JPH01164900A - How to sink compressed air storage equipment to the bottom of water - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce a force exerted to a crane with the use of a buoyancy by feeding a regulated amount of compressed air into a reservoir tank while ensuring a weight necessary for submerging the reservoir tank with the use of a ballast tank. CONSTITUTION:An emptied ballast tank 1 and reservoir tank 2 are towed in a lightweight condition on the water surface to a position where they are submerged, with a shut-off valve 11 and an opening 22 being closed so as to prevent water from entering into the tank 2 from the outside. Then, the device is suspended by means of a chain 5, and the shut-off valve 11 for the ballast tank 1 and the opening 22 for the reservoir tank 2 are opened to feed compressed air into the reservoir tank 2 through an air feed pipe 21. Then, water flows into the ballast tank 1 so as to increase the weight, and accordingly, submerging is started. Since water is discharged from the opening 22 of the reservoir tank 2 into which compressed air is charged, the reservoir tank 2 serves as a floating body.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a method of sinking a device for storing surplus energy as compressed air on the bottom of water.

(Prior Art and Problems) While the power supply capacity of power plants is improving, the difference in power demand between daytime and nighttime is increasing. Therefore, if surplus power at night is stored in some form and supplied during the day, the power supply capacity does not have to be so large, and that capacity can be fully utilized.

Therefore, several measures have been proposed or implemented in order to store the above-mentioned nighttime power.

First of all, the most common method is pumped storage power generation, in which water is pumped into a pumped storage pond using surplus electricity at night and used for power generation during the day, but this is due to geographical and It is not easy due to geographical constraints.

A method has also been proposed in which compressed air is produced using the surplus electricity and stored to prepare for regeneration during the day. that time,
The storage space requires a large volume and must withstand high pressures. Therefore, we are using it as a storage space structure by digging a hole underground and balancing it with the ground pressure. However, in the above-mentioned underground space structure, digging a hole itself is extremely difficult except when using a mining hole, additional work such as preventing air leakage is required, and furthermore, the space volume is limited to a certain level. Therefore, there are many problems such as the stored air pressure fluctuates and cannot be used as a constant pressure output.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problems in underground storage,
Air storage tanks that are sunk to the bottom of the water are also known.

In this known device, the bottom of the air storage tank is completely open, through which water can freely enter and exit, and the water level in the tank is brought into balance with the air pressure. There is. In order to sink the darning device to a predetermined water bottom, it is possible to lower the device to the water bottom while suspending the device from a crane ship, a barge with a suspension winch, or the like. At this time, since the bottom of the air storage tank is always open, water flows in from the bottom, air is compressed at the top, and the pressures of both are balanced and fall. Therefore, since the amount of air is small and the resulting buoyancy is small, the load placed on the crane ship and the like is large. Furthermore, devices are typically large and heavy, and are not necessarily as designed. This may lead to clumsiness in the work.

Furthermore, when towing the device from the device manufacturing facility to the submerged location, since a considerable amount of water has entered the storage tank, resistance is large and a heavy burden is placed on the towing device.

(Means and effects for solving the problems) The present invention solves the problems faced by the above-mentioned conventional methods, and provides a compressed air storage device with low manufacturing and installation costs and high safety. The purpose of this project is to provide a method for sinking water to the bottom of the water.

According to the invention, the above object is to provide a ballast tank at or around the bottom and storage above or in contact with the ballast tank, in order to store compressed air at the bottom of the water under a pressure balanced with external water pressure. The air storage tank has an air supply pipe connected to an air supply pipe communicating with a compressed air source on the ground or on the water at the upper part, and an opening through which water from the bottom of the water flows through the lower part. In the method of sinking the storage device to the bottom of the water, the internal space of the air storage tank is maintained at atmospheric pressure, the opening is sealed, the compressed air storage device is towed to the water above the sinking location, and the above-mentioned method is carried out using hanging equipment above the water. While suspending the compressed air storage device, compressed air is sent into the air storage tank from the air supply pipe, and the opening is opened to allow water to flow in, and the weight of the compressed air storage device including the amount of water is reduced by the hanging equipment. It is constructed by lowering and sinking the compressed air storage device to the bottom of the water while maintaining a state in which the water pressure and air pressure of the inflowing water are balanced so as to be below an allowable specified value.

