EP4412899A1 - Structure offshore flottante - Google Patents

Structure offshore flottante

Info

Publication number
EP4412899A1
EP4412899A1 EP22878080.5A EP22878080A EP4412899A1 EP 4412899 A1 EP4412899 A1 EP 4412899A1 EP 22878080 A EP22878080 A EP 22878080A EP 4412899 A1 EP4412899 A1 EP 4412899A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
prismatic
floating
buoyant
submodules
offshore structure
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.)
Pending
Application number
EP22878080.5A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP4412899A4 (fr
Inventor
Luciano Mule Stagno
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.)
Universita ta Malta UM
Original Assignee
Universita ta Malta UM
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 Universita ta Malta UM filed Critical Universita ta Malta UM
Publication of EP4412899A1 publication Critical patent/EP4412899A1/fr
Publication of EP4412899A4 publication Critical patent/EP4412899A4/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • B63B35/34—Pontoons
    • B63B35/38—Rigidly-interconnected pontoons
    • 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
    • B63B35/34—Pontoons
    • 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
    • B63B35/44—Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
    • B63B2035/4433—Floating structures carrying electric power plants
    • B63B2035/4453—Floating structures carrying electric power plants for converting solar energy into electric energy
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B2231/00—Material used for some parts or elements, or for particular purposes
    • B63B2231/40—Synthetic materials
    • B63B2231/50—Foamed synthetic materials
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B2231/00—Material used for some parts or elements, or for particular purposes
    • B63B2231/60—Concretes
    • B63B2231/64—Reinforced or armoured concretes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B2241/00—Design characteristics
    • B63B2241/02—Design characterised by particular shapes
    • B63B2241/04—Design characterised by particular shapes by particular cross sections
    • B63B2241/08—Design characterised by particular shapes by particular cross sections polygonal
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B2241/00—Design characteristics
    • B63B2241/02—Design characterised by particular shapes
    • B63B2241/10—Design characterised by particular shapes by particular three dimensional shapes
    • B63B2241/16—Design characterised by particular shapes by particular three dimensional shapes polyhedral

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to offshore floating platforms, and more particularly to a floating platform structure assembled from floating platform modules having a threefold symmetrical shape.
  • offshore platforms As the population of the world increases and large cities expand over crowded shores, offshore platforms have become an acceptable location for strategic and commercial activities.
  • offshore platforms can be used for a variety of applications, such as offshore islands that may support industrial buildings and dwelling houses, deep-water drilling equipment for scientific purposes, oil and gas recovery installations, and other facilities for industrial activity and urban life.
  • offshore platforms are divided into two groups, such as “fixed” platforms and “floating” platforms.
  • Fixed platforms comprise an equipment deck, that is supported above the water by legs that extend down to and are seated on the sea floor. While relatively stable, such fixed platforms are typically limited to shallow waters, e.g., depths of about 50 meters or less.
  • Floating platforms are typically employed in water depths of 50 meters and greater, and are held in position over the well site by mooring lines or chains anchored to the sea floor. Although floating platforms are more complex to operate because of their greater movement in response to wind and wave conditions, they are capable of operating at substantially greater depths than fixed platforms. Floating platforms are also more mobile, and hence, easier to move to other offshore well sites. Floating platforms can, for example, be used for offshore deployment of solar panels having photovoltaic (PV) cells that collect light from the sun and convert the incident solar irradiance to electricity. Thus, floating platforms can be used for hosting PV farms which are built at sea, close to the city, where consumption takes place.
  • PV photovoltaic
  • Floating platforms having a threefold symmetrical shape are known in the art. Due to the symmetry, such platforms can also be used for building floating offshore structures including many chained individual floating platform modules, thereby providing a large surface area on which solar panels and/or any other infrastructure for industry or leisure can be installed.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,262 describes a semi-submersible offshore platform comprising a hull having at least one oil storage tank and a fixed centralized support member.
  • the hull has a peripheral edge.
  • the platform further comprises a deck coupled to the support member and a plurality of stabilizer buoys.
  • Each of the buoys is coupled to the hull and is positioned adjacent the peripheral edge of the hull, whereby the buoys pitch, roll, heave, sway, and surge relative to the hull.
  • a system for stabilizing a semi-submersible offshore platform having a submersible hull is also provided.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,037,031 describes a platform, breakwater, or endless track including an array of molded cells interconnected by a system of elongate flexible members, such as wire ropes or lines.
