NL2027279B1 - Offshore wind turbine assembly vessel - Google Patents
Offshore wind turbine assembly vessel Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- NL2027279B1 NL2027279B1 NL2027279A NL2027279A NL2027279B1 NL 2027279 B1 NL2027279 B1 NL 2027279B1 NL 2027279 A NL2027279 A NL 2027279A NL 2027279 A NL2027279 A NL 2027279A NL 2027279 B1 NL2027279 B1 NL 2027279B1
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- Prior art keywords
- wind turbine
- installation
- crane
- nacelle
- assembly station
- Prior art date
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
- B66C23/00—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes
- B66C23/18—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular purposes
- B66C23/36—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular purposes mounted on road or rail vehicles; Manually-movable jib-cranes for use in workshops; Floating cranes
- B66C23/52—Floating cranes
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- 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
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
- B66C23/00—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes
- B66C23/18—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular purposes
- B66C23/185—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular purposes for use erecting wind turbines
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- 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
- F03D13/10—Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors
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- 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
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- 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
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B27/00—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers
- B63B27/16—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers of lifts or hoists
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
- E02B17/00—Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions; Construction methods therefor
- E02B2017/0091—Offshore structures for wind turbines
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- 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
-
- 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
- F05B2260/00—Function
- F05B2260/02—Transport, e.g. specific adaptations or devices for conveyance
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Sustainable Development (AREA)
- Sustainable Energy (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Wind Motors (AREA)
Abstract
The present invention relates primarily to a method for assembly and installation of offshore wind turbines on an offshore location and to a vessel for assembly and installation of offshore wind turbines on an offshore location.
Description
P34993NLO0/MHR Title: Offshore wind turbine assembly vessel The present invention relates primarily to a method for assembly and installation of offshore wind turbines on an offshore location and to a vessel for assembly and installation of offshore wind turbines on an offshore location. At present many offshore wind turbine parks are planned to allow for a significant electricity production. For reasons of efficiency the wind turbines have an ever increasing capacity and size. Nowadays 5 MW turbines and 8 MW are being planned. In the future even 14 MW turbines are envisaged. In known designs a 8 MW turbine has a diameter of the hub with blades of 160 metres combined with a height of the hub at about 120 metres above sea level. A proposed 14 MW turbine has a blades diameter of 220 metres combined with the hub at about 160 metres above sea level.
The weight of a wind turbine including mast, nacelle and blades, at least in future designs, may well be over 1000t. The foundation itself may well weigh several hundred tonnes, e.g. depending on the type of foundation. Many types of foundations are discussed in US2007/243063. For example JP2018053899 and EP3153398 relate to floating type foundations. It has been proposed to build the entire wind turbine onshore. In particular the mounting and testing of the nacelle, hub and blades, on the mast is done onshore, which is far less costly than performing these operations offshore. This approach allows to reduce the offshore installation and commissioning to a compact operation, the installation of the complete wind turbine. In this approach the foundation, based on the sea floor or of the floating type, may be pre-installed and the mast with nacelle, hub and blades fastened to the foundation. In the field of floating foundation wind turbines it is at present the common understanding that assembly of the entire floating foundation wind turbine, so the combination of the floating foundation and of the wind turbine, is done remote from the actual windfarm. For example, assembly is done at a port based yard. The entire floating foundation wind turbine is the towed from the assembly location to the remote offshore windfarm location. For example, Hywind Scotland is a wind farm using floating foundation wind turbines. These wind turbines have a 120 meters tall mast mounted on a spar- type floating foundation. The mounting of the wind turbines on the spar-type floating foundation was done in a fjord in
2. Norway using the Saipem 7000 floating crane. The assemblies were then towed across the North Sea to the coast of Scotland near Peterhead. In the windfarm, three suction anchors anchor the floating foundation to the seabed. Up till now several installation vessels and methods dedicated to the installation of offshore wind turbines have been proposed. The vessel MV Resolution is such a dedicated wind turbine assembly vessel. It is a jack-up vessel with six jack-up legs that are employed to raise the hull, at least partly, above the water to stabilize the hull for installation of the wind turbine. The vessel is equipped with a main pedestal mounted boom crane at the stern of the vessel, the crane having a slewable and luffable boom. The existing MV Resolution vessel has a 300t crane capacity, new builts of the same design are planned with a 1000t crane capacity. An alternative design is proposed in WO2011028102, which relates to an offshore wind turbine assembly vessel, wherein the vessel comprises a non-jack-up type floating hull, and a crane structure extending upward from the hull. The crane structure is provided with a hoisting device having one or more wind turbine suspension elements and a wind turbine engagement device supported by the one or more suspension elements and adapted to engage with the wind turbine. The hoisting device is thus adapted to support and to raise and lower in controllable manner at least the mast of the wind turbine while in vertical orientation; preferably with the nacelle and preferably also with the hub and blades fitted on top of the mast. Also, the vessel enables transport of a win turbine, with the nacelle, the hub and blades fitted on top of the mast, between an on shore location and an installation location. This is not only useful when installing wind turbines, but also allows for efficient replacement of installed wind turbines, for example when a wind turbine is no longer operational and needs major maintenance. Further vessels of the non-jack-up type are disclosed in EP2473400 and in EP2952426. These type of vessel are configured to transport a pre-assembled wind turbine between an assembly location and an operation location.
