Precast concrete floating structure for supporting a wind turbine

Abstract

The precast concrete floating structure for supporting a wind turbine comprises a precast SPAR-type monolithic platform made of concrete prestressed by means of active reinforcement bars. The structure is formed by a cylindrical section ( 13 ) finished at its lower end by a hemispheric cap ( 23 ) which acts as a flotation element and another cylindrical and/or frustoconical upper section ( 12 ), located above sea level, which acts as a support for the wind turbine. The structure is moored to the seabed by means of cable lines 20, through heavy ballasting elements or suction piles ( 16 ) capable of counteracting the vertical and horizontal components induced by the cables.

1 . A floating structure for supporting wind turbines or other elements, comprising a cylindrical lower section finished at a lower end thereof by a hemispheric cap, which contains ballast and acts as a flotation element, and an upper section, located above sea level, which acts as a support for a wind turbine or another element, wherein that said floating structure is a precast monolithic structure made of reinforced and prestressed concrete, with cylindrical and frustoconical sections having a total length comprised between 110 and 320 meters, comprising active reinforcement bars which have continuity through said hemispheric cap. 
     
     
         2 . The floating structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper section is finished at an upper end thereof with a steel ring-shaped plate to which said active reinforcement bars are anchored. 
     
     
         3 . The floating structure according to  claim 1 , characterized by having outer diameters comprised between 2.8 and 15.2 meters and thicknesses comprised between 20 and 100 centimeters. 
     
     
         4 . The floating structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said active reinforcement bars are steel tendons embedded in the concrete and anchored at different points of the structure. 
     
     
         5 . The floating structure according to  claim 4 , wherein said steel tendons have protective shields. 
     
     
         6 . The floating structure according to  claim 2 , wherein the concrete structure is attached to the wind turbine or another element through said steel ring-shaped plate, which performs a double function as an attachment for the wind turbine or another element and as a distribution plate for upper anchors of the active reinforcement bars. 
     
     
         7 . The floating structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said precast monolithic structure is moored to the seabed by cables having additional elements made of a low density material which compensate for at least 50% of the weight of said cables when submerged.