  • the molded cells are cast in molds located at overlapping portions of the cables.
  • the molds may be flexible nylon bags having openings for receiving the cables through them and a fill port to receive material.
  • the molds may be retained on cast cells or removed and reused.
  • a buoyant material, such as expanding self-hardening foam is pumped from foam mixing and pumping equipment into the molds to cast the cells for floating on water, although negatively buoyant cells could be cast for some applications.
  • the cells may be cast on site or elsewhere and then transported to the work site.
  • the present invention partially eliminates disadvantages of the above referenced techniques and provides a novel floating offshore structure.
  • the floating structure includes one or more floating platform modules having a threefold symmetry.
  • each floating platform module includes a set of buoyant prismatic submodules.
  • each buoyant prismatic submodule includes a core and a reinforcement shell surrounding the core of the buoyant prismatic submodule along its periphery defined by a top base face, a bottom base face, and side faces of said buoyant prismatic submodules.
  • the core of the buoyant prismatic submodule includes a material having a density less than the water density.
  • the buoyant prismatic submodules are attached to each other, so as to form a threefold symmetrical shape of said at least one floating platform module.
  • the threefold symmetrical shape of each floating platform module is a hexagonal prismatic shape.
  • the buoyant prismatic submodules forming the floating platform module(s) have a rhombic prismatic shape.
  • the buoyant prismatic submodules forming the floating platform module(s) have a triangular prismatic shape.
  • the set of the buoyant prismatic submodules includes at least one triangular prismatic submodule.
  • the set of the buoyant prismatic submodules includes six triangular prismatic submodules.
  • the set of the buoyant prismatic submodules includes three rhombic prismatic submodules.
  • the set of the buoyant prismatic submodules includes a combination of rhombic and triangular prismatic submodules.
  • the buoyant prismatic submodules include an expanded polymer foam.
  • a polymer used in expanded polymer foam can be selected from at least one of polystyrene and polyurethane.
  • the buoyant prismatic submodules can include recycled plastic bottles, hollow beads plastic bags and/or natural materials, such as wood.
  • the reinforcement shell of the buoyant prismatic submodules includes a concrete material.
  • the concrete material can be reinforced with a rebar cell and/or alternative grid structure.
  • the floating offshore structure includes two or more floating platform modules in a stack of modules arranged one on top of another.
  • the floating offshore structure further includes a top reinforcement plate mounted on a plane top surface of the floating platform module formed by the top base faces of the buoyant prismatic submodules.
  • the floating offshore structure also includes a bottom reinforcement plate mounted on a plane bottom surface of the floating platform module formed by the bottom base faces of the buoyant prismatic submodules.
  • the floating offshore structure includes a plurality of reinforcement bars mounted on a plane top surface of the floating platform module formed by the top base faces of the buoyant prismatic submodules, and on a plane bottom surface of the floating platform module formed by the bottom base faces of the buoyant prismatic submodules.
  • the floating offshore structure includes a set of mooring lines configured for anchoring the floating offshore structure to a seabed.
  • the floating offshore structure includes a plurality of floating platform modules.
  • the floating offshore structure includes an attachment arrangement for any two adjacent floating platform modules.
  • the attachment arrangement includes a plurality of connecting lines between sides of each two adjacent platform modules.
  • the connecting lines have a predetermined length that allows sway motion of the modules.
  • the attachment arrangement also includes damping units tied to the sides of each platform module where it faces another platform, so as to avoid damage of the modules due to their mechanical impact.
  • the floating offshore structure of the present invention has many of the advantages of the prior art platforms, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
  • the floating offshore structure of the present invention has a modular construction that allows building a large platform space with multiple smaller platforms that can be added in steps. It should be noted that the structure can meet rough weather conditions, and less structural stress can occur than on a single platform of similar dimensions. Sub-modular construction of each platform makes it simpler, more manageable, and allows easy transportation on land and assembling at sea.