According to the present invention, the work of installing the compressed air storage device on the bottom of the water and the work of pulling it up from there can be done very effectively. During the above work, it is important that the weight of the entire device is within a certain range. That is, the weight must be less than the capacity of a suspension device such as a winch of a work boat that suspends the device on the water. Therefore, in the present invention, the weight is maintained within the above-mentioned range by balancing the weight of the device itself and the ballast, and the buoyancy in the air storage tank based on the compressed air sent during work.
In the present invention, the overall weight of the device, which is a large structure, may not always match the design value, and in consideration of such cases, the opening of the air storage tank is designed so that the amount of water in the tank can be adjusted. Therefore, it becomes possible to keep the weight of the entire device including the amount of water within the above-mentioned certain range.

Various measures can be considered to adjust the amount of water, such as adjusting the pressure of compressed air in an air storage tank equipped with valves in the vertical direction, or providing multiple openings in the air storage tank above and below to remotely control the amount of water. It is only necessary to open only those at a predetermined position by operation.

Furthermore, if the ballast tank itself can be opened and closed,
When towing the device to the installation location on the water, the interior can be emptied to make it lightweight, making it extremely easy to tow.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of the apparatus of this embodiment installed on the bottom of the water, Figure 2 is a partial plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a partial plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.
Figures (8) to E) are schematic diagrams showing the installation procedure of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the compressed air storage device is integrally formed with a ballast tank 1 at the bottom and an air storage tank 2 at the top.

The ballast tank 1 is formed over almost the entire area of the lower part of the device, and is equipped with an on-off valve 11, but after being sunk to the bottom of the water, the ballast tank 1 is kept in a sealed state with water being irrigated inside. That is, it is completely isolated from the air storage tank 2. Further, on the bottom surface of the ballast tank, legs 12 that bite into the ground G are protruded downward at a plurality of positions.

The air storage tank 2 is connected at its upper part to an air pipe 21 that communicates with a compressed air source on the ground or on the water.

For example, the compressed air source is a compressor at a power plant that produces compressed air using surplus electricity at night. An opening 22 communicating with the outside is provided in the lower part of the air storage tank 2. As a preferable form, a plurality of openings 22 are provided in the vertical direction, and any one can be opened, so that the air storage tank 2 can be opened by controlling the air pressure in the air storage tank 2.
The amount of water H inside can be adjusted arbitrarily.

Furthermore, the ballast tank 1 and the air storage tank 2 are provided with water holes 3 at multiple positions in the plan view of the device shown in FIG. It is being

Further, on the outer surface of the upper part of the air storage tank 2, a hanging part 4 is provided for suspending the apparatus by a chain 5 or the like during installation.

Next, the operation of the apparatus of this embodiment as described above during use will be explained.

In the device submerged at the bottom of the water, compressed air produced from surplus electricity at a power plant at night is sent into an air storage tank 2 through an air pipe 21 and stored there. The air storage tank 2 has an opening 22
Since it communicates with the outside through this point, outside water is injected or drained from here, and the air pressure inside and the water pressure outside are balanced. That is, the air pressure is always stored at the same pressure as the external water pressure. Thus, the air stored under water pressure is sent to the power plant through the air pipe 21 during daytime hours when the demand for electricity is high, where it drives a generator to generate electricity.

Next, a description will be given of the procedures for transporting the above-described embodiment apparatus from the manufacturing site until it is submerged, and when it is lifted up for the purpose of repair or the like.

■ First, the compressed air storage device completed at the factory is reduced in weight by emptying the ballast tank 1 and the storage tank 2, and closing the on-off valve 11 and opening 22 to prevent water from entering from the outside. The vessel is then towed to the surface of the water where it is planned to be deposited (see Figure 3 (A)).

■Next, while suspending the above-mentioned device with a chain 5 from the suspension part 4 using the crane of the work boat, open the on-off valve 11 of the ballast tank 1 and the opening 22 of the air storage tank 2, and open the air storage tank 2. Compressed air is sent into the interior through the air pipe 21.

