Improvements in and relating to assembling a structure
OwnerCharles John Whyte, Alan William Heny West +1inventors
InventorsCharles John Whyte, Alan William Heny West, John Stephen Giles
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Abstract
A method of assembling an offshore wind turbine, such as a floating offshore wind turbine, is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: transporting, on one or more vessels, a nacelle and a tower of the offshore wind turbine to an assembly area below a support apparatus; suspending the tower and the nacelle from the support apparatus; transporting a floating/buoyant base or foundation body to the assembly area below the support apparatus; and landing the tower on the floating/buoyant base or foundation body and the nacelle on the tower. Also disclosed is a support apparatus for assembling an offshore wind turbine, such as a floating offshore wind turbine.
Claims17
A method of assembling an offshore wind turbine, such as a floating offshore wind turbine, the method comprising the steps of:
- transporting, on one or more vessels, a nacelle and a tower of the offshore wind turbine to an assembly area below a support apparatus;
- suspending the tower and the nacelle from the support apparatus;
- transporting a floating/buoyant base or foundation body to the assembly area below the support apparatus;
- and
- landing the tower on the floating/buoyant base or foundation body and the nacelle on the tower.
The method of claim wherein the vessel comprises a seafastening grillage for supporting the plurality of tower portions, and optionally wherein the grillage is raised to allow access by personnel to an interior of each tower portion.
A support apparatus for assembling an offshore wind turbine, such as a floating offshore wind turbine, the support apparatus comprising:
- an erectable tripod structure;
- a lifting arrangement for lifting a tower and/or a nacelle of the offshore wind turbine, the lifting arrangement provided above an assembly area when the tripod structure is erected;
- and
- a support arrangement for suspending the tower and/or the nacelle from the erectable tripod structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.