  • Figs. 1A and IB show schematic cross-sectional top and side views of a floating offshore structure, according to two embodiments of the present invention
  • Fig. 2A shows an example of connections of the buoyant prismatic submodules to each other
  • Fig. 2B shows another example of connections of the buoyant prismatic submodules to each other
  • Fig. 3 shows an isometric exploded view of a floating offshore structure, according to a further embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 4 shows an isometric exploded view of a floating offshore structure, according to yet an embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 5 shows an isometric view of a floating offshore structure, according to a still further embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 6 shows a schematic isometric view of a mooring configuration of the floating platform module of Figs. 1A and IB, according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 7 shows a schematic isometric view of an offshore floating solar farm built on the floating offshore structure 10, according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 8 shows a top view of a floating support structure including seven floating platform modules of Figs. 1A and IB, according to a further embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 9 shows a schematic view of an attachment arrangement of two floating platform modules of Figs. 1A and IB, according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 10 shows a top view of a floating support structure including 49 floating platform modules of Figs. 1A and IB, according to a further embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 11 illustrates a top view of a floating support structure representing an example of a configuration creating a relatively large sheltered area.
  • FIG. 1A a schematic cross-sectional top view (upper drawing) and a side view (lower drawing) of a floating offshore structure 10 are illustrated, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • the side view in Fig. 1A is taken along the line A-A' in the upper drawing.
  • the floating offshore structure 10 includes a floating platform module 11 having a threefold symmetry.
  • the floating platform module 11 includes a set of buoyant prismatic submodules 12.
  • each buoyant prismatic submodule 12 includes a core 121, and a reinforcement shell 122 surrounding the core 121 of the buoyant prismatic submodule 12 along its periphery defined by a top base face 123, a bottom base face 124, and side faces 125 of the buoyant prismatic submodule 12.
  • the core 121 of the buoyant prismatic submodule 12 is made from a buoyant material having a density less than the water density.
  • the buoyant prismatic submodules 12 are attached to each other to form a threefold symmetrical shape of the floating platform module 11.
  • the core 121 can, for example, be made from an expanded polymer foam.
  • polymers used in expanded polymer foam include, but are not limited to, polystyrene and polyurethane.
  • an expanded polystyrene foam, such as StyrofoamTM can be suitable for fabrication of the core 121, however, other materials having density less than the water density are also contemplated.
  • the buoyant prismatic submodules can include recycled plastic bottles, hollow beads plastic bags and/or natural materials, such as wood.
  • Examples of materials suitable for the reinforcement shell 122 include, but are not limited to concrete, a concrete reinforced with a grid cell structure, fibers, metal net, etc.
  • the grid cell structure includes a rebar cage (not shown) having a plurality of rebar rods forming a framework of the rebar cage.
  • the rebar rods can, for example, be made from steel and have a bar cross-sectional diameter in the range of about 0.5 cm to 2 cm.
  • the bars in the grid can, for example, be bound to each other by welding, thereby to form a grid weldment structure.
  • the rebar rods can be bound by tying them with steel wires.
  • a size of a grid cell of the weldment structure can, for example, be in the range of about 5cm to 30 cm. It should be noted that fiber-reinforced plastic rebar can also be used due to the high-corrosion environment of sea water.
  • the term “about” means within a statistically meaningful range of a value.
  • the allowable variation encompassed by the term “about” depends on the particular structure under consideration, and can be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. This approximation for the purpose of the present invention can, for example, be interpreted so as to include an error of 20% at least, as long as there is no considerable change in the performance of the floating offshore structure 10 due to the deviation.
  • the buoyant prismatic submodules forming the floating platform module 11 have a rhombic prismatic shape.
  • the set of the buoyant prismatic submodules 12 includes three rhombic prismatic submodules.
  • each rhombic prismatic submodule has two internal side faces 125a, two external side faces 125b, the top base face 123 and the bottom base face 124.
  • the set of the buoyant prismatic submodules 12 forming the floating platform module 11 can includes more than three rhombic prismatic submodules 12.
  • the floating platform module 11 can be built from 6, 12, 18 or more rhombic prismatic submodules 12.
  • Fig. IB shows schematic cross-sectional side and top views of a floating offshore structure 10 in which the buoyant prismatic submodules 12 have a triangular prismatic shape.
  • the side view in Fig. IB is taken along the line B-B' in the upper drawing.
  • the set of the buoyant prismatic submodules 12 includes six triangular prismatic submodules.
  • Each triangular prismatic submodule has two internal side faces 125a, one external side face 125b, the top base face 123 and the bottom base face 124.
