IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0676038
(2008-09-02)
|
등록번호 |
US-8220406
(2012-07-17)
|
우선권정보 |
EP-07075754 (2007-09-03) |
국제출원번호 |
PCT/EP2008/061574
(2008-09-02)
|
§371/§102 date |
20100302
(20100302)
|
국제공개번호 |
WO2009/030689
(2009-03-12)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Single Buoy Moorings Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
▼
A buoyant submersible structure floating above the sea floor includes a support portion to support a load, and a gas-filled tank. The tank has an opening, and a connected tube. The tube is partially filled with seawater defining a water-gas interface at a first level. In operation, the structure is
A buoyant submersible structure floating above the sea floor includes a support portion to support a load, and a gas-filled tank. The tank has an opening, and a connected tube. The tube is partially filled with seawater defining a water-gas interface at a first level. In operation, the structure is fully submerged below the water surface to a first depth. The second chamber is partially filled with seawater defining a water-gas interface at a first position inside the second chamber. Then, the buoyancy structure is moved to a second, greater depth. Water enters the second chamber to raise the water-gas interface to a second, higher level and without entering the first chamber. Subsequently, the buoyancy of the structure is adjusted to tension the cable, a support structure to support a load is attached to the structure, and then the buoyancy of the structure is readjusted.
대표청구항
▼
1. An off-shore structure (1) comprising: a support structure (2) to support a load; anda buoyancy structure (5) attached to the support structure (2), the buoyancy structure (5) being adapted to be fully submerged below a water surface (8) and to float above the sea floor (10), the buoyancy structu
1. An off-shore structure (1) comprising: a support structure (2) to support a load; anda buoyancy structure (5) attached to the support structure (2), the buoyancy structure (5) being adapted to be fully submerged below a water surface (8) and to float above the sea floor (10), the buoyancy structure (5) comprising at least one buoyancy tank (14) with a first chamber (15) adapted to be filled with a gas under pressure, and a second chamber (16) being in fluid communication with the first chamber (15), the first chamber during use being positioned above the second chamber, the second chamber (20) being adapted to be partially filled with sea water defining a water-gas interface (21) therein, the volume of the first chamber (15) being substantially larger than the volume of the second chamber (16), the horizontal cross-section of the first chamber being larger than the horizontal cross-section of the second chamber,wherein the buoyancy structure (5) is adapted to be moved from a first depth to a second depth greater than the first depth, and wherein the height of the second chamber (16) and the position of the water-gas interface (21) inside the second chamber (16) at the first depth are adapted such that the water-gas interface (21) rises inside the second chamber (16) without entering the first chamber (15) when the buoyancy structure (5) is moved from the first depth to the second depth,wherein the support structure (2) is a truss support structure mounted on top of the buoyancy structure (5),the truss support structure being adapted to be partially submerged into the water, the truss support structure (2) being attached to the buoyancy structure (5) below the water surface (8). 2. The off-shore structure according to claim 1, wherein the height of the second chamber (16) is at least equal to half of the height of the first chamber (15) or at least equal to the height of the first chamber (15). 3. The off-shore structure according to claim 1, wherein the buoyancy structure (5) is at least 30 meters below the water surface (8). 4. The off-shore structure according to claim 1, wherein the first chamber (15) of the buoyancy tank (14) comprises a circumferential wall (23) having a first diameter (D1), and wherein the second chamber (16) of the buoyancy tank (14) comprises a tubular wall (24) having a second diameter (D2), and wherein the second diameter (D2) is smaller than the first diameter (D1). 5. The off-shore structure according to claim 1, wherein the second chamber (16) of the buoyancy tank (14) comprises a tube. 6. The off-shore structure according to claim 1, wherein the second chamber (16) of the buoyancy tank (14) comprises a flexible hose (16). 7. The off-shore structure according to claim 1, wherein the first chamber (15) of the buoyancy tank (14) and second chamber (16) of the buoyancy tank (14) are releasably connected to each other. 8. The off-shore structure according to claim 1, wherein the fluid communication between the first and second chamber (15, 16) of the buoyancy tank (14) can be closed off by a valve (27). 9. The off-shore structure according to claim 1, wherein the buoyancy tank (14) has a gas inlet (100) for supplying gas into the buoyancy tank (14) so as to push the water-gas interface (21) in the second chamber (16) downward. 10. The off-shore structure according to claim 1, wherein the first chamber (15) of the buoyancy tank (14) comprises at least one relief valve for lowering gas pressure within the buoyancy tank (14). 11. The off-shore structure according to claim 1, wherein the off-shore structure comprises a lateral mooring system comprising a plurality of mooring lines (32) adapted to be connected to the seafloor (10). 12. The off-shore structure according to claim 1, wherein at least one said tether member (12) extends substantially vertically between the buoyancy structure (5) and the sea floor (10), said tether member (12) being tensioned by the buoyancy of the buoyancy structure (5). 13. The off-shore structure according to claim 12, wherein the tether member (12) comprises a steel tendon and/or a steel or synthetic cable. 