Submersible apparatus and methods of installing anchoring equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to a submersible module for anchoring equipment, such as underwater turbines, to the sea bed. The module includes a base member for attaching the equipment thereto and a boundary layer fairing which diverts a boundary layer component of the water flow over the module. This accelerates the boundary layer water flow over the module in order to produce a hydrodynamic anchoring force on the module. Methods of installing the equipment to the sea bed are also provided.

1 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A submersible module adapted to anchor equipment with respect to a water flow passing over a water bed, the module comprising:
 a base member for attaching the equipment thereto; and   a boundary layer fairing adapted to divert a boundary layer component of the water flow over at least a portion of the module, thereby accelerating the boundary layer water flow over the module.   
     
     
         42 . A submersible module according to  claim 41 , wherein the acceleration of the boundary layer water flow over the module is adapted to produce a hydrodynamic anchoring force on the module. 
     
     
         43 . A submersible module according to  claim 41 , further comprising a vent plate provided at the boundary layer fairing, and wherein the vent plate is adapted to reduce turbulence in the water flow passing over the module. 
     
     
         44 . A submersible module according to  claim 43 , wherein the vent plate is selectively actuable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. 
     
     
         45 . A submersible module according to  claim 41 , wherein at least a portion of the module is pivotable in order to facilitate descent of the module into the water. 
     
     
         46 . A submersible module according to  claim 41 , wherein the base member comprises a ballast arrangement to enable the module to be ballasted between the water surface and the water bed. 
     
     
         47 . A submersible module according to  claim 46 , wherein the ballast arrangement comprises a buoyancy tower. 
     
     
         48 . A submersible module according to  claim 41 , further comprising a turbine module provided with a docking arrangement to allow selective attachment to the submersible module. 
     
     
         49 . A submersible module according to  claim 48 , wherein the buoyancy tower is integrated with the turbine module such that the turbine module may be raised and lowered with the buoyancy tower. 
     
     
         50 . An array comprising a plurality of submersible modules according to  claim 41 , wherein each module in the array is arranged laterally with respect to an adjacent module. 
     
     
         51 . An array according to  claim 50 , wherein the modules of the array are arranged to provide a substantially hollow sheltered zone underneath the array. 
     
     
         52 . An array according to  claim 50 , wherein each module of the array is connected with an articulated joint such that the array may be articulated laterally and vertically to compensate for surrounding features of the underwater environment. 
     
     
         53 . A method of installing anchoring equipment with respect to a water flow passing over a water bed, the method comprising the steps of providing:
 a submersible module having a base member for attaching the equipment thereto; and   a boundary layer fairing adapted to divert a boundary layer component of the water flow over at least a portion of the module, thereby accelerating the boundary layer water flow over the module.   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , including the step of ballasting the module by partially flooding portions of the module and guiding the module to a location on the water bed. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the step of ballasting the module includes guiding the module to a location on the water bed using support legs, and wherein the method further comprises pivoting said support legs onto the water bed to provide resistance against lateral movement of the module along the water bed. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising arranging the boundary layer fairing to provide a stabilizing force as the module is installed and utilizing said produced stabilizing force to facilitate installation of the module on the water bed. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the step of providing a stabilizing force is provided by temporarily actuating portions of the module to a swept-up configuration in order to create a stabilizing flow pattern as the module descends toward the water bed. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising the step of raising and lowering a turbine arrangement between the water surface and the module on the water bed for at least one of installation, servicing and decommissioning by way of actuating a turbine module release system. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the step of raising and lowering the turbine arrangement is performed by selectively flooding and emptying buoyancy towers integrated therewith, the buoyancy towers being provided with a release system adapted to allow the main hull of the module to remain on the water bed. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising connecting together a plurality of modules to form an array, and further comprising articulating the connected modules at least one of vertically and laterally to compensate for variations in water bed depth and contours in the surrounding environment.