  • the buoyant prismatic submodules 12 of the floating platform module 11 are attached to each other by their internal side faces 125a.
  • the floating platform module 11 takes a threefold symmetrical shape having a plane top surface 14 and a plane bottom surface 15 of the floating platform module 11.
  • the plane top and back surfaces 14 and 15 are formed by top base faces 123 and bottom base faces 124 of the buoyant prismatic submodules 12, correspondingly.
  • the threefold symmetrical shape is a hexagonal prismatic shape.
  • Fig. 2A shows an example of connection of the rhombic prismatic submodules 12 to each other in the floating platform module 11.
  • one internal side face 22a of each buoyant rhombic prismatic submodule 12 includes a predetermined number of semi-cylindrical protrusions 23a extended from the top to bottom of the rhombic prismatic submodules 12, while another internal side face 22b of each rhombic prismatic submodule includes the same number of semi-cylindrical grooves 23b that match the semi-cylindrical protrusions 23a when any two rhombic prismatic submodules 12 are attached together.
  • the provision of the grooves and protrusions on the internal side faces of the prismatic submodule makes attachments between the buoyant prismatic submodules 12 stronger and the entire structure more rigid, when compared with the attachment of flat internal side faces 121.
  • Fig. 2B shows another example of connection of the rhombic prismatic submodules 12 to each other in the floating platform module 11.
  • one internal side face 24a of each buoyant rhombic prismatic submodule 12 includes a predetermined number of cylindrical (or semi-spherical) protrusions (e.g., bulges) 25a, while another internal side face 24b of each rhombic prismatic submodule includes the same number of cylindrical (or semi-spherical) recesses 25b.
  • the semi-spherical recesses 25b match the semi-cylindrical protrusions 25a when any two rhombic prismatic submodules 12 are attached together.
  • the sub-modularity of the floating platform module 11 has several advantages over a monolith structure of a floating platform module that is built from a single piece of a buoyant material. Indeed, instead of having to construct a heavy single piece structure, the present invention teaches to construct several separate submodules that can be assembled together. For example, for a module having 8m width and 2m height, and having the whole structure weigh approximately 40 tons, each can weigh approximately 13-14 tons for three rhombic prismatic structures and approximately 6-7 tons for six triangular prismatic structures. Thus, it can be significantly easy to build larger structures by attaching more rhombic and/or triangular prisms together. It should be understood that such a sub-modular structure can easily be assembled in the water.
  • a hexagonal prismatic module of 12m side (and/or greater) can also be easily fabricated. Moreover, if any of these rhombic or triangular prismatic submodules 12 in the floating platform module 11 are damaged or become defective, the defective units can be readily repaired or replaced.
  • Fig. 3 shows an isometric exploded view of a floating offshore structure 30, according to a further embodiment of the present invention.
  • the floating offshore structure 30 includes two hexagonal floating platform modules 11 arranged one on top of another.
  • two rhombic prismatic submodules 12 are shown in the bottom hexagonal floating platform module 11.
  • One rhombic prismatic submodule 12a is shown partially with only half of the core 121 covered by the reinforcement shell 122.
  • the entire height of the platform is double the height of the two floating platform modules 11, thereby providing further rigidity to the floating offshore structure.
  • one of the modules 11 can, for example, be bolted, welded or otherwise attached on top of another hexagonal floating platform module 11.
  • the connection between the upper and lower hexagonal floating platform modules 11 can include semi-cylindrical, cylindrical and/or semi-spherical protrusions arranged at a bottom of the upper module 11 and corresponding grooves and/or recesses matching the protrusions arranged at a top of the lower module 11, similar to the provision described in Figs. 2A and 2B for side connections, mutatis mutandis.
  • top and back surfaces formed by top base faces and bottom base faces of the hexagonal floating platform modules 11 that are placed on top of each other can be rougher, when compared to the side faces of the buoyant prismatic submodules 12 forming the hexagonal floating platform modules 11. This feature can also facilitate the connection between the upper and lower hexagonal floating platform modules 11.
  • the floating offshore structure may include more than two floating platform modules in a stack of modules arranged one on top of another.
  • Fig. 4 shows an isometric exploded view of a floating offshore structure 40, according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
  • the floating offshore structure 40 includes a top reinforcement plate 41 mounted on the plane top surface 14 of the floating platform module 11 and another reinforcement plate 42 mounted on the plane bottom surface 15 of the floating platform module 11.