The present invention aims to provide an alternative approach for assembly and installation of wind turbines and/or for creating a windfarm, e.g. a wind farm with one or more floating foundation wind turbines.
The invention provides a method for assembling wind turbines on a vessel, that preferably is in floating condition.
23.
As preferred, the vessel is also used for installation of the assembled wind turbines, preferably at the site of the offshore windfarm. It will be appreciated that this allows to avoid the long-distance transport, e.g. by towing of complete wind turbines, from a shore-based, e.g. quayside, location to the windfarm. Such transport takes considerable efforts, is time- consuming, and may be impaired by weather conditions.
The invention provides a method for the assembly and installation of offshore wind turbines according to claim 1.
The method allows for assembly of wind turbines on sea, in particular at the location where the wind turbines have to be installed. Therefore, there is no need for transporting fully assembled wind turbines, which is a slow process and is difficult due to the size of assembled wind turbines. Transporting disassembled wind turbines facilitates transporting multiple wind turbines on a single vessel.
The method furthermore allows for a compact configuration of the installation process, and therefore allows for the method to be exercised on compact vessels. It is submitted that assembly of wind turbines on vessel up till has only been proposed in the context of extremely large vessels. Typically, these types of vessel are of such a size that they cannot be used to navigate a wind farm location, or even be effectively used to transfer between locations. The method according to the invention allows for using a vessel both for the assembly of wind turbines and for mounting the assembled wind turbine on a foundation. Furthermore, when utilized in combination with a compact vessel, e.g. a semi-submersible, the vessel can also be used to mount the assembled wind turbine on a floating foundation.
Thus the invention does provide an alternative method for assembly as well as for installation of wind turbines.
