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UniversalFoundation
Anovelwiderangingsubstructureinstallationconcept
Sren A. Nielsen, MBD, CPO. Lars Bo Ibsen, Aalborg University, Research Professor.

MBDintroduction
TheUniversalFoundationFramework
Theprototypes
Thesupplychain
Conclusion

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MBDOffshorePowerA/S
R&Dcompanyfoundedin2001
Shareholders:
DONGEnergy,>50%
AalborgUniversity
Novasion
Primarycooperation:
AalborgUniversity
DongEnergy

EWEC 2011, 16th March 2011

NearshoreLAB
Fred.OlsenGroup
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UniversalFoundationConcept:Aframeworkforindustrialization
Aconcurrentprocess,addingnewprocessesandexperiencestoa
database, usedbyaconfiguration methodologytoproducethe
requireddocumentation ineachstepofthewindfarmprojects
focusingon:
Theoptimalfoundationforeachturbineposition
Designisparameterdriven Configu- Standard
Database
Structurebasedonscaleablemodulesandelements rator output

Productionbasedonseriesormassproduction
Feasibility
Installationinwidestpossibleweatherwindow studies
Installationbasedoncommonavailablevessels Conseptual

Risk / cost assesment

Product configuration
design
Principles,
Consul- Construc Installati
Owner
tant -tion on
methodes, Tender design

EWEC 2011, 16th March 2011

Site
Feedback Feedback Feedback Feedback
data
procedures, Detail design

expirences
Construction
Sales Engineering Production Installation documentation
Operation
Feedback Development documentation

Feed back
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Mainfocusarea:
Thebucketfoundationtechnologyaslargediametermonopile
Conceptadvantages:
Reduceduseofsteelcomparedtoanyothersubstructuresolution.
Useofsimplegeometricweldedsteelstructures.Thestructureisomni
directionalsymmetricalwithrespecttotheverticalaxis.
Fewoffshoreoperations,withutilizingsmallerequipment/vesselsduring
installation.
Noseabedpreparationandnoorreducedneedforscourprotection.
Adjustingtheupperpartoftheshafttofitthestandardwindturbinetower.
Simpledecommissioning.
Installationadvantages:
Minimumnoiseimpact.Nopiledrivinghammersordrilldrivesareused.
Nogroutedconnections.

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Minimumdisturbancetotheexistingseabed.
Theuseofexcessmaterialforscourprotectionisreducedornotnecessary.
Allsteelmaterialscanberecoveredfromtheseabedandreused/recycled
whenthefoundationisdecommissioned
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Offshorewindturbinefoundations
Theflexibilityofthe
bucketfoundation
giveswiderrangeof
application.
Siteswithcomplex
geotechnical
propertiescanbe
coverbyasingle
foundationconcept

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Platform Bucket Monopile Tripod
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Basicgeotechnicaldesignprinciples

Bracings

Skirt

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Basicsteelstructuredesign
Steelstructure:
Conedplatform
Standardizedupper
structure
InternalJtupe
Guidesforpumpunit
Steelquality:355
Plates40 75mm

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Basicsteelstructuredesign Structureanalyzes:
Ultimateload
Fatigueload
Eigenfrequen

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TheprototypeforPos.1,Frederikshavn
The12x6mprototypebucketfoundationwasdesignedforaVestas V903MW
turbineplacedon4mofwater.ThedesigniscertifiedbyDNV.Thebucketwas
installedinlate2002andisinnormaloperation.Thestructure/soilinteraction
hasbeeninvestigatedwithsophisticatedmodalanalyseequipment.

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TheMobileMetMast
"The Mobile Met Mast" is a Specification
prototype of a bucket
foundation designed as Totalheight:34m
Weight:165tones
support structure for a met-
Skirtlength:6m
mast. Skirtdiameter:12m

Purpose: FabricatedinAalborginAugust2008.
To gain confidence that a
monopod bucket InstalledatHornsRev2Offshore
foundation can be windfarminMarch2009.
successfully installed
offshore.

EWEC 2011, 16th March 2011

To obtain a movable met-
mast, which can be used in
several offshore wind
farms.

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Installation
Apenetrationvelocityof2
m/hourwasobtained.
After2.5mpenetration,the
foundationstartedtilting.At
4mpenetration,theprocess
wasreverseduntil3m
penetration.Thenthe
penetrationprocesswas
repeatedwithouttilting
problems.Thetiltproblem
wasproperlycausedbya
stonealongtheskirt
circumference.
Theflowinducedinthesoil
wasblocked,indicatingthat

EWEC 2011, 16th March 2011

aclaylayerwaspresent.
Installationcontinued.
Thefoundationwas
successfullyinstalledwitha
0.1degreeinclinationoutof
vertical.

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Universalfoundationsolutions

Variation in water
depth
0 - 60 m

Variation in seabed properties

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Hard clay, soft clay, sand, silt
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Logistics
Transport:
ProductioninNorthernEurope,
facilitiesplacedbyaharbour.
Transporttointerimharbour
nearbysiteonbarge

Installation:
Foundationislaunchedinhorizontalposition,andistrimmedwithballastwater

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Buoyanttowingtositebytugboat
Cliponpumpunitconneted
Thestructureisupendedbymanipulatingballastwater
Craneishookedontostabilizetouchdown
Afterinitialpenetration,suctionisapplied
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SupplyChain

Theimplementationoftheconceptisconductedbyafacilitatororganization
(solutionprovider)withaccesstotheIPrightsofthebucketconcept.
Closecooperationwiththeprojectdeveloper/ownerofthewindfarm
project.

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Thefunctionsofthefacilitatoraretotheensurethatthetechnology,
methodologiesandproceduresisoptimizedthroughouttheentiresupply
chainaswellasensurethatthecontractrelationsinbetweenthedifferent
stakeholderismanagedtoutilizethefullpotentialoftheconcept.
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Conclusion
UniversalFoundationisfoundtobe:
Applicableinawiderangeofoffshoreconditionswaterdepth/soilconditions
Afocusedconceptdevelopmentanddesignprocedures
Acosteffectivefabrication/installationconcept>reducedcostofenergy
Environmentalfeasible nonoiseimpactandseabeddisturbance

Planforcommercializationandfurtherdevelopment:
Onepackagecomplyingof:
Geotechnicalcalculation/designmanual
Productionbasis
Transportconcepts
Installationmanual
Decommissionconcepts
Concurrentconceptdevelopment

EWEC 2011, 16th March 2011

Nextstep:
Prototypereference fullscaleimplementation
2Ph.D.sworkingonsteel/concretecompositesandsoil/structureinteractioninclay
Developmentofclickonpumpunitandsoilinvestigatingequipment