  • the plane top and back surfaces 14 and 15 are formed by top base faces (123 in Fig. 1A) and bottom base faces (124 in Fig. 1A) of the buoyant prismatic submodules 12, correspondingly.
  • a structure having any desired number of the floating platform modules 12 arranged in stack is also contemplated.
  • reinforcement plates 41 and 42 examples include, but are not limited to, steel and reinforced concrete. It should be understood that provision of the reinforcement plates 41 and 42 can provide further rigidity to the floating offshore structure.
  • Fig. 5 shows an isometric view of a floating offshore structure 50, according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
  • the floating offshore structure 50 includes a plurality of reinforcement bars 51 mounted on the plane top surface 14 of the floating platform module 11 and a plurality of reinforcement bars (not shown in Fig. 5) mounted on the plane bottom surface 15 of the floating platform module 11.
  • Examples of materials suitable for the reinforcement bars 51 and 52 include, but are not limited to, steel and reinforced concrete. It should be understood that provision of the reinforcement bars 51 can provide further rigidity to the floating offshore structure.
  • the reinforcement bars 51 can include attachment points 52 to hold various payloads, for example, solar panels that can be mounted on the floating offshore structure.
  • a method of fabrication of the buoyant prismatic submodule 12 includes providing a mould having inner dimensions equal to the outer dimension of the prismatic submodule 12.
  • the mould can, for example, be made of wood or another suitable material.
  • the buoyant prismatic submodules 12 of the floating offshore structure 10 described herein above are built from a buoyant inner core 121 surrounded by a reinforcement outer shell 122.
  • a layer of the desired thickness of concrete is poured on the bottom of the mould.
  • the concrete can be reinforced either by introducing composite fibres in the mix, or by placing composite or steel rods or a rebar net within the concrete bulk of this newly created reinforcement layer.
  • the rods, fibres, or rebar net can extend beyond the bottom layer on the sides, in the reinforcement layer, to form the concrete sides of the reinforcement shell of the buoyant prismatic submodules 12.
  • a pre-cut solid Styrofoam piece can be introduced to fill the desired volume in the mould.
  • the core is formed from several stages. First, several solid pieces made of a plastic, cardboard, plywood, Styrofoam, or other material forming the desired dimensions of the core, are placed in the mould to form the shell of the desired outer dimensions of the core. Then, an expanded polymer foam (e.g., StyrofoamTM or other material having a density lower than the water density) is sprayed into the mould to form the desired rigid inner core.
  • an expanded polymer foam e.g., StyrofoamTM or other material having a density lower than the water density
  • the aim of the core is to provide buoyancy. It should be noted that the core should not be a hollow volume, because this would pose a danger if there were water ingress over the years through, for example, a crack in the wall of the module.
  • recycled bottles or other hollow objects could be introduced in the volume of the core. This would not only be a good way of finding an alternate use for some recycled material, but would also reduce the volume of spray foam needed, and thus the manufacturing cost.
  • the core can be made of recycled plastic, which would have continuous outer walls, but is made of many compartments (e.g., a honeycomb), thus minimizing the danger of significant water ingress in the eventuality of a crack in the outer walls.
  • the core can be formed of plastic or other material, first, to form a rigid shell for the core having moderately thick walls.
  • the hollow inside volume of the shell can then be filled with empty plastic bottles or other containers, thereby eliminating the risk of significant amounts of water filling the core space, since a significant portion of the space is occupied by containers.
  • a schematic isometric view of a mooring configuration of the floating offshore structure 10 of Figs. 1A and IB is illustrated, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the floating offshore structure 10 can be maintained in a stable position via a mooring system including mooring cleats 113 and a set of mooring lines 112 configured for anchoring the floating platform module 11 of floating support structure 10 to the seabed 115.
  • the mooring cleats 113 include metal parts configured to hold the mooring lines 112 attached to the mooring cleats 113 such as to allow turning and slippage of the mooring lines 112.
  • the mooring cleats 113 can, for example, be embedded in the concrete of the reinforcement shell (122 in Fig. 1A) of the floating platform module 11 and welded to the internal reinforcing rebar of the reinforcement shell 122.
  • multi-point mooring systems are used that moor the floating support structure 10 to the seabed using multiple mooring lines.
