Assembling and installing a wind turbine
AssigneeItrec B.V.
InventorDiederick Bernardus Wijning
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A semi-submersible crane vessel for use in assembling a wind turbine and for installation by means of a crane of the vessel of the assembled wind turbine on a foundation. At an assembly station, the hull of the vessel is provided with a mast-receiving well that is sunk into, or through, the hull, preferably a well that extends into, or through a support column of the hull, which well is configured to receive therein at least a portion of the mast of the wind turbine during an assembly step of the wind turbine. For example, the mast-receiving well has a depth of at least 15 meters, e.g. at least 30 meters, measured from the deck of the deckbox structure.
Claims19
A semi-submersible crane vessel for use in assembling a wind turbine and for installation by a crane of the vessel of the assembled wind turbine on a foundation, wherein the assembled wind turbine to be installed comprises at least a part of a wind turbine mast and a rotor assembly that is mounted on the mast,
- wherein the vessel comprises:
- a floating hull with:
- a deckbox structure;
- two parallel pontoons;
- and
- a row of support columns extending upward from each of the two pontoons, the support columns supporting thereon the deckbox structure,
- wherein the deckbox structure has a deck and a box bottom;
- and
- an installation crane mounted on the deckbox structure and configured to install the assembled wind turbine on the foundation,
- wherein, at an assembly station, the hull of the vessel is provided with a mast-receiving well that extends into or through a support column of the hull,
- the well being configured to receive therein at least a portion of the mast of the wind turbine during an assembly step of the wind turbine, and wherein the mast-receiving well has an unobstructed opening, the opening having a width of at least 5 meters and a depth of at least 15 meters measured from the deck of the deckbox structure.
A method for assembling a wind turbine and for installation of the assembled wind turbine on a foundation, wherein use is made of a semi-submersible crane vessel, wherein the vessel comprises:
- a floating hull with:
- a deckbox structure;
- two parallel pontoons;
- and
- a row of support columns extending upward from each of the two pontoons, the support columns supporting thereon the deckbox structure,
- wherein the deckbox structure has a deck and a box bottom;
- and
- an installation crane mounted on the deckbox structure and configured to install the assembled wind turbine on the foundation,
- wherein, at an assembly station, the hull of the vessel is provided with a mast-receiving well that extends into or through a support column of the hull, the well having an unobstructed opening with a diameter of at least 5 meters and being configured to receive therein at least a portion of the mast of the wind turbine,
- wherein the assembled wind turbine to be installed comprises at least a part of a wind turbine mast and a rotor assembly mounted on the mast, and
- wherein, during an assembly step of the wind turbine and/or during assembly of one or more of the rotor blades to the rotor assembly, the mast is arranged at least with a portion thereof in the mast-receiving well.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.