According to the invention, a method for assembling wind turbines on a wind turbine assembly vessel, and preferably for installing the assembled wind turbines using the wind turbine assembly vessel, wherein the wind turbine assembly vessel comprises: - a floating hull, - a wind turbine components storage deck, wherein the storage deck preferably comprises a lower mast parts storage area, an upper mast parts storage area, a nacelles storage area, and a blades storage area;
-4-
- a first assembly station, a second assembly station and a third assembly station;
- a handling crane and an installation crane, wherein the installation crane has an installation side, and is configured for supporting an assembled wind turbine at its installation side in a mounting position above a foundation and for lowering the wind turbine onto the foundation, and wherein preferably the first assembly station is located on a first side of the installation crane, the second assembly station is located on a second side of the installation crane, the third assembly station is located on a third side of the installation crane, and the installation side is on a fourth side of the crane;
- preferably a blade handling apparatus, for transferring a blade between a horizontal supply position and a fastening position; the method comprises:
- storing wind turbine components, e.g. a wind turbine upper mast part, a wind turbine lower mast part, a nacelle and blades, on the wind turbine components storage deck, preferably at the wind turbine component storage area's;
- arranging the upper mast part into the first assembly station, preferably using the handling crane, and supporting the upper mast part in an upright installation position;
- hoisting the nacelle on said upper mast part in the first assembly station, preferably using the handling crane, and mounting the nacelle,
-arranging the combined upper mast part and nacelle from the first assembly station to the second assembly station, preferably using the installation crane, and supporting the wind turbine upper mast part in an upright installation position with the nacelle in an installation position for mounting a blade to the nacelle;
- mounting the blades to the nacelle, preferably using the blade handling apparatus, the blades mounting process comprising;
- lifting a first blade into a fastening position adjacent the nacelle, preferably using the blade handling apparatus, mounting the first blade to the nacelle, and rotating the nacelle into a successive installation position,
- lifting a second blade into a fastening position adjacent the nacelle, preferably using the blade handling apparatus, mounting the second blade to the nacelle, and rotating the nacelle into a successive installation position; and
- lifting a third blade into a fastening position adjacent the nacelle, preferably using the blade handling apparatus, and mounting the third blade to the nacelle; and - arranging the lower mast part into the third assembly station, preferably using the handling crane, and supporting the lower mast part in an upright installation position;
-5. - hoisting the combined upper mast part, nacelle and blades, preferably using the installation crane, and mounting the upper mast part onto the lower mast part in the third assembly station to provide an assembled wind turbine; and - hoisting the wind turbine into the mounting position at the fourth side of the installation crane; and lowering the wind turbine onto the foundation, using the installation crane.
In an alternative method according to the invention, only two assembly stations are provided, and the combined upper mast part, nacelle and blades are hoisted by the installation crane from the second assembly station, to the fourth side of the installation crane, and are lowered on, and mounted to, a lower mast section that is already installed on the foundation or that is part of the foundation.
In such an embodiment, the third assembly station can be used as a storage station, to store a combined upper mast part, nacelle and blades, prior to being hoisted by the installation crane from that storage station, to the fourth side of the installation crane, for being lowered on, and mounted to, a lower mast section that is already installed on the foundation or that is part of the foundation.
The invention furthermore provides a vessel for the assembly and installation of offshore wind turbines according to claim 2. The invention provides a vessel for assembly of wind turbines on sea, in particular at the location where the wind turbines have to be installed.
Therefore, there is no need for transporting fully assembled wind turbines, which is a slow process and is difficult due to the size of assembled wind turbines.
Transporting disassembled wind turbines facilitates transporting multiple wind turbines on a single vessel.
The configuration of the vessel, in particular with multiple assembly stations located around the installation crane, allows for a compact vessels and an efficient installation process.
It is submitted that assembly of wind turbines on vessel up till has only been proposed in the context of extremely large vessels.
Typically, these types of vessel are of such a size that they cannot be used to navigate a wind farm location, or even be effectively used to transfer between locations.
The invention provides a vessel both for the assembly of wind turbines and for mounting the assembled wind turbine on a foundation.
Furthermore, when utilized in combination with a compact vessel, e.g. a semi-submersible, the vessel can also be used to mount the assembled wind turbine on a floating foundation.
-6- Thus the invention does provide an improved vessel for assembly as well as for installation of wind turbines.
A vessel for the assembly and installation of offshore wind turbines according to the invention comprises: - a floating hull; - a wind turbine components storage deck, wherein the storage deck preferably comprises a lower mast parts storage area, an upper mast parts storage area, a nacelles storage area, and a blades storage area; - a first assembly station, a second assembly station and a third assembly station; -a handling crane; and - an installation crane, wherein the installation crane has an installation side, and is configured for supporting an assembled wind turbine at its installation side in a mounting position above a foundation and for lowering the wind turbine onto the foundation, and wherein the first assembly station is located on a first side of the installation crane, the second assembly station is located on a second side of the installation crane, the third assembly station is located on a third side of the installation crane, and the installation side is on a fourth side of the crane; and wherein the installation crane is provided with a wind turbine hoisting device having one or more wind turbine suspension elements, said wind turbine hoisting device being adapted to support and to raise and lower in a controllable manner at least an upper mast part of the wind turbine while in vertical orientation; preferably with the nacelle and the blades fitted on the upper mast part; and wherein the installation crane has a base section and a top section, wherein the top section is rotatable supported by a bearing, and can be rotated with the hoisting device relative to the base section about a vertical axis, and the hoisting device can thus transfer at least an upper mast part between the installation stations and the mounting position.