  • the floating support structure 10 is positioned in a fixed heading location, which is determined by the sea and weather conditions.
  • the symmetrical arrangement of anchor points 114 helps to keep the floating support structure 10 on its fixed heading location.
  • a 3 -point mooring at three bottom vertexes equipped with the mooring cleats 113 is used for the floating support structure 10 with the floating platform module 11 having a hexagonal prismatic shape. It should be understood that, when required, the mooring lines 112 can be provided for the hexagonal module 11 at each bottom vertex.
  • Each mooring line 112 can, for example, be made of a chain and/or rope.
  • a length of the mooring lines can, for example, be between three and six times the water depth.
  • a free hanging catenary mooring configuration is shown in Fig. 6. This mooring configuration can, for example, be used in shallow waters. However, when required, a lazy-wave configuration (not shown), with a series of small buoyancy collars around the overbend, can be used. Likewise, a Lazy-S configuration (not shown), with a tethered buoy between the lower J-catenaries and the upper U-catenaries can also be implemented.
  • the lazy-wave and Lazy-S mooring configurations are known per se, and therefore they are not expounded on hereinbelow in detail.
  • the floating support structure 10 is anchored to the seabed 115.
  • the floating support structure 10 can, for example, be rigidly fixed to the seabed 115 at the anchor points 114 through structural elements including a set of driven piles (not shown) that can be inserted in the seabed 15.
  • the floating support structure 10 can be fixed to the seabed 115 through ballasts resting on the seabed, or by anchors, depending on the type of the seabed and on the depth of the installation site.
  • FIG. 7 a schematic isometric view of an offshore floating solar farm built on the floating offshore structure 10 is illustrated, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • a plurality of solar panels 71 are mounted on a plane top surface 14 of the floating platform module 11 of the floating support structure 10.
  • the solar panels 71 are installed at a predetermined configuration and installation angle with respect to the surface of the floating support structure 10, so as to maximize electric power output of the panels, and minimize possible damage to the panels.
  • an offshore floating solar farm can be deployed on a 4m side platform with solar panels 71 installed at an angle of 10 degrees.
  • the solar panels may be mounted on the reinforcement bars 51 on top of the platform and connected to the attachment points 52 which are shaped so as to facilitate the placement of the panels.
  • floating support structure 10 can be used for a host of other purposes - anything that could benefit from having a platform at sea, especially with the availability of power. Examples of applications of the floating support structure 10 include, but are not limited to, desalination, energy storage, leisure, boating, scientific studies, environmental monitoring, etc.
  • the floating support structure 80 includes seven floating platform modules (11 shown in Fig. 1A) which are attached together to form a single, large floating support structure. Specifically, external side faces 81 of a central hexagonal prismatic module Ila are attached to side faces 83 of neighboring hexagonal prismatic modules 11b surrounding the central hexagonal prismatic module Ila. The attachment is implemented by a plurality of connecting lines 82 between sides of each two adjacent platform modules. For example, when a single hexagonal prismatic module 11 provides an area of about 42m 2 to 166m 2 , a platform built by seven such modules can provide an area of about 290m 2 to 1160 m 2 .
  • FIG. 9 a schematic view of an attachment arrangement 91 of any two floating platform modules 11 is illustrated, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the attachment arrangement 91 includes a plurality of connecting lines 92 between sides of each two adjacent platform modules 11.
  • the attachment arrangement 91 includes chains and/or ropes, having a predetermined length that allows sway motion of the modules.
  • the attachment arrangement 91 also includes damping units 93, such us tires or similar bumping objects, tied to the sides of each platform module where it faces another platform, to avoid damage of the modules due to their mechanical impact.
  • a ratio of the dimension of floating platform modules 11 and the distance between the modules 11 can, for example, be in the range of 0.5 meters to 2 meters.
  • FIG. 10 illustrates a top view of a floating support structure 100 including 49 floating platform modules 11, which are attached together to form a single, large floating support structure.
  • the floating support structure 100 is built from a central floating substructure that is similar to the structure (80 in Fig. 8).
  • the central floating substructure is surrounded by a similar neighboring floating substructure, thereby forming the floating support structure 90 including 49 floating platform modules 11.