Then, water flows into the ballast tank 1 as shown in FIG. 3(B), and the device starts to sink due to the increased weight as shown in FIG. 3(C). On the other hand, the air storage tank containing compressed air acts as a floating body because water is removed from the opening 22, and together with the weight of the ballast tank, the weight acting on the crane is reduced. and slowly descends (see Figure 3 (C)). At this time, in order to keep the weight acting on the crane within a certain range, the volume occupied by the air in the air storage tank 2, that is, the amount of water in the air storage tank 2, is adjusted by adjusting the air pressure being fed. When the amount of water in the air storage tank 2 is adjusted in this way, the weight of the entire device including the water in the air storage tank 2 and the ballast tank l falls within the above-mentioned certain range. (See Figure 3 (D)). Further, the amount of water in the air storage tank 2 can be set without adjusting the air pressure. That is, for example, when a plurality of openings 22 of the air storage tank 2 are provided in the vertical direction, the compressed air sent from the air pipe 21 is set to a high pressure, and one of the plurality of openings 22 is opened. If selected, excess air is vented to the outside and the water volume is maintained at the level of the selected opening. Note that during the settling, the water at the bottom of the ballast tank can also move upward through the water passage holes 3, so that water resistance is reduced.

(2) Thus, the equipment sunk to the bottom of the water as shown in FIG. 3(E) is stably installed due to the weight of the ballast and the legs 12 provided at the bottom of the ballast tank and biting into the ground. Under such circumstances, the present device is used in the manner described above.

■Next, when the device is to be pulled up for some reason, such as repair, the operation is the opposite of ■, that is, a predetermined amount of compressed air is sent into the storage tank 2 through the air pipe 21 to drain the water inside. Discharged from the opening 22 and in a lightened state,
Pull it up with a crane, etc.

At this time, since water flows into the space between the bottom of the ballast tank and the ground through the water holes 3, there is no so-called adsorption effect on the ground, and the ballast tank can be easily pulled up.

In addition, in the above work (2), if it is desired to further reduce the load on the crane, it is recommended to use a buoy or the like together with the device.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, when installing a compressed air storage device on the bottom of the water, the present invention secures the weight necessary for descent in the ballast tank, and adjusts the amount of compressed air in the air storage tank. By feeding the crane, it is possible to obtain buoyancy and reduce the force applied to the crane.
Moreover, even if the weight of the device itself is not the designed value, the amount of water in the air storage tank can be adjusted by adjusting the compressed air pressure, etc.
The weight of the entire device including this water can be set to a set value, resulting in the effect that ease of work and safety are ensured. Furthermore, if the ballast tank is also emptied when towing the device from the device manufacturing site to the water area where it will be submerged,
The burden on the towing boat will also be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of the device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 (8) to E) shows the installation procedure of the device shown in Fig. 1 in order. FIG. 1...Ballast tank 2...Air storage tank 21...Air pipe 22...Opening

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) having a ballast tank at or around the bottom and an air storage tank above or in contact with the ballast tank in order to store compressed air at the bottom of the water under a pressure balanced with external water pressure; The above-mentioned air storage tank is a compressed air storage device sunk to the bottom of the water, with an air pipe connected to the top of the tank that communicates with a compressed air source on the ground or on the water, and an opening at the bottom to allow water to pass through. In the method of
While maintaining the internal space of the air storage tank at atmospheric pressure, the opening is sealed and the compressed air storage device is towed to a body of water above the submerged position, and the compressed air storage device is suspended and transported using suspension equipment above the water. Compressed air is sent into the air storage tank from the trachea, and the opening is opened to allow water to flow in, and the weight of the compressed air storage device, including the amount of water, is adjusted to the specified value allowed for the hanging equipment. A method for sinking a compressed air storage device at the bottom of water, comprising: lowering the compressed air storage device to the bottom of the water while maintaining a balanced state between water pressure and air pressure of inflowing water. (2) A method for sinking a compressed air storage device to the bottom of the water according to claim (1), wherein the amount of water in the air storage tank during descent is adjusted by adjusting air pressure. (3) A method for sinking a compressed air storage device to the bottom of the water according to claim (1), wherein the amount of water in the air storage tank during descent is adjusted by raising or lowering the opening position. . (4) A method for sinking a compressed air storage device on the bottom of the water as set forth in claim (1), characterized in that the inside of the ballast tank is emptied during towing.