-7- In an embodiment, the first installation location is configured for supporting an upper mast part in an upright installation position, and preferably the handling crane is configured for hoisting the nacelle on the upper mast section; Wherein the second installation location is configured for supporting the wind turbine upper mast part in an upright installation position with the nacelle in an installation position for mounting blades to the nacelle; Wherein the third installation location is configured for supporting the lower mast part in an upright installation position to enable hoisting the combined upper mast part, nacelle and blades, preferably using the installation crane, and mounting the upper mast part onto the lower mast part in the third assembly station to provide an assembled wind turbine.
In an embodiment, the second and third assembly station are located on opposite sides of the installation crane, and the first assembly station is located opposite the first vertical side of the crane, i.e. the side for mounting a completed wind turbine on a foundation using the installation crane.
In an embodiment, the vessel further comprises a blade handling apparatus, located adjacent the second installation location, for transferring a blade between a horizontal supply position and a fastening position adjacent the nacelle on top of an upper mast section supported in the second installation location.
In an embodiment, the hoisting device comprises a first trolley guide, mounted to the top section of the installation crane, and a first wind turbine supporting trolley which is vertically mobile along said first trolley guide, wherein the first trolley supports a wind turbine engagement device, and wherein preferably an active horizontal motion device is mounted between the trolley and the wind turbine engagement device, the active horizontal motion device being adapted to actively compensate for sea-state induced horizontal displacement of the wind turbine engagement device relative to the foundation in at least one horizontal direction, possibly in two non- parallel horizontal directions, e.g. in orthogonal horizontal directions, while a wind turbine is supported by said wind turbine engagement device, wherein the first trolley and the wind turbine engagement device are supported by one or more suspension elements, which are connected to the first trolley or the wind turbine engagement device.
-8- In a further embodiment, the base section of the installation crane is provided with a second trolley guide and a second wind turbine supporting trolley which is vertically mobile along said second trolley guide on the first vertical side of the installation crane wherein the second trolley supports a wind turbine engagement device, and wherein preferably an active horizontal motion device is mounted between the trolley and the wind turbine engagement device, the active horizontal motion device being adapted to actively compensate for sea-state induced horizontal displacement of the wind turbine engagement device relative to the foundation in at least one horizontal direction, possibly in two non-parallel horizontal directions, e.g. in orthogonal horizontal directions, while a wind turbine is supported by said wind turbine engagement device.
In a further embodiment, the first and optionally second trolley can be arranged in an active positon, for supporting the upper mast part, and an inactive position, for moving along an upper mast part supported in an assembly station.
In an embodiment, the hoisting device comprises two spaced apart jibs, that preferably support the one or more suspension elements, which are connected to the first trolley or the wind turbine engagement device.
In a further embodiment, the two jibs can be arranged in an active positon, for supporting the first trolley and the first wind turbine engagement device in an active position, and an inactive position, for moving along a nacelle or blade of a partially or fully assembled wind turbine in an assembly station.
In a further embodiment, the installation crane is configured such that, when an assembled installation crane is supported by the installation crane, the jibs extend above the nacelle of the wind turbine, and the is positioned between the jibs, when seen in a frontal view.
The invention furthermore provides an alternative wind turbine assembly vessel, the vessel comprising only two assembly stations. In such an embodiment, the vessel is configured to hoist the combined upper mast part, nacelle and blades from the second assembly station, to the fourth side of the installation crane, and to lower them on, and mounted them to, a lower mast section that is already installed on the foundation or that is part of the foundation.
In such an embodiment, the third assembly station can be used as a storage station, to store a combined upper mast part, nacelle and blades, prior to being hoisted by the installation crane from that storage station, to the fourth side of the installation crane, for being lowered
-9- on, and mounted to, a lower mast section that is already installed on the foundation or that is part of the foundation.
