant body 6. The floating wind turbine 2 comprises a nacelle B and a rotor 10 which are supported on top of the tower 4.
The floating wind turbine may be mounted on various buoyant support structures. In this case a long cylindrical buoyant body is used as an example, but other floating structures could alternatively be used, The floating wind turbine 2 floats in a body of water under its own buoyancy provided by the buoyant body 6. A twin-hulled vessel 12 provides lateral support to the floating wind turbine 12 whilst it is being towed. This is so that the floating wind turbine 2 is stabilised so that lateral motions of the floating wind turbine 2 may be minimised whilst it is being transported.
The floating wind turbine 2 and multi-hulled vessel 12 are towed through the body of water by a first additional vessel 14. The first additional vessel 14 is connected to the multi-hulled vessel 12 by a line 16. As shown in Figure 2, the line 16 is bifurcated and connected at the two bifurcated ends to each of the hulls of the twin-hulled vessel 12.
The arrangement 1 also comprises a second additional vessel 18 which is located on the opposite side of the twin-hulled additional vessel 12 to the first additional (towing) vessel 14. The second additional vessel is connected to the twin-hulled vessel 12 via a line 20.
Figure 2 shows schematically that the twin-hulled vessel 12 comprises a support arrangement 22. The support arrangement 22 is a cylindrical holding member which in use encircles entirely a portion of the floating wind turbine 2. The support arrangement 22 has a fixed (relative to the twin-hulled vessel 12) portion 24 and two movable portions 26.
The movable portions 26 can move between an open configuration, as shown in solid line in Figure 2, to a closed configuration as shown by the dashed line in Figure 2. When the movable portions 26 are in the open position the support arrangement 22 can receive the floating wind turbine 2. When the movable portions 26 are in the closed configuration the support arrangement 22 is in contact with the floating wind turbine 2 (as shown in Figure 3) so as to provide lateral support to the floating wind turbine whilst it is being towed.
The support arrangement 22 shown in this example is arranged to cause the wind turbine transport to be transported in an upright position. The support arrangement 22 can alternatively be adapted to transport the floating wind turbine in an inclined position.
The twin-hulled vessel 12 has two parallel hulls of equal length which are rigidly and structurally joined by a connecting member. The distance between the centres of the two hulls is 2 to 3 times of the diameter of the floating wind turbine 2.
The length of the hulls of the twin-hulled vessel 12 is several times (e.g. 3to 5 times) the diameter of the floating wind turbine 2. The support arrangement for holding the floating wind turbine 2 has the same internal diameter as the diameter of the portion of the floating wind turbine which is held by the support arrangement.
The length (i.e. dimension in the vertical direction or direction parallel to the axis of the support arrangement 22) is at least half the diameter of the floating wind turbine 2.
Each hull of the twin-hulled vessel 12 has a fin (rudder) which is attached to the rear of the hull to improve the hydrodynamic behavior of the twin-hulled vessel.
The transportation method may comprise floating the fully assembled floating wind turbine 2 in the body of water through which it is to be transported.
Then the floating wind turbine 2 may be connected to the twin-hulled vessel 12 via the support arrangement 22. This may be achieved by receiving the floating wind turbine 2 in the support arrangement 22 when it is in its open configuration and then moving the movable arms 26 so as to encircle the buoyant body 6 of the floating wind turbine 2 (as shown in Figure 3).
When the support arrangement 22 is in its closed configuration the floating wind turbine 2 may not be able to move relative to the twin-hulled vessel 12 (at least in a lateral, i.e. horizontal, direction).
The method may comprise attaching one or more additional vessels 14, 18 to the floating wind turbine 2 and/or the twin-hulled vessel 12 such as via lines 16, 20.
The floating wind turbine 2 may then be transported to a desired offshore installation site by towing using one of the additional vessels 14.
Once at the offshore installation site, the floating wind turbine may be released from the support arrangement 22 so that the twin-hulled vessel 12 can be removed and towed back to shore. The twin-hulled vessel 12 may then be used to transport another floating wind turbine to a desired offshore installation site.

Claims (20)

  1. CLAIMS: 1. A method of moving a floating wind turbine relative to a body of water, the floating wind turbine having a buoyant support structure, the method comprising: providing a multi-hulled vessel; providing a floating wind turbine; floating the floating wind turbine in the body of water; and supporting the floating wind turbine with the multi-hulled vessel whilst the floating wind turbine is floating in the body of water and is being transported relative to the body of water.
  2. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multi-hulled vessel provides lateral support to the floating wind turbine whilst it is being transported.
  3. 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the floating wind turbine is transported in an upright position.
  4. 4. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the floating wind turbine is transported in an inclined position.
  5. 5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the floating wind turbine is supported between two hulls of the multi-hulled vessel.
  6. 6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the multi-hulled vessel comprises a support arrangement for supporting the floating wind turbine whilst it is being transported.
  7. 7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the method comprises: providing a first additional vessel, wherein the floating wind turbine is transported by being towed using the first additional vessel.
  8. 8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the method comprises: providing a second additional vessel.
  9. 9. A method as claimed claim 8, wherein the first additional vessel is located on one side of the multi-hulled vessel and the second additional vessel is located F on the opposite side of the multi-hulled vessel whilst the floating wind turbine is F being transported.
  10. 10. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the multi-hulled vessel is a catamaran.
  11. 11. An apparatus for moving a floating wind turbine relative to a body of water, the apparatus comprising: a floating wind turbine having a buoyant support structure, and a multi-hulled vessel for supporting the floating wind turbine when the floating wind turbine is floating in the body of water and is being transported relative to the body of water.
  12. 12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the multi-hulled vessel is arranged to provide lateral support to the floating wind turbine whilst it is being transported.
  13. 13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein the apparatus is arranged so that the floating wind turbine is transported relative to the body of water in an upright position.
  14. 14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein the apparatus is arranged so that the floating wind turbine is transported relative to the body of water in an inclined position.
  15. 15. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 11 to 14, wherein the multi-hulled vessel is arranged to support the floating wind turbine between two hulls of the multi-hulled vessel whilst the floating wind turbine is being transported.
  16. 16. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 11 to 15, wherein the multi-hulled vessel comprises a support arrangement for supporting the floating wind turbine whilst it is being transported. -14-
  17. 17. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 11 to 16, wherein the apparatus comprises a first additional vessel for towing the floating wind turbine whilst it is supported with the multi-hulled vessel.
  18. 18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the apparatus comprises a second additional vessel.
  19. 19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein, in use, the first towing vessel is located on one side of the multi-hulled vessel and the second vessel is located on the opposite side of the multi-hulled vessel.
  20. 20. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 11 to 19, wherein the multi-hulled vessel is a catamaran.
GB1416518.7A 2014-09-18 2014-09-18 Method and apparatus for transporting offshore floating wind turbines Withdrawn GB2530302A (en)

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GB1416518.7A GB2530302A (en) 2014-09-18 2014-09-18 Method and apparatus for transporting offshore floating wind turbines

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GB2530302A true GB2530302A (en) 2016-03-23

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