  • Fig. 11 illustrates a top view of a floating support structure 110 representing an example of a configuration creating a relatively large sheltered area 111.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Revetment (AREA)
  • Artificial Fish Reefs (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une structure offshore flottante. La structure offshore flottante comprend au moins un module de plate-forme flottante ayant une symétrie triple. Le module de plate-forme flottante comprend un ensemble de sous-modules prismatiques flottants. Chaque sous-module prismatique flottant comprend un noyau comprenant un matériau ayant une densité inférieure à la densité d'eau, et une coque de renforcement entourant le noyau du sous-module prismatique flottant le long de sa périphérie définie par une face de base supérieure, une face de base inférieure et des faces latérales des sous-modules prismatiques flottants. Les sous-modules prismatiques flottants sont fixés l'un à l'autre de façon à former une forme symétrique tridimensionnelle du module de plate-forme flottante.
EP22878080.5A 2021-10-04 2022-10-02 Structure offshore flottante Pending EP4412899A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IL286961A IL286961A (en) 2021-10-04 2021-10-04 A floating structure off the coast
PCT/IL2022/051044 WO2023058017A1 (fr) 2021-10-04 2022-10-02 Structure offshore flottante

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EP4412899A1 true EP4412899A1 (fr) 2024-08-14
EP4412899A4 EP4412899A4 (fr) 2025-03-05

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EP22878080.5A Pending EP4412899A4 (fr) 2021-10-04 2022-10-02 Structure offshore flottante

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US (1) US20250002122A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP4412899A4 (fr)
IL (1) IL286961A (fr)
WO (1) WO2023058017A1 (fr)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES1305414Y (es) * 2023-11-14 2024-04-19 Renewable Ocean Energy S L Plataforma flotante modular para dispositivos de generacion y/o de extraccion de energia marinos

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GB1337623A (en) 1970-01-17 1973-11-14 Wilson B Coupling means coupling together floating wharves floating bridges or the like
US4165945A (en) 1976-12-02 1979-08-28 Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Method for storing fluid underground at maximum pressure p
US4697539A (en) 1985-06-24 1987-10-06 Smabathavner A.S Arrangement for interconnecting concrete pontoons
US5117775A (en) 1990-11-02 1992-06-02 Northam T Edward Floatation device
US5435262A (en) 1994-07-14 1995-07-25 Offshore Model Basin Semi-submersible offshore platform with articulated buoyancy
US6037031A (en) 1997-05-27 2000-03-14 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Flotation seaway
US20170274966A1 (en) 2014-10-01 2017-09-28 Pichit BOONLIKITCHEVA A floating unit and a floating structure assembled from such floating units
DE102017130811B4 (de) 2017-12-20 2020-06-25 Michael Jaenicke Modul, Anordnung und Verfahren zum Bau einer schwimmenden Plattform

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US6199502B1 (en) * 1999-08-27 2001-03-13 Jerry L. Mattson Concrete module for floating structures and method of construction
BRPI0601273B1 (pt) * 2006-04-17 2019-02-12 Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras Fpso em forma de mono-coluna
DE102007029921B3 (de) * 2007-06-28 2008-11-20 Peter Nowak Vorrichtung zur Energie- und Süßwassererzeugung im Meer
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GB1337623A (en) 1970-01-17 1973-11-14 Wilson B Coupling means coupling together floating wharves floating bridges or the like
US4165945A (en) 1976-12-02 1979-08-28 Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Method for storing fluid underground at maximum pressure p
US4697539A (en) 1985-06-24 1987-10-06 Smabathavner A.S Arrangement for interconnecting concrete pontoons
US5117775A (en) 1990-11-02 1992-06-02 Northam T Edward Floatation device
US5435262A (en) 1994-07-14 1995-07-25 Offshore Model Basin Semi-submersible offshore platform with articulated buoyancy
US6037031A (en) 1997-05-27 2000-03-14 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Flotation seaway
US20170274966A1 (en) 2014-10-01 2017-09-28 Pichit BOONLIKITCHEVA A floating unit and a floating structure assembled from such floating units
DE102017130811B4 (de) 2017-12-20 2020-06-25 Michael Jaenicke Modul, Anordnung und Verfahren zum Bau einer schwimmenden Plattform

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Title
See also references of WO2023058017A1

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20250002122A1 (en) 2025-01-02
IL286961A (en) 2023-05-01
EP4412899A4 (fr) 2025-03-05
WO2023058017A1 (fr) 2023-04-13

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