The invention furthermore provides a use of a vessel according to the invention, preferably for preforming a method according to the invention, for assembly and installation of a wind turbine, preferably for assembly and installation of multiple wind turbines to provide a wind farm.
It will be appreciated by the skilled person that a technical feature discussed herein as required or as optional with respect to one embodiment of the invention may be equally applicable to one or more other embodiments described herein, with the feature performing its designation function. Such combinations are all envisaged herein unless a combination would result in a technical impossible solution and/or not meet the desired functionality.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings Fig. 1 shows a side view of a wind turbine assembly and installation vessel according to the invention, the vessel comprising a floating hull, a wind turbine components storage deck, an installation crane and a handling crane; Fig. 2 shows another partial side view of the wind turbine assembly and installation vessel of Fig. 1, wherein the handling crane is not shown; Fig. 3 shows a top view of the wind turbine assembly and installation vessel of Fig. 1, wherein the handling crane is not shown, and wherein part of a hoisting device of the installation crane is shown hoisting an upper mast part in a first installation positon and engaging an upper mast part in a first installation positon; Fig. 4 shows a side view of the wind turbine assembly and installation vessel of Fig. 1, wherein a blade handling apparatus supports a blade in a horizontal supply position; Fig. 5 shows a side view of the wind turbine assembly and installation vessel of Fig. 1, wherein the blade handling apparatus supports a blade in a fastening position; Fig. 6 shows a side view of the wind turbine assembly and installation vessel of Fig. 1, wherein the handling crane hoists a lower mast part into a third assembly station;
-10 - Fig. 7 shows a side view of the installation crane of the vessel of fig 1 in close up, the installation crane supporting an assembled wind turbine in an installation position; Fig. 8 shows a frontal view of the installation crane of the vessel of fig 1 in close up, the installation crane supporting an assembled wind turbine in an installation position; Fig. 9 and 10 show side and a frontal view of the installation crane of the vessel of fig 1 in close up, the installation crane supporting an assembled wind turbine in an installation position and compensating for wave induced motion of the wind turbine relative to the foundation; Fig. 11 and 12 show an installation crane according to the invention with a first trolley in an active position and in an inactive position respectively.
Further objects, embodiments and elaborations of the apparatus and the method according to the invention will be apparent from the following description, in which the invention is further illustrated and elucidated on the basis of a number of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the drawings.
Infig. 1 a wind turbine assembly and installation vessel 1 is shown, comprising a floating hull 2, a wind turbine components storage deck 3, a handling crane 10 and an installation crane
20.
The installation crane 20 is provided adjacent a side of the hull of the vessel, preferably the front or stern side of the vessel, to be able to lower a wind turbine from the vessel onto a foundation. The handling crane 10 is provided in the vicinity of the installation crane 20, at a more central position of the hull of the vessel and thus remote from the sides of the hull of the vessel.
The wind turbine components storage deck 3 as shown comprises distinct storage areas for distinct wind turbine components. In particular a lower mast parts storage area 3a is provided adjacent an upper mast parts storage area 3b, visible in the top view of fig. 3. Both storage areas are arranged at the same side of the vessel, remote from the installation crane 20, and within reach of the handling crane 10.
Furthermore, a nacelles storage area 3c and a blades storage area 3d are provided. The blades storage area 3d is provided at an opposite side of the vessel 1 of the lower and upper
-11 - mast parts storage area 3a, 3b. The nacelles storage are 3c is provided centrally there between. In the shown configuration, six nacelles, six lower and six upper mast parts can clearly be discerned.
The wind turbine assembly and installation vessel 1 further comprises a first assembly station 4, a second assembly station 5 and a third assembly station 6. These assembly stations are provided adjacent the installation crane 20. The installation crane 20 has an installation side 7, and is configured for supporting an assembled wind turbine at its installation side in a mounting position above a foundation and for lowering the wind turbine onto the foundation. With the installation crane 20 in the centre, in top view, the installation side 7 is provided at a 6 o’clock position.
In the shown embodiment, the first assembly station 4 is located on a first side of the installation crane, opposite this lowering side, at the 12 o’clock position in fig. 4. The second assembly station 5 is located on a second side of the installation crane, at a 9 o'clock position, and the third assembly station 6 is located on a third side of the installation crane, opposite the second assembly station 5, at a 3 o'clock position.