14. A buoyancy structure (5) being adapted to be fully submerged below a water surface (8) and to float above the sea floor (10), the buoyancy structure (5) comprising: at least one buoyancy tank (14) with a first chamber (15) adapted to be filled with a gas under pressure, and a second chamber (16) being in fluid communication with the first chamber (15), the first chamber during use being positioned above the second chamber, the second chamber (16) being adapted to be partially filled with sea water defining a water-gas interface (21) therein, the volume of the first chamber (15) being substantially larger than the volume of the second chamber (16), the horizontal cross-section of the first chamber being larger than the horizontal cross-section of the second chamber,wherein the buoyancy structure (5) is adapted to be moved from a first depth to a second depth greater than the first depth, and wherein the height of the second chamber (16) and the position of the water-gas interface (21) inside the second chamber (16) at the first depth are adapted such that the water-gas interface (21) rises inside the second chamber (16) without entering the first chamber (15) when the buoyancy structure (5) is moved from the first depth to the second depth,wherein the buoyancy structure (5) is arranged to support a truss support structure being mounted on top of the buoyancy structure (5), the truss support structure being adapted to be partially submerged into the water, the truss support structure (2) being attached to the buoyancy structure (5) below the water surface (8). 15. The buoyancy structure (5) according to claim 14, wherein the height of the second chamber (16) is at least equal to half of the height of the first chamber (15) or at least equal to the height of the first chamber (15). 16. A use of a buoyancy structure according to claim 14 for reducing buoyancy loss when said buoyancy structure (5) is moved from a first depth to a second depth greater than the first depth. 17. A buoyancy structure (5) comprising: at least one buoyancy tank (14) with a first chamber (15) adapted to be filled with a gas under pressure, and a second chamber (16) being in fluid communication with the first chamber (15), the first chamber during use being positioned above the second chamber, the second chamber (16) being adapted to be partially filled with sea water defining a water-gas interface (21) therein, the volume of the first chamber (15) being substantially larger than the volume of the second chamber (16), the horizontal cross-section of the first chamber being larger than the horizontal cross-section of the second chamber,wherein the second chamber (16) is configured for controlling variation in depth under water, the internal pressure of the first chamber (15) remaining unchanged. 18. A method for installing an off-shore structure (1), comprising: providing a buoyancy structure (5) comprising at least one buoyancy tank (14) with a first chamber (15) filled with a gas under pressure, and a second chamber (16) being in fluid communication with the first chamber (15), the first chamber during use being positioned above the second chamber, the volume of the first chamber (15) being substantially larger than the volume of the second chamber (16), the horizontal cross-section of the first chamber being larger than the horizontal cross-section of the second chamber;submerging the buoyancy structure (5) fully below the water surface (8) so as to be floating above the sea floor (10) at a first depth, wherein the second chamber (16) is partially filled with sea water defining a water-gas interface (21) at a first position inside the second chamber (16);moving the buoyancy structure (5) to a second depth that is greater than the first depth, wherein water is allowed to enter the second chamber (16) so as to raise the water-gas interface (21) to a second position inside the second chamber (16) higher than the first position and without entering the first chamber (15); andarranging the buoyancy structure (5) for supporting a truss support structure being mounted on top of the buoyancy structure (5), the truss support structure being adapted to be partially submerged into the water, the truss support structure (2) being attached to the buoyancy structure (5) below the water surface (8). 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the buoyancy structure (5) is connected to the sea floor (10) using at least one tether member (12), comprising a tendon and/or a cable, after which the buoyancy of the buoyancy structure (5) is adjusted to tension said tether member (12), and wherein a support structure (2) to support a load is subsequently attached to the buoyancy structure (5), after which the buoyancy of the buoyancy structure (5) is re-adjusted. 20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the height of the second chamber (16) is at least equal to half of the height of the first chamber (15). 21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the height of the second chamber (16) is at least equal to the height of the first chamber (15). 22. The method according to claim 18, wherein the buoyancy structure (5) comprises a gas inlet (100) with a control valve, and wherein gas is supplied through the gas inlet (100) for moving the water-gas interface (21) to a third level relative to the lower end of the second chamber (16) lower than the second level. 23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the buoyancy structure (5) is moved to a third depth that is greater than the second depth, wherein water is allowed to enter the second chamber (16) so as to raise the water-gas interface (21) from the third level to a fourth level relative to the lower end of the second chamber (16) higher than the third level and without entering the first chamber (15). 24. The method according to claim 18, wherein the fluid communication between the first and second chamber (15, 16) of the buoyancy tank (14) can be closed by a valve (27).
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