Inthe shown embodiment, the upper and lower mast parts storage areas 3a, 3b are situated in the vicinity of the first assembly station 4 and the third assembly station 6. The nacelles storage area 3c is situated in the vicinity of the first assembly station 4 and the blades storage area 3d is provided in the vicinity of the second assembly station 5.
The shown configuration allows the arrangement of an upper mast part 31 from the upper mast part storage area 3b into the first assembly station 4, preferably using the handling crane 10, and supporting the upper mast part in an upright installation position. Subsequently, a nacelle 32 is hoisted from the nacelles storage area 3c on said upper mast part 31 in the first assembly station 4, preferably using the handling crane 10. The nacelle 32 is mounted onto the upper mast part 31.
In a subsequent step, the combined upper mast part 31 and nacelle 32 is arranged from the first assembly station 4 to the second assembly station 5, preferably using the installation crane 20. The wind turbine upper mast part 31 is supported with the nacelle 32 in an upright installation position for mounting a blade to the nacelle.
-12- In fig. 2 is schematically visible a blade handling apparatus 8, for transferring a blade 33 between a horizontal supply position and a fastening position. The blades 33 are mounted to the nacelle 32, preferably using the blade handling apparatus
8. The blades mounting process comprises the following steps: - lifting a first blade into a fastening position adjacent the nacelle, preferably using the blade handling apparatus, mounting the first blade to the nacelle, and rotating the nacelle into a successive installation position, - lifting a second blade into a fastening position adjacent the nacelle, preferably using the blade handling apparatus, mounting the second blade to the nacelle, and rotating the nacelle into a successive installation position; and - lifting a third blade into a fastening position adjacent the nacelle, preferably using the blade handling apparatus, and mounting the third blade to the nacelle. The assembly method comprises a subsequent step of arranging a lower mast part 34 from the lower mast part storage area 3a into the third assembly station 6, preferably using the handling crane 10, and supporting the lower mast part 34 in an upright installation position.
The combined upper mast part 31, nacelle 32 and blades 33 are hoisted, preferably using the installation crane 20 towards the third assembly station 6 and the upper mast part 31 is mounted onto the lower mast part 34 in the third assembly station 6 to provide an assembled wind turbine.
Finally, the assembled wind turbine is hoisted into the mounting position at the installation side 7 of the installation crane 20; and lowered onto the foundation, using the installation crane 20. Figure 1 shows a side view of a wind turbine assembly and installation vessel 101 according to the invention, the vessel comprising a floating hull 102, a wind turbine components storage deck 103, an installation crane 104 and a handling crane 105. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 1, the wind turbine components storage deck 103, comprises a lower mast parts storage area, an upper mast parts storage area, a nacelles storage area, and a blades storage area.
-13- In figure 1, the lower mast parts storage area 106 with multiple lower mast parts 107, is shown. Furthermore, in Figure 1, an assembled wind turbine 108 is shown in a position adjacent the installation crane 104 in a third assembly station 115, and in a position being supported by the installation crane 104 above a floating foundation 109 at an installation side 119 of the installation crane 104. The floating foundation 109 is only partially depicted. Figure 2 shows another partial side view of the wind turbine assembly and installation vessel
101. In this figure, the handling crane 105 is not shown. The blades storage area 110, with multiple blades 111, is shown. Furthermore, in Figure 2, an assembled wind turbine 108 is shown in a position being supported by the installation crane 104 above a floating foundation 109. The floating foundation 109 is only partially depicted. Furthermore, Figure 2 shows an upper mast part 112, provided with a nacelle 116 and blades is shown in a position adjacent the installation crane 104 in a second assembly station 114. Also, an upper mast part 112 provided with a nacelle 116, without the blades, is shown in a position adjacent the installation crane 104 in a first assembly station 113. Fig. 3 shows a top view of the wind turbine assembly and installation vessel of Fig. 1. The figure shows the lower mast parts storage area 106 adjacent the upper mast parts storage area 117, which are located on opposite sides of the handling crane 105, of which only the base is depicted. Also shown is the blades storage area 110, and the nacelle storage area 118, with multiple nacelles 116. The first assembly station 113, second assembly station 114 and third assembly station 115 are shown adjacent the installation crane 104.
It is noted that in Figure 3 and upper mast part with nacelle is shown in the first assembly station 113, an upper mast part provided with nacelle and blades is shown in the second assembly station, and an assembled wind turbine 108, comprising a lower mast part 107 an upper mast part 112, a nacelle 116 and blades 111 is shown being supported by the installation crane 104. With respect to the figures 1-3 it is noted that the figures depict multiple assembly station being occupied by a partially or fully assembled wind turbine. In practice, an upper mast part
-14 - transferred along the successive assembly stations to assemble a wind turbine. Preferably, only after the assembled wind turbine is installed, a new upper mast section is arranged in the first assembly station to start a new assembly process. Thus, typically only one of the assembly stations is occupied at one moment in time. However, a lower mast section can already be arranged at the third assembly station while the upper mast section is in, or is transferred between, the other assembly stations. Also, it is possible to arrange a new lower mast section in the first assembly station while the wind turbine is being assembled or installed.
The installation crane 104 is provided with a wind turbine hoisting device 120 having one wind turbine suspension element 121. The wind turbine hoisting device 120 is adapted to support and to raise and lower in a controllable manner at least an upper mast part of the wind turbine, e.g. for moving an upper mast part provided with a nacelle from the first assembly station to the second assembly station, while in vertical orientation.
The installation crane 104 has a base section 122 and a top section 123. The top section 123 is rotatable supported by a bearing 124, and can be rotated with the hoisting device 120 relative to the base section 122 about a vertical axis. The hoisting device can thus transfer an upper mast part between the installation stations and the mounting position.
In the embodiment shown, the wind turbine hoisting device 120 is adapted to support and to raise and lower in a controllable manner an upper mast part that is part of an assembled wind turbine, for moving the assembled wind turbine form the third assembly location into an installation positon above a foundation.
In the embodiment shown, the first installation location 113 is configured for supporting an upper mast part in an upright installation position, see figure 2. The handling crane 105 is configured for hoisting the nacelle on the upper mast section in the assembly station.
The second installation location 114 is configured for supporting the wind turbine upper mast part in an upright installation position with the nacelle in an installation position for mounting blades to the nacelle, see for example figure 2.
The third installation location 115 is configured for supporting the lower mast part in an upright installation position to enable hoisting the combined upper mast part, nacelle and blades, preferably using the installation crane, and mounting the upper mast part onto the lower mast part in the third assembly station to provide an assembled wind turbine, see for example figure 1.
-15- The second assembly station 114 and third assembly station 115 are located on opposite sides of the installation crane 104, and the first assembly station 113 is located opposite the first vertical side 125 of the installation crane, i.e. the side of the installation crane for mounting a completed wind turbine on a foundation using the installation crane.
In an embodiment, the vessel further comprises a blade handling apparatus, located adjacent the second installation location, for transferring a blade between a horizontal supply position and a fastening position adjacent the nacelle on top of an upper mast section supported in the second installation location.
In the exemplary embodiment shown, the wind turbine hoisting device 120 comprises a first trolley guide 128, mounted to the top section 123 of the installation crane 104, and a first wind turbine supporting trolley 127 which is vertically mobile along said first trolley guide 126. The first trolley 127 supports a wind turbine engagement device 128. An active horizontal motion device 129 is mounted between the trolley and the wind turbine engagement device, the active horizontal motion device 129 being adapted to actively compensate for sea-state induced horizontal displacement of the wind turbine engagement device relative to the foundation in at least one horizontal direction, possibly in two non-parallel horizontal directions, e.g. in orthogonal horizontal directions, while a wind turbine is supported by said wind turbine engagement device. The first trolley 127 and the wind turbine engagement device 128 are supported by multiple suspension elements 130, which, in the exemplary embodiment shown, are connected to the wind turbine engagement device 128.
In the particular embodiment shown, the suspension elements are hoisting wires attached to associated winches. The winches can be used to lower and lift the first trolley. In exemplary embodiment shown, the base section 122 of the installation crane 104 is provided with a second trolley guide 131 and a second wind turbine supporting trolley 132 which is vertically mobile along said second trolley guide on the first vertical side of the installation crane. The second trolley supports a wind turbine engagement device 133, and an active horizontal motion device 134 is mounted between the second trolley 132 and the wind turbine engagement device. The active horizontal motion device being adapted to actively compensate for sea-state induced horizontal displacement of the wind turbine engagement device relative to the foundation in at least one horizontal direction, possibly in two non-
-16 - parallel horizontal directions, e.g. in orthogonal horizontal directions, while a wind turbine is supported by said wind turbine engagement device.
In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first trolley 127 and second trolley 132 can be arranged in an active positon, for supporting the upper mast part, see for example figures 7-
10, and an inactive position, for moving along an upper mast part supported in an assembly station.
The first trolley 127 is shown in its active position in Figure 11, and is shown in its inactive positon in Figure 12
Inthe Exemplary embodiment shown, the hoisting device 120 comprises two spaced apart jibs 135, that support the suspension elements 130, which are connected to the wind turbine engagement device on the first trolley.
The two jibs 135 can be arranged in an active positon, shown in figure 11, for supporting the first trolley 127 and the first wind turbine engagement device 128 in an active position, and an inactive position, shown in Figure 12, for moving along a nacelle or blade of a partially or fully assembled wind turbine in an assembly station.
Furthermore, the installation crane 104 is configured such that, when an assembled installation crane is supported by the installation crane, see figures 7 and 8, the jibs extend above the nacelle of the wind turbine, and the is positioned between the jibs, when seen in a frontal view.
-17 - Reference signs 101 wind turbine assembly and installation vessel 102 floating hull 103 wind turbine components storage deck 104 installation crane 105 handling crane 106 lower mast parts storage area 107 lower mast part 108 assembled wind turbine 109 floating foundation 110 blades storage area 111 blades 112 upper mast part 113 first assembly station 114 second assembly station 115 third assembly station 116 nacelle 117 upper mast parts storage area 118 nacelle storage area 119 installation side 120 wind turbine hoisting device 121 wind turbine suspension element 122 base section installation crane 123 top section installation crane 124 bearing installation crane 125 first vertical side of the installation crane 126 first trolley guide 127 first wind turbine support trolley 128 wind turbine engagement device 129 active horizontal motion device 130 suspension elements 131 second trolley guide 132 second wind turbine supporting trolley 133 wind turbine engagement device 134 active horizontal motion device 135 136
-18- 137 138 139
Claims (12)
Priority Applications (7)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL2027279A NL2027279B1 (en) | 2021-01-06 | 2021-01-06 | Offshore wind turbine assembly vessel |
| PCT/EP2021/078987 WO2022084336A1 (en) | 2020-10-22 | 2021-10-19 | Offshore wind turbine assembly vessel |
| EP21815368.2A EP4232356A1 (en) | 2020-10-22 | 2021-10-19 | Offshore wind turbine assembly vessel |
| US18/033,276 US20230399206A1 (en) | 2020-10-22 | 2021-10-19 | Offshore wind turbine assembly vessel |
| PCT/EP2022/050166 WO2022148789A1 (en) | 2021-01-06 | 2022-01-05 | Offshore wind turbine assembly vessel |
| US18/271,182 US20240301869A1 (en) | 2021-01-06 | 2022-01-05 | Offshore wind turbine assembly vessel |
| EP22700228.4A EP4274797A1 (en) | 2021-01-06 | 2022-01-05 | Offshore wind turbine assembly vessel |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL2027279A NL2027279B1 (en) | 2021-01-06 | 2021-01-06 | Offshore wind turbine assembly vessel |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| NL2027279B1 true NL2027279B1 (en) | 2022-07-22 |
Family
ID=76284092
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL2027279A NL2027279B1 (en) | 2020-10-22 | 2021-01-06 | Offshore wind turbine assembly vessel |
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| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| NL (1) | NL2027279B1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2023285178A1 (en) | 2021-07-15 | 2023-01-19 | Itrec B.V. | Slip joint in an offshore wind turbine |
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